UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2023

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ______________ to ______________

Commission File Number 001-40679

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		86-2365445
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

3737 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 1750

Houston, TX 77098

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(713) 715-6820

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one warrant	SEPAU	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share	SEPA	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share	SEPAW	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☒ No ☐

As of August 14, 2023, there were 1,304,259 shares of the registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 4,510,375 shares of the registrant’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share issued and outstanding.

MERCURY ECOMMERCE ACQUISITION CORP.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

	Condensed Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2023 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2022	1

	Condensed Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited)	2

	Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited)	3

	Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited)	4

	Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)	5

Item 2.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS	26

Item 3.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	31

Item 4.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	31

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	33

Item 1A.	RISK FACTORS	33

Item 2.	UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS	33

Item 3.	DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES	33

Item 4.	MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES	33

Item 5.	OTHER INFORMATION	33

Item 6.	EXHIBITS	34

SIGNATURES		35

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

	June 30, 2023			December 31, 2022
ASSETS	(Unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	849,375		$	1,343,809
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		56,126			165,398
Total current assets		905,501			1,509,207
Investments held in Trust Account		13,634,402			—
Restricted cash held with Trustee		—			22,468,765
Total Assets	$	14,539,903		$	23,977,972

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	56,398		$	62,676
Franchise tax payable		—			62,765
Income tax payable		506,603			506,603
Promissory note - related party		960,000			960,000
Accrued interest on promissory note - related party		30,983			2,420
Stockholder redemption payable		—			9,136,168
Total current liabilities		1,553,984			10,730,632
Warrant liabilities		681,328			851,661
Deferred underwriting fee payable		—			6,314,525
Total Liabilities		2,235,312			17,896,818

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, subject to possible redemption; 1,304,259 shares at redemption value at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022		13,634,402			13,332,597

Stockholders’ Deficit
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding		—			—
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding (excluding 1,304,259 shares subject to possible redemption at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022)		—			—
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 4,510,375 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022		451			451
Additional paid-in capital		—			—
Accumulated deficit		(1,330,262	)		(7,251,894	)
Total Stockholders’ Deficit		(1,329,811	)		(7,251,443	)
TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT	$	14,539,903		$	23,977,972

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)


	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Formation and operating costs	$	214,403		$	210,022		$	461,151		$	432,912
Franchise tax		41,039			50,000			84,339			100,598
Loss from operations		(255,442	)		(260,022	)		(545,490	)		(533,510	)

Other income (expense)
Interest expense on promissory note - related party		(14,361	)		—			(28,563	)		—
Earnings on trading securities		9,066			—			10,827			—
Realized gain on investments held in Trust Account		—			92,185			—			110,613
Unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account		160,482			138,413			301,805			191,476
Unrealized gain from change in fair value of warrant liabilities		—			2,554,981			170,333			4,428,632
Gain on waiver of deferred underwriting commissions by underwriter		299,940			—			299,940			—
Total other income, net		455,127			2,785,579			754,342			4,730,721

Net income	$	199,685		$	2,525,557		$	208,852		$	4,197,211

Weighted average shares outstanding, Class A common stock subject to possible redemption		1,304,259			18,041,500			1,304,259			18,041,500
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class A common stock subject to possible redemption	$	(3.45	)	$	0.11		$	(3.36	)	$	0.19

Weighted average shares outstanding, Class B common stock		4,510,375			4,510,375			4,510,375			4,510,375
Basic and diluted net income per share, Class B common stock	$	1.04		$	0.10		$	1.02		$	0.17

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
(UNAUDITED)


	Class A Common Stock				Class B Common Stock				Additional Paid-in		Accumulated			Total Stockholders’
	Shares		Amount		Shares		Amount		Capital		Deficit			Deficit
Balance as of December 31, 2022		—	$	—		4,510,375	$	451	$	—	$	(7,251,894	))	$	(7,251,443	)
Subsequent accretion of Class A common stock subject to redemption to redemption amount as of March 31, 2023		—		—		—		—		—		(141,323	)		(141,323	)
Net income		—		—		—		—		—		9,167			9,167
Balance as of March 31, 2023		—	$	—		4,510,375	$	451	$	—	$	(7,384,050	)	$	(7,383,599	)
Waiver of deferred underwriting commissions by underwriter (see Note 6)		—		—		—		—		—		6,014,585			6,014,585
Subsequent accretion of Class A common stock subject to redemption to redemption amount as of June 30, 2023		—		—		—		—		—		(160,482	)		(160,482	)
Net income		—		—		—		—		—		199,685			199,685
Balance as of June 30, 2023		—	$	—		4,510,375	$	451	$	—	$	(1,330,262	)	$	(1,329,811	)

	Class A Common Stock				Class B Common Stock				Additional Paid-in		Accumulated			Total Stockholders’
	Shares		Amount		Shares		Amount		Capital		Deficit			Deficit
Balance as of December 31, 2021		—	$	—		4,510,375	$	451	$	—	$	(12,786,739	)	$	(12,786,288	)
Subsequent accretion of Class A common stock subject to redemption to redemption amount as of March 31, 2022		—		—		—		—		—		(71,491	)		(71,491	)
Net income		—		—		—		—		—		1,671,654			1,671,654
Balance as of March 31, 2022		—	$	—		4,510,375	$	451	$	—	$	(11,186,576	)	$	(11,186,125	)
Subsequent accretion of Class A common stock subject to redemption to redemption amount as of June 30, 2022		—		—		—		—		—		(230,598	)		(230,598	)
Net income		—		—		—		—		—		2,525,557			2,525,557
Balance as of June 30, 2022		—	$	—		4,510,375	$	451	$	—	$	(8,891,617	)	$	(8,891,166	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)

	For the six months ended June 30, 2023			For the six months ended June 30, 2022
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$	208,852		$	4,197,211
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Realized gain on investments held in Trust Account		—			(110,613	)
Unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account		(301,805	)		(191,476	)
Accrued interest expense on promissory note - related party		28,563			—
Unrealized gain from change in fair value of warrant liabilities		(170,333	)		(4,428,632	)
Gain on waiver of deferred underwriting commissions by underwriter		(299,940	)		—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses		109,272			125,763
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(6,278	)		(103,415	)
Franchise tax payable		(62,765	)		(67,123	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(494,434	)		(578,285	)

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchase of U.S. government treasury obligations		(26,811,597	)		(182,345,000	)
Proceeds from redemption of U.S. government treasury obligations		13,479,000			182,345,000
Net cash used in investing activities		(13,332,597	)		—

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Payment to redeeming stockholders		(9,136,168	)		—
Net cash used in financing activities		(9,136,168	)		—

Net Change in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash		(22,963,199	)		(578,285	)
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash- Beginning of period		23,812,574			842,059
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash- End of period	$	849,375		$	263,774

Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Waiver of deferred underwriting commissions by underwriter (see Note 6)	$	6,014,585		$	—
Subsequent accretion of Class A common stock subject to redemption to redemption amount as of June 30, 2023 and 2022	$	301,805		$	302,089

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND LIQUIDITY AND GOING CONCERN

SEP Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) formerly known as Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. (name of the Company changed on December 21, 2022), is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on March 1, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”). The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 relates to the Company’s formation and the initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), which is described in Note 3, along with costs associated with the search for a target to enter into the Business Combination with the Company. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of realized gains from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on July 27, 2021. On July 30, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 17,500,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Class A common stock included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares”), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $175,000,000 which is described in Note 3.

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 7,850,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC (the “Sponsor”), generating gross proceeds of $7,850,000, which is described in Note 4.

The Company granted the underwriter in the Initial Public Offering a 45-day option to purchase up to 2,625,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any. On August 20, 2021, the underwriter partially exercised the over-allotment option and purchased an additional 541,500 Units (the “Over-Allotment Units”), generating gross proceeds of $5,415,000, and incurred $108,300 in cash underwriting fees and $189,525 that will be payable to the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions, which is described in Note 3. On June 30, 2023, the underwriter agreed to waive its rights to its portion of the fee payable by the Company for deferred underwriting commissions, which is described in Note 6.

Simultaneously with the underwriter partially exercising the over-allotment option, the Sponsor purchased an additional 162,450 warrants (the “Over-Allotment Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per Over-Allotment Private Placement Warrant ($162,450 in the aggregate), which is described in Note 4.

In addition, the Sponsor agreed to forfeit up to 656,250 Founder Shares to the extent that the over-allotment option was not exercised in full by the underwriter. The underwriter partially exercised its over-allotment option on August 20, 2021 and forfeited the remainder of the option; thus, 520,875 Founder Shares were forfeited by the Sponsor, which is described in Note 5.

Transaction costs amounted to $15,401,418 consisting of $3,608,300 of underwriting fees, $6,314,525 of deferred underwriting fees, $764,193 of other offering costs, and $4,714,400 of the excess fair value of the Founder Shares sold over the purchase price of $4,150 (see Note 5).

Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering and partial exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option, a total of $182,219,150 from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering, the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, the sale of the Over-Allotment Units, and the sale of the Over-Allotment Private Placement Warrants was placed in a Trust Account (the “Trust Account”) and invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with maturities of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the funds held in the Trust Account, as described below.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

The Company will provide its stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company. The stockholders will be entitled to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the amount held in the Trust Account (initially $10.10 per share), calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of a Business Combination, including any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants.

The Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon consummation of such Business Combination and a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a stockholder vote is not required under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the holders of the Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) have agreed to vote their Founder Shares and any Public Shares purchased in or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of approving a Business Combination and to waive their redemption rights with respect to any such shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a Business Combination. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its Public Shares, without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against a proposed Business Combination.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Public Shares without the Company’s prior written consent.

The initial stockholders have agreed to waive (a) their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares and any Public Shares held by them in connection with the completion of an initial Business Combination, (b) their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares and Public Shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of Public Shares in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below), or with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity and (c) their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares held by them if the Company fails to complete an initial Business Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below). However, if the initial stockholders acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below).

The Company initially had 18 months, or 24 months if the Company had signed a definitive agreement with respect to an initial Business Combination within such 18-month period from the closing of the Initial Public Offering to complete a Business Combination. Following approval of the Extension Proposal (defined below), the Company has until July 30, 2024 to complete a Business Combination (the "Combination Period"). If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem the Public Shares, at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete an initial Business Combination within the Combination Period.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

On December 20, 2022, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders where the Company’s stockholders approved the Extension Amendment, extending the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination from January 30, 2023 (or July 30, 2023, if the Company had executed a definitive agreement for a business combination by January 30, 2023) to July 30, 2024 (the “Extension Proposal”). In connection with the Extension Proposal, the Company was required to permit public stockholders to redeem their shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. Of the 18,041,500 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock outstanding, the holders of 16,737,241 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock elected to redeem their shares at a per share redemption price of approximately $10.22. As a result, the Company transferred cash in the amount of $185,001,686 to the Trustee, of which $171,094,003 was designated to pay such holders who had elected to redeem their shares in connection with the Extension Proposal. As of December 31, 2022, $161,957,835 had been paid to the redeeming stockholders and $22,468,765 remained in restricted cash, $9,136,168 of which was paid subsequent to December 31, 2022 to such holders who elected to redeem their shares. Following the redemptions, the Company had 1,304,259 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock outstanding and $13,332,597 remained in the Trust Account (i.e. approximately $10.22 per share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock).

In order to protect the amounts in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than the Company’s independent registered accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.10 per Public Share or (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.10 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of permitted withdrawals, except as to any claims by a third party (including such target business) that executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether any such waiver is enforceable) and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity or contribution of the underwriter of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than the Company’s independent registered accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.

Nasdaq Notifications

On January 22, 2023, the Company received a written notice from the listing qualifications department staff of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) indicating that the Company was not in compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(4), due to the Company’s failure to meet the minimum 500,000 publicly held shares requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. On February 9, 2023, the Company submitted to Nasdaq a plan to regain compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(4), pursuant to which the Company’s Chairman, Mr. Blair Garrou, agreed to sell 80,000 of the shares of Class A Common Stock he is deemed to beneficially own through Mercury Houston Partners, LLC and Mercury Affiliates XI, LLC by means of private sales to unaffiliated buyers. After the private sales of 80,000 shares of Class A common stock to unaffiliated buyers, the Company has 509,259 publicly held shares as defined in Listing Rule 5001(a)(35) of the Nasdaq Rules. Based on the Company’s submission, the Company received a letter on February 27, 2023, in which the Nasdaq staff determined to grant the Company an extension of time to regain compliance with the Listing Rule 5550(a)(4). Under the terms of the extension, the Company was required to file with the SEC and Nasdaq a public document containing the Company’s current total shares outstanding and a beneficial ownership table in accordance with SEC proxy rules on or before March 31, 2023, which the Company complied with by virtue of filing the beneficial ownership table in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. On April 4, 2023, the Company received a written notice from the listing qualifications department of Nasdaq stating that the Nasdaq staff had determined that the Company was in compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(4) and that the matter was now closed.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

On March 28, 2023, the Company received a written notice from the listing qualifications department staff of Nasdaq notifying the Company that for the last 30 consecutive business days, the Company’s minimum Market Value of Listed Securities (“MVLS”) was below the minimum of $35 million required for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(2) (the “Market Value Standard”). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(C), the Company will have 180 calendar days, or until September 25, 2023, to regain compliance with the Market Value Standard. To regain compliance with the Market Value Standard, the MVLS for the Company’s common stock must be at least $35 million for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days at any time during this 180-day period. If the Company regains compliance with the Market Value Standard, Nasdaq will provide the Company with written confirmation and will close the matter. If the Company does not regain compliance with the rule by September 25, 2023, Nasdaq will provide notice that the Company’s securities will be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market. In the event of such notification, the Nasdaq rules permit the Company an opportunity to appeal Nasdaq’s determination. The Company is monitoring the MLVS of its common stock and is evaluating options to regain compliance with the Nasdaq continued listing standards. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain or maintain compliance with Nasdaq listing criteria.

Going Concern Consideration

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $849,375 in cash held outside of the Trust Account and a working capital deficit of $648,483. The Company anticipates that the cash held outside of the Trust Account as of June 30, 2023 will not be sufficient to allow the Company to operate for at least the next 12 months from the issuance of the unaudited condensed financial statements, assuming that a Business Combination is not consummated during that time. Over this time period, the Company will be using the funds held outside of the Trust Account for paying existing accounts payable and accrued liabilities, identifying and evaluating prospective initial Business Combination candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to merge with or acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of time within one year after the date that the unaudited condensed financial statements are issued. Management plans to address this uncertainty through the Business Combination as discussed above. In addition, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company additional funds as may be required under the Working Capital Loans (as defined in Note 5). There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to consummate the Business Combination will be successful or successful within the Combination Period or that the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors will loan the Company funds as may be required under the Working Capital Loans.

As a result of the above, in connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern, management has determined that the conditions described above raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through approximately one year from the date the unaudited condensed financial statements are issued. The unaudited condensed 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 should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

Risks and Uncertainties

The credit and financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruptions due to the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The conflict is expected to have further global economic consequences, including but not limited to the possibility of severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in inflation rates and uncertainty about economic and political stability. In addition, the United States and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia which increases the risk that Russia, as a retaliatory action, may launch cyberattacks against the United States, its government, infrastructure and businesses. Any of the foregoing consequences, including those the Company cannot yet predict, may cause the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and the price of the Company’s common stock to be adversely affected.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements of the Company are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in unaudited condensed financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a comprehensive presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented. The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2022 Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023. The interim results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023 or for any future periods.

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.

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 unaudited condensed 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.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of unaudited condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the unaudited condensed financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ from those estimates. The initial valuation of the Public Warrants (as defined in Note 3), Private Placement Warrants, and Class A common stock subject to redemption required management to exercise significant judgement in its estimates.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed balance sheets that sum to the total of the same amounts shown in the statements of cash flows.

Schedule Of Cash And Cash Equivalents

	June 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
	(Unaudited)
Cash	$	38,548	$	1,343,809
Cash equivalents		810,827		—
Restricted cash		—		22,468,765
Total Cash	$	849,375	$	23,812,574

Cash Equivalents

The Company invests auxiliary funds from the operating bank account into trading securities held in the brokerage account. The investments consist of U.S. government treasury obligations with a fair value of $810,827 and $0 at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Restricted Cash Held with Trustee

In connection with the Extension Amendment, the Company transferred cash in the amount of $185,001,686 to the Trustee. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had $0 and $22,468,765 in restricted cash held with the Trustee, respectively. The Company does not have access to these funds. The assets held with the Trustee were solely used in the payout to redeeming stockholders. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, of the remaining restricted cash held with the Trustee, $9,136,168 was paid to remaining redeeming stockholders and $13,332,597 was transferred back to the Trust Account.

Investments Held in Trust Account

As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets held in the Trust Account were held in U.S. government treasury obligations with maturities of 185 days or less, which were invested in U.S. Treasury securities. Trading securities are presented on the condensed balance sheets at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities are included in unrealized gains (losses) on investments held in Trust Account and realized gains (losses) on investments held in Trust Account in the accompanying unaudited condensed statements of operations.

Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption

The Company accounts for its common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”). Common stock subject to mandatory redemption are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity (deficit). The Company’s Class A common stock includes certain redemption rights that are outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events and therefore is classified as temporary equity. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 1,304,259 shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of the Company’s balance sheets.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable Class A common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable Class A common stock are recorded against additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit. The Company recorded an initial accretion of carrying value to redemption valuation of $25,012,764 upon consummation of the Initial Public Offering. For the period from March 1, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, the Company recorded accretion of carrying value to redemption value of $29,687 due to the unrealized gain on the investments held in the Trust Account. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded accretion of carrying value to redemption value of $2,177,762 due to the $2,752,849 of realized gain on the investments held in the Trust Account partially offset by $575,087 transferred to the operating bank account for taxes, as the holders of the Class A common stock subject to redemption have the right to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the amount held in the Trust Account including any pro rata gains earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company subsequently recorded accretion of carrying value to redemption value of $160,482 and $301,805 due to the unrealized gain on the investments held in the Trust Account, respectively.

As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Class A common stock subject to possible redemption reflected in the unaudited condensed financial statements is reconciled in the following table:

Gross proceeds	$	180,415,000
Less:
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants		(8,569,713	)
Issuance costs allocated to Class A common stock		(14,638,901	)
Plus:
Initial accretion of carrying value to redemption value		25,012,764
Subsequent accretion of carrying value to redemption value as of December 31, 2021		29,687
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption as of December 31, 2021		182,248,837
Subsequent accretion of carrying value to redemption value as of December 31, 2022		2,177,762
Stockholder redemption of 16,737,241 shares at $10.10 per share plus realized gains		(171,094,002	)
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption as of December 31, 2022		13,332,597
Subsequent accretion of carrying value to redemption value as of March 31, 2023		141,323
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption as of March 31, 2023		13,473,920
Subsequent accretion of carrying value to redemption value as of June 30, 2023		160,482
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption as of June 30, 2023	$	13,634,402

Warrant Liabilities

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own common stock, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the statements of operations. See Note 10 for details regarding the valuation of the Public Warrants (as defined in Note 3) and the Private Placement Warrants.

Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering

The Company complies with the requirements of ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A, Expenses of Offering. Offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs directly attributable to the issuance of an equity contract to be classified in equity are recorded as a reduction in equity. Offering costs for equity contracts that are classified as assets and liabilities are expensed immediately. The Company incurred offering costs amounting to $15,401,418 as a result of the Initial Public Offering (consisting of $3,608,300 of underwriting fees, $6,314,525 of deferred underwriting fees, $764,193 of other offering costs, and $4,714,400 of the excess fair value of the Founder Shares sold over the purchase price of $4,150 (see Note 5). Offering costs recorded to equity amounted to $14,638,901 and offering costs that were expensed amounted to $762,517.

Income Taxes

The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception. The Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations was 0.0% and 0.0% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations was 0.0% and 0.0% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage. The Company has not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.

On March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) as receiver. On March 10, 2023, the Company announced that it held all of its operating cash deposits with SVB in the amount of $1,343,809. None of the Company’s Trust Account deposits are held at SVB. Following the joint announcement issued by the Department of the Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC on March 12, 2023, whereby the FDIC will complete its resolution of the receivership of SVB in a manner that fully protects all depositors, the Company has access to all of their operating funds. On March 27, 2023, SVB was acquired by First Citizens Bank and the Company’s deposits continue to be FDIC insured up to the FDIC limit.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

Net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The Company has not considered the effect of the warrants sold in the Initial Public Offering and private placement to purchase an aggregate of 17,033,200 shares in the calculation of diluted income (loss) per share, since the exercise of the warrants is contingent upon the occurrence of future events. In order to determine the net income (loss) attributable to both the public Class A common stock and Class B common stock, the Company first considered the total income (loss) allocable to both sets of shares. This is calculated using the total net income (loss) less any dividends paid. For purposes of calculating net income (loss) per share, any remeasurement of the accretion to redemption value of the Class A common stock subject to possible redemption was considered to be dividends paid to the public stockholders. Subsequent to calculating the total income (loss) allocable to both sets of shares, the Company split the amount to be allocated using a ratio of 22% for the Class A common stock and 78% for the Class B common stock for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and a ratio of 80% for the Class A common stock and 20% for the Class B common stock for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, reflective of the respective participation rights. The change in allocation ratios for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 are due to the redemptions of Class A common stock (see Note 1).

The following tables reflect the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share (in dollars, except per share amounts):

	For the three months ended June 30, 2023			For the three months ended June 30, 2022			For the six months ended June 30, 2023			For the six months ended June 30, 2022
Net income	$	199,685		$	2,525,557		$	208,852		$	4,197,211
Accretion of Class A common stock to redemption amount		(160,482	)		(230,598	)		(301,805	)		(302,089	)
Gain on waiver of deferred underwriting commissions by underwriter		6,014,585			—			6,014,585			—
Net income (loss) including accretion of temporary equity to redemption value and gain on waiver of deferred underwriting commissions by underwriter	$	6,053,788		$	2,294,959		$	5,921,632		$	3,895,122

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

	For the Three Months Ended June 30,									For the Six Months Ended June 30,
	2023					2022				2023					2022
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:	Class A			Class B		Class A		Class B		Class A			Class B		Class A		Class B
Numerator:
Net income (loss) including accretion of temporary equity to redemption value and gain on waiver of deferred underwriting commissions by underwriter	$	1,357,903		$	4,695,885	$	1,835,967	$	458,992	$	1,328,259		$	4,593,373	$	3,116,098	$	779,024
Accretion of Class A common stock to redemption amount		160,482			—		230,598		—		301,805			—		302,089		—
Gain on waiver of deferred underwriting commissions by underwriter		(6,014,585	)		—		—		—		(6,014,585	)		—		—		—
Net income (loss)	$	(4,496,200	)	$	4,695,885	$	2,066,565	$	458,992	$	(4,384,521)			4,593,373	$	3,418,187	$	779,024
Denominator:
Weighted Average Common Stock		1,304,259			4,510,375		18,041,500		4,510,375		1,304,259			4,510,375		18,041,500		4,510,375
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share	$	(3.45	)	$	1.04	$	0.11	$	0.10	$	(3.36	)	$	1.02	$	0.19	$	0.17

As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, no Founder Shares remain subject to forfeiture, as such the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into common stock and share in earnings. As a result, diluted income (loss) per share is the same as basic income (loss) per share for the periods presented.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying unaudited balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.

The Company applies ASC 820, which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and clarifies the definition of fair value within that framework. ASC 820 defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the Company’s principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820 generally requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the entity’s own assumptions based on market data and the entity’s judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are to be developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, other than the investments held in the Trust Account and warrant liabilities, approximate the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.

Level 1 — Assets and liabilities with unadjusted, quoted prices listed on active market exchanges. Inputs to the fair value measurement are observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are determined using prices for recently traded assets and liabilities with similar underlying terms, as well as direct or indirect observable inputs, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

Level 3 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are unobservable inputs, such as estimates, assumptions, and valuation techniques when little or no market data exists for the assets or liabilities.

See Note 10 for additional information on assets and liabilities measured at fair value.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company’s management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements.

NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold 17,500,000 Units, at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share (see Note 7).

The Company had granted the underwriter in the Initial Public Offering a 45-day option to purchase up to 2,625,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any. On August 20, 2021, the underwriter partially exercised the over-allotment option and purchased an additional 541,500 Over-Allotment Units, generating gross proceeds of $5,415,000, and incurred $108,300 in cash underwriting fees and $189,525 that will be payable to the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions.

NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 7,850,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant ($7,850,000 in the aggregate). Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants were added to the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless. Upon the purchase of the Private Placement Warrants by the Sponsor, the Company recorded the excess proceeds received over the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants as additional paid-in capital.

Simultaneously with the underwriter partially exercising the over-allotment option, the Sponsor purchased an additional 162,450 Over-Allotment Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Over-Allotment Private Placement Warrant ($162,450 in the aggregate).

NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

On March 4, 2021, the Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 to cover certain expenses on behalf of the Company in exchange for the issuance of 5,031,250 shares of Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”). The outstanding Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 656,250 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriter’s over-allotment option was not exercised in full or in part, so that the Sponsor would own, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering (assuming the Sponsor did not purchase any Public Shares in the Initial Public Offering). The underwriter partially exercised its over-allotment option on August 20, 2021 and forfeited the remainder of the option; thus, 520,875 Founder Shares were forfeited by the Sponsor.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

A total of ten anchor investors purchased 14,402,000 Units in the Initial Public Offering at the offering price of $10.00 per Unit; seven anchor investors purchased 1,732,500 Units in the Initial Public Offering at the offering price of $10.00 per Unit, and such allocations were determined by the underwriter; one anchor investor purchased 1,400,000 Units in the Initial Public Offering at the offering price of $10.00 per unit; and two anchor investors purchased 437,500 Units in the Initial Public Offering at the offering price of $10.00 per Unit. In connection with the purchase of such Units, the anchor investors have not been granted any stockholder or other rights in addition to those afforded to the Company’s other public stockholders. Further, the anchor investors are not required to (i) hold any Units, Class A common stock or warrants they may purchase in the Initial Public Offering or thereafter for any amount of time, (ii) vote any Class A common stock they may own at the applicable time in favor of the Business Combination or (iii) refrain from exercising their right to redeem their Public Shares at the time of the Business Combination. The anchor investors will have the same rights to the funds held in the Trust Account with respect to the Class A common stock underlying the Units they purchased in the Initial Public Offering as the rights afforded to the Company’s other public stockholders.

Each anchor investor has entered into separate investment agreements with the Company and the Sponsor pursuant to which each anchor investor purchased a specified number of Founder Shares, or an aggregate of 830,000 Founder Shares, from the Sponsor for $0.005 per share, or an aggregate purchase price of $4,150 at the closing of the Initial Public Offering, which was subject to such anchor investor’s acquisition of 100% of the Units allocated to it by the underwriter in the Initial Public Offering. Pursuant to the investment agreements, the anchor investors have agreed to (a) vote any Founder Shares held by them in favor of the Business Combination and (b) subject any Founder Shares held by them to the same lock-up restrictions as the Founder Shares held by the Sponsor and independent directors.

The Company estimated the fair value of the Founder Shares attributable to the anchor investors to be $4,714,400 or $5.68 per share. The excess of the fair value of the Founder Shares sold over the purchase price of $4,150 (or $0.005 per share) was determined to be an offering cost in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A. Accordingly, the offering costs were allocated to the separable financial instruments issued in the Initial Public Offering in proportion to the amount allocated to the Class A common stock and Public Warrants, compared to total proceeds received. Offering costs allocated to derivative warrant liabilities were expensed immediately in the statement of operations. Offering costs allocated to the Public Shares were charged to temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering.

Promissory Note - Related Party

On March 4, 2021, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor (the “Promissory Note”), pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to an aggregate of $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and was payable on the earlier of (i) August 30, 2021 or (ii) the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there was no outstanding balance under the Promissory Note. The outstanding balance under the Promissory Note was repaid at the closing of the Initial Public Offering on July 30, 2021.

On October 11, 2022, the Company issued an unsecured Second Promissory Note (the “Second Promissory Note”) to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to $1,000,000 from the Second Promissory Note at a 6% interest rate on or before October 11, 2024 to cover, among other things, expenses related to a business combination. On October 11, 2022, the Company borrowed $200,000 under the Second Promissory Note. Between December 21, 2022 and December 27, 2022 the Company borrowed a total of $760,000 under the Second Promissory Note bringing the total drawdowns to $960,000 as of June 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

Administrative Support Agreement

The Company entered into an agreement to pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for administrative, financial and support services. Upon the completion of an initial Business Combination, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees. As of July 1, 2022, the administrative support agreement was terminated and no further expense was incurred. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company incurred expenses $0 and $0, respectively under this agreement. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company incurred expenses $30,000 and $60,000, respectively under this agreement and is included within formation and operating costs on the accompanying unaudited condensed statement of operations.

Related Party Loans

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company additional funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds held in the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination is not completed, the Company may use a portion of the proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. As of June 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, there were no working capital loans outstanding.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on July 27, 2021, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) are entitled to registration rights requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion into shares of Class A common stock). The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of an initial Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

Underwriting Agreement

The Company had granted the underwriter in the Initial Public Offering a 45-day option to purchase up to 2,625,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any. On August 20, 2021, the underwriter partially exercised the over-allotment option and purchased an additional 541,500 Units (the “Over-Allotment Units”), generating gross proceeds of $5,415,000, and incurred $108,300 in cash underwriting fees and $189,525 that will be payable to the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions.

The underwriter was paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $3,608,300 in the aggregate, upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering and partial exercise of the over-allotment option. In addition, $0.35 per unit, or $6,314,525 in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions. On June 30, 2023, the underwriter agreed to waive its rights to its portion of the fee payable by the Company for deferred underwriting commissions, with respect to any potential business combination of the Company. Of the total $6,314,525 waived fee, $6,014,585 was recorded as accumulated deficit and $299,940 was recorded as a gain on the waiver of deferred underwriting commissions by underwriter in the unaudited condensed statements of operations, following a manner consistent with the original allocation of the deferred underwriting fees. The underwriting fees included in total offering costs at the time of the Initial Public Offering were allocated to the separable financial instruments issued in the Initial Public Offering in proportion to the amount allocated to the Class A common stock and Public Warrants, compared to total proceeds received. Offering costs allocated to derivative warrant liabilities were expensed immediately. Offering costs allocated to the Public Shares were charged to temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering. The Company incurred offering costs amounting to $15,401,418 as a result of the Initial Public Offering (consisting of $3,608,300 of underwriting fees, $6,314,525 of deferred underwriting fees, $764,193 of other offering costs, and $4,714,400 of the excess fair value of the Founder Shares sold over the purchase price of $4,150). Offering costs recorded to equity amounted to $14,638,901 and offering costs that were expensed amounted to $762,517. The transaction costs were allocated based on the relative fair value basis, compared to the total offering proceeds, between the fair value of the warrant liabilities and the Class A common stock.

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 7. WARRANTS

Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination or (b) one year from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The Public Warrants will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue a share of Class A common stock upon exercise of a warrant unless the shares 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.

The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) business days after the closing of an initial Business Combination, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration or redemption of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the sixtieth (60th) business day after the closing of an initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if the Company’s 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, the Company may, at its 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 the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event the Company does not so elect, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 — Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants (except with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):

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in whole and not in part;

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at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

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upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and

●

if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, rights issuances, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like).

SEP ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)

If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if the Company is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. However, the Company will not redeem the warrants unless an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period.

Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 — Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants:

●

in whole and not in part;

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at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption; provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares based on the redemption date and the fair market value of the Company’s Class A common stock;

●

if, and only if, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, rights issuances, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like); and

●

if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, rights issuances, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like), the Private Placement Warrants must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding Public Warrants, as described above.

The fair market value of the Company’s Class A common stock shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Class A common stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. The Company will provide its warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the 10-trading day period described above ends. In no event will the warrants be exercisable on a cashless basis in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment).