10-K: Roman DBDR II Files 10-K, Details ThomasLloyd Merger Plan
Annual Report
Roman DBDR Acquisition Corp. II filed its annual 10-K report, outlining its proposed business combination with ThomasLloyd Climate Solutions B.V. and reporting a material weakness in internal controls.
Summary
- Roman DBDR Acquisition Corp. II is a blank check company (SPAC) formed for the purpose of effecting a Business Combination, primarily targeting companies in the cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), or financial technology (FinTech) industries.
- A definitive Business Combination Agreement was entered into with ThomasLloyd Climate Solutions B.V. on February 27, 2026, with an aggregate equity value of $850,000,000 for ThomasLloyd.
- The ThomasLloyd Business Combination is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder and customary closing conditions.
- The company reported a net income of $7,737,428 for the year ended December 31, 2025, primarily from interest earned on investments held in the Trust Account.
- As of December 31, 2025, the Trust Account held $241,188,555, with a pro rata redemption price of approximately $10.49 per Public Share.
- Management identified a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, due to insufficient segregation of duties.
- The independent registered public accounting firm's report contains an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Sentiment
Score: 3
Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this filing with caution due to the explicit "going concern" doubt from auditors and a material weakness in internal controls, despite the progress on the ThomasLloyd Business Combination. The significant potential for dilution and reliance on future financing also weigh negatively.
Positives
- A definitive Business Combination Agreement has been signed with ThomasLloyd Climate Solutions B.V., providing a clear path for the SPAC.
- The management team has a track record of successful SPAC transactions, including Roman DBDR I's combination with CompoSecure, which is now listed on Nasdaq.
- The company is focused on high-growth and strategically important industries: cybersecurity, AI, and FinTech.
- The Trust Account holds a substantial amount of funds, $241,188,555 as of December 31, 2025, available for the Business Combination.
- The company reported a net income of $7,737,428 for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Negatives
- The independent registered public accounting firm's report includes an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
- A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting was identified as of December 31, 2025, related to insufficient segregation of duties.
- Public Shareholders may incur substantial dilution from the conversion of Founder Shares, exercise of Private Placement Warrants, and potential future equity or convertible debt issuances.
- The company's cash balance outside the Trust Account was low at $183,022 as of December 31, 2025, indicating limited liquidity for ongoing operations without further capital.
- There is a risk that the initial Business Combination may not be completed by the December 16, 2026 deadline, which would result in liquidation and warrants expiring worthless.
Risks
- The company is a blank check company with no revenue or basis to evaluate its ability to select a suitable business target.
- There is substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
- Expectations around the performance of a prospective target business may not be realized.
- The company may not be successful in retaining or recruiting required officers, key employees, or directors following the initial Business Combination.
- The Sponsor controls the appointment of the Board until consummation of the initial Business Combination and holds a substantial interest, potentially influencing actions in a manner not supported by other shareholders.
- The company may not be able to obtain additional financing to complete the initial Business Combination or reduce the number of Public Shareholders requesting redemption.
- Class A Ordinary Shares may be issued to investors in connection with the initial Business Combination at a price less than the prevailing market price.
- Trust Account funds may not be fully protected against third-party claims or bankruptcy.
- An active market for public securities may not continue, leading to limited liquidity and trading.
- The financial performance following a Business Combination may be negatively affected by the target's lack of an established record of revenue, cash flows, and experienced management.
- Increased competition to find an attractive target could increase costs and result in an inability to find a suitable target.
- Potential conflicts of interest may arise from the Sponsor, officers, and directors due to their financial incentives and other business obligations.
- The value of the Founder Shares following completion of the initial Business Combination is likely to be substantially higher than the nominal price paid, even if Public Shares trade below the Redemption Price.
- Resources could be wasted researching acquisitions that are not completed.
- The company may not be able to complete an initial Business Combination if it is subject to review or approval by regulatory authorities, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
- Fluctuations in inflation and interest rates, adverse developments in the financial services industry, and geopolitical conflicts could make it more difficult to consummate an initial Business Combination.
- Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply, may adversely affect the business.
- The ability of Public Shareholders to exercise redemption rights with a large number of Class A Ordinary Shares could increase the probability that the initial Business Combination would be unsuccessful.
- The requirement to complete the initial Business Combination within the Combination Period may give potential target businesses leverage and limit due diligence time.
- A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, could adversely affect investor confidence and the ability to consummate an initial Business Combination.
- If the initial Business Combination involves a foreign company like ThomasLloyd, the company would be subject to a variety of additional risks, including economic, political, and legal policies in that country.
Future Outlook
The company expects to close its business combination with ThomasLloyd Climate Solutions B.V. in the third quarter of 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. It anticipates incurring significant costs in pursuit of its acquisition plans and may need to obtain additional financing, potentially through a PIPE financing of at least $100 million or a committed equity facility of up to $200 million with B. Riley. The company also intends to address the identified material weakness in internal control over financial reporting through personnel changes and rigorous review processes.
Management Comments
- "Our Management Team has had significant success sourcing, acquiring, growing and monetizing these types of companies."
- "We believe this experience makes us well suited to identify, source, negotiate and execute an initial Business Combination, including the ThomasLloyd Business Combination, with the ultimate goal of pursuing attractive risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders."
- "We believe our Management Team is well positioned to identify and evaluate businesses within the cybersecurity, AI and FinTech industries that would benefit from being a public company and from access to our expertise."
- "We believe that the deep technical domain expertise in AI, cybersecurity-related technology and FinTech allows us to capitalize and partner with management teams looking to build category-leading companies."
- "Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2025... determined that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 due to the material weakness related to the insufficient segregation of duties to safeguard company assets."
Industry Context
StockSavvy.ai notes that Roman DBDR Acquisition Corp. II is strategically targeting high-growth sectors like cybersecurity, AI, and FinTech, which are experiencing rapid technological advancement and increasing demand. The filing highlights significant market growth projections, such as the global AI cybersecurity market reaching over $133 billion by 2030 and AI potentially contributing up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. The FinTech market is also projected to grow from $340 billion in 2024 to $1.2 trillion by 2032, with AI expected to generate up to $1 trillion annually for the banking industry. This strategic focus aligns with major industry trends, positioning the company to capitalize on digital transformation and the increasing need for advanced technological solutions.
Comparison to Industry Standards
- The management team's prior success with Roman DBDR I and its business combination with CompoSecure (now Nasdaq-listed) demonstrates a capability to execute SPAC transactions, which is a key benchmark in the SPAC industry.
- The target enterprise valuation range of $300 million to $1.5 billion for potential acquisitions is consistent with typical SPAC strategies seeking established, growing companies.
- The proposed PubCo Equity Incentive Plan (up to 10% of fully-diluted shares with a 3% annual increase) and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2% of fully-diluted shares with a 1% annual increase) are standard mechanisms for public companies to align employee incentives with shareholder interests, comparable to practices in other newly public entities.
Management Changes
| Role | Previous Person | New Person | Effective Date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Financial Officer | NA | John J. Birmingham | October 1, 2025 | Appointment to the role. |
Corporate Governance
| Change Type | Description | Effective Date | Impact Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit Committee Composition | The Audit Committee consists of James Nelson (Chairman and financial expert), Bryn Sherman, and James Nevels, all of whom are independent directors. | December 2024 (formation) | Ensures compliance with Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules for audit committee independence and expertise, enhancing financial oversight. |
| Compensation Committee Composition | The Compensation Committee consists of James Nevels (Chairman), Michael Woods, and Bryn Sherman, all of whom are independent directors. | December 2024 (formation) | Ensures compliance with Nasdaq listing standards for compensation committee independence, promoting objective executive compensation decisions. |
| Director Nomination Process | No standing nominating committee; a majority of independent directors may recommend director nominees. The Board considers shareholder recommendations. | Ongoing | Allows for director selection without a formal committee, relying on independent director consensus, which may offer flexibility but less formal structure. |
| Code of Business Conduct and Ethics | Adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to directors, officers, and employees. | NA | Establishes ethical guidelines and promotes compliance within the company, fostering a culture of integrity. |
| Insider Trading Policies and Procedures | Adopted insider trading policies and procedures governing the purchase, sale, and disposition of securities by directors, officers, and employees. | NA | Designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws and Nasdaq Rules, reducing legal and reputational risks. |
| Executive Compensation Clawback Policy | Adopted an Executive Compensation Clawback Policy for mandatory recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation from executive officers in the event of an accounting restatement. | NA | Ensures compliance with SEC Clawback Rule and Nasdaq Clawback Rules, enhancing accountability for executive compensation and financial reporting accuracy. |
| Internal Control over Financial Reporting | Identified a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, due to insufficient segregation of duties. Management is implementing changes in personnel and rigorous review processes to address this. | December 31, 2025 (identified), ongoing (remediation) | Indicates a significant deficiency in financial reporting controls, which, if not effectively remediated, could impact the reliability of financial statements and investor confidence. |
Legal Proceedings
- To the knowledge of management, there is no material litigation currently pending or contemplated against the company, any of its officers or directors in their capacity as such, or against any of its property.
Related Party Transactions
- The Sponsor purchased 7,666,667 Founder Shares for $25,000 (approximately $0.003 per share) on July 25, 2024.
- The Sponsor and B. Riley purchased an aggregate of 7,385,000 Private Placement Warrants for $1.00 each ($7,385,000 total) simultaneously with the Initial Public Offering.
- The Sponsor and B. Riley purchased an additional 750,000 Private Placement Warrants for $1.00 each ($750,000 total) in connection with the full exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
- The company pays its Sponsor $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support under an Administrative Services Agreement (incurred $120,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025).
- The Sponsor loaned the company up to $300,000 via an IPO Promissory Note, which was repaid in full on December 16, 2024.
- On December 16, 2025, the company issued a promissory note to the Sponsor for up to $200,000 for working capital needs, which was fully drawn and outstanding as of December 31, 2025.
- On February 16, 2026, the company issued another promissory note to the Sponsor for up to $300,000 for working capital needs, with $280,000 drawn and outstanding as of the report date.
- The Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain officers and directors may loan Working Capital Loans, up to $1,500,000, which may be convertible into warrants of the post-Business Combination entity at $1.00 per warrant.
- Independent directors receive an indirect interest in the Founder Shares through membership interests in the Sponsor.
Stakeholder Impact
- Shareholders face potential significant dilution from the conversion of Founder Shares, exercise of Private Placement Warrants, and future equity raises, which could reduce their ownership percentage and per-share value.
- Public Shareholders have redemption rights, but the actual per-share redemption amount could be less than the initial investment due to potential claims of creditors or if the Business Combination is not completed.
- Employees of the combined entity are expected to benefit from the proposed PubCo Equity Incentive Plan (up to 10% of fully-diluted shares) and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2% of fully-diluted shares), designed to align their incentives with the company's performance.
- Creditors' claims could take priority over Public Shareholders' claims in the event of liquidation, despite the Sponsor's agreement to indemnify the Trust Account against certain third-party claims (though the Sponsor's ability to satisfy these obligations is not assured).
- Management and the Sponsor have significant financial incentives (e.g., Founder Shares) tied to the completion of a Business Combination, which could create conflicts of interest in evaluating potential targets.
Next Steps
- Complete the ThomasLloyd Business Combination by December 16, 2026, or an extended date.
- Obtain requisite approvals from the company's shareholders and ThomasLloyd's shareholders for the Business Combination.
- Fulfill other customary closing conditions for the ThomasLloyd Business Combination.
- PubCo will file a Registration Statement on Form F-4, including a proxy statement/prospectus, in connection with the ThomasLloyd Business Combination.
- PubCo will adopt a new equity incentive plan and an employee share purchase plan.
- The company and PubCo will use commercially reasonable efforts to seek financing agreements for at least $100 million in proceeds (PIPE Financing).
- Execute definitive documentation for the Committed Equity Facility (CEF) with B. Riley.
- PubCo will file a registration statement for the resale of certain PubCo Shares within thirty (30) days following the Closing Date.
- Management will continue to address the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting through personnel changes and rigorous review processes.
Key Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| July 25, 2024 | Company incorporated; Sponsor paid $25,000 for 7,666,667 Founder Shares; Sponsor agreed to loan up to $300,000 (IPO Promissory Note). |
| September 17, 2024 | Initial Public Offering (IPO) Registration Statement initially filed with the SEC. |
| December 12, 2024 | IPO Registration Statement declared effective; Underwriting Agreement, Business Combination Marketing Agreement, Investment Management Trust Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement, Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreements, Letter Agreement, and Administrative Services Agreement entered into. |
| December 13, 2024 | Units commenced public trading on The Nasdaq Global Market; Administrative Services Agreement with Sponsor commenced ($10,000/month fee). |
| December 16, 2024 | Initial Public Offering of 20,000,000 Units consummated, generating $200,000,000 gross proceeds; IPO Promissory Note repaid in full; 7,385,000 Private Placement Warrants sold for $7,385,000. |
| January 23, 2025 | Underwriters fully exercised the Over-Allotment Option for 3,000,000 Option Units. |
| January 27, 2025 | Purchased an additional 3,000,000 Option Units, generating $30,000,000 gross proceeds; Sponsor and B. Riley purchased an additional 750,000 Private Placement Warrants for $750,000. |
| February 3, 2025 | Public Shares and Public Warrants commenced separate public trading on The Nasdaq Global Market. |
| April 3, 2025 | Marcum LLP resigned as independent registered public accounting firm; CBIZ CPAs P.C. engaged as new independent registered public accounting firm. |
| May 21, 2025 | Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2025, filed with the SEC. |
| June 30, 2025 | Aggregate market value of outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares was $237,130,000. |
| August 28, 2025 | Received a deficiency letter from Nasdaq for not filing the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2025. |
| October 1, 2025 | John J. Birmingham appointed as Chief Financial Officer. |
| October 23, 2025 | Filed the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2025. |
| November 5, 2025 | Received notice from Nasdaq confirming compliance with listing rules. |
| November 13, 2025 | Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2025, filed with the SEC. |
| December 16, 2025 | Issued a promissory note to the Sponsor for up to $200,000 for working capital needs. |
| December 31, 2025 | Fiscal year ended; reported net income of $7,737,428 and Trust Account balance of $241,188,555. |
| February 16, 2026 | Issued a promissory note to the Sponsor for up to $300,000 for working capital needs; entered into a consulting agreement with ICR LLC. |
| February 27, 2026 | Entered into the ThomasLloyd Business Combination Agreement. |
| March 4, 2026 | Date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K filing. |
| Q3 2026 | Expected closing of the ThomasLloyd Business Combination. |
| August 31, 2026 | Outside Closing Date for the ThomasLloyd Business Combination (extendable to November 16, 2026, or December 16, 2027). |
| December 16, 2026 | End of the Combination Period (24 months from the closing of the IPO) to complete an initial Business Combination. |
Recommendation
holdThe definitive business combination agreement with ThomasLloyd provides a clear path forward for this SPAC, which is a positive development. However, the auditor's "going concern" doubt and the identified material weakness in internal controls introduce significant uncertainty and risk. While the target industries are attractive, the potential for substantial dilution and the reliance on future financing warrant a cautious "hold" recommendation until more clarity emerges regarding the successful completion of the merger, the resolution of internal control issues, and the final capital structure.
Keywords
SPAC, blank check company, ThomasLloyd, business combination, merger, acquisition, cybersecurity, AI, artificial intelligence, FinTech, financial technology, SEC filing, 10-K, corporate governance, risk factors, financial reporting, going concern, internal controls, dilution, Nasdaq
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