As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2024
Registration No. 333-271360
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
POST-EFFECTIVE
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM
S-1 ON FORM S-3
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
Delaware | | 2860 | | 85-1863331 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
711 Louisiana Street, Suite 2160
Houston, Texas 77002
(908) 281-6000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Ernest
Miller
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
c/o Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
711 Louisiana Street, Suite 2160
Houston, Texas
77002
(908) 281-6000
(Name, address, including
zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of all communications,
including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
Jennifer Wu, P.C.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
609 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Tel: (713) 836-3600
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective, and from time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.__________________
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
| Emerging growth company | ☒ |
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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☒
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the SEC, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This post-effective amendment
(this “Post-Effective Amendment”) to the registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 333-271360)
(the “Registration Statement”), as originally declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) on June 2, 2023, is being filed by the Company to convert the Registration Statement on Form S-1
into a registration statement on Form S-3. No additional securities are being registered under this Post-Effective Amendment. All applicable
registration fees were paid at the time of the original filing of the Registration Statement.
THE INFORMATION
IN THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE
SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION,
DATED JUNE 28, 2024
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
UP TO 31,175,284 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON
STOCK
UP TO 15,383,263 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
UP TO 1,879,257 WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
This prospectus relates to
the issuance by us of up to 15,383,263 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”),
consisting of (i) up to 2,475,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants (the “Private
Placement Warrants”) that were originally issued in a private placement to CENAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“CENAQ Sponsor”), at a purchase price of $1.00 per warrant, at an exercise price of $11.50 per share;
and (ii) up to 12,908,263 shares of our Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants (the “Public Warrants”
and, together with the Private Placement Warrants, the “Warrants”) that were originally issued as part of the
units sold by CENAQ Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation (“CENAQ”), at a purchase price of $10.00 per unit in
its initial public offering, at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. We will receive the proceeds from any exercise of any Warrants
for cash.
This prospectus relates to
the offer and sale from time to time by the selling securityholders named in this prospectus or their permitted transferees (the “Selling
Securityholders”) of (i) up to 31,175,284 shares of Class A Common Stock consisting of: (a) 3,420,095 shares
of Class A Common Stock originally acquired by CENAQ Sponsor for an effective purchase price of approximately $0.0058 per share,
(b) 22,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per
share (“Class C Common Stock”) issued to Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“Holdings”), upon the exchange of Class C common units (“Class C OpCo Units”)
of Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OpCo”), and the cancellation of an equal
number of shares of Class C Common Stock in connection with such exchange (such shares or Class C Common Stock originally issued
as consideration in connection with the Business Combination (as defined below) at a per share value of $10.00 per share), (c) 3,200,000
shares of Class A Common Stock originally issued and sold to certain of the Selling Securityholders pursuant to subscription agreements
dated as of August 12, 2022 (collectively, the “PIPE Investors”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per share,
(d) 142,478 shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by Anchor Investors, originally acquired at a purchase price of $0.0058
per share, (e) 1,879,257 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants issued under the Business
Combination Agreement (defined below) that were originally sold by CENAQ at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant in
connection with its initial public offering which Warrants are exercisable for our Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50
per share, and (f) up to 33,454 shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion of the New Promissory Note (as defined herein)
at a conversion price of $10.00 per share; and (ii) up to 1,879,257 Private Placement Warrants, which were originally purchased at
a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock
or Warrants by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus.
In connection with the transactions
(the “Business Combination”) contemplated by that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of August 12,
2022 (as amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among CENAQ, OpCo, Holdings, Bluescape Clean
Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”), and, solely with respect
to Section 6.18 thereto, CENAQ Sponsor, holders of 15,403,880 shares of CENAQ’s Class A Common Stock exercised their right
to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.31 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of $158,797,475.52.
The shares of Class A Common Stock being offered for resale pursuant to this prospectus by the Selling Securityholders represent
approximately 65.7% of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding of the Company as of June 25, 2024 (giving effect to the issuance
of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of outstanding Warrants and upon the conversion of Class C Common Stock to be
issued to Holdings upon the exchange by them of Class C OpCo Units). Given the substantial number of shares of Class A Common
Stock being registered for potential resale by Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus, the sale of shares by the Selling
Securityholders, or the perception in the market that the Selling Securityholders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could
increase the volatility of the market price of our Class A Common Stock or result in a significant decline in the public trading
price of our Class A Common Stock. Even if our trading price is significantly below $10.00, the offering price for the units offered
in CENAQ’s IPO, certain of the Selling Securityholders, including CENAQ Sponsor, may still have an incentive to sell shares of our
Class A Common Stock because they purchased the shares at prices lower than the public investors or the current trading price of
our Class A Common Stock. For example, based on the closing price of our Class A Common Stock of $4.25 as of June 25, 2024, CENAQ
Sponsor and the Anchor Investors would experience a potential profit of up to approximately $4.2442 per share, or up to approximately
$14,332,040 in the aggregate.
We could receive up to an
aggregate of $176,907,525 if all of the Warrants are exercised for cash. However, we will only receive such proceeds if and when the holders
of the Warrants choose to exercise them. The exercise of the Warrants, and any proceeds we may receive from their exercise, are highly
dependent on the price of our Class A Common Stock and the spread between the exercise price of the Warrants and the price of our
Class A Common Stock at the time of exercise. We have 15,383,263 outstanding Warrants to purchase 15,383,263 shares of our Class A
Common Stock, exercisable at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. If the market price of our Class A Common Stock is less than
the exercise price of a holder’s Warrants, it is unlikely that holders will choose to exercise. As of June 25, 2024, the closing
price of our Class A Common Stock was $4.25 per share. There can be no assurance that the Warrants will be in the money prior to
their expiration. In addition, our Warrant holders have the option to exercise the Warrants on a cashless basis in certain circumstances.
See “Description of Securities — Warrants.” As such, it is possible that we may never generate any
cash proceeds from the exercise of our Warrants. We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the
securities. The Selling Securityholders will bear all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to their respective sales of the
securities.
Our registration of the securities
covered by this prospectus does not mean that either we or the Selling Securityholders will issue, offer or sell, as applicable, any of
the Class A Common Stock. The Selling Securityholders may offer and sell the securities covered by this prospectus in a number of
different ways and at varying prices. We provide more information about how the Selling Securityholders may sell the shares in the section
entitled “Plan of Distribution.”
You should read this prospectus
and any prospectus supplement or amendment carefully before you invest in our Class A Common Stock.
Our shares of Class A
Common Stock are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “VGAS.” On June
25, 2024, the closing price of our Class A Common Stock was $4.25 per share. Our Public Warrants are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol
“VGASW.” On June 25, 2024, the closing price of our Public Warrants was $0.1996 per warrant.
We are an “emerging
growth company,” as that term is defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, are subject to certain reduced public company
reporting requirements.
Investing in our securities
involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 14 of this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and
Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this prospectus
or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is ,
2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the
information contained in this prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained
in this prospectus. This prospectus is dated as of the date set forth on the cover hereof. You should not assume that the information
contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than that date.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED
BY REFERENCE
This registration statement
incorporates by reference important business and financial information about our Company that is not included in or delivered with this
document. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and the SEC allows us to “incorporate
by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to
those documents instead of having to repeat the information in this prospectus. Any statement contained in any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent
that a statement contained in or omitted from this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, or in any other subsequently
filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement
so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. We incorporate
by reference:
| ● | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed on March 28, 2024 (our “Annual Report”); |
| ● | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, filed on
May 14, 2024 (our “Quarterly Report”); |
| ● | Our definitive proxy statement on Schedule
14A, filed on April 29, 2024; and |
| ● | The description of our securities filed as an exhibit
to our Annual Report. |
We also incorporate by reference
into this prospectus any further filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than portions of those made pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of our Current
Report on Form 8-K or other information “furnished” and not filed with the SEC), including all filings filed after the date
hereof and prior to the completion of an offering of securities under this prospectus.
We have filed with the SEC
this registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the Class A Common Stock to be offered and sold by
this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration
statement, some of which is contained in exhibits to the registration statement. The registration statement, including the exhibits, can
be read at the SEC website referred to below under “Where You Can Find More Information.” Any statement made in this
prospectus or any prospectus supplement concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document is only a summary of the
actual contract, agreement or other document. If we have filed any contract, document, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the
registration statement or any other document incorporated herein by reference, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding
of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the actual document.
Our filings with the SEC,
including Annual Reports, Quarterly Reports, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge
on our website at www.verdecleanfuels.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.
Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this
prospectus. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits
are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner,
who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:
Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
711 Louisiana Street, Suite 2160
Houston, TX 77002
(908) 281-6000
TRADEMARKS
This document contains
references to trademarks and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred
to in this prospectus may appear without the® or™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate,
in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks
and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a
relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
CERTAIN DEFINED
TERMS
Unless the context otherwise
requires, references in this prospectus to:
“$15.00 Triggering
Event” or “Triggering Event I” are to the date on which the volume-weighted average price of one
share of Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 for any 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days
within the Earn Out Period; provided that the $15.00 Triggering Event shall have occurred if, during the Earn Out Period, there is a Company
Sale pursuant to which the holders of Class A Common Stock have the right to receive consideration implying a value for the Class A
Common Stock (as determined in good faith by the Board) of greater than or equal to $15.00;
“$18.00 Triggering
Event” or “Triggering Event II” are to the date on which the volume-weighted average price of one
share of Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to $18.00 for any 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days
within the Earn Out Period; provided that the $18.00 Triggering Event shall have occurred if, during the Earn Out Period, there is a Company
Sale pursuant to which the holders of Class A Common Stock have the right to receive consideration implying a value for the Class A
Common Stock (as determined in good faith by the Board) of greater than or equal to $18.00;
“Anchor Investors”
refers to certain qualified institutional buyers or institutional accredited investors that participated in the IPO.
“A&R Registration
Rights Agreement” refers to the amended and restated IPO Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and
among Verde Clean Fuels, certain persons and entities holding securities of CENAQ prior to the Closing (the “Initial Holders”)
and certain persons and entities who received Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock pursuant to the Business Combination
(together with the Initial Holders, the “Reg Rights Holders”), as included in Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report
on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2023, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time
to time in accordance with its terms.
“BERR”
refers to Bluescape Energy Recapitalization and Restructuring Fund IV LP.
“Board”
refers to our Board of directors.
“Business Combination”
refers to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
“Business Combination
Agreement” refers to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among CENAQ, OpCo, Holdings,
Intermediate and CENAQ Sponsor (solely with respect to Section 6.18 thereto), as amended, supplemented or modified.
“Bylaws”
refers to the amended and restated bylaws of Verde Clean Fuels.
“CENAQ”
refers to CENAQ Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation, and our previous name prior to the Closing.
“CENAQ Sponsor”
refers to CENAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Charter”
refers to the fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Verde Clean Fuels.
“Class A
Common Stock” refers to Verde Clean Fuels’ Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Class A
OpCo Units” refers to the Class A common units of OpCo.
“Class C
Common Stock” refers to Verde Clean Fuels’ Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Class C
OpCo Units” refers to the Class C common units of OpCo.
“Closing”
refers to the closing of the Business Combination.
“Closing Date”
refers to February 15, 2023, the date on which the Closing occurred.
“Code”
refers to Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Common Stock”
refers collectively to Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock.
“Controlled Company
Event” refers to such time that Verde Clean Fuels is no longer a “Controlled Company” pursuant to Nasdaq Listing
Rule 5615(c)(1).
“DGCL”
refers to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
“Exchange Act”
refers to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Founder Shares”
refers to 4,312,500 shares of common stock of CENAQ that were issued prior to the IPO of CENAQ. Such shares were converted into 4,312,500
shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination.
“Holdings”
refers to Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Intermediate”
refers to Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Investment Company
Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
“IPO”
refers to CENAQ’s initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock and public warrants pursuant to the IPO Registration
Statement and completed on August 17, 2021.
“IPO Registration
Statement” refers to CENAQ’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC (File No. 333-253695),
on March 1, 2021.
“IRS”
refers to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“Lock-Up Agreement”
refers to the lock-up agreement by and between Holdings and CENAQ, dated August 12, 2022.
“management”
or our “management team” refers to our officers and directors.
“Mandatory Exchange”
refers to the right we have to require, (i) upon a change of control of us or (ii) in our discretion with the consent of at least fifty
percent (50%) of the holders of Class C OpCo Units, each other OpCo unitholder to exchange all of its Class C OpCo Units.
“Nasdaq”
refers to the Nasdaq Capital Market.
“New Promissory
Note” means that certain promissory note, dated as of February 15, 2023, issued to CENAQ Sponsor by the Company.
“OpCo”
refers to Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Verde Clean Fuels.
“OpCo A&R
LLC Agreement” refers to the amended and restated limited liability company agreement of OpCo.
“OpCo Exchange
Right” refers to the right each OpCo unitholder (excluding us) will have, subject to certain timing procedures and other conditions
set forth in the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement, to exchange all or a portion of its Class C OpCo Units for, at OpCo’s election (i)
shares of our Class A Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Class A Common Stock for each Class C OpCo Unit exchanged, subject
to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications and other similar transactions, or (ii) an equivalent
amount of cash. OpCo will determine whether to pay cash in lieu of the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock based on facts in existence
at the time of the decision, which we expect would include the relative value of the Class A Common Stock (including trading prices for
the Class A Common Stock at the time), the cash purchase price, the availability of other sources of liquidity (such as an issuance of
stock) to acquire the Class C OpCo Units and alternative uses for such cash.
“OpCo Units”
refers to the Class A OpCo Units and the Class C OpCo Units.
“Organizational
Documents” refers to our Charter and our Bylaws.
“person”
means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, unincorporated organization or association,
trust, joint venture or other similar entity, whether or not a legal entity.
“PIPE Investment”
refers to the private offering of securities of Verde Clean Fuels to certain investors in connection with the Business Combination.
“PIPE Investors”
refers to the investors in the PIPE Investment.
“Preferred Stock”
refers to Verde Clean Fuels’ preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Private Placement
Warrants” refers to the 2,475,000 redeemable warrants that were exchanged for CENAQ’s private placement warrants in connection
with the Closing, entitling the holder thereof to purchase Class A Common Stock.
“Public Warrants”
refers to the 12,908,263 redeemable warrants exchanged for CENAQ’s public warrants in connection with the Closing, entitling the
holder thereof to purchase Class A Common Stock.
“Sarbanes-Oxley
Act” refers to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.
“SEC”
refers to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act”
refers to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Selling Securityholders”
refers to the selling securityholders named in this prospectus.
“Subscription
Agreements” refers to the subscription agreements (as amended from time to time) that CENAQ entered into in connection with
the Business Combination Agreement.
“Tax Receivable
Agreement” refers to the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Verde Clean Fuels and Holdings
(together with its permitted transferees, the “TRA Holders,” and each a “TRA Holder”) and the Agent
(as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement), as included in Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on
February 21, 2023, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time in accordance with its terms.
“Triggering Events”
refers to Triggering Event I and Triggering Event II, respectively.
“Verde Clean Fuels,”
“we,” “our,” “us” or the “Company” refers to Verde Clean Fuels,
Inc.
“Warrants”
refers collectively to the Private Placement Warrants together with the Public Warrants.
In addition, the following
is a glossary of key industry terms used herein:
“EPA”
refers to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“GHG”
refers to greenhouse gases.
“MSW”
refers to municipal solid waste.
“RBOB”
refers to Reformulated Blend-stock for Oxygenate.
“RFS”
refers to the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard.
CAUTIONARY NOTE
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus includes 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”).
Words such as “expect,” “continue,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,”
“potential,” “possible,” “may,” “might,” “predict,” “project,”
“should,” “would” “will,” “estimate,” “seek,” and variations and similar words
and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or
future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could
cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking
statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include:
| ● | the financial and business performance of the Company; |
| ● | the ability to maintain the listing of the Class A Common Stock and the Public Warrants on Nasdaq,
and the potential liquidity and trading of such securities; |
| ● | the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination that the Company consummated
in February 2023, which may be affected by, among other things, competition; |
| ● | the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers
and suppliers and retain key employees; |
| ● | the Company’s ability to develop and operate anticipated and new projects; |
| ● | the Company’s ability to obtain financing for future projects; |
| ● | the reduction or elimination of government economic incentives to the renewable energy market; |
| ● | delays in acquisition, financing, construction and development of new projects; |
| ● | the length of development cycles for new projects, including the design and construction processes for
the Company’s projects; |
| ● | the Company’s ability to identify suitable locations for new projects; |
| ● | the Company’s dependence on suppliers; |
| ● | existing laws and regulations and changes to laws. regulations and policies that affect the Company’s
operations; |
| ● | decline in public acceptance and support of renewable energy development and projects; |
| ● | demand for renewable energy not being sustained; |
| ● | impacts of climate change, changing weather patterns and conditions, and natural disasters; |
| ● | the ability to secure necessary governmental and regulatory approvals; |
| ● | the ability to qualify for federal and state level low-carbon fuel credits or other carbon credits; |
| ● | any decline in the value of federal or state level low-carbon credits or other carbon credits and the
development of the carbon credit markets; |
| ● | risks relating to the Company’s status as a development stage company with a history of net losses
and no revenue; |
| ● | risks relating to the uncertainty of success, any commercial viability, or delays of the Company’s
research and development efforts including any study in which the Company participates that is funded by the Department of Energy or any
other governmental agency; |
| ● | disruptions in the supply chain, fluctuation in price of product inputs, and market conditions and global
and economic factors beyond the Company’s control; |
| ● | the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees
or directors; |
| ● | the ability of the Company to execute its business model, including market acceptance of gasoline derived
from renewable feedstocks; |
| ● | litigation and the ability to adequately protect intellectual property rights; |
| ● | competition from companies with greater resources and financial strength in the industries in which the
Company operates; |
| ● | the effect of legal, tax and regulatory changes; and |
| ● | other factors detailed under the section entitled “Risk Factors.” |
The forward-looking statements
contained in this prospectus are based on the Company’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their
potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those that the Company
has anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Company’s
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 risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described or incorporated
by reference under the heading “Risk Factors” below. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should
any of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.
There may be additional risks that the Company considers immaterial or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all
such risks. The Company will not and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Additional information
concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in the section entitled
“Risk Factors” in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report, and any subsequently filed
Quarterly Reports. The Company’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected
information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information you should consider when making your investment
decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including our financial statements and
the related notes included in this prospectus and the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” and our financial
statements. See also the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” The definition of some of the terms used
in this prospectus are set forth under the section “Certain Defined Terms.” Unless the context otherwise requires, we use
the terms “Verde,” “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this prospectus to refer
to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries.
The Company is a development-stage
clean energy technology company specializing in the conversion of synthesis gas, or syngas, derived from diverse feedstocks, such as biomass
or natural gas (including renewable natural gas) and other feedstocks, into liquid hydrocarbons, primarily gasoline, through an innovative
and proprietary liquid fuels technology, the STG+® process. Through the Company’s STG+® process, we convert syngas into
RBOB gasoline. The Company is focused on the development of technology and commercial facilities aimed at turning waste and other bio-feedstocks
into a usable stream of syngas which is then transformed into a single finished fuel, such as gasoline, without any additional refining
steps. The availability of biogenic feedstocks and the economic and environmental drivers that divert these materials from landfills will
enable us to utilize these waste streams to produce renewable gasoline from modular production facilities.
We are redefining liquid fuels
technology through our proprietary and innovative STG+® process to deliver scalable and cost-effective gasoline from renewable feedstocks
or flared natural gas. We acquired our STG+® technology from Primus Green Energy (“Primus”), a company established in
2007 that developed the patented STG+® technology to convert syngas into gasoline or methanol. Since acquiring the technology, we
have adapted the application of our STG+® technology to focus on the renewable energy industry. This adaptation requires a third-party
gasification system to produce acceptable synthesis gas from renewable feedstocks. Our proprietary STG+® system converts the syngas
into gasoline.
Over $110 million has been
invested in our technology, including our demonstration facility in New Jersey, which has completed over 10,500 hours of operation producing
gasoline or methanol. Our demonstration facility represents the scalable nature of our operational modular commercial design which has
fully integrated reactors and recycle lines and is designed with key variables, like gas velocity and catalyst bed length, at a 1-to-1
scale with our commercial design. We have also participated in carbon lifecycle studies to validate the scoring of carbon intensity, which
we define as the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing, distributing, and consuming a fuel, per unit of fuel
energy (“CI”) and reduced lifecycle emissions (the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, distribution,
and consumption of a fuel) of our renewable gasoline as well as fuel, blending and engine testing to validate the specification and performance
of our gasoline product. Our carbon intensity score is based on an analysis styled after the Department of Energy’s Greenhouse gases
Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (“GREET”) life cycle analysis. We believe our renewable gasoline, when
paired with carbon capture and sequestration, exhibits a significant lifecycle carbon emissions reduction compared to traditional petroleum-based
gasoline. As a result, we believe our gasoline produced from renewable feedstock, such as biomass, will qualify under the federal renewable
fuel standard (“RFS”) program for the D3 renewable identification number (“RIN”), which could have significant
value. Similarly, gasoline produced from our process may also qualify for various state carbon programs, including California’s
low carbon fuel standard (“LCFS”). Unlike many other gas-to-liquids technologies, not only can our STG+® process produce
renewable gasoline from syngas, but we expect it will be able to be applied at other production facilities to produce other end products
including methanol. In addition to our initial focus on the production of renewable gasoline, we believe that there is opportunity to
continue to develop additional process technology to produce middle distillates including lower-carbon diesel and aviation fuel. As with
other government programs, the use requirements of the RFS program and other similar state-level programs are subject to change, which
could materially harm our ability to operate profitably. As of March 31, 2024, the Company is still in the process of developing its first
commercial production facility and has not derived revenue from its principal business activities. The Company is managed as an integrated
business and consequently, there is only one reportable segment.
“Clean” or “lower-carbon”
as used in relation to the Company’s products refers the lower CI, lower lifecycle emissions, and lower quantity of greenhouse gas
emissions resulting directly from fuel combustion, relative to conventional gasoline derived from petroleum. “Renewable” as
used in relation to the Company’s products refers to energy or fuel derived from biomass feedstock.
The Company was originally
known as CENAQ Energy Corp. On February 15, 2023, CENAQ, Intermediate, OpCo and Holdings consummated the transactions contemplated
under the Business Combination Agreement, following the approval at the special meeting of the stockholders of CENAQ held on January 4,
2023. In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, we changed our name from CENAQ Energy Corp. to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
Our Class A Common Stock are
listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “VGAS.” Our principal executive
offices are located at 711 Louisiana Street, Suite 2160, Houston, Texas 77002 and our telephone number is (908) 281-6000. Our website
is www.verdecleanfuels.com. Our website is included in this prospectus as an inactive textual reference only. Except for the documents
specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the information contained on, or accessed through, our website is not part
of this prospectus, and you should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus when making a decision as to whether to invest
in our securities.
The Offering
Resale of Class A Common Stock and Warrants |
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Issuer |
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Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. |
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Securities offered by the Selling Securityholders |
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We are registering the resale by the Selling Securityholders named in this prospectus, or their permitted transferees, an aggregate of 31,175,284 shares of Class A Common Stock, consisting of: |
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3,420,095 shares of Class A Common Stock originally acquired by CENAQ Sponsor for an effective purchase price of approximately $0.0058
per share; |
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22,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of Class C Common Stock issued to Holdings upon the
exchange of Class C OpCo Units and the cancellation of an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock in connection
with such exchange (such shares or Class C Common Stock originally issued as consideration in connection with the Business Combination
(as defined below) at a per share value of $10.00 per share); |
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1,879,257 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants, that were originally sold by CENAQ at a purchase
price of $1.00 per warrant in connection with its initial public offering which warrants are exercisable for our Class A Common Stock
at an exercise price of $11.50 per share; |
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142,478 shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by Anchor Investors, originally acquired at a purchase price of $0.0058 per
share; |
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3,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to the PIPE Investors at a purchase price of $10.00 per share; and |
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33,454 shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion of the New Promissory Note at a conversion price of $10.00 per share. |
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Warrants offered by the Selling Securityholders |
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Up to 1,879,257 warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock consisting of Private Placement Warrants that were originally purchased at a purchase price of $1.00 per warrant. |
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Use of proceeds |
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We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of Class A Common Stock by the Selling Securityholders. |
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Nasdaq ticker symbols |
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Our Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbols “VGAS” and “VGASW,” respectively. |
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Risk factors |
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Any investment in the securities offered hereby is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the information set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. |
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities
involves risks. Before you make a decision to buy our securities, in addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed above under “Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully consider the specific risk factors incorporated by reference
in this prospectus to our most recent Annual Report and any subsequent Quarterly Reports or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other
information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act,
and risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before
acquiring such securities. If any of these risks actually occur, it may materially harm our business, financial condition, liquidity and
results of operations. As a set price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additionally,
the risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement are not the only risks and uncertainties
that we face. We may face additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial,
which may also impair our business or financial condition.
USE OF PROCEEDS
All of securities offered
by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Securityholders for their respective accounts.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from these sales.
The Selling Securityholders
will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the Selling Securityholders for brokerage, accounting, tax
or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the Selling Securityholders in disposing of the securities. We will bear the costs,
fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, including all registration and
filing fees, and fees and expenses of our counsel and our independent registered public accounting firm.
We will not receive any proceeds
from the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock by the Selling Securityholders. With respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying
the warrants, we will not receive any proceeds from such shares except with respect to amounts received by us upon exercise of such warrants
to the extent such warrants are exercised for cash. We intend to use any such proceeds for general corporate purposes.
We do not believe it is likely
that a warrant holder would elect to exercise their warrants when our common stock is trading below $11.50 and any cash proceeds that
would be received by the Company is dependent on the trading price of the common stock underlying the warrants. We do not believe that
the warrant holders’ failure to exercise warrants for cash would have a material impact on our liquidity, financial position or
results of operations.
DESCRIPTION OF
SECURITIES
The following summary of the
material terms of the Company’s securities is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities.
The Charter is attached as an exhibit to this prospectus. We urge you to read the Charter in its entirety for a complete description of
the rights and preferences of the Company’s Common Stock and Warrants.
Authorized Capitalization
Our Charter provides that
the total number of shares of all classes of stock that we have the authority to issue is 376,000,000 shares, consisting of:
| ● | 375,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value of $0.0001 per share, divided into: |
| ● | 350,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock; and |
| ● | 25,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock; and |
| ● | 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock. |
Common Stock
Class A Common Stock
As of June 25, 2024, we had
9,549,621 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding.
Voting Rights
Each holder of Class A
Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders
generally are entitled to vote. Further, the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote separately
upon any amendment to our Charter (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of such series of Common Stock in a manner that is disproportionately adverse as compared to the
Class C Common Stock.
To the fullest extent permitted
by law, holders of shares of each class of the Common Stock, as such, have no voting power with respect to, and not entitled to vote on,
any amendment to our Charter (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely
to the rights, powers, preferences (or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof) or other terms of one or more outstanding
series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock are entitled, either separately or together with the
holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon under our Charter (including any certificate of designations relating to any
series of Preferred Stock) or under the DGCL.
Dividends; Stock Splits or Combinations
Subject to applicable law
and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference senior to
or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, such dividends and other distributions
of cash, stock or property may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets of ours that are by law available
therefor, at the times and in the amounts as our Board in its discretion may determine.
In no event will any stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of stock, reclassification or recapitalization be declared or made on any series
of Common Stock (each, a “Stock Adjustment”) unless:
| (a) | a corresponding Stock Adjustment for all other series of Common Stock not so adjusted at the time outstanding
is made in the same proportion and the same manner; and |
| (b) | the Stock Adjustment has been reflected in the same economically equivalent manner with respect to all
Class C OpCo Units. |
Stock dividends with respect
to each class of Common Stock may only be paid with shares of stock of the same series of Common Stock.
Liquidation
In the event of any voluntary
or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of ours, after payment or provision for payment of our debts and
other liabilities and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock are entitled, if any, the
holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive, pari passu, an amount per share equal
to the par value thereof, and thereafter the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive
the remaining assets of ours available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock. Without
limiting the rights of the holders of Class C Common Stock to exchange their shares of Class C Common Stock, together with the
corresponding number of Class C OpCo Units, for shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement
(or for the consideration payable in respect of shares of Class A Common Stock in such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution
or winding-up), the holders of shares of Class C Common Stock, as such, will not be entitled to receive, with respect to such shares,
any of our assets in excess of the par value thereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the affairs of ours.
Class C Common Stock
As of June 25, 2024, we had
22,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock issued and outstanding. Shares of Class C Common Stock may be converted to shares
of Class A Common Stock, as discussed further below.
Voting Rights
Each holder of Class C
Common Stock will be entitled to one vote per share of Class C Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which
stockholders generally are entitled to vote. Further, the holders of the outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock will be entitled
to vote separately upon any amendment to our Charter (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would
alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such series of Common Stock in a manner that is disproportionately adverse
as compared to the Class A Common Stock.
To the fullest extent permitted
by law, holders of shares of each class of the Common Stock, as such, will have no voting power with respect to, and will not be entitled
to vote on, any amendment to our Charter (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of our Preferred Stock) that
relates solely to the rights, powers, preferences (or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof) or other terms of one or
more outstanding series of our Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of our Preferred Stock are entitled, either separately
or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon under our Charter (including any certificate of designations
relating to any series of our Preferred Stock) or under the DGCL.
Dividends; Stock Splits or Combinations
Subject to applicable law
and the rights, if any, of the holders of outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference senior
to or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, such dividends and other distributions
of cash, stock or property may be declared and paid on the shares of the Class A Common Stock out of our assets that are by law available
therefor, at the times and in the amounts as our Board in its discretion may determine.
In no event will any Stock
Adjustment be declared or made on any series of Common Stock unless:
| (a) | a corresponding Stock Adjustment for all other series of Common Stock not so adjusted at the time outstanding
is made in the same proportion and the same manner; and |
| (b) | the Stock Adjustment has been reflected in the same economically equivalent manner with respect to all
Class C OpCo Units. |
Stock dividends with respect
to each class of Common Stock may only be paid with shares of stock of the same series of Common Stock.
Liquidation
In the event of any voluntary
or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of ours, after payment or provision for payment of our debts and
other liabilities and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock are entitled, if any, the
holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive, pari passu, an amount per share equal
to the par value thereof, and thereafter the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive
the remaining assets ours available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock. Without
limiting the rights of the holders of Class C Common Stock to exchange their shares of Class C Common Stock, together with the
corresponding number of Class C OpCo Units, for shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement
(or for the consideration payable in respect of shares of Class A Common Stock in such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution
or winding-up), the holders of shares of Class C Common Stock, as such, will not be entitled to receive, with respect to such shares,
any of our assets in excess of the par value thereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the affairs of ours.
Retirement of Class C Common Stock
No holder of Class C
Common Stock may transfer shares of Class C Common Stock to any person unless such holder transfers a corresponding number of Class C
OpCo Units to the same person in accordance with the provisions governing transfers of Class C OpCo Units in the OpCo A&R
LLC Agreement. If any outstanding share of Class C Common Stock ceases to be held by a holder of a corresponding Class C OpCo
Unit, such share shall automatically and without further action on our part of the part of any holder of Class C Common Stock be
transferred to us for no consideration and retired.
Preferred Stock
Our Board is expressly authorized,
subject to any limitations prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, by resolution or resolutions adopted from time to time, to
provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to the
applicable laws of the State of Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be included in each
such series, to fix the designation, vesting, powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights (and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof) of the shares of each such series and to increase (but not
above the total number of authorized shares of the Preferred Stock) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then
outstanding) the number of shares of Preferred Stock of any such series.
Except as otherwise expressly
provided in any certificate of designation designating any series of Preferred Stock, (i) any new series of Preferred Stock may be
designated, fixed and determined as provided by our Charter by our Board without approval of the holders of Common Stock or the holders
of Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, and (ii) any such new series may have powers, preferences and rights, including, without
limitation, voting rights, dividend rights, liquidation rights, redemption rights and conversion rights, senior to, junior to or pari
passu with the rights of the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock or any future class or series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock.
Authorized But Unissued Capital Stock
As it relates to Class A
Common Stock, we will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock,
solely for the purpose of the issuance in connection with the exchange of Class C OpCo Units pursuant to the OpCo A&R LLC
Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are issuable upon exchange of all outstanding Class C OpCo Units,
pursuant to the OpCo A&R LLC Agreement.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law and the Organizational
Documents
Certain provisions of our
Charter and our Bylaws could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control. These provisions
are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our Board and in the policies formulated by our
Board and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control. These provisions are
designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal or proxy fight. Such provisions could have the effect of discouraging
others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of Class A
Common Stock that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes
in our management or delaying or preventing a transaction that might benefit you or other minority stockholders.
These provisions include,
among other things:
Corporate Opportunities. Our
Charter sets forth provisions to regulate and define the conduct of certain of our affairs with respect to certain classes or categories
of business opportunities as they may involve any of Bluescape, the non-employee directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers,
rights, duties and liabilities of us and our directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith. Under Section 203 of the
DGCL, we will be prohibited from engaging in any business combination with any stockholder for a period of three years following
the time that such stockholder (the “interested stockholder”) came to own at least 15% of our outstanding voting
stock (the “acquisition”), except if: (i) our Board approved the acquisition prior to its consummation;
(ii) the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the outstanding voting stock upon consummation of the acquisition; or (iii) the
business combination is approved by our Board, and by a 2/3 majority vote of the other stockholders in a meeting.
Written Consent by Stockholders. Under
our Charter, subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders may
be effected (i) at a duly called annual or special meeting of our stockholders or (ii) until such time of the Controlled Company
Event, by the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, in lieu of a duly called annual or special meeting
of stockholders.
Special Meeting of Stockholders. Under
our Charter, subject to any special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law,
special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairperson of our Board, our chief executive officer, at the direction
of our Board pursuant to a written resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors that we would have if there were
no vacancies, or, until the Controlled Company Event, pursuant to a written resolution adopted by holders of a majority of the total voting
power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single
class. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes
stated in the notice of meeting.
Advance Notice Requirements
for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Under our Charter, advance notice of stockholder nominations
for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of our stockholders shall be given in the
manner and to the extent provided in our Bylaws.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our Charter contains provisions
that limit the liability of our officers and directors for damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The DGCL provides
that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors,
except for liability:
| ● | for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit; |
| ● | for any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
of law; |
| ● | for any unlawful payment of dividends or redemption of shares; or |
| ● | for any breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders. |
If the DGCL is amended to
authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of the directors will
be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
Delaware law and the Bylaws
provide that Verde will, in certain situations, indemnify its directors and officers and may indemnify other employees and other agents,
to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any indemnified person is also entitled, subject to certain limitations, to advancement, direct
payment, or reimbursement of reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) in advance of the final disposition
of the proceeding.
In addition, Verde entered
into separate indemnification agreements with its directors and officers. These agreements, among other things, require Verde to indemnify
its directors and officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and settlement amounts incurred by
a director or officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of its directors or officers or any other company
or enterprise to which the person provides services at its request.
Verde maintains a directors’
and officers’ insurance policy pursuant to which its directors and officers are insured against liability for actions taken in their
capacities as directors and officers. We believe these provisions in the Charter and the Bylaws and these indemnification agreements are
necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
Insofar as indemnification
for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or control persons, in the opinion of the SEC,
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Indemnification Agreements
On the Closing Date, in connection
with the consummation of the Business Combination, we entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive
officers. These indemnification agreements require us to indemnify its directors and executive officers for certain expenses, including
attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding
arising out of their services as one of our directors or executive officers or out of any services they provide at our request to any
other company or enterprise.
Exclusive Forum
Our Charter provides that,
unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf
of us, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by, or other wrongdoing by, any of our current or former
directors, officers, employee or agents to us or our stockholders, or a claim of aiding and abetting any such breach of fiduciary duty,
(iii) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers, employees or agents arising pursuant to any provision
of the DGCL, our Charter or our Bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our Charter or
our Bylaws, (v) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers, employees or agents that is governed by
the internal affairs doctrine or (vi) any action asserting an “internal corporate claim” as that term is defined in Section 115
of the DGCL and (b) the federal district courts shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for
the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this shall
not apply to claims seeking to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the U.S. federal
courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our securities shall
be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions.
Registration Rights
The A&R Registration Rights
Agreement provides the Reg Rights Holders with certain registration rights whereby, at any time, subject to certain lockup restrictions
and the other terms and conditions of the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, they have the right to require us to register under the
Securities Act certain Registrable Securities (as defined in the A&R Registration Rights Agreement). The A&R Registration Rights
Agreement also provides for piggyback registration rights for the Reg Rights Holders, subject to certain conditions and exceptions. The
A&R Registration Rights Agreement does not provide for the payment of any cash penalties by us if we fail to satisfy any of our obligations
under the A&R Registration Rights Agreement.
Warrants
There are 15,383,263 warrants
currently outstanding, including 12,908,263 Public Warrants and 2,475,000 Private Placement Warrants.
Each whole Warrant entitles
the registered holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed
below, except as discussed in the immediately succeeding paragraph. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrantholder may exercise its
Warrants only for a whole number of Class A Common Stock. This means only a whole Warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrantholder.
The Warrants will expire on February 15, 2028, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
We are not be obligated to
deliver any Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless
a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants is then effective
and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to us satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration, or
a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant is exercisable and we are not be obligated to issue a share of Class A
Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the share of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered,
qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the Warrants. In the
event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant
will not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event are we required to
net cash settle any Warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised Warrants, the purchaser of
a unit containing such Warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Class A Common Stock underlying
such unit.
If our shares of Class A
Common Stock are, at the time of any exercise of a Warrant, not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition
of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our 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 we so elect, we are not be required maintain in effect the Registration Statement, but we will use our best efforts
to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. If we call the Warrants
for redemption as described below, our management has the option to require all holders that wish to exercise Warrants to do so on a “cashless”
basis. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price for each Warrant being exercised by surrendering the Warrants for that
number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares
of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the Warrants and the
“fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. However, no cashless exercise shall be permitted unless
the fair market value is equal to or higher than the exercise price. The “fair market value” for this purpose shall mean the
average reported last sale price of the shares of Class A Common Stock for the 5 trading days ending on the third trading
day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of Warrants.
Redemption of Warrants when
the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00. Once the Warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding
Warrants:
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | at a price of $0.01 per Warrant; |
| ● | at any time after the Warrants become exercisable until the expiration of the Warrants; |
| ● | upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrantholder; |
| ● | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00
per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any
period of 30 consecutive trading days commencing at any time after the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third business day
prior to the notice of redemption to warrantholders; and |
| ● | if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of Class A
Common Stock underlying such warrants. |
We will not redeem the Warrants
as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the 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
throughout the 30-day redemption period. 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.
The redemption criteria for
our Warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrantholders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise
price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the warrant exercise price so that if the share
price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the
Warrants.
The right to exercise will
be forfeited unless the Warrants are exercised prior to the date specified in the notice of redemption. On and after the redemption date,
a record holder of a Warrant will have no further rights except to receive the redemption price for such holder’s Warrant upon surrender
of such Warrant.
The exercise price and number
of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of the Warrant may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event
of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, except as described
herein, the Warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of Class A Common Stock at a price below their respective exercise
prices, except as described under the heading “— Anti-dilution Adjustments”.
If we issue a notice of redemption
of the Warrants, each warrantholder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its Public Warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date.
However, the price of the shares of Class A Common Stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for adjustments
to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a Warrant as described under the heading “— Anti-dilution
Adjustments”) as well as the $11.50 (for whole shares) warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
Beginning on the date the
notice of redemption is given until the Warrants are redeemed or exercised, holders may elect to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless
basis.
Redemption procedures
Warrantholders may elect to
be subject to a restriction on the exercise of their Warrants such that an electing warrantholder would not be able to exercise their
Warrants to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, such warrantholder would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% of the
shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding.
Anti-dilution adjustments
If the number of outstanding
shares of Class A Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend paid in shares of Class A Common Stock, or by a split up of
shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split up or similar event,
the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase
in the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
In addition, if we, at any
time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the
holders of shares of Class A Common Stock on account of such shares (or other securities into which the Warrants are convertible)
(an “Extraordinary Dividend”), other than (a) as described above or (b) any cash dividends or cash
distributions which, when combined on a per share basis with all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the shares of Class A
Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution does not exceed $0.50 per share
(as adjusted to appropriately reflect any other adjustments and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment
to the exercise price or to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant) but only with respect
to the amount of the aggregate cash dividends or cash distributions equal to or less than $0.50 per share, then the warrant exercise price
will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and the fair market
value (as determined by our Board, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend divided
by all outstanding shares of the Company at such time (whether or not any shareholders waived their right to receive such dividend).
If the number of outstanding
shares of Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of
Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split
or reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant will be decreased
in proportion to such decrease in the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
Whenever the number of shares
of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price
will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the
numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately
prior to such adjustment and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so purchasable
immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification
or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (other than those that solely affects the par value of such shares
of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation
or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding
shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of our assets or other
property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the Warrants will thereafter
have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the
shares of Class A Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby,
the kind and amount of shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification,
reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would
have received if such holder had exercised their Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event.
The Warrants were originally
issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and
our predecessor registrant, CENAQ. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the Warrants may be amended without the consent
of any holder (i) to cure any ambiguity or correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the
description of the terms of the Warrants, or to cure, correct or supplement any defective provision, or (ii) to add or change any
other 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 interests of the registered holders of the Warrants.
The warrant agreement requires the approval, by written consent or vote, of the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Public
Warrants in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. You should review a copy of the warrant
agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to this registration statement, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable
to the Warrants.
The Warrants may be exercised
upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form
on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price,
by good certified check or wire payable to the warrant agent, for the number of Warrants being exercised. The warrantholders do not have
the rights or privileges of holders of Class A Common Stock or any voting rights until they exercise their Warrants and receive shares
of Class A Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants, each warrantholder
will be entitled to one (1) vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No fractional shares of Class A
Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of the Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a
fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise round up to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of Class A Common
Stock to be issued to the warrantholder.
We have agreed that, subject
to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including
under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction. This exclusive forum provision shall
not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, any other claim for which the federal district
courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
The Private Placement Warrants
have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the Public Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants will not be redeemable by
us, so long as they are held by CENAQ Sponsor or its permitted transferees (except as otherwise set forth herein). If the Private Placement
Warrants are held by holders other than CENAQ Sponsor or its permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable
by us in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for and
registrar for our securities is the Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Listing
The shares of Class A
Common Stock and Public Warrants are listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “VGAS” and “VGASW,” respectively.
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
This prospectus relates to
the resale by the Selling Securityholders from time to time of (i) up to 31,175,284 shares of Class A Common Stock and (ii) up
to 1,879,257 Warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock, which were originally issued at a purchase price of $1.00 per warrant, at
an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The Selling Securityholders are not obligated to resell their respective shares pursuant to the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The Class A Common Stock covered by this prospectus consist of:
| ● | 3,420,095 shares of Class A Common Stock originally acquired by CENAQ Sponsor; |
| ● | 22,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of Class C Common Stock
issued to Holdings upon the exchange of Class C OpCo Units and the cancellation of an equal number of shares of Class C
Common Stock in connection with such exchange; |
| ● | 3,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock originally issued and sold to the PIPE Investors at a purchase
price of $10.00 per share; |
| ● | 142,478 shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by Anchor Investors; |
| ● | 1,879,257 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants; and |
| ● | 33,454 shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion of the New Promissory Note. |
The Selling Securityholders
may from time to time offer and sell any or all of the shares of Class A Common Stock set forth below pursuant to this prospectus
and any accompanying prospectus supplement. When we refer to the “Selling Securityholders” in this prospectus, we mean the
persons listed in the table below, and the pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees, successors, designees and others who later come to
hold any of the Selling Securityholders’ interest in the Class A Common Stock other than through a public sale.
The following table sets forth,
as of the date of this prospectus, the names of the Selling Securityholders, the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock
beneficially owned, the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock that the Selling Securityholders may offer pursuant to this
prospectus, and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by the Selling Securityholders after the sale of
the securities offered hereby.
We have determined beneficial
ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other
purpose. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment
power with respect to all securities that they beneficially own, subject to community property laws where applicable.
We cannot advise you as to
whether the Selling Securityholders will in fact sell any or all of such shares of Class A Common Stock. In addition, the Selling
Securityholders may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time and from time to time, Class A Common Stock in transactions
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. For purposes of this table, we have assumed that the Selling Stockholders
will have sold all of the securities covered by this prospectus upon the completion of the offering.
Selling Stockholder information for each additional Selling Stockholder, if any, will be
set forth by prospectus supplement to the extent required prior to the time of any offer or sale of such Selling Stockholder’s shares
pursuant to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may add, update, substitute, or change the information contained in this prospectus,
including the identity of each Selling Stockholder and the number of shares registered on its behalf. A Selling Stockholder may sell or
otherwise transfer all, some or none of such shares in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution” for more information.
| |
Shares
of Class A Common Stock(1) | | |
Warrants
to Purchase Common Stock | |
| |
Number
Beneficially
Owned
Prior to
Offering | | |
Number
Registered for
Sale Hereby | | |
Number
Beneficially
Owned
After
Offering | | |
Percent
Owned
After
Offering | | |
Number
Beneficially
Owned
Prior to
Offering | | |
Number
Registered
for Sale
Hereby | | |
Number
Beneficially
Owned
After
Offering | | |
Percent
Owned
After
Offering | |
Arb Energy SPAC
I(2) | |
| 164,165 | | |
| 164,165 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 145,898 | | |
| 145,898 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Benjamin Francisco Salinas
Sada | |
| 511,620 | | |
| 511,620 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 464,559 | | |
| 464,559 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Blackpoint LT Partners, LLC
Series Sponsor 1(3) | |
| 75,000 | | |
| 75,000 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings,
LLC(4) | |
| 23,300,000 | | |
| 23,300,000 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
CENAQ Sponsor, LLC(5) | |
| 3,234,375 | | |
| 3,234,375 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Corcel Investments LLC(6) | |
| 67,962 | | |
| 67,962 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 62,222 | | |
| 62,222 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Cottonmouth Ventures LLC(7) | |
| 2,000,000 | | |
| 2,000,000 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
David Bullion | |
| 425 | | |
| 425 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
David Porter | |
| 3,565 | | |
| 3,565 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Denise Dubard | |
| 14,171 | | |
| 14,171 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 14,171 | | |
| 14,171 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Emily Boecking | |
| 3,565 | | |
| 3,565 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Eric Bahorich | |
| 3,565 | | |
| 3,565 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
ESU Invest LP(8) | |
| 172,840 | | |
| 172,840 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
GCC Fund III COOPERATIEF
U. A(8) | |
| 227,160 | | |
| 227,160 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Guy Lander | |
| 951 | | |
| 951 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
James Gunderson | |
| 1,698 | | |
| 1,698 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 1,575 | | |
| 1,575 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
James Russell Porter | |
| 261,088 | | |
| 261,088 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 238,405 | | |
| 238,405 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
John B. Connally III | |
| 181,863 | | |
| 181,863 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 181,438 | | |
| 181,438 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Joy Holdings, Ltd.(9) | |
| 12,027 | | |
| 12,027 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Kara Bennett | |
| 3,565 | | |
| 3,565 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
KM Devco, LLC(10) | |
| 178 | | |
| 178 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Lecia Alexander | |
| 1,575 | | |
| 1,575 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 1,575 | | |
| 1,575 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Mike Bahorich | |
| 48,052 | | |
| 48,052 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 47,202 | | |
| 47,202 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Ondrej Sestak | |
| 3,565 | | |
| 3,565 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Rivernorth SPAC Arbitrage
Fund, LP(11) | |
| 33,739 | | |
| 33,739 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Rivernorth Capital Partners
LP(11) | |
| 3,373 | | |
| 3,373 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Rivernorth Institutional
Partners LP(11) | |
| 30,366 | | |
| 30,366 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Sara Martin | |
| 3,565 | | |
| 3,565 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| 3,307 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Seminole Resources(12) | |
| 1,575 | | |
| 1,575 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 1,575 | | |
| 1,575 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Sirvent SPAC I Management
LLC(2) | |
| 301,424 | | |
| 301,424 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 250,407 | | |
| 250,407 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Typhoon Offshore(13) | |
| 508,267 | | |
| 508,267 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 450,388 | | |
| 450,388 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Total | |
| 31,175,284 | | |
| 31,175,284 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 1,879,257 | | |
| 1,879,257 | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| 1. | Reflects applicable ownership of Warrants, each of which are exercisable to purchase one share of Class
A Common Stock at $11.50 per share. |
| 2. | Humberto Sirvent has voting and investment power over these shares. |
| 3. | The address of this holder is 595 Shrewsbury Ave, Suite 203, Shresbury, New Jersey 07702. |
| 4. | Consists of (i) 22,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 22,500,000 Class
C OpCo Units of OpCo and a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock and (ii) 800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. Holdings
is the record holder of such shares. Holdings is a 100% owned subsidiary (portfolio company) of BERR, and Bluescape Energy Partners III
GP LLC is the general partner of BERR. The BERR funds are managed by Bluescape Energy Partners LLC. Bluescape Resources Company LLC is
the parent of Bluescape Energy Partners III GP LLC and Bluescape Energy Partners LLC and is principally owned and controlled by Mr. C.
John Wilder. Mr. Wilder disclaims any beneficial ownership of the reported shares other than to the extent of any pecuniary interest he
may have therein, directly or indirectly. The principal business address of each of the entities and persons identified in this paragraph
is c/o Bluescape Resources Company LLC, 300 Crescent Court, Suite 1860, Dallas, TX 75201. This information is based on a Schedule 13D
filed by Holdings on February 27, 2023. |
| 5. | CENAQ Sponsor is the record holder of such shares, all of which are subject to forfeiture until the occurrence
of a Triggering Event. J. Russell Porter is the sole member of the board of managers of CENAQ Sponsor, and as such, Mr. Porter has voting
and investment discretion with respect to the shares held directly by CENAQ Sponsor. Mr. Porter disclaims any beneficial ownership of
the reported shares other than the extent of any pecuniary interest he may have therein, directly or indirectly. The principal business
address of CENAQ Sponsor and Mr. Porter is c/o CENAQ Sponsor, 4550 Post Oak Place Drive, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77027. This information
is based on a joint filing Schedule 13G/A filed on January 22, 2024. |
| 6. | Charles Galante has voting and investment power over these shares. |
| 7. | Cottonmouth is the record holder of such shares. Cottonmouth is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Diamondback,
and as such, has voting and investment discretion with respect to the shares held directly by Cottonmouth. The principal business address
of each of the entities identified in this paragraph is c/o Diamondback Energy Inc., 500 West Texas, Suite 1200, Midland, TX 79701. This
information is based on a Schedule 13D filed by Diamondback on March 1, 2023. |
| 8. | Global Cleantech Management B.V. has voting and dispositive power over the shares held by ESU Invest LP
and GCC Fund III Cooperatief U.A. (together, the “GCM Entities”). Paul Kloppenborg and Joris Vos, each a director of Global
Cleantech Management B.V., jointly have voting and investment discretion with respect to the shares held directly by the GCM Entities.
The principal business address of each of the entities and persons identified in this paragraph is Herengracht 338, 1016 CG Amsterdam,
The Netherlands. |
| 9. | J. Kelly Joy, Rebecca J. Joy and Reggie Howard have voting and investment power over these shares. |
| 10. | Karen Mayell and Michael J. Mayell have voting and investment power over these shares. |
| 11. | RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC (“RiverNorth”), the general partner of RiverNorth Capital
Partners, LP and RiverNorth Institutional Partners LP. And the Managing Member of RiverNorth SPAC Arbitrage GP, the general partner of
RiverNorth SPAC Arbitrage Fund, LP (together with RiverNorth Capital Partners, LP and RiverNorth Institutional Partners, LP, the “RiverNorth
Funds”) has beneficial ownership of the shares held by the RiverNorth Funds. Brian H. Schmucker and Patrick W. Galley are deemed
control person of RiverNorth. The address for these entities and individuals is 360 South Rosemary Avenue, Suite 1420, West Palm Beach,
Florida, 33401. |
| 12. | Robert F. Goldstein has voting and investment power over these shares. |
| 13. | Benjamin Francisco Salinas Sada has voting and investment power over these shares. |
UNITED STATES FEDERAL
INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a discussion
of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations with respect to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Class A
Common Stock and Warrants, which we refer to collectively as our securities. This discussion applies only to beneficial owners of our
securities that will hold our securities as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally,
property held for investment). This discussion is based on the provisions of the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative
rules and judicial decisions, all as in effect on the date hereof, and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations,
possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change or differing interpretation could affect the accuracy of the statements set forth herein.
We have not sought any rulings from the IRS with respect to the statements made and the positions or conclusions described in this summary.
Such statements, positions and conclusions are not free from doubt, and there can be no assurance that your tax advisor, the IRS or a
court will agree with such statements, positions and conclusions.
The following discussion does
not purport to address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to particular holders in light of their personal
circumstances. In addition, this summary does not address the Medicare tax on certain investment income, U.S. federal estate or gift
tax laws, any U.S. state, local or non-U.S. tax laws, or any tax treaties. This summary also does not address tax considerations
applicable to investors that may be subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as:
| ● | banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions; |
| ● | tax-exempt or governmental organizations; |
| ● | dealers in securities or foreign currencies; |
| ● | persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
| ● | traders in securities that use the mark-to-market method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax
purposes; |
| ● | “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies” and
corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
| ● | partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes or holders of interests
therein; |
| ● | persons that acquire our securities through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation
or through tax-qualified retirement plans; |
| ● | persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, appreciated financial position, synthetic security,
hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment or risk reduction transaction; |
| ● | certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
| ● | except as specifically provided below, persons that actually or constructively hold 5% or more (by vote
or value) of any class of our shares; and |
| ● | the Selling Securityholders (including CENAQ Sponsor, Holdings, the PIPE Investors and the Anchor Investors). |
If a partnership (including
an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our securities, the tax treatment of
a partner in such partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner, upon the activities of the partnership and upon certain
determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, we urge partners in partnerships (including entities or arrangements treated as
partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holding our securities to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal
income tax consequences to them relating to the matters discussed below.
INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS
WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS (INCLUDING ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE CHANGES THERETO) TO THEIR PARTICULAR
SITUATIONS, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY U.S. STATE,
LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.
U.S. Holders
This section applies to you
if you are a “U.S. Holder.” For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a holder
that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
| ● | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| ● | a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created
or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; |
| ● | an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
a trust (i) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more “United States
persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions
of the trust or (ii) that has made a valid election under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States
person. |
Taxation of Distributions with Respect to Class A
Common Stock
We do not expect to pay any
distributions on our Class A Common Stock in the foreseeable future. If we do make distributions of cash or other property to U.S. Holders
of shares of Class A Common Stock, however, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax
purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles.
Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a non-taxable return of capital to the extent
of a U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A Common Stock, which will be applied against and reduce (but not below
zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A Common Stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized
on the sale or other disposition of Class A Common Stock and will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain
on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below.
Distributions treated as dividends
that we pay to a U.S. Holder that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes generally will qualify for
the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including, but not limited to,
dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period
requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. Holder generally will constitute “qualified dividends”
that will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the maximum tax rate accorded to long-term capital gains. If the holding period
requirements are not satisfied, a corporate U.S. Holder may not be able to qualify for the dividends received deduction and would
have taxable income equal to the entire dividend amount, and a non-corporate U.S. Holder may be subject to tax on such dividend at
regular ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential rate that applies to qualified dividend income.
Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition
of Class A Common Stock and Warrants
Upon a sale or other taxable
disposition of Class A Common Stock or Warrants, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal
to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A Common Stock or
Warrants, as applicable. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s
holding period for the Class A Common Stock or Warrants, as applicable, so disposed of exceeds one year. If the one-year holding
period requirement is not satisfied, any gain on a sale or other taxable disposition of the Class A Common Stock or Warrants, as
applicable, would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital
gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses
is subject to limitations.
Generally, the amount of gain
or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair
market value of any property received in such disposition and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A
Common Stock or Warrants so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A Common Stock or Warrants generally
will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost of the Class A Common Stock or Warrants, as applicable, less, in the case
of Class A Common Stock, any prior distributions paid to such U.S. Holder that were treated as a return of capital for U.S. federal
income tax purposes (as discussed above). Special rules apply for determining the tax basis of Class A Common Stock received upon
exercise of a Warrant (as discussed below).
Exercise or Redemption of a Warrant
Except as discussed below
with respect to the “cashless exercise” of a Warrant, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss on the
acquisition of Class A Common Stock upon the exercise of a Warrant. The U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its Class A Common
Stock received upon exercise of a Warrant generally will be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost
of the Warrant and the exercise price of such Warrant.
The tax consequences of a
cashless exercise of a Warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-free, either because the exercise is
not treated as a realization event or, if it is treated as a realization event, because the exercise is treated as a “recapitalization”
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either case, a U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the Class A Common Stock
received would equal the holder’s basis in the Warrants exercised therefor. However, it is also possible that a cashless exercise
may be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. Holder may be deemed
to have surrendered a number of Warrants having an aggregate value equal to the exercise price of the number of Warrants to be exercised.
The U.S. Holder would then recognize capital gain or loss in an amount generally equal to the difference between the fair market
value of the Warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such Warrants. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s
initial tax basis in the Class A Common Stock received would equal the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the
Warrants exercised and the exercise price of such Warrants. Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment
of a cashless exercise, there can be no assurance as to which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences described herein would be adopted
by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences
of a cashless exercise.
We intend to treat any cashless
exercise of a Warrant occurring after we give notice of an intention to redeem the Warrants for cash (as permitted under the terms of
the warrant agreement) as if we redeemed such Warrants for shares in a redemption qualifying as a recapitalization for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. In such case, a U.S. Holder should not recognize any gain or loss on the exercise of Warrants for shares of
Class A Common Stock. A U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the shares of Class A Common Stock received should equal
the U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the Warrants exercised. If the cashless exercise were instead treated as a redemption
that was not treated as a realization event, the same tax basis rules described in the preceding sentence would generally apply. However,
there is some uncertainty regarding this tax treatment and it is possible such a cashless exercise could be treated differently, including
as in part a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized in a manner similar to that discussed in the second paragraph
of this section.
If we redeem the Warrants
for cash (as permitted under the terms of the warrant agreement) or if we purchase Warrants in an open market transaction, such redemption
or purchase generally will be treated as a taxable disposition to the U.S. Holder, taxed as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain
on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” above.
Expiration of a Warrant
If a Warrant is allowed to
expire unexercised, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the Warrant.
The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Possible Constructive Distributions with Respect to Warrants
The terms of the Warrants
provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which Warrants may be exercised or to the exercise
price of the Warrants in certain events. An adjustment that has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. U.S. Holders
of the Warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases
the warrantholder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number
of shares of Class A Common Stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the Warrant)
in connection with a distribution of cash or other property to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock. Any such constructive
distribution would be treated in the same manner as if U.S. Holders of Warrants received a cash distribution from us generally equal
to the fair market value of the increased interest and would be taxed in a manner similar to distributions to U.S. Holders of Class A
Common Stock described herein. See “U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions with Respect to Class A
Common Stock” above.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information reporting requirements
generally will apply to dividends paid to a U.S. Holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of Class A Common
Stock and Warrants, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient and certifies to such exempt status. Backup withholding may apply
to such payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number or a certification of exempt status or has
been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).
Backup withholding is not
an additional tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability (if any) of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced
by the amount of tax withheld. If backup withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund generally may be obtained, provided
that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you
if you are a “Non-U.S. Holder.” For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is
a beneficial owner of our securities that is not a U.S. Holder and that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an individual,
corporation, estate or trust.
Taxation of Distributions with Respect to Class A
Common Stock
Distributions of cash or property
on Class A Common Stock, if any, will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid out of our
current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). To the extent those distributions
exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distributions will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent
of the Non-U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its Class A Common Stock and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange
of such Class A Common Stock. See “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable
Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below. Subject to the discussion of effectively connected dividends below,
any distribution made to a Non-U.S. Holder on its Class A Common Stock generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax
at the rate of 30% of the gross amount of the distribution unless an applicable income tax treaty provides for a lower rate. To receive
the benefit of a reduced treaty rate, a Non-U.S. Holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN
or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form) certifying qualification for the reduced rate.
Dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder
that are effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States (and, if required
by an applicable income tax treaty, are treated as attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in
the United States) generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the rates and in the manner generally applicable to United States
persons. Such effectively connected dividends will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax if the Non-U.S. Holder satisfies certain
certification requirements by providing the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI certifying eligibility
for exemption. If the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it may also be subject to a branch
profits tax at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on its effectively connected earnings and
profits (as adjusted for certain items), which will include effectively connected dividends.
Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition
of Class A Common Stock and Warrants
Subject to the discussions
below under “Non-U.S. Holders — Information Reporting and Backup Withholding,” a Non-U.S. Holder
generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of
Class A Common Stock or Warrants (including an expiration or redemption of Warrants) unless:
| ● | the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods
aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year in which the sale or disposition occurs and certain other conditions are met; |
| ● | the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder in the
United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the
Non-U.S. Holder in the United States); or |
| ● | our Class A Common Stock or Warrants constitute United States real property interests by reason
of our status as a “United States real property holding corporation” (a “USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income
tax purposes and as a result such gain is treated as effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder
in the United States. |
A Non-U.S. Holder described
in the first bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as specified by an
applicable income tax treaty) on the amount of such gain, which generally may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses.
A Non-U.S. Holder whose
gain is described in the second bullet point above or, subject to the exceptions described in the next paragraph, the third bullet point
above, generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the rates and in the manner generally applicable to United States persons
unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. If the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes whose gain is described in the second bullet point above, such gain would also be included in its effectively connected earnings
and profits (as adjusted for certain items), which may be subject to a branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as specified
by an applicable income tax treaty).
Generally, a corporation is
a USRPHC if the fair market value of its United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market
value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. We do not believe that we are a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and we do not expect to become
a USRPHC for the foreseeable future. However, in the event that we were to become a USRPHC, as long as the Class A Common Stock continues
to be “regularly traded on an established securities market” (within the meaning of the U.S. Treasury regulations, referred
to herein as “regularly traded”), only a Non-U.S. Holder that actually or constructively owns, or owned at any time during
the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the applicable
security, (i) more than 5% of the Class A Common Stock or (ii) more than 5% of the Warrants (provided the Warrants are
considered to be regularly traded), as applicable, will be treated as disposing of a United States real property interest and will
be taxable on gain realized on the disposition thereof as a result of our status as a USRPHC. It is unclear how a Non-U.S. Holder’s
ownership of Warrants will affect the determination of whether such Non-U.S. Holder owns more than 5% of the Class A Common
Stock. In addition, special rules may apply in the case of a disposition of Warrants if the Class A Common Stock is considered to
be regularly traded, but such Warrants are not considered to be regularly traded. We can provide no assurance as to our future status
as a USRPHC or as to whether the Class A Common Stock or Warrants will be treated as regularly traded. If we were to become a USRPHC
and our Class A Common Stock were not considered to be regularly traded, a Non-U.S. Holder (regardless of the percentage of
our securities owned) would be treated as disposing of a United States real property interest and would be subject to U.S. federal
income tax on a taxable disposition of Class A Common Stock or Warrants (as described in the preceding paragraph), and a 15% withholding
tax would apply to the gross proceeds from such disposition.
Non-U.S. Holders are
encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences related to ownership in a USRPHC.
Exercise or Redemption of a Warrant
The U.S. federal income
tax characterization of a Non-U.S. Holder’s exercise of a Warrant generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income
tax characterization of the exercise of a Warrant by a U.S. Holder, as described under “U.S. Holders — Exercise
or Redemption of a Warrant” above. To the extent a cashless exercise is characterized as a taxable exchange, the consequences
would be similar to those described above under “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other
Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.” The U.S. federal income tax treatment for a Non-U.S. Holder
of a redemption of Warrants for cash as permitted under the terms of the warrant agreement (or if we purchase Warrants in an open market
transaction) generally will correspond to that described above under “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable
Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.”
Expiration of a Warrant
The U.S. federal income
tax treatment of the expiration of a Warrant held by a Non-U.S. Holder generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income
tax treatment of the expiration of a Warrant held by a U.S. Holder, as described under “U.S. Holders — Expiration
of a Warrant” above.
Possible Constructive Distributions with Respect to Warrants
The terms of the Warrants
provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which Warrants may be exercised or to the exercise
price of the Warrants in certain events. An adjustment that has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. Non-U.S. Holders
of Warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the
warrantholder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of
shares of Class A Common Stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the Warrant) in
connection with a distribution of cash or other property to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock. Any such constructive
distribution would be treated in the same manner as if Non-U.S. Holders of Warrants received a cash distribution from us generally
equal to the fair market value of the increased interest and would be taxed in a manner similar to distributions to Non-U.S. Holders
of Class A Common Stock described herein. See “Non-U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions with Respect
to Class A Common Stock” above. The applicable withholding agent may withhold any resulting withholding tax from future
cash distributions or other amounts owed to the Non-U.S. Holder.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Any dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder
must be reported annually to the IRS and to the Non-U.S. Holder. Copies of these information returns may be made available to the
tax authorities in the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established. Payments of dividends to a Non-U.S. Holder
generally will not be subject to backup withholding if the Non-U.S. holder establishes an exemption by properly certifying its non-U.S. status
on an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form).
Payments of the proceeds from
a sale or other disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder of our Class A Common Stock or Warrants generally will be subject to information
reporting and backup withholding unless the Non-U.S. Holder establishes an exemption by properly certifying its non-U.S. status
on an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form) and certain other conditions are met.
Backup withholding is not
an additional tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability (if any) of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced
by the amount of tax withheld. If backup withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained, provided that the required
information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Additional Withholding Requirements under FATCA
Sections 1471 through 1474
of the Code, and the U.S. Treasury regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (“FATCA”),
impose a 30% withholding tax on any dividends on our Class A Common Stock and, subject to the proposed U.S. Treasury regulations
discussed below, on proceeds from sales or other dispositions of shares of our Class A Common Stock, if paid to a “foreign
financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code) (including, in some cases,
when such foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity is acting as an intermediary), unless (i) in the case of
a foreign financial institution, such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments
and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution
(which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are non-U.S. entities
with U.S. owners), (ii) in the case of a non-financial foreign entity, such entity certifies that it does not have any “substantial
United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or provides the applicable withholding agent with a certification identifying
the direct and indirect substantial United States owners of the entity (in either case, generally on an IRS Form W-8BEN-E) or
(iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules and
provides appropriate documentation (such as an IRS Form W-8BEN-E). Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have
an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing these rules may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances,
a holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. While gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our Class A
Common Stock paid after January 1, 2019 would have originally been subject to withholding under FATCA, proposed U.S. Treasury
regulations provide that such payments of gross proceeds do not constitute withholdable payments. Taxpayers may generally rely on these
proposed U.S. Treasury regulations until they are revoked or final U.S. Treasury regulations are issued. Non-U.S. Holders
are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the effects of FATCA on an investment in our Class A Common Stock.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the possible
resale by the Selling Securityholders of up to 31,175,284 shares of Class A Common Stock.
We will not receive any of
the proceeds from the sale of the securities by the Selling Securityholders. The aggregate proceeds to the Selling Securityholders will
be the purchase price of the securities less any discounts and commissions borne by the Selling Securityholders.
The Selling Securityholders
will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the Selling Securityholders for brokerage, accounting, tax
or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the Selling Securityholders in disposing of the securities. We will bear all other
costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation,
all registration and filing fees, Nasdaq listing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and our independent registered public accountants.
The securities beneficially
owned by the Selling Securityholders covered by this prospectus may be offered and sold from time to time by the Selling Securityholders.
The term “Selling Securityholders” includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors in interest selling securities
received after the date of this prospectus from a Selling Securityholders as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer.
The Selling Securityholders will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale.
Such sales may be made on one or more exchanges or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise, at prices and under terms then prevailing
or at prices related to the then current market price or in negotiated transactions. Each Selling Securityholders reserves the right to
accept and, together with its respective agents, to reject, any proposed purchase of securities to be made directly or through agents.
The Selling Securityholders and any of their permitted transferees may sell their securities offered by this prospectus on any stock exchange,
market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. If underwriters are used in the sale, such underwriters
will acquire the shares for their own account. These sales may be at a fixed price or varying prices, which may be changed, or at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The securities may be offered
to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The obligations
of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all
the securities offered if any of the securities are purchased.
Subject to the limitations
set forth in any applicable registration rights agreement, the Selling Securityholders may use any one or more of the following methods
when selling the securities offered by this prospectus:
| ● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant
to this prospectus; |
| ● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers; |
| ● | block trades in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may
position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| ● | an over-the-counter distribution in accordance with the rules of Nasdaq; |
| ● | through trading plans entered into by a Selling Securityholder pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the
Exchange Act that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement hereto
that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans; |
| ● | through one or more underwritten offerings on a firm commitment or best efforts basis; |
| ● | settlement of short sales entered into after the date of this prospectus; |
| ● | agreements with broker-dealers to sell a specified number of the securities at a stipulated price per
share or warrant; |
| ● | in “at the market” offerings, as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, at negotiated
prices, at prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, including sales made directly
on a national securities exchange or sales made through a market maker other than on an exchange or other similar offerings through sales
agents; |
| ● | directly to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process or in privately
negotiated transactions; |
| ● | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options
exchange or otherwise; |
| ● | through the distributions by any Selling Securityholder or its affiliates to its partners, members or
stockholders through a combination of any of the above methods of sale; or |
| ● | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
In addition, a Selling Securityholder
that is an entity may elect to make a pro rata in-kind distribution of securities to its members, partners or stockholders pursuant to
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part by delivering a prospectus with a plan of distribution. Such members, partners
or stockholders would thereby receive freely tradeable securities pursuant to the distribution through a registration statement. To the
extent a distributee is an affiliate of ours (or to the extent otherwise required by law), we may file a prospectus supplement in order
to permit the distributees to use the prospectus to resell the securities acquired in the distribution.
There can be no assurance
that the Selling Securityholders will sell all or any of the securities offered by this prospectus. In addition, the Selling Securityholders
may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, or in other transactions exempt from registration,
rather than under this prospectus. The Selling Securityholders have the sole and absolute discretion not to accept any purchase offer
or make any sale of securities if they deem the purchase price to be unsatisfactory at any particular time.
The Selling Securityholders
also may transfer the securities in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors-in-interest will
be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus. Upon being notified by a Selling Securityholder that a donee, pledgee,
transferee, other successor-in-interest intends to sell our securities, we will, to the extent required, promptly file a supplement to
this prospectus to name specifically such person as a Selling Securityholder.
With respect to a particular
offering of the securities held by the Selling Securityholders, to the extent required, an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate,
a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part, will be prepared and will set forth the following
information:
| ● | the specific securities to be offered and sold; |
| ● | the names of the Selling Securityholders; |
| ● | the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the proceeds to be received from the sale,
if any, and other material terms of the offering; |
| ● | settlement of short sales entered into after the date of this prospectus; |
| ● | the names of any participating agents, broker-dealers or underwriters; and |
| ● | any applicable commissions, discounts, concessions and other items constituting compensation from the
Selling Securityholders. |
In connection with distributions
of the securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial
institutions. In connection with such transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of the securities
in the course of hedging the positions they assume with Selling Securityholders. The Selling Securityholders may also sell the securities
short and redeliver the securities to close out such short positions. The Selling Securityholders may also enter into option or other
transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution
of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction). The Selling Securityholders may also pledge securities to a broker-dealer
or other financial institution, and, upon a default, such broker-dealer or other financial institution, may effect sales of the pledged
securities pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
In order to facilitate the
offering of the securities, any underwriters or agents, as the case may be, involved in the offering of such securities may engage in
transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our securities. Specifically, the underwriters or agents, as the
case may be, may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in our securities for their own account. In addition,
to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of our securities, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may bid for, and
purchase, such securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting
syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allotted to an underwriter or a broker-dealer for distributing such securities in the offering
if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions
or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. The
underwriters or agents, as the case may be, are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any
time.
The Selling Securityholders
may solicit offers to purchase the securities directly from, and it may sell such securities directly to, institutional investors or others.
In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. The terms of any of those sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction
process, if utilized, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
It is possible that one or
more underwriters may make a market in our securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market
making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for our securities. Our shares
of Class A Common Stock are currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “VGAS” and our Public Warrants are currently
listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “VGASW.”
The Selling Securityholders
may authorize underwriters, broker-dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities at the public
offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified
date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus
supplement will set forth any commissions we or the Selling Securityholders pay for solicitation of these contracts.
A Selling Securityholder may
enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately
negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may
sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the
third party may use securities pledged by any Selling Securityholders or borrowed from any Selling Securityholders or others to settle
those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from any Selling Securityholder in settlement
of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter
and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, any Selling Securityholder
may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using
this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities
or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
In effecting sales, broker-dealers
or agents engaged by the Selling Securityholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers or agents may receive
commissions, discounts or concessions from the Selling Securityholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale.
In compliance with the guidelines
of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission, fees or
other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8%
of the gross proceeds of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
If at the time of any offering
made under this prospectus a member of FINRA participating in the offering has a “conflict of interest” as defined in FINRA
Rule 5121, that offering will be conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of FINRA Rule 5121.
To our knowledge, there are
currently no plans, arrangements or understandings between the Selling Securityholders and any broker-dealer or agent regarding the sale
of the securities by the Selling Securityholders. Upon our notification by a Selling Securityholder that any material arrangement has
been entered into with an underwriter or broker-dealer for the sale of securities through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution,
secondary distribution or a purchase by an underwriter or broker-dealer, we will file, if required by applicable law or regulation, a
supplement to this prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act disclosing certain material information relating
to such underwriter or broker-dealer and such offering.
Underwriters, broker-dealers
or agents may facilitate the marketing of an offering online directly or through one of their affiliates. In those cases, prospective
investors may view offering terms and a prospectus online and, depending upon the particular underwriter, broker-dealer or agent, place
orders online or through their financial advisors.
In offering the securities
covered by this prospectus, the Selling Securityholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who execute sales for the Selling
Securityholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales.
Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of those securities may be underwriting discounts and commissions
under the Securities Act.
The underwriters, broker-dealers
and agents may engage in transactions with us or the Selling Securityholders, or perform services for us or the Selling Securityholders,
in the ordinary course of business.
In order to comply with the
securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed
brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale
in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
The Selling Securityholders
and any other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M. These
provisions may restrict certain activities of, and limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the securities by, the Selling Securityholders
or any other person, which limitations may affect the marketability of the shares of the securities.
We will make copies of this
prospectus available to the Selling Securityholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act. The Selling Securityholders may indemnify any agent, broker-dealer or underwriter that participates in transactions involving the
sale of the securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
We have agreed to indemnify
the Selling Securityholders against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or other federal or state law. Agents, broker-dealers and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us and the Selling Securityholders
against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which
the agents, broker-dealers or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
LEGAL MATTERS
Kirkland & Ellis
LLP will pass upon the validity of the Class A Common Stock offered by this prospectus and certain other matters related to this
prospectus.
EXPERTS
The consolidated
financial statements of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. incorporated by reference in
this prospectus and Registration Statement have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, as an independent registered public accounting
firm, as stated in their report incorporated by reference herein. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance
upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND
MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC
a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus,
which forms a part of such registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For
further information pertaining to us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and to its exhibits. The registration
statement has been filed electronically and may be obtained in any manner listed below. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus
to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been
filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or a report we file under the Exchange Act, you should refer to the copy of the
contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit to
a registration statement or report is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit.
We also file annual, quarterly
and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet
at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.verdecleanfuels.com. The information contained on, or
that may be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus. You may inspect a copy of the
registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided herein.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance
and Distribution.
The following table sets forth
the estimated expenses to be borne by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of securities being registered hereby. All
amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee.
We will bear all costs, expenses
and fees in connection with the registration of the securities. Selling Securityholders, however, will bear all underwriting commissions
and discounts, if any, attributable to their respective sales sale of the securities.
SEC registration fee | |
$ | * | |
Accounting fees and expenses | |
| ** | |
Legal fees and expenses | |
| ** | |
Financial printing and miscellaneous expenses | |
| ** | |
Total | |
$ | ** | |
| * | Registration fee of $28,423.03 was previously paid in connection with the Registration Statement relating
to the securities that are included in this registration statement in accordance with Rule 429 under the Securities Act. Accordingly,
there is no registration fee due in connection with the registration of such securities hereby. |
| ** | Fees and expenses will depend on the number and nature of any offerings of securities made pursuant to
this registration statement, and cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the distribution
of securities being offered will be included in any applicable prospectus supplement. |
Item 15. Indemnification of
Directors and Officers.
Verde Clean Fuels is governed
by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”)
provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or
in the right of such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation,
or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise.
The indemnification may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in
a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Section 145 also provides that a Delaware
corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action or suit by or in the right of such corporation, under the same conditions, except that such indemnification is limited to expenses
(including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person, and except that no indemnification is permitted without
judicial approval if such person is adjudged to be liable to such corporation. Where an officer or director of a corporation is successful,
on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or any claim, issue or matter therein,
the corporation must indemnify that person against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which such officer or director actually
and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
Section 145 further authorizes
a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation,
or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise,
against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s
status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under Section 145.
Our Charter and Bylaws provide
that we shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding,
whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was our director or executive officer
(as defined in our Bylaws) or serves or served at any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise as a director
or executive officer at our request.
Our Charter eliminates the
liability of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL,
a corporation may eliminate the personal liability of directors and officers to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or an officer, as applicable, except for liabilities arising (i) from any breach of the
director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) from acts or omissions not in good
faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) from any transaction from which the director derived
an improper personal benefit, or (iv) with respect to a director, under Section 174 of the DGCL, and with respect to an officer,
from any action by or in the right of the corporation.
These provisions may be held
not to be enforceable for certain violations of the federal securities laws of the United States.
Furthermore, we entered
into the Indemnification Agreements with each of our directors and executive officers which provide that we shall indemnify such
directors and executive officers under the circumstances and to the extent provided for therein, from and against all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest,
settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, and including appeals, in which he or she
may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and
our by-laws.
In addition, we have
purchased 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.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial
Statements.
(a) Exhibits.
|
|
Description |
2.1† |
|
Business Combination Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among the Company, CENAQ, Holdings, OpCo and Sponsor (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022). |
2.2 |
|
Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement, dated February 14, 2023 by and among CENAQ, OpCo, Holdings, Intermediate and Sponsor (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on February 21, 2023). |
4.1 |
|
Specimen Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-253695 filed by the Registrant on August 6, 2021). |
4.2 |
|
Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and CENAQ Energy Corp., dated August 17, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on August 17, 2021). |
4.3 |
|
Description of Securities of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company on March 31, 2023). |
5.1* |
|
Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. |
21.1 |
|
List of subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on February 21, 2023). |
23.1* |
|
Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. |
23.3* |
|
Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1). |
24.1* |
|
Power of Attorney (included on signature page). |
101.INS |
|
Inline XBRL Instance Document. |
101.SCH |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. |
101.CAL |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. |
101.DEF |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. |
101.LAB |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. |
101.PRE |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. |
104 |
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
107* |
|
Filing Fee Table. |
| † | Schedules and exhibits to this Exhibit omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2).
The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request. |
(b) Financial
Statements. The financial statements filed as part of this registration statement are listed in the index to the financial
statements immediately preceding such financial statements, which index to the financial statements is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant
hereby undertakes:
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
registration statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in the registration statement (notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in
the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in
the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement); and (iii) to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to
such information in the registration statement. |
provided, however, that
paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form
of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: (i)
each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the
date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and (ii) each prospectus required to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made
pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act
of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus
is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus.
As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be
deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that
prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided,
however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement
will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made
in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior
to such effective date. |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser,
each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration
statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and
included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made
in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated
by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time
of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus
that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
| (6) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser
in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned
registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser,
if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will
be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus
or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (ii) any free
writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned
registrant; (iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about
the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and (iv) any other communication
that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
| (7) | That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s
annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of
an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference
in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (8) | That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted
from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus
filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
Insofar as indemnification
for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding)
is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on June 28, 2024.
| VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC. |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Ernest Miller |
| Name: | Ernest Miller |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS,
that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Ernest Miller and Jonathan Siegler and each of them, as
his or her true and lawful agents, proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and
in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to (i) act on, sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement together with all schedules and exhibits thereto
and any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with all
schedules and exhibits thereto, (ii) act on, sign and file such certificates, instruments, agreements and other documents as may be necessary
or appropriate in connection therewith, (iii) act on and file any supplement to any prospectus included in this registration statement
or any such amendment or any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and (iv) take any and all actions which may be necessary or appropriate to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might
or could do in person, hereby approving, ratifying and confirming all that such agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact or any of his substitutes
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on
the dates indicated.
Signature |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Ernest
Miller |
|
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer |
|
June 28, 2024 |
Ernest Miller |
|
(Principal Executive
Officer and Principal Financial Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Shannon
Linden |
|
Chief Accounting Officer |
|
June 28, 2024 |
Shannon Linden |
|
(Principal Accounting Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Ron Hulme |
|
Chairman |
|
June 28, 2024 |
Ron Hulme |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Martijn
Dekker |
|
Director |
|
June 28, 2024 |
Martijn Dekker |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Curtis
Hébert, Jr. |
|
Director |
|
June 28, 2024 |
Curtis Hébert, Jr. |
|
|
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|
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/s/ Duncan
Palmer |
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Director |
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June 28, 2024 |
Duncan Palmer |
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/s/ Jonathan
Siegler |
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Director |
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June 28, 2024 |
Jonathan Siegler |
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/s/ Dail St.
Claire |
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Director |
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June 28, 2024 |
Dail St. Claire |
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/s/ Graham
van’t Hoff |
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Director |
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June 28, 2024 |
Graham van’t Hoff |
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POS AM
true
0001841425
0001841425
2024-01-01
2024-03-31
Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
We are issuing this opinion letter in our capacity
as special legal counsel to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). This opinion letter is
being delivered in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (such Registration Statement, as it may be
subsequently amended or supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”) initially filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”) on the date hereof.
The Registration Statement is prepared to convert
the registration statement originally filed with the Commission under the Securities Act on April 20, 2023 on Form S-1 (No. 333-271360),
which was declared effective by the Commission on June 2, 2023 (the “Prior Registration Statement”), into a registration statement
on Form S-3.
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement.
The Registration Statement relates to (a) the issuance
of up to 15,383,263 shares (the “Warrant Shares”) of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class
A Common Stock”), of the Company, issuable upon the exercise of Company’s warrants, consisting of (i) up to 2,475,000
shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants that were originally issued in a private placement (the “Private
Placement Warrants”) to CENAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CENAQ Sponsor”) and (ii)
up to 12,908,263 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants (together with the Private Placement Warrants,
the “Warrants”) originally issued as part of the units sold by CENAQ Energy Corp. in its initial public offering, and
(b) the resale or distribution from time to time by the selling stockholders named in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement
and any supplement thereto or their permitted transferees (the “Selling Securityholders”) of
The Company issued the Warrants pursuant to a Warrant
Agreement, dated August 17, 2021, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the warrant agent (the
“Warrant Agreement”).
For purposes of this letter, we have examined originals,
or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have
deemed necessary for the purposes of this letter, including: (i) the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) resolutions and
records of the corporate proceedings of the Company with respect to the issuance of the Securities, (iii) the Prior Registration Statement
and the exhibits thereto, (iv) the Warrant Agreement, (v) the Warrants, (vi) the Promissory Note and (vii) the Registration Statement
and the exhibits thereto.
For purposes of this letter, we have assumed the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals submitted to us as copies and the authenticity
of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing
all documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto
other than the Company and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Company.
We have not independently established or verified any facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, but have relied upon statements
and representations of the officers and other representatives of the Company and others as to factual matters.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions,
qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
Our opinion expressed above is subject to the qualification
that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of any laws except the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (including the statutory provisions, all applicable provisions of the Delaware constitution and reported judicial decisions
interpreting the foregoing) and the laws of the State of New York.
Our opinions expressed above are subject to the
qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar law or judicially developed doctrine in this area (such as substantive
consolidation or equitable subordination) affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing, (iv) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies, (v) any requirement that
a claim with respect to any security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment denominated in other than U.S. dollars in respect
of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined in accordance with applicable law
or (vi) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside of the United States or in a foreign currency
or currency unit.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion
with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal
Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
We do not find it necessary for the purposes of
this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the
various states to the issuance and sale of the Securities.
This opinion is limited to the specific issues
addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. This opinion speaks only as of the date
hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion after the date of effectiveness should the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise after the date hereof.
This opinion is furnished to you in connection
with the filing of the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities
Act, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose.