UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
| ☒ | Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Confidential,
for the use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| ☐ | Definitive
Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Definitive
Additional Materials |
| ☐ | Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
MOUNTAIN
CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V
(Name
of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| ☐ | Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ☐ | Fee
computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
MOUNTAIN
CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V
311
West 43rd Street, 12th Floor New York, NY 10036
[●],
2022
Dear
Stockholder:
On
behalf of the Board of Directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V (the “Company” or “we”),
I invite you to attend our Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”). We hope you can
join us. The Special Meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on [●], 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company
will be holding the Special Meeting as a virtual meeting via the following information:
Virtual
meeting information
Mountain
Crest Acquisition Corp. V Virtual Shareholder Meeting Information:
Meeting
Date: Thursday, [●], 2022
Meeting
Time: 10:30 A.M.
Special
Meeting-meeting webpage (information, webcast, telephone access and replay):
https://www.[ ]
Telephone
access (listen-only):
Within
the U.S. and Canada:
1
800-450-7155 (toll-free)
Outside
of the U.S. and Canada:
+1
857-999-9155 (standard rates apply)
Conference
ID: [ ]#
The
Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders, the Proxy Statement and the proxy card accompany this letter are also available at
https://www.[ ]. We are first mailing these materials to our stockholders on or about December 6, 2022.
As
discussed in the enclosed Proxy Statement, the purpose of the Special Meeting is to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
(i)
Proposal 1 — A proposal to amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s amended and restated
certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate
a business combination from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 (the “Extended Date”) (we refer to this
proposal as the “Extension Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed Extension Amendment is attached
hereto as Annex A;
(ii)
Proposal 2 — A proposal to amend the Company’s investment management trust agreement, dated as of November 12, 2021
(the “Trust Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
to provide that the time for the Company to complete its initial business combination (the “Business Combination Period”)
under the Trust Agreement shall be extended for a period of 3 months from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 and to the extent
the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is amended to extend the Business Combination Period (the
“Trust Amendment”) by depositing into the trust account (the “Trust Account”)
$300,000 (the “Extension Payment”) (we refer to this proposal as the “Trust Amendment Proposal”).
A copy of the proposed Trust Amendment is attached hereto as Annex B; and
(iii)
Proposal 3 — A proposal to direct the chairman of the special meeting to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or
dates (the “Adjournment”), if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based
upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Special Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve Proposal 1 and Proposal
2 (we refer to this proposal as the “Adjournment Proposal”).
The
Company’s Charter and Trust Agreement provide that the Company has the right to extend the Combination Period from February
16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 (i.e., 18 months from the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (the “IPO”)).
The only way to extend the Combination Period from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 without the need for a separate stockholder
vote under the current Charter and Trust Agreement is for the Company’s insiders or their affiliates or designees, upon
five days’ advance notice, to deposit into the Trust Account $690,000 (i.e., $0.10 per issued and outstanding share of common
stock issued in the IPO (the “public share”)), on or prior to February 16, 2023.
If
both the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Company will still have the right to
extend the Combination Period from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 (i.e., the same 18 months from the consummation of the IPO),
provided that the Extension Payment of $300,000 is deposited into the Trust Account on or prior to February 16, 2023. Therefore,
if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the amount of money needed to extend the time
to complete a business combination would be significantly reduced.
As
previously announced, on October 19, 2022, the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and
between the Company and AUM Biosciences Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares incorporated in Singapore, with company
registration 201810204D (the “AUM”), pursuant to which, among other things, AUM will promptly incorporate
a Cayman Islands exempted company as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AUM (“Holdco”). Holdco upon
incorporation will form a private company limited by shares incorporated in Singapore as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco
(“Amalgamation Sub”) and a Delaware corporation as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (“Merger
Sub” and, together with Holdco and Amalgamation Sub, each, individually, an “Acquisition Entity”
and, collectively, the “Acquisition Entities”), and (i) Amalgamation Sub will amalgamate with and into
the Company (the “Amalgamation”) whereby the separate existence of Amalgamation Sub will cease and the
Company will be the surviving corporation of the Amalgamation and become a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco, and (ii)
following confirmation of the effective filing of the Amalgamation but on the same day, Merger Sub will merge with and into the
Company (the “SPAC Merger” and together with the Amalgamation, the “Mergers”
or “Business Combination”), the separate existence of Merger Sub will cease and the Company will be
the surviving corporation of the SPAC Merger and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco. The Business Combination Agreement
provides that the outside date for the closing of the Business Combination was February 15, 2022 (the “Outside Date”).
All capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Business Combination Agreement.
The Company’s Board has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Business Combination Agreement, the Mergers
and the other transactions contemplated thereby, and (ii) resolved to recommend approval of the Business Combination Agreement
and related matters by the stockholders of the Company. The Company will hold a meeting of stockholders to consider and approve
the proposed Business Combination and a proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all of the Company’s stockholders. The
Company and other parties to the Business Combination Agreement are working towards satisfaction of the conditions to completion
of the Business Combination, including the necessary filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the transaction,
but have determined that there will not be sufficient time before February 15, 2022, the Outside Date, to hold a special meeting
to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of, and to consummate, the Business Combination. The Company’s management believes
that it can close the Business Combination before May 16, 2023 (i.e., the end of the extension period). Under the circumstances,
Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC (the “Sponsor”) wants to pay an extension amount that is substantially
less than the $690,000 for the extension provided by the Charter and Trust Agreement. However, this would be contrary to the interests
of our remaining public stockholders, who will have substantially less funds in the Trust Account than if the extension provision
was not amended.
After
consultation with the Sponsor, the Company’s management has reasons to believe that, if the Extension Amendment Proposal
and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Sponsor or its affiliates will contribute $300,000 to the Company as a loan (the
“Contribution”) for the Company to deposit the funds into the Trust Account as the Extension Payment,
upon five days’ advance notice prior to February 16, 2023, and to extend the Combination Period to May 16, 2023. The Contribution
will be deposited in the Trust Account within five business days prior to February 16, 2023. The Contribution will bear
no interest and will be repayable by the Company to the Sponsor upon consummation of an initial business combination in cash or
private placement units at a price of $10 per unit at the option of the Sponsor. The loan will be forgiven by the Sponsor or its
affiliates if the Company is unable to consummate an initial business combination except to the extent of any funds held outside
of the Trust Account. If the Company’s Board otherwise determines that the Company will not be able to consummate an initial
business combination by the Extended Date, the Company would wind up its affairs and redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares
in accordance with the same procedures set forth below that would be applicable if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust
Amendment proposals are not approved.
Each
of the Extension Amendment Proposal, Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying
Proxy Statement.
You
are not being asked to vote on any business combination at this time. If the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment are implemented
and you do not elect to redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote the Business Combination when it is submitted
to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares into a pro rata portion of the Trust Account in the event a business
combination is approved and completed (as long as your election is made at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting at
which the stockholders’ vote is sought) or the Company has not consummated the business combination by the Extended Date.
In
connection with the Extension Amendment, public stockholders may elect (the “Election”) to redeem their
shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest
not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares,
regardless of whether such public stockholders vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal,
Trust Amendment Proposal, and Adjournment Proposal, and an Election can also be made by public stockholders who do not vote, or
do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the Special Meeting. Public stockholders may make an Election regardless
of whether such public stockholders were holders as of the record date. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment
Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain their right to
redeem their public shares when the Business Combination is submitted to the stockholders, subject to any limitations set forth
in our Charter, as amended by the Extension Amendment (as long as their election is made at least two (2) business days prior
to the meeting at which the stockholders’ vote is sought). However, the Company will not proceed with the Extension Amendment
Proposal if the redemption of public shares in connection therewith would cause the Company to have net tangible assets of less
than $5,000,001. Each redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held
approximately $[ ] of marketable securities as of November [ ], 2022. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election
would be entitled to have their shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a business combination by the Extended
Date. Our sponsor, our officers and directors, hold the right to vote over an aggregate of 1,948,000 shares of common stock which
include 1,725,000 shares of our common stock, which we refer to as the “Founder Shares,” that were issued
prior to our initial public offering (“IPO”) and 223,000 shares of common stock that make part of the
units, which we refer to as the “Private Placement Units,” that were purchased by our sponsor in a private
placement which occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO.
To
exercise your redemption rights, you must tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days
prior to the Special Meeting (or [●], 2022). You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificate to the
transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal
At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to
withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.
As
of November [●], 2022, there was approximately $[●] in the Trust Account. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the
Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Business Combination Period is extended for the 3 months to May 16, 2023, the redemption
price per share at the meeting for the Business Combination or the Company’s subsequent liquidation will be approximately
$[●] per share (without taking into account any interest income), in comparison to the current redemption price of approximately
$[●] per share. The closing price of the Company’s common stock on November [●], 2022 was $[●]. The Company
cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market,
even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity
in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal, Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate
a business combination by February 16, 2023 (or May 16, 2023 if the Company’s insiders or their affiliates or designees
choose to extend the period of time to consummate a business combination one time by an additional 3 months by depositing $690,000
into the Trust Account), as contemplated by our IPO prospectus and in accordance with our Charter, we 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,
redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit
in the Trust Account, including any interest not previously released to us (net of taxes payable), 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 liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably
possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate,
subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the
requirements of other applicable law. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our rights, which will
expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, our sponsor, our officers and directors and our
other initial stockholders will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder
Shares or the Private Placement Units.
Subject
to the foregoing, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Company’s outstanding common stock, including the Founder
Shares, will be required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal and the affirmative vote of
at least a majority of the Company’s common stock sold in the IPO, excluding the Founder Shares and Private Shares, will
be required to approve the Trust Amendment Proposal. Our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment and Trust
Amendment unless our stockholders approve both the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment. This means that if one proposal is
approved by the stockholders and the other proposal is not, neither proposal will take effect. Notwithstanding stockholder approval
of the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the
Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders.
Our
Board has fixed the close of business on November 29, 2022 as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive
notice of and vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s
common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
After
careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that each of the proposals are advisable and recommends
that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” such proposals.
Enclosed
is the Proxy Statement containing detailed information concerning the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment at the Special
Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting, we urge you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.
Sincerely, |
|
|
|
/s/
Suying Liu |
|
Suying
Liu |
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
|
[●],
2022 |
|
MOUNTAIN
CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V
311
West 43rd Street, 12th Floor
New
York, NY 10036
NOTICE
OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON [●], 2022
[●],
2022
To
the Stockholders of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V:
NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Mountain Crest Acquisition
Corp. V (“the Company”), a Delaware corporation, will be held on [●], 2022, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern
Time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company will be holding the Special Meeting as a virtual meeting via the following information:
Virtual
meeting information
Mountain
Crest Acquisition Corp. V Virtual Shareholder Meeting Information:
Meeting
Date: [●]f, [●], 2022
Meeting
Time: 10:30A.M.
Special
Meeting-meeting webpage (information, webcast, telephone access and replay):
https://www.cstproxy.com/[ ]
Telephone
access (listen-only):
Within
the U.S. and Canada:
[ ] (toll-free)
Outside
of the U.S. and Canada:
[ ] (standard rates apply)
Conference
ID: #
The
purpose of the Special Meeting will be to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
|
1. |
A
proposal to amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation (the “Charter”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business
combination from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 (the “Extended Date”) (we refer to this proposal
as the “Extension Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed Extension Amendment is attached hereto
as Annex A; |
|
2. |
A
proposal to amend the Company’s investment management trust agreement, dated as of November 12, 2021 (the “Trust
Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, to provide that
the time for the Company to complete its initial business combination (the “Business Combination Period”)
under the Trust Agreement shall be extended for a period of 3 months from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 and to the extent
the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is amended to extend the Business Combination Period
(the “Trust Amendment”) by depositing into the trust account (the “Trust Account”)
$300,000 (the “Extension Payment”) (we refer to this proposal as the “Trust Amendment Proposal”); |
|
3. |
A
proposal to direct the chairman of the special meeting to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates (the “Adjournment”),
if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the special
meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve Proposal 1 and Proposal 2 (we refer to this proposal as the “Adjournment
Proposal”); and |
|
4. |
To
act on such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
The
Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on November 29, 2022 as the record date for the Special Meeting and only holders
of shares of record at that time will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
/s/
Suying Liu |
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
New
York, New York
[●],
2022
IMPORTANT
IF
YOU CANNOT PERSONALLY ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING, IT IS REQUESTED THAT YOU INDICATE YOUR VOTE ON THE ISSUES INCLUDED ON THE ENCLOSED
PROXY AND DATE, SIGN AND MAIL IT IN THE ENCLOSED SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON [●], 2022. THIS
PROXY STATEMENT TO THE STOCKHOLDERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT https://www.cstproxy.com/[ ].
MOUNTAIN
CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V
311
West 43rd Street, 12th Floor
New
York, NY 10036
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR
SPECIAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD [●], 2022
FIRST
MAILED ON OR ABOUT [●], 2022
Date,
Time and Place of the Special Meeting
The
enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp.
V (the “Company,” or “we”), a Delaware corporation, in connection with the
Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on [●], 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time for the purposes set forth in the accompanying
Notice of Meeting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company will be holding the Special Meeting, and any adjournments or postponements
thereof, as a virtual meeting via the following information:
Virtual
meeting information
Mountain
Crest Acquisition Corp. V Virtual Shareholder Meeting Information:
Meeting
Date: [●], [●], 2022
Meeting
Time: 10:30A.M.
Special
Meeting-meeting webpage (information, webcast, telephone access and replay):
https://www.cstproxy.com/[
]
Telephone
access (listen-only):
Within
the U.S. and Canada:
[
] (toll-free)
Outside
of the U.S. and Canada:
[ ] (standard rates apply)
Conference
ID: [ ]
The
principal executive office of the Company is 311 West 43rd Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036 and its
telephone number, including area code, is (646) 493-6558.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Proxy Statement (this “Proxy Statement”) contain certain “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by words such as: “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “will,”
“shall,” “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “would,” “positioned,”
“future,” “forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “project” and other similar
expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Examples of forward-looking
statements include, among others, statements made in this Proxy Statement regarding the proposed transactions contemplated by
the Business Combination Agreement, including the benefits of the Business Combination, integration plans, expected synergies
and revenue opportunities, anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates for growth,
the expected management and governance of the combined company, and the expected timing of the Business Combination. Forward-looking
statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company and
AUM’s managements’ current beliefs, expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the
future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many
of which are outside of our control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward- looking
statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual
results and outcomes to differ materially from those indicated in the forward- looking statements include, among others, the following:
(1) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination
Agreement; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against AUM and the Company following the announcement
of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; (3) the inability to complete the proposed business
combination, including due to failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of AUM and the Company, certain regulatory approvals,
or satisfy other conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement; (4) the occurrence of any event, change, or other
circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement or could otherwise cause the transaction
to fail to close; (5) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AUM’s business and/or the ability of the parties to complete
the proposed business combination; (6) the inability to obtain the listing of Holdco’s ordinary shares on Nasdaq following
the proposed business combination; (7) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations as
a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed business combination; (8) the ability to recognize the anticipated
benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of AUM to
grow and manage growth profitably, and retain its key employees; (9) costs related to the proposed business combination; (10)
changes in applicable laws or regulations; (11) the possibility that AUM or the Company may be adversely affected by other economic,
business, and/or competitive factors; (12) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect
to AUM; (13) risks related to the organic and inorganic growth of AUM’s business and the timing of expected business milestones;
(14) the amount of redemption requests made by the Company’s stockholders; and (15) other risks and uncertainties indicated
from time to time in the final prospectus of the Company for its initial public offering and the Registration Statement relating
to the proposed business combination, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in the Company’s other
filings with the SEC. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. AUM and the Company caution readers
not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. AUM and the Company do
not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement
is based.
Purpose
of the Special Meeting
At
the Special Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the following matters:
|
1. |
Proposal
1 — A proposal to amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s amended and restated
certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate
a business combination from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 (the “Extended Date”) (we refer to
this proposal as the “Extension Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed Extension Amendment
is attached hereto as Annex A;; |
|
2. |
Proposal
2 — A proposal to amend the Company’s investment management trust agreement, dated as of November 12, 2021 (the
“Trust Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
to provide that the time for the Company to complete its initial business combination (the “Business Combination
Period”) under the Trust Agreement shall be extended for a period of 3 months from February 16, 2023 to May
16, 2023 and to the extent the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is amended to extend the
Business Combination Period (the “Trust Amendment”) by depositing into the trust account (the “Trust
Account”) $300,000 (the “Extension Payment”) (we refer to this proposal as the “Trust
Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed Trust Amendment is attached hereto as Annex B; and; |
|
3. |
Proposal
3 — A proposal to direct the chairman of the special meeting to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates
(the “Adjournment”), if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based
upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Special Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve Proposal 1 and Proposal
2 (we refer to this proposal as the “Adjournment Proposal”); and |
|
4. |
To
act on such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
The
Company’s Charter and Trust Agreement provide that the Company has the right to extend the Combination Period from February
16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 (i.e., 18 months from the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering (the “IPO”)).
The only way to extend the Combination Period from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 without the need for a separate stockholder
vote under the current Charter and Trust Agreement is for the Company’s insiders or their affiliates or designees, upon
five days’ advance notice, to deposit into the Trust Account $690,000 (i.e., $0.10 per issued and outstanding share
of common stock issued in the IPO (the “public share”)), on or prior to February 16, 2023.
If
both the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Company will still have the right to
extend the Combination Period from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 (i.e., the same 18 months from the consummation of the IPO),
provided that the Extension Payment of $300,000 is deposited into the Trust Account on or prior to February 16, 2023. Therefore,
if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the amount of money needed to extend the time
to complete a business combination would be significantly reduced.
As
previously announced, on October 19, 2022, the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and
between the Company and AUM Biosciences Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares incorporated in Singapore, with company
registration 201810204D (the “AUM”), pursuant to which, among other things, AUM will promptly incorporate
a Cayman Islands exempted company as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AUM (“Holdco”). Holdco upon
incorporation will form a private company limited by shares incorporated in Singapore as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco
(“Amalgamation Sub”) and a Delaware corporation as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (“Merger
Sub” and, together with Holdco and Amalgamation Sub, each, individually, an “Acquisition Entity”
and, collectively, the “Acquisition Entities”), and (i) Amalgamation Sub will amalgamate with and into
the Company (the “Amalgamation”) whereby the separate existence of Amalgamation Sub will cease and the
Company will be the surviving corporation of the Amalgamation and become a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco, and (ii)
following confirmation of the effective filing of the Amalgamation but on the same day, Merger Sub will merge with and into the
Company (the “SPAC Merger” and together with the Amalgamation, the “Mergers”
or “Business Combination”), the separate existence of Merger Sub will cease and the Company will be
the surviving corporation of the SPAC Merger and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco. The Business Combination Agreement
provides that the outside date for the closing of the Business Combination was February 15, 2022 (the “Outside Date”).
All capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Business Combination Agreement.
The Company’s Board has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Business Combination Agreement, the Mergers
and the other transactions contemplated thereby, and (ii) resolved to recommend approval of the Business Combination Agreement
and related matters by the stockholders of the Company. The Company will hold a meeting of stockholders to consider and approve
the proposed Business Combination and a proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all of the Company’s stockholders. The
Company and other parties to the Business Combination Agreement are working towards satisfaction of the conditions to completion
of the Business Combination, including the necessary filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the transaction,
but have determined that there will not be sufficient time before February 15, 2022, the Outside Date, to hold a special meeting
to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of, and to consummate, the Business Combination. The Company’s management believes
that it can close the Business Combination before May 16, 2023 (i.e., the end of the extension period). Under the circumstances,
Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC (the “Sponsor”) wants to pay an extension amount that is substantially
less than the $690,000 for the extension provided by the Charter and Trust Agreement. However, this would be contrary to the interests
of our remaining public stockholders, who will have substantially less funds in the Trust Account than if the extension provision
was not amended.
After
consultation with the Sponsor, the Company’s management has reasons to believe that, if the Extension Amendment Proposal
and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Sponsor or its affiliates will contribute $300,000 to the Company as a loan (the
“Contribution”) for the Company to deposit the funds into the Trust Account as the Extension Payment,
upon five days’ advance notice prior to February 16, 2023, and to extend the Combination Period to May 16, 2023. The Contribution
will be deposited in the Trust Account within five business days prior to February 16, 2023. The Contribution will bear no interest
and will be repayable by the Company to the Sponsor upon consummation of an initial business combination in cash or private placement
units at a price of $10 per unit at the option of the Sponsor. The loan will be forgiven by the Sponsor or its affiliates if the
Company is unable to consummate an initial business combination except to the extent of any funds held outside of the Trust Account.
If the Company’s Board otherwise determines that the Company will not be able to consummate an initial business combination
by the Extended Date, the Company would wind up its affairs and redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares in accordance with
the same procedures set forth below that would be applicable if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment proposals
are not approved.
Each
of the Extension Amendment Proposal, Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying
Proxy Statement.
You
are not being asked to vote on any business combination at this time. If the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment are implemented
and you do not elect to redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote the Business Combination when it is submitted
to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares into a pro rata portion of the Trust Account in the event a business
combination is approved and completed (as long as your election is made at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting at
which the stockholders’ vote is sought) or the Company has not consummated the business combination by the Extended Date.
In
connection with the Extension Amendment, public stockholders may elect (the “Election”) to redeem their
shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest
not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares,
regardless of whether such public stockholders vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal,
Adjournment Proposal, and Adjournment Proposal, and an Election can also be made by public stockholders who do not vote, or do
not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the Special Meeting. Public stockholders may make an Election regardless of
whether such public stockholders were holders as of the record date. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal
are approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain their right to redeem their
public shares when the Business Combination is submitted to the stockholders, subject to any limitations set forth in our Charter,
as amended by the Extension Amendment (as long as their election is made at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting at
which the stockholders’ vote is sought). However, the Company will not proceed with the Extension Amendment Proposal if
the redemption of public shares in connection therewith would cause the Company to have net tangible assets of less than $5,000,001.
Each redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately $[ ] of marketable securities as of November [ ], 2022. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled
to have their shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a business combination by the Extended Date. Our sponsor,
our officers and directors, hold the right to vote over an aggregate of 1,948,000 shares of common stock which include 1,725,000
shares of our common stock, which we refer to as the “Founder Shares”, that were issued prior to our
initial public offering (“IPO”) and 223,000 shares of common stock that make part of the units, which
we refer to as the “Private Placement Units”, that were purchased by our sponsor in a private placement
which occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO.
To
exercise your redemption rights, you must tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days
prior to the Special Meeting (or [●], 2022). You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificate to the
transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal
At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to
withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.
As
of November [●], 2022, there was approximately $[●] in the Trust Account. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the
Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Business Combination Period is extended for the 3 months to May 16, 2023, the redemption
price per share at the meeting for the Business Combination or the Company’s subsequent liquidation will be approximately
$[●] per share (without taking into account any interest income), in comparison to the current redemption price of approximately
$[●] per share. The closing price of the Company’s common stock on November [●], 2022 was $[●]. The Company
cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market,
even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity
in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
If
the Extension Amendment, Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment proposals are not approved and we do not consummate a business
combination by February 16, 2023 (or May 16, 2023 if the Company’s insiders or their affiliates or designees choose to extend
the period of time to consummate a business combination one time by an additional 3 months by depositing $690,000 into the Trust
Account), as contemplated by our IPO prospectus and in accordance with our Charter, we 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, redeem 100%
of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the
Trust Account, including any interest not previously released to us (net of taxes payable), 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 liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible
following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject
(in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements
of other applicable law. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our rights, which will expire worthless
in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, our sponsor, our officers and directors and our other initial stockholders
will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement
Units.
Subject
to the foregoing, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Company’s outstanding common stock, including the Founder
Shares, will be required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal and the affirmative vote of
at least a majority of the Company’s common stock sold in the IPO, excluding the Founder Shares and Private Shares, will
be required to approve the Trust Amendment Proposal. Our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment and Trust
Amendment unless our stockholders approve both the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment. This means that if one proposal is
approved by the stockholders and the other proposal is not, neither proposal will take effect. Notwithstanding stockholder approval
of the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the
Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders.
Our
Board has fixed the close of business on November 29, 2022 as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive
notice of and vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s
common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
After
careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that each of the proposals are advisable and recommends
that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” such proposals.
Voting
Rights and Revocation of Proxies
The
record date with respect to this solicitation is the close of business on November 29, 2022 (the “Record Date”)
and only stockholders of record at that time will be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
The
shares of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) represented by all validly executed proxies
received in time to be taken to the Special Meeting and not previously revoked will be voted at the meeting. This proxy may be
revoked by the stockholder at any time prior to its being voted by filing with the Secretary of the Company either a notice of
revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. We intend to release this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card
to our stockholders on or about [●], 2022.
Dissenters’
Right of Appraisal
Holders
of shares of our Common Stock do not have appraisal rights under Delaware law or under the governing documents of the Company
in connection with this solicitation.
Outstanding
Shares and Quorum
The
number of outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting is 9,025,900. Each share of Common Stock
is entitled to one vote. The presence in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting of the holders of 4,512,951 shares, or a majority
of the shares of capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute
a quorum. There is no cumulative voting. Shares that abstain or for which the authority to vote is withheld on certain matters
(so- called “broker non-votes”) will be treated as present for quorum purposes on all matters.
Broker
Non-Votes
Holders
of shares of our Common Stock that are held in street name must instruct their bank or brokerage firm that holds their shares
how to vote their shares. If a stockholder does not give instructions to his or her bank or brokerage firm, it will nevertheless
be entitled to vote the shares with respect to “routine” items, but it will not be permitted to vote the shares with
respect to “non-routine” items. In the case of a non- routine item, such shares will be considered “broker non-votes”
on that proposal.
Proposal
1 (Extension Amendment) is a matter that we believe will be considered “non-routine.”
Proposal
2 (Trust Amendment) is a matter that we believe will be considered “non-routine.”
Proposal
3 (Adjournment) is a matter that we believe will be considered “routine.”
Banks
or brokerages cannot use discretionary authority to vote shares on Proposals 1 or 2 if they have not received instructions from
their clients. Please submit your vote instruction form so your vote is counted.
Required
Votes for Each Proposal to Pass
Assuming
the presence of a quorum at the Special Meeting:
Proposal |
Votes
Required |
Broker
Discretionary Vote Allowed |
Extension
Amendment |
Majority
of outstanding shares |
No |
Trust
Amendment |
Majority
of shares sold in the IPO, excluding the Founder Shares and Private Shares |
No |
Adjournment |
Majority
of the outstanding shares represented by virtual attendance or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Special Meeting |
Yes |
Abstentions
and broker non-votes will count as a vote against the first two proposals, but will not have an effect on the Adjournment Proposal
assuming a quorum is present.
Factors
to Consider
When
you consider the recommendation of our board, you should consider, among other things, the following benefits and detriments of
the proposals to you as the public stockholders:
|
● |
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, public stockholders will forfeit their right
to receive $690,000 under the current Trust Agreement if we seek to extend the Combination Period for three months, but does
not consummate a business combination; |
|
● |
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Company extends the Combination Period
to May 16, 2023, the additional redemption amount added to the Trust Account will be reduced from the current $0.10 per share
(or a per share redemption amount of approximately $[●] as of [●], 2022) to approximately $[●] per share, assuming
no redemptions (or a redemption amount of approximately $[●] as of [●], 2022). |
|
● |
As
of today, the Sponsor has made an interest-free loan in the aggregate amount of $[●] to the Company. The loan will
be repaid at the closing of the business combination, and therefore, funds available to the post-combination company
will be reduced by that same amount. No funds from the Trust Account would be used to repay such loans in the event of our
liquidation. |
|
● |
Public
stockholders may seek to have their shares redeemed regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposals and whether
or not they are holders of our Common Stock as of the Record Date. (See “Conversion Rights” below).
However, public stockholders will not be able to redeem their shares if the Company chooses to extend the Combination Period
by depositing into the Trust Account $690,000 because it has the right to do so without the need for a separate stockholder
vote under our current Charter and Trust Agreement. |
|
● |
Each
redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately [●]
of marketable securities as of [●], 2022. We will not proceed with the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment if the
redemption of public shares in connection therewith would cause us to have net tangible assets of less than $5,000,001. |
Interests
of the Company’s Directors and Officers
When
you consider the recommendation of our Board, you should keep in mind that the Sponsor, officers and directors have interests
that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include, among other things:
|
● |
our
Sponsor has a fiduciary obligation to its respective members, and Suying Liu (our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer and Chairman) is the controlling member of our Sponsor. Because Suying Liu has a fiduciary obligation to both the
Company and the Sponsor, he had a conflict of interest when voting; |
|
● |
if
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, our Sponsor will no longer be required to
deposit into the Trust Account $690,000 prior to February 16, 2023 and this amount may not be repaid if a business combination
is not consummated to the extent funds are not available outside of the Trust Account; |
|
● |
if
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, our Sponsor will deposit in the Trust Account
only $300,000 as an interest-free loan to be repaid by us upon consummation of an initial business combination. No funds from
the Trust Account would be used to repay such loans in the event of our liquidation; |
|
● |
unless
the Company consummates an initial business combination, the Company’s officers, directors and sponsor will not receive
reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them to the extent that such expenses exceed the amount of available
proceeds from the Company IPO and Private Placement not deposited in the Trust Account; |
|
● |
with
certain limited exceptions, 50% of the Company’s founder shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold or released
from escrow until the earlier of six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination and the
date the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends,
reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial
business combination and the remaining 50% of the insider shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold or released from
escrow until six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination or earlier in either case if,
subsequent to our initial business combination, we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction
which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or
other property; |
|
● |
the
Sponsor will benefit from the completion of a business combination and may be incentivized to complete an acquisition of a
less favorable target company or on terms less favorable to public stockholders rather than liquidate; |
|
● |
because
of these interests, our initial stockholders could benefit from the completion of a business combination that is not favorable
to its public shareholders and may be incentivized to complete an acquisition of a less favorable target company or on terms
less favorable to public shareholders rather than liquidate. Based on the difference in the purchase price of $0.014 that
the Sponsor paid for the Founder Shares, as compared to the purchase price of $10.00 per Public Unit sold in the IPO, the
Sponsor may earn a positive rate of return even if the share price of the Combined Company after the Closing falls below the
price initially paid for the Units in the Company IPO and the Public Shareholders experience a negative rate of return following
the Closing of the Business Combination; |
|
● |
the
fact that Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 (or approximately $0.014 per share) for its 1,725,000 Founders Shares and such
securities may have a value of $17,250,000 at the time of the Business Combination. Because the merger consideration is based
on a deemed price per share of $10.00 a share, our Sponsor could make a substantial profit after the initial business combination
even if public investors experience substantial losses. Further, the Founder Shares have no redemption rights upon the Company’s
liquidation and will be worthless if no business combination is affected; |
|
● |
the
fact that the Sponsor currently holds 223,000 private units which were purchased at a price of $10 per unit, or an aggregate
value of $2,230,000 and which have no redemption rights upon the Company’s liquidation and will be worthless if no business
combination is effect; |
|
● |
the
fact that Sponsor has agreed not to redeem any of the Founder Shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed
initial business combination; and |
|
● |
our
Sponsor’s managing member is Suying Liu, who is also our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chairman.
If an initial business combination is not completed, our Sponsor will lose an aggregate of approximately $[●] million,
comprised of the following: |
| ● | approximately
$[●] million (based on the closing price of $[●] per share of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market as of [●], 2022)
of the 1,725,000 Founder Shares it holds; |
| ● | approximately
$[●] million (based on the closing price of $[●] per public unit on the Nasdaq Stock Market as of [●], 2022) of the 223,000
private units it holds; and |
| ● | repayment
of an interest-free loan of $[●] since the loan will become payable only after closing of the business combination, or the
date on which we determine that it is unable to effect a business combination. |
Additionally,
if the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment
are implemented and the Company consummates an initial business combination, the officers and directors may have additional interests
that would be described in the proxy statement for such transaction.
We
may not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company since such initial business combination
may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign
Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), or ultimately prohibited.
One
of our directors is a citizen of a country other than the United States. In addition, AUM, the company with which we entered
into the Business Combination Agreement is a private company limited by shares incorporated in Singapore with operations in Singapore
and certain of its directors are citizens of countries other than the United States. While we believe that the nature of the Company’s
business, and the nature of the businesses of AUM should not make the transaction subject to U.S. foreign regulations or review
by a U.S. government entity, it is possible that the Business Combination may be subject to a CFIUS review, the scope of which
was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”), to include
certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with
no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subjects certain categories
of investments to mandatory filings. If the Business Combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that
we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial
business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination.
CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns
with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company
without first obtaining CFIUS clearance, which may limit the attractiveness of or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business
combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential
targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms
of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues.
Moreover,
the process of government review, whether by the CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy and we have limited time to complete our
initial business combination. If we cannot complete our initial business combination by February 16, 2023 (or May 16, 2023 if
the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment proposals are approved by the shareholders and the Company extends the Business Combination
Period to the fullest extent) because the review process drags on beyond such timeframe or because our initial business combination
is ultimately prohibited by CFIUS or another U.S. government entity, we may be required to liquidate. This will also cause you
to lose the investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any
price appreciation in the combined company.
The
Company may be affected by the Excise Tax included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
On
August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”),
which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on any publicly traded domestic corporation that repurchases its stock after
December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the fair market value of the repurchased
stock, with certain exceptions. Because we are a Delaware corporation and our securities are trading on Nasdaq, we will be a “covered
corporation” within the meaning of the IR Act. While not free from doubt, absent any further guidance from the U.S. Department
of the Treasury (the “Treasury”), who has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance
to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax, the Excise Tax may apply to any redemptions of our common stock
after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with an initial Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise,
unless an exemption is available. Generally, issuances of securities by us in connection with an initial business combination
transaction (including any PIPE transaction at the time of an initial business combination) would be expected to reduce the amount
of the Excise Tax in connection with redemptions occurring in the same calendar year. However, because Holdco, and not us, will
be issuing securities in connection with the Business Combination, such issuances are not expected to qualify to reduce the amount
of the Excise Tax.
Whether
and to what extent the Company would be subject to the Excise Tax in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or
otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection
with the Business Combination, extension or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount
of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection
with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations
and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming
holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. Further, the application of the Excise
Tax in the event of a liquidation is uncertain. Consequently, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to
potential Business Combination targets.
However,
because any redemptions that occur as a result of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal would occur
prior to December 31, 2022, we would not be subject to the Excise Tax as a result of any redemptions in connection with approving
the Charter Amendment and the Trust Amendment.
Payment
of the Excise Tax if the Company is subject to the Excise Tax.
We
shall not be permitted to use the proceeds placed in the Trust Account and the interests earned thereon to pay any excise taxes
imposed under the IR Act on any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company. In the event an Excise Tax is imposed on us pursuant
to the IR Act in relation to a redemption of securities as described in the registration statement or otherwise, and such tax
has not been paid by us to the applicable regulatory authority on or prior to the due date for such a tax, our Sponsor agrees
to promptly (but in any event sufficiently prior to the due date for such tax to assure timely payment thereof) either directly
pay such tax on behalf of us or advance to us such funds as necessary and appropriate to allow us to pay such tax timely. Our
Sponsor agrees not to seek recourse from the Trust Account for such tax payment.
Voting
Procedures
Each
share of our common stock that you own in your name entitles you to one vote on each of the proposals for the Special Meeting.
Your proxy card shows the number of shares of our common stock that you own.
|
● |
You
can vote your shares in advance of the Special Meeting by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card
in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you hold your shares in “street name” through a broker, bank or other
nominee, you will need to follow the instructions provided to you by your broker, bank or other nominee to ensure that your
shares are represented and voted at the Special Meeting. If you vote by proxy card, your “proxy,” whose name is
listed on the proxy card, will vote your shares as you instruct on the proxy card. If you sign and return the proxy card but
do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your shares of our common stock will be voted as recommended by our Board.
Our Board recommends voting “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal. |
|
● |
You
can attend the Special Meeting virtually and vote telephonically even if you have previously voted by submitting a proxy.
However, if your shares of common stock are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you must get a proxy from
the broker, bank or other nominee. That is the only way we can be sure that the broker, bank or nominee has not already voted
your shares of common stock. |
Solicitation
of Proxies
Your
proxy is being solicited by our Board on the proposals being presented to stockholders at the Special Meeting. The Company has
agreed to pay Advantage Proxy its customary fee and out-of-pocket expenses. The Company will reimburse Advantage Proxy for reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify Advantage Proxy and its affiliates against certain claims, liabilities, losses, damages
and expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone
or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may
also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. You may
contact Advantage Proxy at:
Advantage
Proxy
P.O.
Box 13581
Des
Moines, WA 98198
Toll
Free: 877-870-8565
Collect:
206-870-8565
The
cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy, and the cost of soliciting
proxies relating to the Special Meeting, will be borne by the Company.
Some
banks and brokers have customers who beneficially own common stock listed of record in the names of nominees. We intend to request
banks and brokers to solicit such customers and will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for such solicitations.
If any additional solicitation of the holders of our outstanding common stock is deemed necessary, we (through our directors and
officers) anticipate making such solicitation directly.
Delivery
of Proxy Materials to Households
Only
one copy of this Proxy Statement will be delivered to an address where two or more stockholders reside with the same last name
or whom otherwise reasonably appear to be members of the same family based on the stockholders’ prior express or implied
consent.
We
will deliver promptly upon written or oral request a separate copy of this Proxy Statement. If you share an address with at least
one other stockholder, currently receive one copy of our Proxy Statement at your residence, and would like to receive a separate
copy of our Proxy Statement for future stockholder meetings of the Company, please specify such request in writing and send such
written request to Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V, 311 West 43rd Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036;
Attention: Secretary, or call the Company promptly at (646) 493-6558.
If
you share an address with at least one other stockholder and currently receive multiple copies of our Proxy Statement, and you
would like to receive a single copy of our Proxy Statement, please specify such request in writing and send such written request
to Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V, 311 West 43rd Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036; Attention: Secretary.
Conversion
Rights
Pursuant
to our currently existing charter, any holders of our public shares may demand that such shares be converted for a pro rata share
of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account, less taxes payable, calculated as of two business days prior to the Special
Meeting. Public stockholders may seek to have their shares redeemed regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposals
and whether or not they are holders of our common stock as of the Record Date. If you properly exercise your conversion rights,
your shares will cease to be outstanding and will represent only the right to receive a pro rata share of the aggregate amount
on deposit in the Trust Account which holds the proceeds of our IPO (calculated as of two business days prior to the Special Meeting).
For illustrative purposes, based on funds in the Trust Account of approximately $[●] on [●], 2022, the estimated per
share conversion price would have been approximately $[●] (including interest earned through [●], 2022).
In
order to exercise your conversion rights, you must:
|
● |
submit
a request in writing prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time on [●], 2022 (two business days before the Special Meeting) that
we convert your public shares for cash to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent, at the following
address: |
Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1
State Street, 30th Floor
New
York, NY 10004
Attn:
Mark Zimkind
E-mail:
mzinkind@continentalstock.com
and
|
● |
deliver
your public shares either physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company to our transfer agent at least
two business days before the Special Meeting. Stockholders seeking to exercise their conversion rights and opting to deliver
physical certificates should allot sufficient time to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent and time to effect
delivery. It is our understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates
from the transfer agent. However, we do not have any control over this process and it may take longer than two weeks. Stockholders
who hold their shares in street name will have to coordinate with their broker, bank or other nominee to have the shares certificated
or delivered electronically. If you do not submit a written request and deliver your public shares as described above, your
shares will not be redeemed. |
Any
demand for conversion, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising conversion requests (and submitting
shares to the transfer agent) and thereafter, with our consent. If you delivered your shares for conversion to our transfer agent
and decide within the required timeframe not to exercise your conversion rights, you may request that our transfer agent return
the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the phone number or address
listed above.
Prior
to exercising conversion rights, stockholders should verify the market price of our common stock, as they may receive higher proceeds
from the sale of their common stock in the public market than from exercising their conversion rights if the market price per
share is higher than the conversion price. We cannot assure you that you will be able to sell your shares of our common stock
in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the conversion price stated above, as there may not be sufficient
liquidity in our common stock when you wish to sell your shares.
If
you exercise your conversion rights, your shares of our common stock will cease to be outstanding immediately prior to the Special
Meeting (assuming the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved) and will only represent the right
to receive a pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account. You will no longer own those shares and will
have no right to participate in, or have any interest in, the future growth of the Company, if any. You will be entitled to receive
cash for these shares only if you properly and timely request conversion.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination
by February 16, 2023 (or May 16, 2023 if the Company’s insiders or their affiliates or designees choose to extend the period
of time to consummate a business combination one time by an additional 3 months by depositing $690,000 into the Trust Account),
we will be required to dissolve and liquidate our Trust Account by returning then remaining funds in such account to the public
stockholders and our rights to purchase common stock will expire worthless.
Holders
of outstanding units must separate the underlying public shares and public rights prior to exercising conversion rights with respect
to the public shares.
If
you hold units registered in your own name, you must deliver the certificate for such units to Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company with written instructions to separate such units into public shares and public rights. This must be completed far
enough in advance to permit the mailing of the public share certificates back to you so that you may then exercise your conversion
rights with respect to the public shares upon the separation of the public shares from the units.
If
a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee holds your units, you must instruct such nominee to separate
your units. Your nominee must send written instructions by facsimile to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Such written
instructions must include the number of units to be split and the nominee holding such units. Your nominee must also initiate
electronically, using DTC’s deposit withdrawal at custodian (“DWAC”) system, a withdrawal of the
relevant units and a deposit of an equal number of public shares and public rights. This must be completed far enough in advance
to permit your nominee to exercise your conversion rights with respect to the public shares upon the separation of the public
shares from the units. While this is typically done electronically the same business day, you should allow at least one full business
day to accomplish the separation. If you fail to cause your public shares to be separated in a timely manner, you will likely
not be able to exercise your conversion rights.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our voting securities by (i) each person
who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our issued and outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our officers
and directors, and (iii) all of our officers and directors as a group as of the Record Date. The percentages below are based on
9,025,900 shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding, including common shares underlying the Company’s
units. The following table does not reflect record of beneficial ownership of the rights included in the units or the private
rights issued pursuant to the Company’s initial public offering as these rights are not convertible until consummation of
the Company’s initial business combination.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) | |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | | |
Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
|
Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC (2) | |
| 1,940,800 | | |
| 21.5 |
% |
Suying Liu (3) | |
| 1,940,800 | | |
| 21.5 |
% |
Nelson Haight | |
| 2,400 | | |
| |
* |
Todd T. Milbourn | |
| 2,400 | | |
| |
* |
Wenhua Zhang | |
| 2,400 | | |
| |
* |
All directors and executive officers as a group (4 individuals) | |
| 1,948,000 | | |
| 21.5 |
% |
Periscope Capital Inc. (4) | |
| 464,300 | | |
| 5.14 |
% |
Karpus Investment Management (5) | |
| 540,390 | | |
| 6.0 |
% |
Saba Capital Management GP, LLC (6) | |
| 562,500 | | |
| 8.2 |
% |
Beryl Capital Management LP (7) | |
| 600,000 | | |
| 5.8 |
% |
(1) |
Unless otherwise
noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V, 311
West 43rd Street, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10036. |
(2) |
Dr. Suying Liu has
voting and dispositive power over the shares owned by Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC. |
(3) |
Consists of shares
owned Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC, over which Dr. Suying Liu has voting and dispositive power which include 1,717,800
Founder Shares and common shares that make part of the 223,000 Private Placement Units. This number also includes 100,000
Founder Shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to a stock purchase agreement pursuant to which Mountain Crest Capital LLC will
transfer such shares to the buyer, the target in the Business Combination, upon the closing of its Business Combination. Mountain
Crest Global Holdings LLC maintains voting power in these 100,000 shares through the consummation of its business combination. |
(4) |
Based on information
provided in a Schedule 13G filed on February 11, 2022. Periscope Capital Inc., which is the beneficial owner of 392,800 shares
of Common Stock, acts as investment manager of, and exercises investment discretion with respect to, certain private investment
funds that collectively directly own 71,500 shares of Common Stock. The address of the principal office of Periscope Capital
Inc. is 333 Bay Street, Suite 1240, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2R2. |
(5) |
Based on information
provided in a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2022. Karpus Management, Inc. (“Karpus”), d/b/a Karpus Investment
Management, is a registered investment adviser under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Karpus is controlled
by City of London Investment Group plc (“CLIG”), which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. However, in accordance
with SEC Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998), effective informational barriers have been established between Karpus and
CLIG such that voting and investment power over the subject securities is exercised by Karpus independently of CLIG, and,
accordingly, attribution of beneficial ownership is not required between Karpus and CLIG. The Company’s shares of Common
Stock are owned directly by the accounts managed by Karpus. The address of the principal office of Karpus is 183 Sully’s
Trail, Pittsford, New York 14534. |
(6) |
Based on information
provided in a Schedule 13G filed on December 17, 2021. Saba Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Saba
Capital”), Saba Capital Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Saba GP”), and Mr. Boaz
R. Weinstein (together, the “Reporting Persons”) entered into certain joint filing agreement, dated December 17,
2021. The Reporting Persons are deemed to share voting power over 562,500 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The
address of the principal office of the Reporting Persons is 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10174. |
(7) |
Based on information
provided in a Schedule 13G filed on February 10, 2022. Beryl Capital Management LLC, Beryl Capital Management LP, Beryl Capital
Partners II LP and David A. Witkin (together, the “Reporting Persons”) entered into certain joint filing agreement,
dated February 10, 2022. Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company’s shares of Common
Stock except to the extent of that person’s pecuniary interest therein. The address of the principal office of the Reporting
Persons is 1611 S. Catalina Ave., Suite 309, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. |
PROPOSAL
1: THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT
This
is a proposal to amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation (the “Charter”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business
combination from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 (the “Extended Date”) by depositing into the Trust
Account $300,000 for such three-month extension. We refer to this proposal as the “Extension Amendment Proposal.”
All stockholders are encouraged to read the proposed Extension Amendment in its entirety for a more complete description of its
terms. A copy of the proposed Extension Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A.
If
the Extension Amendment is approved, the Company’s Sponsor or its affiliates will contribute $300,000 to the Company as
a loan (the “Contribution”) for the Company to deposit the funds into the Trust Account as the Extension
Payment, upon five days’ advance notice prior to February 16, 2023, and to extend the Combination Period to May 16, 2023.
The Contribution, if necessary, will be deposited in the Trust Account within five business days prior to February 16, 2023. The
Company’s Sponsor or its affiliates will not make any Contribution unless the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment proposals
are approved. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved or if the Company’s
Board otherwise determines that the Company will not be able to consummate an initial business combination by the Extended Date,
the Company would wind up its affairs and redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares in accordance with the same procedures
set forth below that would be applicable if the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment proposals are not approved.
Reasons
for the Proposed Extension Amendment
The
purpose of the Extension Amendment is to give the right to extend the Combination Period from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023
to complete a business combination by depositing $300,000 into the Trust Account.
On
October 19, 2022, the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and between the Company and AUM
Biosciences Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares incorporated in Singapore, with company registration 201810204D (the
“AUM”), pursuant to which, among other things, AUM will promptly incorporate a Cayman Islands exempted
company as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of AUM (“Holdco”). Holdco upon incorporation will form a
private company limited by shares incorporated in Singapore as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (“Amalgamation
Sub”) and a Delaware corporation as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (“Merger Sub” and, together
with Holdco and Amalgamation Sub, each, individually, an “Acquisition Entity” and, collectively, the
“Acquisition Entities”), and (i) Amalgamation Sub will amalgamate with and into the Company (the “Amalgamation”)
whereby the separate existence of Amalgamation Sub will cease and the Company will be the surviving corporation of the Amalgamation
and become a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco, and (ii) following confirmation of the effective filing of the Amalgamation
but on the same day, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “SPAC Merger” and together
with the Amalgamation, the “Mergers” or “Business Combination”), the separate
existence of Merger Sub will cease and the Company will be the surviving corporation of the SPAC Merger and a direct wholly owned
subsidiary of Holdco. The Business Combination Agreement provides that the outside date for the closing of the Business Combination
was February 15, 2022 (the “Outside Date”). Following the Mergers, Holdco expects its ordinary shares
to be traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. All capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in the Business Combination Agreement.
The
Company and other parties to the Business Combination Agreement are working towards satisfaction of the conditions to completion
of the Business Combination, including the necessary filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the transaction,
but have determined that there will not be sufficient time before February 15, 2022, the Outside Date, to hold a special meeting
to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of, and to consummate, the Business Combination. The Company’s management believes
that it can close the Business Combination before May 16, 2023 (i.e., the end of the extension period). Under the circumstances,
Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC (the “Sponsor”) wants to pay an extension amount that is substantially
less than the $690,000 for the extension provided by the Charter and Trust Agreement. However, this would be contrary to the interests
of our remaining public stockholders, who will have substantially less fund in the Trust Account than if the extension provision
was not amended.
After
consultation with the Sponsor, the Company’s management has reasons to believe that, if the Extension Amendment Proposal
and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Sponsor or its affiliates will contribute $300,000 to the Company as a loan (the
“Contribution”) for the Company to deposit the funds into the Trust Account as the Extension Payment,
upon five days’ advance notice prior to February 16, 2023, and to extend the Combination Period to May 16, 2023. The
Contribution will be deposited in the Trust Account within five business days prior to February 16, 2023. The Contribution will
bear no interest and will be repayable by the Company to the Sponsor upon consummation of an initial business combination in cash
or private placement units at a price of $10 per unit at the option of the Sponsor. The loan will be forgiven by the Sponsor or
its affiliates if the Company is unable to consummate an initial business combination except to the extent of any funds held outside
of the Trust Account.
If
the Company’s Board otherwise determines that the Company will not be able to consummate an initial business combination
by the Extended Date, the Company would wind up its affairs and redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares in accordance with
the same procedures set forth below that would be applicable if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment proposals
are not approved.
As
of the date hereof, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account are held in money market funds, which primarily
invest in U.S. Treasury Bills. There is uncertainty under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company
Act”) whether certain special purpose acquisition companies, or “SPACs,” with trust account assets held
in securities, that do not consummate an initial business combination within 24 months after the effective date the SPAC’s
IPO registration statement, would fall within the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the
Investment Company Act. the Company’s IPO registration statement became effective on November 12, 2021. Due to this uncertainty,
the Company intends to convert all of the assets held in the Trust Account into cash prior to November 12, 2023 to ensure that
the Company does not fall within the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment
Company Act.
In
connection with the Extension Amendment, public stockholders may elect (the “Election”) to redeem their
shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest
not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares,
regardless of whether such public stockholders vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal,
Trust Amendment Proposal, and Adjournment Proposal, and an Election can also be made by public stockholders who do not vote, or
do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the Special Meeting. Public stockholders may make an Election regardless
of whether such public stockholders were holders as of the record date. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment
Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain their right to
redeem their public shares when the Business Combination is submitted to the stockholders, subject to any limitations set forth
in our Charter, as amended by the Extension Amendment (as long as their election is made at least two (2) business days prior
to the meeting at which the stockholders’ vote is sought). However, the Company will not proceed with the Extension Amendment
Proposal if the redemption of public shares in connection therewith would cause the Company to have net tangible assets of less
than $5,000,001. Each redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held
approximately $[ ] of marketable securities as of November [ ], 2022. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election
would be entitled to have their shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a business combination by the Extended
Date. Our sponsor, our officers and directors, hold the right to vote over an aggregate of 1,948,000 shares of common stock which
include 1,725,000 shares of our common stock, which we refer to as the “Founder Shares”, that were issued
prior to our initial public offering (“IPO”) and 223,000 shares of common stock that make part of the
units, which we refer to as the “Private Placement Units”, that were purchased by our sponsor in a private
placement which occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO.
To
exercise your redemption rights, you must tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days
prior to the Special Meeting (or [●], 2022). You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificate to the
transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal
At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to
withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.
As
of November [●], 2022, there was approximately $[●] in the Trust Account. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the
Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Business Combination Period is extended for the 3 months to May 16, 2023, the redemption
price per share at the meeting for the Business Combination or the Company’s subsequent liquidation will be approximately
$[●] per share (without taking into account any interest income), in comparison to the current redemption price of approximately
$[●] per share. The closing price of the Company’s common stock on November [●], 2022 was $[●]. The Company
cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market,
even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity
in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal, Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate
a business combination by February 16, 2023 (or May 16, 2023 if the Company’s insiders or their affiliates or designees
choose to extend the period of time to consummate a business combination one time by an additional 3 months by depositing $690,000
into the Trust Account), as contemplated by our IPO prospectus and in accordance with our Charter, we 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,
redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit
in the Trust Account, including any interest not previously released to us (net of taxes payable), 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 liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably
possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate,
subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the
requirements of other applicable law. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our rights, which will
expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, our sponsor, our officers and directors and our
other initial stockholders will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder
Shares or the Private Placement Units.
Required
Vote
Subject
to the foregoing, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Company’s outstanding common stock, including the Founder
Shares, will be required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. The approval of the Extension Amendment is essential to
the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination.
Therefore, our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment unless our stockholders approve the Extension Amendment.
This means that if one proposal is approved by the stockholders and the other proposal is not, neither proposal will take effect.
Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement
the Extension Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders. Our Board has fixed the close of business
on November 29, 2022 as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Special
Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock on that date
are entitled to have their votes counted at the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
You
are not being asked to vote on any business combination at this time. If the Extension Amendment is implemented and you do not
elect to redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote on a proposed business combination when it is submitted
to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares into a pro rata portion of the Trust Account in the event a business
combination is approved and completed (as long as your election is made at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting at
which the stockholders’ vote is sought) or the Company has not consummated the business combination by the Extended Date.
Recommendation
The
Company’s Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal.
PROPOSAL
2: THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
A
proposal to amend the Company’s investment management trust agreement, dated as of November 12, 2021 (the “Trust
Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”),
to provide that the time for the Company to complete its initial business combination (the “Business Combination Period”)
under the Trust Agreement shall be February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 and to the extent the Company’s Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation is amended to extend the Business Combination Period (the “Trust Amendment”)
by depositing into the trust account (the “Trust Account”) $300,000 (the “Extension Payment”)
(we refer to this proposal as the “Trust Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed Trust Amendment
is attached hereto as Annex B.
Reasons
for the Trust Amendment
The
purpose of the Trust Amendment Proposal is to give the Company the right to extend the Business Combination Period from February
16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 by depositing into the Trust Account $300,000 for such three-month extension to the extent the Company’s
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is amended to extend the Business Combination Period. Therefore, if this Trust
Amendment Proposal and the Extension Amendment Proposal are approved, amount of money needed to extend the time to complete a
business combination would be significantly reduced.
The
Company’s current Charter and Trust Agreement provide that the Company has until February 16, 2023 (or May 16, 2023 if the
Company’s insiders or their affiliates or designees choose to extend the period of time to consummate a business combination
one time by an additional 3 months by depositing $690,000 into the Trust Account) to complete a business combination without the
payment of additional amounts into the Company’s Trust Account.
On
October 20, 2022, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement for the proposed Business Combination
with AUM. The Company’s Board has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Business Combination Agreement, the
Mergers and the other transactions contemplated thereby, and (ii) resolved to recommend approval of the Business Combination Agreement
and related matters by the stockholders of the Company. The Company will hold a meeting of stockholders to consider and approve
the proposed Business Combination and a proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all of the Company’s stockholders. The
Company and other parties to the Business Combination Agreement are working towards satisfaction of the conditions to completion
of the Business Combination, including the necessary filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the transaction,
but have determined that there will not be sufficient time before February 15, 2022, the Outside Date, to hold a special meeting
to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of, and to consummate, the Business Combination. The Company’s management believes
that it can close the Business Combination before May 16, 2023 (i.e., the end of the extension period). Under the circumstances,
Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC (the “Sponsor”) wants to pay an extension amount that is substantially
less than the $690,000 for the extension provided by the Charter and Trust Agreement. However, this would be contrary to the interests
of our remaining public stockholders, who will have substantially less funds in the Trust Account than if the extension provision
was not amended.
After
consultation with the Sponsor, the Company’s management has reasons to believe that, if the Extension Amendment Proposal
and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Sponsor or its affiliates will contribute $300,000 to the Company as a loan (the
“Contribution”) for the Company to deposit the funds into the Trust Account as the Extension Payment,
upon five days’ advance notice prior to February 16, 2023, and to extend the Combination Period to May 16, 2023. The Contribution
will be deposited in the Trust Account within five business days prior to February 16, 2023. The Contribution will bear no interest
and will be repayable by the Company to the Sponsor upon consummation of an initial business combination in cash or private placement
units at a price of $10 per unit at the option of the Sponsor. The loan will be forgiven by the Sponsor or its affiliates if the
Company is unable to consummate an initial business combination except to the extent of any funds held outside of the Trust Account.
If
the Trust Amendment Is Not Approved
If
the Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved, and we do not consummate an initial business combination by February 16, 2023 (or
May 16, 2023 if the Company’s insiders or their affiliates choose to extend the period of time to consummate a business
combination one time by an additional 3 months by depositing $690,000 into the Trust Account), we will be required to dissolve
and liquidate our Trust Account by returning then remaining funds in such account to the public stockholders and our rights that
convert into Common Stock will be worthless.
The
Company’s initial stockholders have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to their
insider shares. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to the Company’s rights, which will be
worthless in the event we wind up. The Company will pay the costs of liquidation from its remaining assets outside of the Trust
Account.
If
the Trust Amendment Proposal Is Approved
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the amendment to the Trust Agreement in the form
of Annex B hereto will be executed and the Trust Account will not be disbursed except in connection with our completion of the
Proposed Business Combination or in connection with our liquidation if we do not complete an initial business combination by the
applicable termination date. The Company will then continue to attempt to consummate a business combination until the applicable
termination date or until the Company’s Board determines in its sole discretion that it will not be able to consummate an
initial business combination by the applicable termination date as described below and does not wish to seek an additional extension.
Required
Vote
Subject
to the foregoing, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Company’s common stock sold in the IPO, excluding the
Founder Shares and Private Shares, will be required to approve the Trust Amendment Proposal. Our Board will abandon and not implement
the Trust Amendment Proposal unless our stockholders approve both the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal.
This means that if one proposal is approved by the stockholders and the other proposal is not, neither proposal will take effect.
Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the
right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders.
Our
Board has fixed the close of business on November 29, 2022 as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive
notice of and vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s
Common Stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
You
are not being asked to vote on any business combination at this time. If the Trust Amendment is implemented and you do not elect
to redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote on a proposed business combination when it is submitted to
stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares into a pro rata portion of the Trust Account in the event a business combination
is approved and completed (as long as your election is made at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting at which the stockholders’
vote is sought) or the Company has not consummated the business combination by the applicable termination date.
Recommendation
The
Company’s Board considered that its Sponsor would be willing to make the $300,000 Contribution to the Company as an interest-free
loan to fund the Extension Payment for the extension, but may not be willing to deposit into the Trust Account the $690,000 required
for the same extension under the terms of the current Charter and Trust Agreement. The Company’s Board recommends that
you vote “FOR” the Trust Amendment Proposal.
PROPOSAL
3: THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
The
Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will request the chairman of the special meeting (who has agreed to act accordingly) to adjourn
the special meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will only be
presented to our stockholders in the event, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special
meeting to approve the other proposal in this proxy statement. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by our stockholders,
the chairman of the meeting will not exercise his ability to adjourn the special meeting to a later date (which he would otherwise
have under the Chairman) in the event, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special
meeting to approve the other proposal.
Required
Vote
If
a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and voting on the matter at the special meeting vote for the Adjournment
Proposal, the chairman of the special meeting will exercise his or her power to adjourn the meeting as set out above.
Recommendation
The
Company’s Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The
Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an
Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including
us, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that we file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
This
Proxy Statement describes the material elements of relevant contracts, exhibits and other information attached as annexes to this
Proxy Statement. Information and statements contained in this Proxy Statement are qualified in all respects by reference to the
copy of the relevant contract or other document included as an annex to this document.
You
may obtain additional copies of this Proxy Statement, at no cost, and you may ask any questions you may have about the Extension
Amendment, the Trust Amendment or the Adjournment by contacting us at the following address or telephone number:
Mountain
Crest Acquisition Corp. V
311
West 43rd Street, 12th Floor
New
York, NY 10036
(646)
493-6558
You
may also obtain these documents at no cost by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the Company’s proxy solicitation
agent at the following address and telephone number:
Advantage
Proxy
P.O.
Box 13581
Des
Moines, WA 98198
Toll
Free: 877-870-8565
Collect:
206-870-8565
In
order to receive timely delivery of the documents in advance of the Special Meeting, you must make your request for information
no later than December 15, 2022.
Annex
A
Extension
Amendment
AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION OF
MOUNTAIN
CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V
December
[●], 2022
Mountain
Crest Acquisition Corp. V, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”),
DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1.
The name of the Corporation is “Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V.” The original certificate of incorporation was
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 8, 2021. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
(the “Amended and Restated Certificate”) was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on November
12, 2021.
2.
This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate amends the Amended and Restated Certificate.
3.
This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the stockholders
of the Corporation in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
4.
The text of Paragraph E of Article SIXTH is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows:
“E.
In the event that the Corporation does not consummate a Business Combination by May 16, 2023 (such date actually extended being
referred to as or, in each case if the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall not be open for business (including
filing of corporate documents) on such date the next date upon which the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall
be open, the “Termination Date”), the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purposes
of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter redeem 100% of the IPO Shares
for cash for a redemption price per share as described below (which redemption will completely extinguish such holders’
rights as stockholders, including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably
possible following such redemption, subject to approval of the Corporation’s then stockholders and subject to the requirements
of the GCL, including the adoption of a resolution by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 275(a) of the GCL finding the
dissolution of the Corporation advisable and the provision of such notices as are required by said Section 275(a) of the GCL,
dissolve and liquidate the balance of the Corporation’s net assets to its remaining stockholders, as part of the Corporation’s
plan of dissolution and liquidation, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to the Corporation’s obligations under
the GCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. In such event, the per share redemption price
shall be equal to a pro rata share of the Trust Account plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account
and not previously released to the Corporation (less taxes payable and dissolution expenses) for its working capital requirements
or necessary to pay its taxes divided by the total number of IPO Shares then outstanding.”
5.
The text of Paragraph I of Article SIXTH is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows:
“I.
If any amendment is made to this Article Sixth that would modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation
to provide for the conversion of the IPO Shares in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the IPO
Shares if the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination on or before the Termination Date or (B) with respect
to any other provision in this Article Sixth, the holders of IPO Shares shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their
IPO Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at the per-share price specified in paragraph C.”
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V has caused this Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly
executed in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set above.
Mountain
Crest Acquisition Corp. V
By: |
|
|
Name: |
Suying Liu |
|
Title: |
Chief Executive
Officer |
|
Annex
B
PROPOSED
AMENDMENT
TO
THE
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This
Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment”), dated as of December ___, 2022, to the Investment Management Trust Agreement (as
defined below) is made by and between Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company, as trustee (“Trustee”). All terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
to them in the Trust Agreement.
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Trustee entered into an Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated November 12, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”);
WHEREAS,
Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement sets forth the terms that govern the liquidation of the Trust Account under the circumstances
described therein; and
WHEREAS,
at an Special Meeting of the Company held on [●], 2022, the Company’s stockholders approved (i) a proposal to amend
the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “A&R COI”) giving the Company the right
to extend the date by which it has to consummate a business combination for three months from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023
and (ii) a proposal to amend the Trust Agreement to extend the term by which the Company has to consummate a business combination
to from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 in exchange for the Company depositing $300,000 into the Trust Account as provided for
in the A&R COI.
NOW
THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
|
1. |
Section 1(i) of
the Trust Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: |
(i)
Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of
a letter (“Termination Letter”), in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit
B, signed on behalf of the Company by its President, Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board and Secretary or Assistant
Secretary and, in the case of a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, acknowledged
and agreed to by Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property
in the Trust Account only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; provided, however,
that in the event that a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee upon the date which is, the later of (1) May
16, 2023, and (2) such later date as provided in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Last
Date”), the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached
as Exhibit B hereto and distributed to the Public Shareholders as of the Last Date.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
|
CONTINENTAL
STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY,
as Trustee |
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
Name: |
Francis E. Wolf,
Jr. |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
MOUNTAIN
CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V |
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
Name: |
Suying Liu |
|
Title: |
Chief Executive
Officer |
PROXY
CARD
MOUNTAIN
CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V
PROXY
FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
undersigned hereby appoints Suying Liu as proxy of the undersigned to attend the Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special
Meeting”) of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V (the “Company”), to be held via virtual
meeting as described in the Proxy Statement on [●], 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, and any postponement or adjournment
thereof, and to vote as if the undersigned were then and there personally present on all matters set forth in the Notice of Special
Meeting, dated December [ ], 2022 (the “Notice”), a copy of which has been received by the undersigned,
as follows:
|
1. |
PROPOSAL 1. EXTENSION
AMENDMENT — APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EXTEND
THE DATE BY WHICH THE COMPANY HAS TO CONSUMMATE A BUSINESS COMBINATION FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2023 TO MAY 16, 2023. |
For
☐ Against ☐ Abstain
☐
|
2. |
PROPOSAL 2. TRUST
AMENDMENT — APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF NOVEMBER
12, 2021 (THE “TRUST AGREEMENT”), BY AND BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
TO PROVIDE THAT THE TIME FOR THE COMPANY TO COMPLETE ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (THE “BUSINESS COMBINATION PERIOD”)
UNDER THE TRUST AGREEMENT SHALL BE EXTENDED FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2023 TO MAY 16, 2023 AND TO THE EXTENT THE COMPANY’S AMENDED
AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION IS AMENDED TO EXTEND THE BUSINESS COMBINATION PERIOD BY DEPOSITING INTO THE TRUST
ACCOUNT $300,000 FOR THE EXTENSION. |
For
☐ Against ☐ Abstain
☐
|
3. |
PROPOSAL 3. ADJOURNMENT
— APPROVAL TO DIRECT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL MEETING TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING TO A LATER DATE OR DATES, IF
NECESSARY, TO PERMIT FURTHER SOLICITATION AND VOTE OF PROXIES IF, BASED UPON THE TABULATED VOTE AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING,
THERE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT VOTES TO APPROVE PROPOSAL 1 AND PROPOSAL 2. |
For
☐ Against ☐ Abstain
☐
NOTE:
IN HIS DISCRETION, THE PROXY HOLDER IS AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER MATTER OR MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE
SPECIAL MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) OR POSTPONMENT(S) THEREOF.
THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFIC INDICATION ABOVE. IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH INDICATION, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
“FOR” EACH PROPOSAL AND, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDER, ON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE
THE SPECIAL MEETING OR ANY POSTPONEMENT OR ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
Dated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature of Stockholder |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PLEASE PRINT NAME |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certificate Number(s) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Number of
Shares Owned |
Sign
exactly as your name(s) appears on your stock certificate(s). A corporation is requested to sign its name by its President or
other authorized officer, with the office held designated. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc., are requested to so indicate
when signing. If a stock certificate is registered in two names or held as joint tenants or as community property, both interested
persons should sign.
PLEASE
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
I
plan to attend the Special Meeting (Circle one): Yes No
PLEASE
NOTE:
STOCKHOLDER
SHOULD SIGN THE PROXY PROMPTLY AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE
THE SPECIAL MEETING. PLEASE INDICATE ANY ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER CHANGES IN THE SPACE BELOW.
Mountain Crest Acquisiti... (NASDAQ:MCAG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Oct 2024 to Nov 2024
Mountain Crest Acquisiti... (NASDAQ:MCAG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2023 to Nov 2024