Blaize Holdings, Inc. (BZAI) FY 2024 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Unless otherwise indicated, references to “we”, “us”, “our”, “BurTech” or the “Company” in this Item 7. are to BurTech Acquisition Corp. before the consummation of the Business Combination, references to “Blaize” are to Blaize Holdings, Inc. after the consummation of the Business Combination and references to "Legacy Blaize" are to Blaize, Inc. before the consummation of the Business Combination. The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in Item 8. of this Annual Report. The financial information included in this Item 7. is that of BurTech prior to the Business Combination, as the Business Combination was consummated subsequent to the period covered by the audited consolidated financial statements in Item 8. of this Annual Report.
Overview
We were a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on March 2, 2021, for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We are an emerging growth company and, as such, we are subject to all of the risks associated with emerging growth companies.
Recent Events
In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the Special Meeting of stockholders held by the Company on March 10, 2023, 22,119,297 shares were tendered for redemption. As a result, approximately $227.8 million (approximately $10.30 per share redeemed) was removed from the Company’s trust account to pay holders. Following redemptions, the Company has 6,630,703 shares of Class A common stock outstanding, and approximately $68.0 million remained in the Company’s trust account.
In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the Second Special Meeting of stockholders held by the Company on December 11, 2023, The Company’s stockholders redeemed 2,285,040 shares during the Second Special Meeting. As a result, approximately $24.5 million (approximately $10.74 per share) was removed from the Company’s trust account to pay such holders. The amount was removed from the Trust Account on January 5, 2024.
In conjunction with the above redemptions, the stockholders’ also voted on extending the original liquidation from March 15, 2023 to December 15, 2023, (the “extended liquidation date”) extending the life of the Company to complete an initial business combination. We will have only 23 months from the closing of the IPO (the “Combination Period”) to complete the initial Business Combination. On December 11, 2023 (the “Second Special Meeting”), the Company entered into an amendment to the investment management trust agreement dated as of December 10, 2021, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Second Trust Amendment”).
Pursuant to the Second Trust Amendment, the Company had the right to extend the time to complete a business combination twelve (12) times, each such extension for an additional one (1) month period (each an “Extension”), until December 15, 2024, by depositing into the Trust Account the lesser of $0.03 per unredeemed share of Class A common stock or $150,000 (the “Extension Payment”) for each one-month Extension. On January 16, 2024, February 9, 2024, and March 12, 2024, the Sponsor deposited $130,370 on each date into the Trust Account to extend the life of the Company from January 15, 2024 to April 15, 2024. On April 10, 2024, May 10, 2024 and June 12, 2024 the Sponsor deposited $130,370 on each date into the Trust Account to extend the life of the Company from April 15, 2024 to July 15, 2024. On July 12, 2024, August 14, 2024, September 21, 2024,October 15, 2024 and November 13, 2024 the Sponsor deposited $130,370 on each date into the Trust Account to extend the life of the Company from April 15, 2024 to December 15, 2024.
In connection with the stockholders’ vote at the Third Special Meeting of stockholders held by the Company on December 9, 2024, the Company’s stockholders redeemed 241,120 shares during the Third Special Meeting. As a result, approximately $2.7 million (approximately $11.51 per share) was removed from the Company’s trust account to pay such holders. The amount was removed from the Trust Account on December 12, 2024. In conjunction with these redemptions, the stockholders also voted on extending the extended liquidation from December 15, 2024 to May 15, 2025, (the “extended liquidation date”) extending the life of the Company to complete an initial business combination. The Company had the right to extend the time to complete a business combination until May 15, 2025, by depositing into the Trust Account the lesser of $0.05 per unredeemed share of Class A common stock or $205,227 (the “New Extension Payment”) for each one-month Extension. On December 15, 2024 the Sponsor deposited $205,227 into the Trust Account to extend the life of the Company to January 15, 2025.
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Business Combination
As previously announced, on December 22, 2023, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company, Merger Sub a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Legacy Blaize, and, solely for the limited purposes set forth therein, Burkhan Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Burkhan”), pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Legacy Blaize, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub ceased and Legacy Blaize survived such merger and continued in existence as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (the “Merger” and, collectively with the other transactions described in the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”). In connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, BurTech was renamed “Blaize Holdings, Inc.”
Special Meeting and Closing of the Transactions
On December 23, 2024, we held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”), at which the BurTech stockholders considered and adopted, among other matters, a proposal to approve the Business Combination, including (a) adopting the Merger Agreement and (b) approving the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, following the Special Meeting, on January 13, 2025 (the “Closing Date”), the Business Combination was consummated (the “Closing”).
Registration Rights Agreement
On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, we and certain stockholders of Legacy Blaize, the Sponsor and BurTech entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which we agreed to file a shelf registration statement with respect to the registrable securities under the Registration Rights Agreement within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing of the Business Combination. Certain Legacy Blaize stockholders and BurTech stockholders may each request to sell all or any portion of their registrable securities in an underwritten offering up to two times total and up to twice in any 12-month period, so long as the total offering price is reasonably expected to exceed $50.0 million. We also agreed to provide customary “piggyback” registration rights. The Registration Rights Agreement also provides that we will pay certain expenses relating to such registrations and indemnify the stockholders against certain liabilities.
On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, we and certain stockholders of Legacy Blaize, entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Ava Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which we agreed to file a shelf registration statement with respect to the registrable securities under the Registration Rights Agreement within four (4) business days of the closing of the Business Combination. Certain Legacy Blaize stockholders may each request to sell all or any portion of their registrable securities in an underwritten offering up to two times total and up to twice in any 12-month period, so long as the total offering price is reasonably expected to exceed $25.0 million. We also agreed to provide customary “piggyback” registration rights. The Ava Registration Rights Agreement also provides that we will pay certain expenses relating to such registrations and indemnify the stockholders against certain liabilities.
The foregoing description of each of the Registration Rights Agreement and Ava Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement and Ava Registration Rights Agreement filed as exhibits to Blaize’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 17, 2025.
Lock-up Agreement
On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, we entered into lock-up agreements (the “Lock-up Agreements”) with (i) certain of Blaize’s directors and officers, (ii) certain stockholders of Blaize and (iii) Burkhan, in each case, restricting the transfer of Blaize common stock and any shares of Blaize common stock issuable upon the exercise or settlement, as applicable, of Blaize Options or Blaize RSUs (each as defined in the Merger Agreement) held by it immediately after the Merger. The restrictions under the Lock-up Agreements began at Closing and end on the earlier of (x) the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date, (y) the last reported sale price of Blaize common stock reaching $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing and (z) the liquidation of Blaize.
Amendment to Underwriting Agreement
On April 26, 2024, the Company and EF Hutton amended the Underwriting Agreement signed on December 10, 2021. In lieu of the Company paying the full Deferred Underwriting Commission, EF Hutton agreed to accept a $1,500,000 cash payment at the Closing of a Business Combination, which was paid in full to EF Hutton on the Closing Date and the Company’s obligation to deliver the Deferred Underwriting Commission has been fulfilled.
Backstop Subscription Agreement
On April 22, 2024, the Sponsor entered into a backstop subscription agreement (the “Backstop Subscription Agreement”) with the Company and Legacy Blaize. Pursuant to the Backstop Subscription Agreement, in the event that the amount of cash in the
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Company’s trust account following redemptions and before payment of expenses (the “Trust Amount”) is less than $30,000,000 (the “Backstop Amount”), the Sponsor shall purchase, prior to or substantially concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination, a number of shares of Class A common stock of the Company equal to the quotient of (a) the difference of (x) $30,000,000 minus (y) the Trust Amount divided by (b) $10.00, at a per share purchase price of $10.00 per share.
The Company accounts for its Backstop Subscription Agreement in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging”, under which the Backstop Subscription Agreement does not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company classified the Backstop Subscription Agreement as a liability at its fair value and adjusts the Backstop Subscription Agreement to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations (see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. of this Annual Report).
The Backstop Subscription Agreement was waived at the time of the execution of the Non-Redemption Agreement (as defined below).
Non-Redemption Agreement
On or around December 31, 2024, the Company entered into agreements (each, a “Non-Redemption Agreement” and collectively, the “Non-Redemption Agreements”) with one or more unaffiliated stockholders of the Company (each, an “Investor”) who agreed not to redeem (or validly rescind any redemption requests on) their shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the Company (“Non-Redeemed Shares”), in connection with the Special Meeting. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem the Non-Redeemed Shares, Legacy Blaize and the Sponsor, have agreed to guarantee that each Investor receives a return of $1.50 per Non-Redeemed Share whether Investor (i) sells the Non-Redeemed Shares in the open market or (ii) exercises its option to require the Company to repurchase the Non-Redeemed Shares in accordance with the Non-Redemption Agreement. Entering into the Non-Redemption Agreement is expected to increase the amount of funds that remain in the Company’s trust account following the Business Combination.
The Company accounts for its Non-Redemption Agreement in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging”, under which the Non-Redemption Agreement does not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company classified the Backstop Subscription Agreement as a liability at its fair value and adjusts the Non-Redemption Agreement to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations (see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. of this Annual Report).
PIPE Subscription Agreements
In connection with the Business Combination, between December 31, 2024 and January 13, 2025 the Company and Legacy Blaize entered into subscription agreements (the “PIPE Subscription Agreements”) with certain unaffiliated third-party investors and Burkhan Capital LLC (each, a “PIPE Investor” and collectively, the “PIPE Investors”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company agreed to issue and sell to the PIPE Investors, and the PIPE Investors agreed to subscribe for and purchase 1,540,300 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“PIPE Shares”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $15,403,000, in a private placement. The transactions contemplated by the PIPE Subscription Agreement (the “PIPE Investment”) are expected to consummate substantially concurrently with the Closing.
On January 13, 2025, immediately following the Closing, the Company issued 1,540,300 shares of Common Stock, at a price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate PIPE Investment of $15,403,000 in accordance with the terms of the PIPE Subscription Agreements. The shares of Common Stock issued in the PIPE Investments were offered in a private placement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements
Under the terms of the PIPE Subscription Agreements, the Company was obligated to file a registration statement to register for the resale of all the PIPE Shares within forty-five (45) calendar days of the Closing, and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after the filing there of. On January 17, 2025, we filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1 to register the resale of such PIPE Shares.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues through the date of our Business Combination. Our only activities through December 31, 2024 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering, described below, and identifying a target company for a Business Combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our Business Combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest dividends on marketable securities held in the Trust Account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence and transaction expenses.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we had a net loss of $4,113,532, which consisted of change in fair value of derivative liability – Non-Redemption Agreement of $1,084,963, operating costs, penalties and interest related to excise taxes, and franchise
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taxes of $4,976,528, and provision for income taxes of $517,179, partially offset by interest from investments held in our Trust Account of $2,465,138.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we had a net income of $1,339,142, which consisted of interest from investments held in our Trust Account of $5,751,596, offset by $3,384,810 in operating costs and franchise taxes and provision for income taxes of $1,027,644.
Liquidity and Going Concern
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $1,506 in cash, $757,336 in restricted cash and $47,558,112 in investments held in trust. Restricted cash is held exclusively for payment of current tax liabilities. As of December 31, 2024, $4,214,138 of the amount on deposit in the Trust Account represents interest income.
Our liquidity needs up to December 31, 2024 had been satisfied through a payment from the Sponsor of $25,000 for the Founder Shares to cover certain offering costs, the loan under an unsecured promissory note from the Sponsor of $1,500,000, working capital advances from the Sponsor and the net proceeds from the consummation of the Initial Public Offering held outside of the trust account. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $1,500,000 outstanding under a Convertible Promissory Note and $2,971,258 outstanding as advances from the Sponsor.
Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use the funds not held in the Trust Account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination.
The Company completed its Business Combination on January 13, 2025.
On September 9, 2024, BurTech entered into an Advisory Services Engagement Letter with Jefferies to serve as its exclusive capital markets advisor in connection with the contemplated transaction involving Legacy Blaize (i.e., the Business Combination) (the “Jefferies Engagement Letter”), pursuant to which Jefferies would be eligible for a fee of $4,500,000 contingent upon the closing of a Business Combination and for reimbursement of expenses up to $500,000.
On April 7, 2025, Jefferies commenced a lawsuit against the Company in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, seeking summary judgment in lieu of complaint. The lawsuit alleges that pursuant to the Jefferies Engagement Letter, Jefferies was entitled to receive a fee of $4,500,000 conditional on the Closing of the Business Combination, with the option for the Company to defer up to $1,000,000 of this fee for up to 12 months post-closing, and $500,000 in reimbursable expenses. Jefferies alleges that as of March 31, 2025, no fees have been paid to Jefferies under the Jefferies Engagement Letter. Jefferies seeks $3,500,000 for its fees, as well as $500,000 in expense reimbursement, as well as pre-and post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees and legal costs incurred in connection with the lawsuit. Such contingent obligation could require the use of cash or impact the collection of cash in future periods; however, we are unable to accurately predict the timing and estimate the amount of such contingent obligation as of December 31, 2024.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Subtopic 205-40, “Presentation of Consolidated Financial Statements – Going Concern,” Management has determined that the liquidity condition raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least one year from the date the consolidated financial statements contained in Annual Report are issued.
These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These 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 should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2024. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay an affiliate of our financial advisor a monthly fee of $10,000 for office space, utilities and administrative support. Upon completion of our Business Combination, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
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Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We have identified the following as our critical accounting estimates:
Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
As of December 31, 2024, we accounted for our shares of BurTech Class A common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A Common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and 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 our control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as stockholders’ equity. Our Class A common stock feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, 4,104,543 and 4,345,663 Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, respectively, are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the stockholders’ deficit section of our balance sheets.
We recognize changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable common stock are affected by charges against additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit.
Warrants
We do not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. We evaluate all of our financial instruments, including issued stock purchase warrants, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480 and ASC 815-15.
We account for the public warrants and private warrants collectively (“Warrants”), as either equity or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the specific terms of the Warrants and the applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the Warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the Warrants are indexed to our own common stocks and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of our control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of issuance of the Warrants and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the Warrants are outstanding.
For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, such 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, such 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 liability-classified warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the statements of operations.
We evaluated the public warrants and private warrants in accordance with ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity,” and concluded that they met the criteria for equity classification and are required to be recorded as part a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance.
Derivative Liability - Backstop Subscription Agreement
The Company accounts for its Backstop Subscription Agreement (see Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. of this Annual Report) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging”, under which the Backstop Subscription Agreement does not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company classified the Backstop Subscription Agreement as a liability at its fair value and adjusts the Backstop Subscription Agreement to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations. The Backstop Subscription Agreement is valued using a Probability Weighted Expected Return Model (“PWERM”). The Backstop Subscription Agreement was waived at the execution of the Non-Redemption Agreement.
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Derivative Liability – Non-Redemption Agreement
The Company accounts for its Non-Redemption Agreement (see Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. of this Annual Report) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging”, under which the Non-Redemption Agreement does not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company classified the Non-Redemption Agreement as a liability at its fair value and adjusts the Non-Redemption Agreement to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the statements of operations. The Non-Redemption Agreement is valued using a Monte Carlo model.
Net Income Per Common Stock
We have two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Earnings and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. The 29,648,250 potential common stocks for outstanding warrants to purchase our shares were excluded from diluted (losses) earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 because the warrants are contingently exercisable, and the contingencies have not yet been met and its inclusion would be anti-dilutive. As a result, diluted net (loss) income per common stock is the same as basic net (loss) income per common stock for the periods.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09), which requires disclosure of incremental income tax information within the rate reconciliation and expanded disclosures of income taxes paid, among other disclosure requirements. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. Our management does not believe the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” The amendments in this ASU require disclosures, on an annual and interim basis, of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), as well as the aggregate amount of other segment items included in the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The ASU requires that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. Public entities will be required to provide all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 in interim periods, and entities with a single reportable segment are required to provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in this ASU and existing segment disclosures in Topic 280. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. We adopted ASU 2023-07 as required for the year ended December 31, 2024. The adoption requires us to provide additional disclosures, but otherwise it does not materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
Our management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.