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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024
Mar. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]    
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Preparation

 

The information presented below supplements the Significant Accounting Policies information presented in the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2024. There have been no changes in accounting policies during the three months ended June 30, 2024, from those disclosed in the annual consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended March 31, 2024, except for those described below and also as described in “Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements” below.

 

All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Periods prior to demerger transactions

 

These condensed consolidated financial statements were extracted from the accounting records of AARK on a carve-out basis prior to May 24, 2023, including interim period ended December 31, 2022, i.e., these condensed consolidated financial statements exclude the financial results of the fintech and investing businesses that are unrelated to the merger with ATI pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been derived from the historical accounting records of Aark Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aeries Technology Group Business Accelerators Pvt Ltd. (“ATGBA”), its subsidiaries and controlled trust. Only those assets and liabilities that are specifically identifiable to the management consultancy business activities are included in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income consist of all the revenue and expenses of the management consultancy business activities, excluding allocations of certain expenses of the excluded fintech and investing business activities. These allocations were based on methodologies that management believes to be reasonable; however, amounts derecognized by the Carve-out Entity are not necessarily representative of the amounts that would have been reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements had the excluded businesses operated independently of the Carve-out Entity.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements for the period prior to the Demerger Transactions exclude the following: (a) cash and cash equivalents that were utilized solely to fund activities undertaken by the investing business of AARK, (b) long-term debt and related interest payable/expense that were solely related to financing of the fintech and investing businesses, (c) amounts due from related parties related to the fintech and investing businesses, (d) investments made by the investing business, (e) trade and other receivables of the fintech business, and (f) revenue, cost of sales, other income, advisory fees, bank charges and withholding taxes attributable to the fintech and investing businesses and allocations of certain expenses of the excluded businesses; these allocations were based on methodologies that management believes to be reasonable; however, amounts derecognized by AARK are not necessarily representative of the amounts that would have been reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements had the excluded businesses operated independently of AARK.

 

Differences between allocations in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and condensed consolidated balance sheets are reflected in equity as a part of “Net shareholders’ investment and additional paid-in-capital” in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Non-controlling interests represent the equity interest not owned by the Company and are recorded for condensed consolidated entities in which the Company owns less than 100% of the interests. Changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest are accounted for as equity transactions.

 

Periods after the Demerger Transactions

 

Beginning May 25, 2023 and for the interim period ended June 30, 2024, following the demerger of the fintech and investing businesses, the condensed consolidated financial statements of ATI have been prepared from the financial records of Aark Singapore Pte. Ltd., ATGBA, its subsidiaries and controlled trust on a condensed consolidated basis.

 

Emerging Growth Company

 

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

 

Going Concern

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the going concern basis of accounting, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The going concern basis of presentation assumes that the Company will continue in operation one year after the date these financial statements are issued and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company has reported a net loss. This may raise a substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months from the date when these financial statements are available to be filed with the SEC. As at June 30, 2024 the Company had a balance of $4,197 in cash and cash equivalents and also generated positive cash flows for the three months ended June 30, 2024.

 

The Company has historically financed its operations and expansions with cash generated from operations, a revolving credit facility from Kotak Mahindra Bank, and loans from related parties. Management expects to have sufficient cash from the operations, cash reserves and debt capacity for the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future to finance our operations, our growth, expansion plans.

 

The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon, among other things, successfully executing our mitigation plan, which includes, (i) raising additional funds from existing or new credit facilities, (ii) raising funds through FPAs or private placements, and (iii) restructure the current liabilities into equity or long-term liabilities. The Company is hopeful of accomplishing its objectives through these measures in the anticipated time frame and also expects that the funds available through the above-mentioned arrangements will be sufficient to alleviate the doubts about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Company will continue to operate for the foreseeable future and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, allowance for credit losses, stock-based compensation, fair valuation of FPA put option liabilities and private warrant liabilities, useful lives of property and equipment, accounting for income taxes, determination of incremental borrowing rates used for operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets, obligations related to employee benefits and carve-out of financial statements, including the allocation of assets, liabilities and expenses. Management believes that the estimates and judgments upon which it relies, are reasonable based upon information available to the Company at the time that these estimates and judgments were made. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Segment Reporting

 

The Company operates as one operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its chief executive officer, who reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis for the purposes of making operating decisions, assessing financial performance and allocating resources.

 

Forward Purchase Agreement

 

On November 3, 2023, and November 5, 2023, WWAC entered into Forward Purchase Agreements with Sandia Investment Management LP, Sea Otter Trading, LLC, YA II PN, Ltd and Meteora Capital Partners, LP (collectively known as “FPA holders”) for an over-the-counter (OTC) Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction. A Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) was also executed alongside the FPA for subscription of the underlying FPA shares by the FPA holders either through a new issuance or purchase of shares from existing holders (“Recycled Shares”). The FPAs and Subscription Agreements have been accounted for separately as discussed subsequently.

 

The FPAs stipulate a new issuance of 3,711,667 Class A ordinary shares to the FPA holders at the redemption price (i.e., $10.69 per share) and, purchase of 288,333 Recycled Shares through redemption reversals. The amount to be received by ATI from the FPA holders on such issuance of around 3,711,667, shares, are held with the FPA holders as prepaid with respect to the forward transaction. Pursuant to the FPA, ATI was obligated to pay a prepayment amount of $42,760 which was settled as below:

 

  $39,678 against the consideration receivable by ATI for a new issuance of Class A ordinary shares to the FPA holders; and

 

  $3,083 representing the cash paid by ATI to the FPA holders to fund the purchase price of the Recycled Shares.

 

At the end of the contract period of one year, for each unsold share held by the FPA holders, ATI is obligated to pay FPA holders an amount of $2 in cash or a variable number of ATI’s Class A ordinary shares in order to provide a return of $2.5 per FPA share determined based on the 30-day volume weighted average price of ATI’s Class A ordinary shares (“Maturity Consideration”). The FPA holders have the option to select the form of Maturity Consideration.

 

The Optional Termination Right held by the FPA holders economically results in the prepaid forward contract being akin to a written put option with the FPA holders’ right to sell all or a portion of the 4,000,000 Class A ordinary shares to ATI. ATI is entitled over the 12-month maturity period to either a return of the prepayment or the underlying shares, which the FPA holders will determine at their sole discretion depending on the movement in ATI’s stock price.

 

On April 8, 2024, the Company completed a Private Investment in Public Equity (“PIPE”) transaction, with the Class A ordinary shares quoted at approximately $2.21 per share at that time. The Company has Forward Purchase Agreements with Sandia Investment Management LP, Sea Otter Trading, LLC, YA II PN, Ltd, and Meteora Capital Partners, LP (collectively, the “FPA Holders”). These agreements contain a price reset feature that allows for adjustments to the share price based on certain predefined conditions, including those triggered by the PIPE transaction. As of the reporting date, this price reset feature was activated, resulting in a new share price of $2.21 per share for the over-the-counter (OTC) Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction.

 

This adjustment has implications for the fair value of the derivative liability initially recorded on the balance sheet. Future fluctuations in this fair value will be recognized in earnings. For more details, please refer to Note 13: Fair Value Measurement

 

The FPAs consist of two freestanding financial instruments that are accounted for as follows:

 

  1) The total prepayment of $42,760 (“Prepayment Amount”) which includes a net cash outflow of $3,083 as discussed above. The Prepayment Amount has been accounted for as a reduction to equity to reflect the substance of the overall arrangement as a net repurchase of the Recycled Shares and sale of newly issued shares to the FPA holders pursuant to a subscription agreement without receipt of the underlying consideration of $39,678.

 

  2) The “FPA Put Option” includes both the in-substance written put option and the expected Maturity Consideration. The FPA Put Option is a derivative instrument that the Company has recorded as a liability and measured at fair value in accordance with ASC 480-10. The instrument is subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date, with changes in fair value recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. See Note 13.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments and FPA Put Option Liability

 

The Company accounts for the Warrants (defined below) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40 under which the Instruments (as defined below) do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities. The Company accounts for the FPA put option liability as a financial liability in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480-10. Warrants and FPA are collectively referred as the “Instruments”. The Instruments are subjected to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations. See Note 11 for further discussion of the pertinent terms of the Warrants and Note 13 for further discussion of the methodology used to determine the value of the Warrants and FPA.

 

In December 2023, the Company settled vendor balances mounting to $855 owed to certain vendors by issuing 361,388 Class A ordinary shares. If the volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the Class A ordinary shares over the three trading days immediately preceding the agreement date is higher than the VWAP over the three trading days immediately preceding the six-month anniversary from the agreement date, additional Class A ordinary shares of ATI would need to be issued for the difference. This represents a derivative financial instrument written by the Company which has been accounted for in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40 including subsequent re-measurement at fair value with the changes being recognized in Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value at inception and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative liabilities are classified in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as current or noncurrent based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value should maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the condensed consolidated financial statements are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value.

 

Hierarchical levels which are directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to the valuation of these assets or liabilities are as follows:

 

Level 1 – Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

 

Level 2 – Inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly. Such prices may be based upon quoted prices for identical or comparable securities in active markets or inputs not quoted on active markets but corroborated by market data.

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.

 

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Except for the Warrants and FPA as described above, the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash consists of the Company’s cash and bank balances. The Company considers cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, loans to affiliates, and investments. The Company holds cash at financial institutions that the Company believes are high credit quality financial institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure with any one bank and conducts ongoing evaluations of the creditworthiness of the banks with which it does business. As of June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, there was one customer that represented 10% or greater of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. The Company expects limited credit risk arising from its long-term investments as these primarily entail investments in the Company’s affiliates that have a credit rating that is above the minimum allowable credit rating defined in the Company’s investment policy. As a part of its risk management process, the Company limits its credit risk with respect to long-term investments by performing periodic evaluations of the credit standing of counterparties to its investments.

 

In respect of the Company’s revenue, there were four and three customers that each accounted for more than 10% of total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The following table shows the amount of revenue derived from each customer exceeding 10% of the Company’s revenue during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:

 

               
    Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023  
Customer 1     16 %     15 %
Customer 2     12 %     12 %
Customer 3     10 %     12 %
Customer 4     10 %     n/a  

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

The Company records a receivable when an unconditional right to consideration exists, such that only the passage of time is required before payment of consideration is due. Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. If revenue recognized on a contract exceeds the billings, then the Company records an unbilled receivable for that excess amount, which is included as part of accounts receivable, net in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

Prior to the Company’s adoption of ASU 2016-13, Topic 326 Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“Topic 326”), the accounts receivable balance was reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts that was determined based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. Under Topic 326, accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowance for credit losses. The Company regularly reviews the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses based on a combination of factors. In establishing any required allowance, management considers historical losses adjusted for current market conditions, the current receivables aging, current payment terms and expectations of forward-looking loss estimates. Allowance for credit losses was $2,299 as of June 30, 2024 and $1,263 as of March 31, 2024, and is classified within “Accounts Receivable, net” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. See “Recent accounting pronouncements adopted” section below for information pertaining to the adoption of Topic 326.

 

The following tables provides details of the Company’s allowance for credit losses (in thousands):

 

               
    Three months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023  
Opening balance as of April 1   $ 1,263     $ -  
Transition period adjustment on accounts receivables (through retained earnings) pursuant to ASC 326     -       149  
Adjusted balance as of April 1   $ 1,263     $ 149  
Additions charged to cost and expense     1,036       16  
Closing balance as of June 30   $ 2,299     $ 165  

 

Long-Term Investments

 

The Company’s long-term investments consist of debt and non-marketable equity investments in privately held companies in which the Company does not have a controlling interest or significant influence, which have maturities in excess of one year and the Company does not intend to sell.

 

Debt investments of mandatorily redeemable preference shares, which are classified as held-to-maturity since the Company has the intent and contractual ability to hold these securities to maturity. These investments are reported at amortized cost and are subject to an ongoing impairment evaluation. Income from these investments is recorded in “Interest income” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Under Topic 326, expected credit losses are recorded and reduced from the amortized cost of the held-to-maturity securities. Expected credit losses for long-term investments are calculated using a probability of default method. Credit losses are recorded within “Selling, general & administrative expenses” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations when an event or circumstance indicates a decline in value has occurred. Allowance for credit losses was $113 as of June 30, 2024 and $126 as of March 31, 2024. See “Recent accounting pronouncements adopted” section below for information pertaining to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.

 

The following tables provides details of the Company’s allowance for credit losses:

 

               
    Three months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023  
Opening balance as of April 1   $ 126     $ -  
Transition period adjustment on long term investments (through retained earnings) pursuant to ASC 326     -       126  
Adjusted balance as of April 1   $ 126     $ 126  
Additions charged to change in provision for credit losses     (13 )     6  
Closing balance as of June 30   $ 113     $ 132  

 

The Company includes these long-term investments in “Long-term investments” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

Net Loss per Share

 

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing income/(loss) available to ordinary shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common and potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. The Company has not considered the effect of the Warrants sold in its initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) and private placement to purchase ordinary shares, and impact of FPA put option liability in the calculation of diluted net loss per share, since the instruments are not dilutive.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“Topic 326”): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Topic 326 requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets measured at amortized cost as well as certain off balance sheet commitments (loan commitments, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees, and other similar instruments). The Company had an off-balance sheet guarantee at the April 1, 2023 adoption date (see Note 10 – Commitment and Contingencies). The expected credit loss for this guarantee was estimated using the probability of default method. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on April 1, 2023 using a modified retrospective approach. Results for reporting periods beginning April 1, 2023 are presented under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable US GAAP.

 

Expense related to credit losses is classified within “Selling, general & administrative expenses” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements not yet Adopted

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued a new standard (ASU 2020-06) to reduce the complexity of accounting for convertible debt and other equity-linked instruments. For certain convertible debt instruments with a cash conversion feature, the changes are a trade-off between simplifications in the accounting model (no separation of an “equity” component to impute a market interest rate, and simpler analysis of embedded equity features) and a potentially adverse impact to diluted EPS by requiring the use of the if-converted method. The new standard will also impact other financial instruments commonly issued by both public and private companies. For example, the separation model for beneficial conversion features is eliminated simplifying the analysis for issuers of convertible debt and convertible preferred stock. Also, certain specific requirements to achieve equity classification and/ or qualify for the derivative scope exception for contracts indexed to an entity’s own equity are removed, enabling more freestanding instruments and embedded features to avoid mark-to-market accounting. The new standard is effective for companies that are SEC filers (except for Smaller Reporting Companies) for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2021 and interim periods within that year, and two years later for other companies. Companies can early adopt the standard at the start of a fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2020. The standard can either be adopted on a modified retrospective or a full retrospective basis. The Company is currently reviewing the issued standard and does not believe it will materially impact the Company.

 

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative, which amends the disclosure or presentation requirements related to various subtopics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”). The effective date for each amendment will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of that related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, with early adoption prohibited. If by June 30, 2027, the SEC has not removed the applicable requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, the pending content of the related amendment will be removed from the Codification and will not become effective for any entity. The Company is in the process of evaluating the Impact of the amendments this ASU will have on the financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740) Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires public entities to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold on an annual basis. ASU 2023-09 is effective for the Company for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the update.

 

In March 2024, FASB issued ASU No. 2024-01, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC Topic 718”) Scope Application of Profits Interests and Similar Awards was issued to address diversity in practice in determining whether profits interests and similar awards should be accounted for in accordance with Topic 718 or Topic 710. The update doesn’t change the scope for either Topic 718 or Topic 710; however, it provides implementation guidance and examples to assist entities in determining if profits interests or similar awards are within the scope of Topic 718. The ASU will be effective for annual periods beginning from April 1, 2025, including interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updates.

 

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Preparation

 

The Company’s accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These consolidated financial statements are audited and, in our opinion, include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals necessary for a fair presentation of our consolidated balance sheets, operating results, statement of changes in redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. The results for the year ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future periods.

 

The consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2023 included herein was derived from the audited consolidated carve-out financial statements (restated) of Aark Singapore Pte Ltd. and its subsidiaries as of that date. As such, the information included herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated carve-out financial statements and accompanying notes of AARK as of and for the year ended March 31, 2023, filed as an exhibit to Amendment No. 2 to Current Report on Form 8-K originally filed on November 13, 2023 as amended on November 30, 2023 and December 13, 2023, which provides a more complete discussion of the Company’s accounting policies and certain other information. There have been no changes in accounting policies during the year ended March 31, 2024 from those disclosed in the annual consolidated carve-out financial statements and related notes for the year ended March 31, 2023, except for those described below and also as described in “Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements” below.

 

All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Periods prior to demerger transactions

 

These consolidated financial statements were extracted from the accounting records of AARK on a carve-out basis prior to May 24, 2023, including comparative period ended March 31, 2023, i.e., these consolidated financial statements exclude the financial results of the fintech and investing businesses that are unrelated to the merger with WWAC pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The consolidated financial statements have been derived from the historical accounting records of Aark Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aeries Technology Group Business Accelerators Pvt Ltd., its subsidiaries (“ATGBA”) and controlled trust. Only those assets and liabilities that are specifically identifiable to the management consultancy business activities are included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income consist of all the revenue and expenses of the management consultancy business activities, excluding allocations of certain expenses of the excluded fintech and investing business activities. These allocations were based on methodologies that management believes to be reasonable; however, amounts derecognized by the Carve-out Entity are not necessarily representative of the amounts that would have been reflected in the consolidated financial statements had the excluded businesses operated independently of the Carve-out Entity.

 

The consolidated financial statements for the period prior to the Demerger Transactions exclude the following: (a) cash and cash equivalents that were utilized solely to fund activities undertaken by the investing business of AARK, (b) long-term debt and related interest payable/expense that were solely related to financing of the fintech and investing businesses, (c) amounts due from related parties related to the fintech and investing businesses, (d) investments made by the investing business, (e) trade and other receivables of the fintech business, and (f) revenue, cost of sales, other income, advisory fees, bank charges and withholding taxes attributable to the fintech and investing businesses and allocations of certain expenses of the excluded businesses; these allocations were based on methodologies that management believes to be reasonable; however, amounts derecognized by AARK are not necessarily representative of the amounts that would have been reflected in the consolidated financial statements had the excluded businesses operated independently of AARK.

 

Differences between allocations in the consolidated statements of operations and consolidated balance sheets are reflected in equity as a part of “Net shareholders’ investment and additional paid-in-capital” in the consolidated financial statements.

 

Non-controlling interests represent the equity interest not owned by the Company and are recorded for consolidated entities in which the Company owns less than 100% of the interests. Changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest are accounted for as equity transactions.

 

Periods after the Demerger Transactions

 

Beginning May 25, 2023 and for the year ended March 31, 2024, following the demerger of the fintech and investing businesses, the consolidated financial statements of ATI have been prepared from the financial records of Aark Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aeries Technology Group Business Accelerators Pvt Ltd. (“ATGBA”), its subsidiaries and controlled trust on a consolidated basis.

 

Emerging Growth Company

 

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s consolidated financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

 

Going Concern

 

In accordance with ASC Subtopic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (“ASC 205-40”), the Company has the responsibility to evaluate whether conditions and/or events raise substantial doubt about its ability to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the going concern basis of accounting, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The going concern basis of presentation assumes that the Company will continue in operation one year after the date these financial statements are issued and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business.

 

For the year ended March 31, 2024, the Company has reported negative operating cash flow. The shareholders’ equity as at March 31, 2024 also has a deficit of $(1,914). These factors may raise a doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months from the date when these financial statements are available to be filed with the SEC. As at March 31, 2024 the Company had a balance of $2,084 in cash and cash equivalents and also generated overall positive cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2024.

 

The Company has historically financed its operations and expansions with cash generated from operations, a revolving credit facility from Kotak Mahindra Bank, and loans from related parties. Management expects to have sufficient cash from the operations, cash reserves and debt capacity for the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future to finance our operations, our growth, expansion plans.

 

The Company has generated operating profits in current and preceding year. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon, among other things, the mitigation plan to (i) raise additional funds from existing or new credit facilities (ii) receive funds through Forward Purchase Agreements (FPAs) or Private Placements. The Company has undertaken multiple initiatives i.e. (i) restructure the current liabilities into equity or long-term liabilities, and (ii) execute term sheets for infusion of additional cash totalling around $5 million in gross proceeds. The Company is hopeful of accomplishing its objectives through these measures in the anticipated time frame and also expects that the funds available through the above-mentioned arrangements will be sufficient to alleviate the doubts about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Company will continue to operate for the foreseeable future and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, allowance for credit losses, stock-based compensation, fair valuation of Forward Purchase Agreements (“FPAs”) put option liabilities and private warrant liabilities, useful lives of property and equipment, accounting for income taxes, determination of incremental borrowing rates used for operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets, obligations related to employee benefits and carve-out of financial statements, including the allocation of assets, liabilities and expenses. Management believes that the estimates and judgments upon which it relies, are reasonable based upon information available to the Company at the time that these estimates and judgments were made. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Segment Reporting

 

The Company operates as one operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its chief executive officer, who reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis for the purposes of making operating decisions, assessing financial performance and allocating resources.

 

Forward Purchase Agreements

 

On November 3, 2023, and November 5, 2023, WWAC entered into Forward Purchase Agreements (the “FPAs”) with Sandia Investment Management LP, Sea Otter Trading, LLC, YA II PN, Ltd and Meteora Capital Partners, LP (collectively, the “FPA holders”) for an over-the-counter (“OTC”) Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction. A Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) was also executed alongside each FPA for subscription of the underlying FPA shares by the FPA holders either through a new issuance or purchase of shares from existing holders (“Recycled Shares”). The FPAs and Subscription Agreements have been accounted for separately as discussed subsequently.

 

The FPAs stipulate a new issuance of 3,711,667 Class A ordinary shares to the FPA holders at the redemption price (i.e., $10.69 per share) and, purchase of 288,333 Recycled Shares through redemption reversals. The amount to be received by ATI from the FPA holders on such issuance of around 3,711,667, shares, are held with the FPA holders as prepaid with respect to the forward transaction. Pursuant to the FPA, ATI was obligated to pay a prepayment amount of $42,760 which was settled as below:

 

  $39,678 against the consideration receivable by ATI for a new issuance of class A ordinary shares to the FPA holders; and
     
 

$3,083 representing the cash paid by ATI to the FPA holders to fund the purchase price of the Recycled Shares.

 

At the end of the contract period of one year, for each unsold share held by the FPA holders, ATI is obligated to pay FPA holders an amount of $2 in cash or a variable number of ATI’s Class A ordinary shares in order to provide a return of $2.5 per FPA share determined based on the 30-day volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of ATI’s Class A ordinary shares (“Maturity Consideration”). The FPA holders have the option to select the form of Maturity Consideration.

 

The Optional Termination Right held by the FPA holders economically results in the prepaid forward contract being akin to a written put option with the Purchaser’s right to sell all or a portion of the 4,000,000 common shares to ATI. ATI is entitled over the 12-month maturity period to either a return of the prepayment or the underlying shares, which the FPA holders will determine at their sole discretion depending on the movement in ATI’s stock price.

 

The FPAs consist of two freestanding financial instruments that are accounted for as follows:

 

  1) The total prepayment of $42,760 (“Prepayment Amount”) which includes a net cash outflow of $3,083 as discussed above. The Prepayment Amount has been accounted for as a reduction to equity to reflect the substance of the overall arrangement as a net repurchase of the Recycled Shares and sale of newly issued shares to the FPA holders pursuant to a subscription agreement without receipt of the underlying consideration of $39,678.

 

  2) The “FPA Put Option” includes both the in-substance written put option and the expected Maturity Consideration. The FPA Put Option is a derivative instrument that the Company has recorded as a liability and measured at fair value in accordance with ASC 480-10. The instrument is subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date, with changes in fair value recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. The initial fair value of the FPA put option liability at the Closing Date was $25,009, and the fair value as on March 31, 2024 was $10,244, which is reported as a FPA put option liability in our consolidated balance sheet. The change in the fair value of the FPA put option liability of $14,765 for the year ended March 31, 2024 has been recorded to change in fair value of forward purchase agreement put option liability in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. See Note 20.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments and FPA Put Option Liability

 

The Company accounts for the Warrants (defined below) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40 under which the Instruments (as defined below) do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities. The Company accounts for the FPA put option liability as a financial liability in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480-10. Warrants and FPA are collectively referred as the “Instruments”. The Instruments are subjected to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. See Note 18 for further discussion of the pertinent terms of the Warrants and Note 20 for further discussion of the methodology used to determine the value of the instruments.

 

In December 2023, the Company settled vendor balances amounting to $855 owed to certain vendors by issuing 361,338 Class A ordinary shares. If the VWAP of the Class A ordinary shares over the three trading days immediately preceding the agreement date is higher than the VWAP over the three trading days immediately preceding the six-month anniversary from the agreement date, additional Class A ordinary shares of ATI would need to be issued for the difference. This represents a derivative financial instrument written by the Company which has been accounted for in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40 including subsequent re-measurement at fair value with the changes being recognized in Company’s consolidated statement of operations.

 

For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value at inception and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative liabilities are classified in the consolidated balance sheets as current or noncurrent based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value should maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value.

 

Hierarchical levels which are directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to the valuation of these assets or liabilities are as follows:

 

Level 1 – Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

 

Level 2 – Inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly. Such prices may be based upon quoted prices for identical or comparable securities in active markets or inputs not quoted on active markets but corroborated by market data.

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.

 

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Except for the Warrants and FPAs as described above, the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, loans to affiliates, and investments. The Company holds cash at financial institutions that the Company believes are high credit quality financial institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure with any one bank and conducts ongoing evaluations of the creditworthiness of the banks with which it does business. As of March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, there were one and four customers, respectively, that represented 10% or greater of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. The Company expects limited credit risk arising from its long-term investments as these primarily entail investments in the Company’s affiliates that have a credit rating that is above the minimum allowable credit rating defined in the Company’s investment policy. As a part of its risk management process, the Company limits its credit risk with respect to long-term investments by performing periodic evaluations of the credit standing of counterparties to its investments.

 

In respect of the Company’s revenue, there were two and four customers that each accounted for more than 10% of total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The following table shows the amount of revenue derived from each customer exceeding 10% of the Company’s revenue during the year ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

               
    Year Ended
March 31,
 
    2024     2023  
Customer 1     14 %     16 %
Customer 2     12 %     16 %
Customer 3     n/a       12 %
Customer 4     n/a       11 %

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

The Company records a receivable when an unconditional right to consideration exists, such that only the passage of time is required before payment of consideration is due. Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. If revenue recognized on a contract exceeds the billings, then the Company records an unbilled receivable for that excess amount, which is included as part of accounts receivable, net in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

Prior to the Company’s adoption of ASU 2016-13, Topic 326 Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“Topic 326”), the accounts receivable balance was reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts that was determined based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. Under Topic 326, accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowance for credit losses. The Company regularly reviews the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses based on a combination of factors. In establishing any required allowance, management considers historical losses adjusted for current market conditions, the current receivables aging, current payment terms and expectations of forward-looking loss estimates. Allowance for credit losses was $1,263 as of March 31, 2024 and allowance for doubtful accounts was $0 as of March 31, 2023, and is classified within “Accounts Receivable, net” in the consolidated balance sheets. See “Recent accounting pronouncements adopted” section below for information pertaining to the adoption of Topic 326.

 

The following tables provides details of the Company’s allowance for credit losses:

 

               
    Year Ended
March 31,
 
    2024     2023  
Opening balance as of March 31, 2023   $ -     $ -  
Transition period adjustment on accounts receivables (through retained earnings) pursuant to ASC 326     149       -  
Adjusted balance as of April 1, 2023   $ 149     $ -  
Additions charged to cost and expense     1,538       -  
Write-off charged against the allowance     (424 )     -  
Closing balance as of March 31, 2024   $ 1,263     $ -  

 

Long-Term Investments

 

The Company’s long-term investments consist of debt and non-marketable equity investments in privately held companies in which the Company does not have a controlling interest or significant influence, which have maturities in excess of one year and the Company does not intend to sell.

 

Debt investments of mandatorily redeemable preference shares, which are classified as held-to-maturity since the Company has the intent and contractual ability to hold these securities to maturity. These investments are reported at amortized cost and are subject to an ongoing impairment evaluation. Income from these investments is recorded in “Interest income” in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Under Topic 326, expected credit losses are recorded and reduced from the amortized cost of the held-to-maturity securities. Expected credit losses for long-term investments are calculated using a probability of default method. Credit losses are recorded within “Selling, general & administrative expenses” in the consolidated statements of operations when an event or circumstance indicates a decline in value has occurred. Allowance for credit losses was $126 as of March 31, 2024. See “Recent accounting pronouncements adopted” section below for information pertaining to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.

 

The following tables provides details of the Company’s allowance for credit losses:

 

               
    Year Ended
March 31,
 
    2024     2023  
Opening balance as of March 31, 2023   $ -     $ -  
Transition period adjustment on long term investments (through retained earnings) pursuant to ASC 326     126       -  
Adjusted balance as of April 1, 2023   $ 126     $ -  
Additions charged to change in provision for credit losses     -       -  
Closing balance as of March 31, 2024   $ 126     $ -  

 

The Company includes these long-term investments in “Long-term investments” on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company determines revenue recognition through the application of the following five step model in accordance with ASC 606: (1) identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer; (2) identification of the performance obligations in a contract; (3) determination of the transaction price; (4) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognition of revenue when, or as, performance obligations are satisfied.

 

Nature of Services

 

The Company derives revenues from contracts for management consultancy services, which entail providing customized and integrated advisory and operational management services, each of which constitute a separate performance obligation. These contracts have different terms based on the scope, performance obligations and complexity of the engagement, which frequently requires the Company to make judgments and estimates in recognizing revenues.

 

The Company’s advisory services entail the provision of strategic consulting services at the onset and during the contractual term and are billed on a time-and materials basis. Operational management services entail provision of tailored offshoring services in respect of customers’ business operations and are billed on a cost-plus basis. Revenue on time and material arrangements is recognized based on the actual hours performed at the contracted billable rates for services provided, plus costs incurred on behalf of the customer. Revenue on cost-plus arrangements is recognized to the extent of costs incurred, plus the contractually agreed-upon margin earned. The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied over time and since contractual billings correspond with the value provided to a customer, the Company recognizes revenue in the amount of consideration for which it has the right to invoice using the as-invoiced practical expedient. If there is an uncertainty about the receipt of payment for the services, revenue is recognized to the extent that a significant reversal of revenue would not be probable.

 

If there is an uncertainty about the receipt of payment for the services, revenue recognition is deferred until the uncertainty is sufficiently resolved. The Company applies a practical expedient and does not assess the existence of a significant financing component if the period between transfer of the service to a customer and when the customer pays for that service is one year or less.

 

All revenues earned from contracts are presented net of discounts, allowances, and applicable taxes. Reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses received from customers have been included as part of revenues.

 

Unbilled Receivables

 

Unbilled receivables represent balances recognized as revenue that have not been billed to the customer.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

Cost of revenue primarily consists of personnel-related costs directly associated with the Company’s professional services, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, the costs of contracted third-party partners, travel expenses, depreciation related to the Company’s infrastructure and equipment dedicated for customer use, and other overhead.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses include compensation for executive management, sales and marketing employees, advertising costs, finance administration and human resources, facility costs, personnel-related expenses directly associated with the Company’s IT staff, bad debt expenses, professional service fees, depreciation, and other general overhead costs to support the Company’s operations.

 

Deferred Transaction Costs

 

Deferred transaction costs, which consist of direct incremental legal, consulting and accounting fees related to the Business Combination, are capitalized. On November 6, 2023, $3,697 of deferred transaction costs were recorded against additional paid-in capital upon the consummation of the Business Combination. The Company had recorded $0 and $1,921 of deferred transaction costs on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

In 2020, Aeries Technology Group Business Accelerators Pvt Ltd. established a controlled trust called the Aeries Employee Stock Option Trust (“ESOP Trust”). The ESOP Trust purchased shares of Aeries Technology Group Business Accelerators Pvt Ltd. from funds borrowed from the entity. The entity’s Board of Directors recommends to the ESOP Trust certain employees, officers and key management personnel, to whom the ESOP Trust will be required to grant shares from its holdings at the exercise price. Such shares granted to employees are subject to the vesting conditions of the plans described below.

 

The Company measures compensation expense for all stock-based awards based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the date of grant. Stock-based awards include stock options with service-based and/or performance-based vesting conditions. For awards that vest based on continued service, stock-based compensation is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For awards with performance-based vesting conditions, stock-based compensation expense is recognized using an accelerated attribution method from the time it is deemed probable that the vesting condition will be met through the time the service-based vesting condition has been achieved. The Company reassesses the probability of achieving the performance condition at each reporting date.

 

The fair value of employee stock options are determined using the Black-Scholes Merton (“BSM”) model using various inputs, including estimates of expected volatility, term, risk-free rate, and future dividends. The Company recognizes compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the employee which is generally the option vesting term. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

 

Fair Value of Common Stock – Given the absence of a public trading market for shares of ATGBA, the Company considers numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of common stock at each meeting at which awards are approved. These factors include, but are not limited to, contemporaneous valuations of common stock performed by an independent valuation specialist; developments in the Company’s business and stage of development; the Company’s operational and financial performance and condition; current condition of capital markets and the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as sale of the Company; and the lack of marketability of the Company’s common stock.

 

Dividend Yield – The Company bases the assumed dividend yield on its expectation of not paying dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, the expected dividend yield used is zero.

 

Expected Volatility – The volatility is derived from the average historical stock volatilities of a peer group of public companies that the Company considers to be comparable to its business over a period equivalent to the expected term of the share-based grants. The peer group is periodically re-evaluated to properly align to the changes and developments of the Company’s business.

 

Risk-free Interest Rate – The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates on U.S. Treasury bonds whose maturity period is appropriate for the term of the options.

 

Expected Term – The Company calculates the expected term using the simplified method based on the options vesting term and contractual terms as the Company did not have sufficient relevant historical information to develop reasonable expectations about future exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company records income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. The Company nets the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities from temporary differences arising from a particular tax-paying component of the Company within the same tax jurisdiction and presents the net asset or liability as long term. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are provided when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. We have elected to account for the tax effects of the global intangible low tax Income provision as a current period expense.

 

The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. Although the Company believes that it has adequately reserved for uncertain tax positions, the Company can provide no assurance that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be materially different. The Company makes adjustment to these reserves when facts and circumstances change, such as the closing of a tax audit or the refinement of an estimate. To the extent that the final outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will affect the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made and could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company elects to record interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the consolidated statements of operations as a component of provision for income taxes.

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of changes, net of taxes, in the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments and actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit plans.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash consists of the Company’s cash and bank balances. The Company considers cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization, subject to review of impairment. Expenditures for replacements and improvements are capitalized, whereas the costs of maintenance and repairs are charged to earnings as incurred. Property and equipment include assets that the Company owns and finance lease arrangements. Property and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

 

   
Software and computer equipment   3-6 years
Office equipment   5 years
Furniture and fixtures   10 years
Vehicle   8-10 years
Internal-use software   5 years
Leasehold improvements   Shorter of lease term or estimated useful life

 

Internal Use Software Costs

 

The Company capitalizes certain costs related to internal use software acquired, modified, or developed related to the Company’s platform. These capitalized costs are primarily related to salaries and other personnel costs. Costs incurred in the preliminary stages of development are expensed as incurred. Once the application development stage has been reached, internal and external costs, if direct and incremental, are capitalized until the software is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. Capitalization ceases upon completion of all substantial testing. Maintenance and training costs are expensed as incurred. For the years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company capitalized $663 and $568, respectively, of technology development costs. The amortization expense is recorded in “Cost of revenue” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Software costs that are expensed are recorded in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company periodically reviews the carrying amounts of long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Company measures the recoverability of these assets by comparing the carrying amount of each asset to the future undiscounted cash flows we expect the asset to generate. If any of these assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. In addition, we periodically evaluate the estimated remaining useful lives of long-lived assets to determine whether events or changes in circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of depreciation or amortization. No impairment charges have been recorded during the years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

Leases

 

At the inception of a contract, the Company assesses whether the contract is, or contains, a lease. The Company’s assessment is based on whether: (1) the contract involves the use of a distinct identified asset, (2) the Company obtains the right to substantially all the economic benefit from the use of the asset throughout the term of the contract, and (3) the Company has the right to direct the use of the asset.

 

Leases are classified as either finance leases or operating leases. A lease is classified as a finance lease if any one of the following criteria are met: (1) the lease transfers ownership of the asset by the end of the lease term, (2) the lease contains an option to purchase the asset that is reasonably certain to be exercised, (3) the lease term is for a major part of the remaining useful life of the asset or (4) the present value of the lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the asset, (5) the leased asset is so specialized that the asset will have little to no value at the end of the lease term. A lease is classified as an operating lease if it does not meet any one of the above criteria. Assets acquired under finance leases are recorded in property and equipment, net.

 

Lease liabilities are recognized at the present value of the fixed lease payments, reduced by landlord incentives using a discount rate based on similarly secured borrowings available to us. Lease assets are recognized based on the initial present value of the fixed lease payments, reduced by landlord incentives, plus any direct costs from executing the leases. Lease assets are tested for impairment in the same manner as long-lived assets used in operations. Leasehold improvements are capitalized at cost and amortized over the lesser of their expected useful life or the lease term.

 

Upon the adoption of ASC 842, the Company elected the package of practical expedients to not (i) reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain a lease, (ii) reassess historical lease classifications for existing leases, and (iii) reassess initial direct costs for existing leases.

 

The Company also elected the practical expedient to account for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. Accordingly, the Company shall include non-lease components with lease payments for the purpose of calculating lease assets and liabilities to the extent that they are fixed. Non-lease components that are not fixed are expensed as incurred as variable lease payments. The Company does not record leases on the consolidated balance sheet that have a term of 12 months or less at the lease commencement date.

 

Costs associated with operating lease assets are recognized on a straight-line basis within “Cost of revenue” and “Selling, general and administrative” expenses over the term of the lease. Finance lease assets are amortized within operating expenses on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term. The interest component of a finance lease is included in interest expense and recognized using the effective interest method over the lease term.

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

Certain conditions may exist as of the date the consolidated financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. The Company monitors the arrangements that are subject to guarantees in order to identify if the obligor who is responsible for making the payments fails to do so. If the Company determines it is probable that a loss has occurred, then any such estimable loss would be recognized under those guarantees. The methodology used to estimate potential loss related to guarantees considers the guarantee amount and a variety of factors, which include, depending on the counterparty, latest financial position of counterparty, actual defaults, historical defaults, and other economic conditions. Management does not believe, based upon information available at this time, that these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, there is no assurance that such matters will not materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, and results of operations or cash flows.

 

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are reported in U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the Company is the U.S. dollars. The functional currency for the Company’s subsidiaries organized in India, Mexico and the United States are their respective local currencies. The Company translates the assets and liabilities of its non-U.S. Dollar functional currency subsidiaries into U.S. Dollars using exchange rates in effect at the end of each period. Amounts classified in stockholder’s equity are translated at historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses for these subsidiaries are translated using rates that approximate those in effect during the period. Gains and losses from these translations are recognized in cumulative translation adjustment included in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

The Company remeasures monetary assets and liabilities that are not denominated in the functional currency at exchange rates prevailing at the date of the transaction. Monetary items denominated in foreign currency remaining unsettled at the end of the year are translated at the closing rates as of the last day of the year. Gains and losses from these remeasurements are recognized within “Other income (expense), net” in the consolidated statements of operations and were $21 and $391 for the years ending March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Employee Benefit Plan

 

Defined Contribution Plan: This comprises of contributions to the employees’ provident fund for employees in India, which is a defined contribution plan set up in accordance with local labor and tax laws and 401(k) savings and supplemental retirement plans for employees in the United States. Both the employee and the employer make monthly contributions to the plan at a predetermined rate of the employees’ basic salary. The Company’s monthly contributions to all of these plans are charged to the consolidated statement of operations in the year they are incurred and there are no further obligations under these plans beyond those monthly contributions. The obligation is recognized in other, which is included in “Other current liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company contributed $796 and $642 towards both of these defined contribution plans during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This balance is recognized in either “Cost of revenue” or “Selling, general, and administrative expenses”, on an employee-by-employee basis.

 

Defined Benefit Plan: The Company provides for a gratuity obligation through a defined benefit retirement plan (the “Gratuity Plan”) covering eligible employees in India under Payments of Gratuity Act, 1972. The plan provides for lump sum payment to vested employees at retirement, death, incapacitation, or termination of employment, of an amount equivalent to 15 days (15 days / 26 days) of salary payable to the respective employee for each completed year of service, with a maximum limit prescribed per employee. As of March 31, 2024 and 2023, the entire gratuity plan of the Company was unfunded. The cost of providing benefits under this plan is determined based on actuarial valuation at each year end. Actuarial valuation is carried out for gratuity using the projected unit credit method. These costs primarily represent the increase in the actuarial present value of the obligation for pension benefits based on employee service during the year and the interest on this obligation in respect of employee service in previous years. The obligation is included in “Accrued compensation and related benefits, current” while the long-term portion is included in “Other liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in fair value of the obligation are recorded in “Other comprehensive loss” in the consolidated statements of other comprehensive income and generally amortized over the average remaining service period of the active employees expected to receive benefits under the plan.

 

Compensated Absences: The Company recognizes its liabilities for compensated absences dependent on whether the obligation is attributable to employee services already rendered, relates to rights that vest or accumulate and payment is probable and estimable. The obligation is included in “Accrued compensation and related benefits, current” while the long-term portion is included in “Other liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s total obligation with respect to compensated absences was $2,537 and $1,910 for the years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Net income per Share

 

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common and potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. The Company has not considered the effect of the Warrants sold in its initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) and private placement to purchase ATI ordinary shares, and impact of FPA put option liability in the calculation of diluted net earnings per share, since the instruments are not dilutive.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“Topic 326”): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Topic 326 requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets measured at amortized cost as well as certain off balance sheet commitments (loan commitments, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees, and other similar instruments). The Company had an off-balance sheet guarantee at the April 1, 2023 adoption date (see Note 17 – Commitment and Contingencies). The expected credit loss for this guarantee was estimated using the probability of default method. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on April 1, 2023 using a modified retrospective approach. Results for reporting periods beginning April 1, 2023 are presented under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable US GAAP.

 

The adoption of ASU 2016-13 resulted in an after-tax cumulative-effect reduction to opening retained earnings and noncontrolling interest of $223 as of April 1, 2023. The following table summarizes the impact of the Company’s adoption of ASU 2016-13:

 

                       
    As Reported
March 31,
2023
    Impact of
Adoption
   

Balance as of
April 1,

2023

 
Accumulated retained earnings (deficit)     6,318       (190 )     6,128  
Noncontrolling interests     1,279       (33 )     1,246  
Accounts receivable, net     13,416       (149 )     13,267  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     4,117       -       4,117  
Other current liabilities     4,201       21       4,222  
Other assets     2,259       (1 )     2,258  
Long-term investments     1,564       (126 )     1,438  
Deferred tax asset     1,237       75       1,312  

 

Expense related to credit losses is classified within “Selling, general & administrative expenses” in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements not yet Adopted

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued a new standard (ASU 2020-06) to reduce the complexity of accounting for convertible debt and other equity-linked instruments. For certain convertible debt instruments with a cash conversion feature, the changes are a trade-off between simplifications in the accounting model (no separation of an “equity” component to impute a market interest rate, and simpler analysis of embedded equity features) and a potentially adverse impact to diluted EPS by requiring the use of the if-converted method. The new standard will also impact other financial instruments commonly issued by both public and private companies. For example, the separation model for beneficial conversion features is eliminated simplifying the analysis for issuers of convertible debt and convertible preferred stock. Also, certain specific requirements to achieve equity classification and/ or qualify for the derivative scope exception for contracts indexed to an entity’s own equity are removed, enabling more freestanding instruments and embedded features to avoid mark-to-market accounting. The new standard is effective for companies that are SEC filers (except for Smaller Reporting Companies) for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2021 and interim periods within that year, and two years later for other companies. Companies can early adopt the standard at the start of a fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2020. The standard can either be adopted on a modified retrospective or a full retrospective basis. The Company is currently reviewing the issued standard and does not believe it will materially impact the Company.

 

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative, which amends the disclosure or presentation requirements related to various subtopics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”). The effective date for each amendment will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of that related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, with early adoption prohibited. If by June 30, 2027, the SEC has not removed the applicable requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, the pending content of the related amendment will be removed from the Codification and will not become effective for any entity. The Company is in the process of evaluating the Impact of the amendments this ASU will have on the financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740) Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires public entities to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold on an annual basis. ASU 2023-09 is effective for the Company for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the update.

 

In March 2024, FASB issued ASU No. 2024-01, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC Topic 718”) Scope Application of Profits Interests and Similar Awards was issued to address diversity in practice in determining whether profits interests and similar awards should be accounted for in accordance with Topic 718 or Topic 710. The update doesn’t change the scope for either Topic 718 or Topic 710; however, it provides implementation guidance and examples to assist entities in determining if profits interests or similar awards are within the scope of Topic 718. The ASU will be effective for annual periods beginning from April 1, 2025, including interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the updates.