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
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by the Registrant ☒
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by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
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the appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
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Confidential,
for the use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive
Proxy Statement |
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Definitive
Additional Materials |
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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):
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fee required. |
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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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
April
26, 2023
Dear
Stockholder:
On
behalf of the Board of Directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V (“Mountain Crest,” 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 1 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2023. The Company
will be holding the Special Meeting as a virtual meeting via the following information:
Mountain
Crest Acquisition Corp. V Virtual Shareholder Meeting Information:
Meeting Date: May 12, 2023
Meeting Time: 1 p.m. Eastern Time
Special Meeting-meeting webpage (information, webcast,
telephone access and replay):
https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/ext2023
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: 2816898#
The Notice of Special Meeting
of Stockholders, the Proxy Statement and the proxy card accompany this letter are also available at https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/ext2023.
We are first mailing these materials to our stockholders on or about April 27, 2023.
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 “Second Extension Amendment”) the Company’s amended
and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), to extend the date by which the
Company has to consummate a business combination from May 16, 2023 to February 16, 2024 (the “Extended Date”)
(we refer to this proposal as the “Second Extension Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed Second
Extension Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A;
(ii)
Proposal 2 — 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 (we refer to this
proposal as the “Adjournment Proposal”).
The
Company’s Charter and Trust Agreement provide that the Company has until May 16, 2023 (the “Termination
Date”) to complete an initial business combination. The only way to extend the time for the Company to complete
its initial business combination (the “Combination Period”) is to have a separate stockholder vote under
the current Charter and Trust Agreement.
If
the Second Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will have the right to extend the Combination Period from May 16,
2023 to February 16, 2024.
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”). On January 27, 2023, AUM Biosciences Limited, a Cayman Islands
exempted company (“Holdco”), AUM Biosciences Subsidiary Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares
incorporated in Singapore, with company registration number 202238778Z (“Amalgamation Sub”) and AUM
Biosciences Delaware Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub” and, together with Holdco and
Amalgamation Sub, each, individually, an “Acquisition Entity” and, collectively, the
“Acquisition Entities”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (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 (the
“Closing”) was February 15, 2023 (the “Outside Date”). On February 10,
2023, AUM, the Company, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub and Merger Sub signed an amendment to Business Combination Agreement to extend the
Outside Date from February 15, 2023 to May 15, 2023. On March 30, 2023, AUM, the Company, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub
and Merger Sub signed an amendment No. 2 to Business Combination Agreement to consent to the termination of the (the
“Stock Escrow Agreement”), dated as of November 12, 2021, entered into by and among Mountain Crest,
Mountain Crest’s initial stockholders and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as the escrow agent, eliminate the
Company’s right to designate a director of the Holdco Board, remove the Closing condition that the Company shall have net
tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 on its pro forma consolidated balance sheet after giving effect to the Closing, and update
the Company Interests issued and paid-up as of the Amalgamation Effective Time from 8,779,752 AUM ordinary shares to 9,841,118 AUM
ordinary shares. On April 19, 2023, AUM, Mountain Crest, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub and Merger Sub signed an amendment No. 3 to
Business Combination Agreement (the “Amendment No. 3”)
to (1) amend the definition of “Fully-Diluted Company Shares” and (2) update the Company Interests issued and paid-up as
of the Amalgamation Effective Time from 9,841,118 AUM ordinary shares to 9,125,538 AUM ordinary shares. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Business
Combination Agreement.
At
the special meeting of stockholders held on December 20, 2022, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to
the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “First Extension Amendment Proposal”)
and an amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated November 12,
2021 (the “First Trust Amendment Proposal”), giving the Company the right to extend the Combination
Period 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 Combination Period.
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 (the “SEC”)
related to the transaction, but have determined that there will not be sufficient time before May 15, 2023, 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 February 16, 2024 (i.e., the end of the Combination
Period).
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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved.
Each
of the Second Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
If
the Company completes the Business Combination on or before the Termination Date, it will cancel the Special Meeting and will not implement
the Second Extension Amendment. If the Company does not implement the Second Extension Amendment, it will not redeem any public shares
submitted for redemption solely in connection with the Special Meeting (but will redeem all public shares previously submitted for redemption
in connection with the Merger Meeting (as defined below)). The Company intends to hold the Special Meeting to approve the Second Extension
Amendment and file the proposed amendment to its Charter only if it has determined as of the time of the Special Meeting that it may
not be able to complete the Business Combination on or before the Termination Date.
You
are not being asked to vote on any business combination at this time. If the Second Extension Amendment is implemented and you
do not elect to redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote on 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 Second
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 Second Extension 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. Each
redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately $20.1 million
of marketable securities as of April 25, 2023. 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 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
May 10, 2023). 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 April 25, 2023, there was approximately $20.1 million in the
Trust Account, and the estimated redemption price is approximately $10.39 per share, before deducting estimated taxes payable. The closing
price of the Company’s common stock on April 25, 2023 was $10.35. 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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate a business combination
by May 16, 2023, as 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 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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Second
Extension Amendment, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Second Extension Amendment at any time without
any further action by our stockholders.
Our
Board has fixed the close of business on April 14, 2023 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 Second Extension 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 |
|
| April 26,
2023 |
|
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 MAY 12, 2023
April 26, 2023
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 (“Mountain Crest,” the “Company” or “we”), a Delaware
corporation, will be held on May 12, 2023, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company will be holding the Special
Meeting as a virtual meeting via the following information:
Mountain
Crest Acquisition Corp. V Virtual Shareholder Meeting Information:
Meeting Date: May 12, 2023
Meeting Time: 1 p.m. Eastern Time
Special Meeting-meeting webpage (information, webcast,
telephone access and replay):
https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/ext2023
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: 2816898#
The
purpose of the Special Meeting will be to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
| |
1. |
A
proposal to amend (the “Second Extension Amendment”) the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate
a business combination from May 16, 2023 to February 16, 2024 (the “Extended Date”) (we
refer to this proposal as the “Second Extension Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed Second
Extension Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A; |
| |
2. |
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 (we refer to this proposal as the “Adjournment Proposal”);
and |
| |
3. |
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 April 14, 2023 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
April 26,
2023
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 May 12, 2023. THIS PROXY STATEMENT
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/ext2023.
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 May 12, 2023
FIRST MAILED ON OR ABOUT April 27, 2023
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 May 12,
2023 at 1 p.m. Eastern time for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting. The Company
will be holding the Special Meeting, and any adjournments or postponements thereof, as a virtual meeting via the following information:
Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V Virtual Shareholder
Meeting Information:
Meeting Date: May 12, 2023
Meeting Time: 1 p.m. Eastern Time
Special Meeting-meeting webpage (information, webcast,
telephone access and replay):
https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/ext2023
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: 2816898#
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 “Second 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 May 16, 2023 to February 16, 2024 (the “Extended Date”)
(we refer to this proposal as the “Second Extension Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed
Second Extension Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A; |
| |
2. |
Proposal
2 — 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 (we refer
to this proposal as the “Adjournment Proposal”); and |
| |
3. |
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 time for the Company to complete
its initial business combination (the “Combination Period”) from May 16, 2023 to February 16,
2024. The only way to extend the Combination Period from May 16, 2023 to February 16, 2024 is to have a separate stockholder
vote under the current Charter and Trust Agreement.
If
the Second Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will still have the right to extend the Combination Period from
May 16, 2023 to February 16, 2024.
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”). On January 27, 2023, AUM Biosciences Limited, a Cayman Islands
exempted company (“Holdco”), AUM Biosciences Subsidiary Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares
incorporated in Singapore, with company registration number 202238778Z (“Amalgamation Sub”) and AUM Biosciences Delaware
Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub” and, together with Holdco and Amalgamation Sub,
each, individually, an “Acquisition Entity” and, collectively, the “Acquisition
Entities”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (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 (the “Closing”) was February 15,
2023 (the “Outside Date”). On February 10, 2023, AUM, the Company, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub and
Merger Sub signed an amendment to Business Combination Agreement to extend the Outside Date from February 15, 2023 to
May 15, 2023. On March 30, 2023, AUM, the Company, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub and Merger Sub signed an amendment No. 2 to
Business Combination Agreement to consent to the termination of the Stock Escrow Agreement (the “Stock Escrow
Agreement”), dated as of November 12, 2021, entered into by and among Mountain Crest, Mountain Crest’s
initial stockholders and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as the escrow agent, eliminate the Company’s right to
designate a director of the Holdco Board, remove the Closing condition that the Company shall have net tangible assets of at least
$5,000,001 on its pro forma consolidated balance sheet after giving effect to the Closing, and update the Company Interests issued
and paid-up as of the Amalgamation Effective Time from 8,779,752 AUM ordinary shares to 9,841,118 AUM ordinary shares. On April 19,
2023, AUM, Mountain Crest, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub and Merger Sub signed an amendment No. 3 to Business Combination Agreement (the
“Amendment No. 3”) to (1) amend
the definition of “Fully-Diluted Company Shares” and (2) update the Company Interests issued and paid-up as of the
Amalgamation Effective Time from 9,841,118 AUM ordinary shares to 9,125,538 AUM ordinary shares. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Business Combination
Agreement.
At
the special meeting of stockholders held on December 20, 2022, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to
the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “First Extension Amendment Proposal”)
and an amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated November 12,
2021 (the “First Trust Amendment Proposal”), giving the Company the right to extend the Combination
Period 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 Combination Period.
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 SEC related to the transaction, but have determined that there
will not be sufficient time before May 15, 2023, the Outside Date, to hold a special meeting (the “Merger Meeting”)
to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of, and/or to consummate, the Business Combination. The Company’s management
believes that it can close the Business Combination before February 16, 2024 (i.e., the end of the Combination Period).
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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved.
Each
of the Second Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
If
the Company completes the Business Combination on or before May 16, 2023 (the “Termination Date”), it
will cancel the Special Meeting and will not implement the Second Extension Amendment. If the Company does not implement the Second
Extension Amendment, it will not redeem any public shares submitted for redemption solely in connection with the Special Meeting
(but will redeem all public shares previously submitted for redemption in connection with the Merger Meeting). The Company intends
to hold the Special Meeting to approve the Second Extension Amendment and file the proposed amendment to its Charter only if it
has determined as of the time of the Special Meeting that it may not be able to complete the Business Combination on or before
the Termination Date.
You
are not being asked to vote on any business combination at this time. If the Second Extension Amendment is implemented and you
do not elect to redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote on 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 Second 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 Second Extension 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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal is 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 Second 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). Each
redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately $20.1 million
of marketable securities as of April 25, 2023. 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. Mountain Crest Global Holdings
LLC (the “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 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
May 10, 2023). 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 April 25, 2023, there
was approximately $20.1 million in the Trust Account. The closing price of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”)
on April 25, 2023 was $10.35. The Company cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of the Company’s
Common Stock in the open market, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their
shares.
If
the Second Extension Amendment and the Adjournment proposals are not approved and we do not consummate a business combination
by May 16, 2023, as 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 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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Second
Extension Amendment, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Second Extension Amendment at any time without
any further action by our stockholders.
Our Board has fixed the close of business on April 14, 2023 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 April 14, 2023 (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 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 April 27, 2023.
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 4,060,008, assuming no shares will be
redeemed at the Merger Meeting. 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 2,030,005 shares (assuming no shares will be redeemed at the Merger Meeting), 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 (Second Extension Amendment) is a matter that we believe will be considered “non-routine.”
Proposal
2 (Adjournment) is a matter that we believe will be considered “routine.”
Banks
or brokerages cannot use discretionary authority to vote shares on Proposal 1 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 |
| Second
Extension Amendment |
Majority
of outstanding 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 proposal, 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:
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If
the Second Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Company extends the Combination Period to February 16, 2024,
no redemption amount will be added to the Trust Account. |
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|
|
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As
of today, Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC (the “Sponsor”) has made an interest-free loan in the
aggregate amount of $300,000 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. |
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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).
|
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Each redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately $20.1 million of marketable securities as of April 25, 2023. |
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:
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On April 8, 2021, the Company’s insiders, including the Sponsor, purchased an aggregate of 1,437,500 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. On November 2, 2021, the Company declared a 20% stock dividend on each insider share thereby increasing the number of issued and outstanding Founder Shares to 1,725,000. If the Company does not consummate the Business Combination by May 16, 2023, or as otherwise set forth in the Charter, the Company will be required to dissolve and liquidate. In such event, the 1,725,000 shares of Common Stock held by the initial stockholders, which were acquired prior to the IPO for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, will be worthless. Such shares had an aggregate market value of approximately $17.9 million based on the closing price of Common Stock of $10.35 on Nasdaq as of April 25, 2023. |
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On November 16, 2021, simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated a private placement for an aggregate of 205,000 units (the “Private Units”), at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, generating total proceeds of $2,050,000. On November 18, 2021, simultaneously with the sale of the over-allotment units in the IPO, the Company consummated the private sale of an additional 18,000 Private Units to the Sponsor. If the Company does not consummate the Business Combination by May 16, 2023, or as otherwise set forth in the Charter, Mountain Crest will be required to dissolve and liquidate. In such event, the 223,000 Private Units purchased by the Sponsor for a total purchase price of $2,230,000, will be worthless. Such Private Units had an aggregate market value of approximately $2.3 million based on the closing price of the Company’s public unit of $10.23 on Nasdaq as of April 25, 2023. |
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The
exercise of the Company’s directors’ and officers’ discretion in agreeing to changes or waivers in the terms
of the Business Combination may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether such changes or waivers are appropriate
and in the Company’s stockholders’ best interests. |
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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 shareholders rather than liquidate. |
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Only
if the proposed Business Combination is completed by May 16, 2023, Mountain Crest’s officers and directors, the Sponsor
and its affiliates will be reimbursed for any reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on
Mountain Crest’s behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business
combinations (including the Business Combination). As of April 25, 2023, an aggregate of $0 had been incurred or accrued in
respect of such expense reimbursement obligation. |
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Unless
the Stock Escrow Agreement is terminated, 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; |
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In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, Mountain Crest’s insiders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan Mountain Crest funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. If Mountain Crest completes a Business Combination, Mountain Crest may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, Mountain Crest may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from Mountain Crest’s Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units, at a price of $10.00 per Unit, at the option of the lender. These private units would be identical to the Private Units. As of April 25, 2023, the Sponsor loaned to Mountain Crest an aggregate of $0, excluding the interest-free extension loan of $300,000. |
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If an initial business combination is not completed, the Sponsor will lose an aggregate of approximately $20.4 million, comprised of the following: |
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approximately $17.8 million (based on the closing price of $10.35 per share of Mountain Crest Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market as of April 25, 2023) of the 1,717,800 Founder Shares it holds; |
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approximately $2.3 million (based on the closing price of $10.23 per public unit on the Nasdaq Stock Market as of April 25, 2023) of the 223,000 Private Units it holds; |
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repayment of an interest-free extension loan of $300,000, which will be forgiven, except to the extent of any funds held outside of the Trust Account, by the Sponsor or its affiliates if Mountain Crest is unable to consummate an initial business combination during the Combination Period. |
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At
the special meeting of stockholders held on December 20, 2022, Mountain Crest’s stockholders approved the First
Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, giving Mountain Crest the right to extend the Combination Period
for a period of 3 months from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 and to the extent Mountain Crest’s Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is amended to extend the Combination Period, by depositing into the Trust Account
$300,000, upon five days’ advance notice prior to February 16, 2023. We refer to the amendments to the certificate
of incorporation and to the Trust Agreement collectively as the “Extension Amendments.” As a result of
the Extension Amendments, public stockholders forfeited their right to receive $690,000 under the original trust agreement
entered into in connection with Mountain Crest’s IPO, when Mountain Crest extended the Combination Period for three
months, but does not consummate a business combination by May 16, 2023. |
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As
a result of the Extension Amendments, Mountain Crest has extended the Combination Period to May 16, 2023, by depositing
$300,000 into the Trust Account for the benefit of the public stockholders for the extension. The additional amount added
to the Trust Account was reduced from what was included in Mountain Crest’s IPO prospectus, which was $0.10 per share
to approximately $0.05 per share. |
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As
a result of the Extension Amendments, the Sponsor has contributed to Mountain Crest $300,000 in an interest-free loan for
the extension of the Combination Period. If the Extension Amendments were not adopted, the Sponsor would be expected to deposit
into the Trust Account $690,000 in an interest-free loan. Since both loans will become payable only after Closing of the Business
Combination, the Sponsor will lose repayment of the $300,000 loan if the Business Combination is not completed after the extension.
No funds from the Trust Account would be used to repay such loan in the event of Mountain Crest’s liquidation. |
Additionally,
if the Second Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Second Extension Amendment is 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 May 16, 2023 (or February 16,
2024 if the Second Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the shareholders and the Company extends the 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.
Mountain
Crest may be subject to the Excise Tax included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in connection with redemptions of Mountain
Crest Common Stock after December 31, 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 Mountain Crest is a Delaware corporation and because its securities trade
on Nasdaq, Mountain Crest is 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 Mountain Crest Common Stock after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with
an initial business combination, extension vote or otherwise, unless an exemption is available. The Excise Tax would be payable
by the Company and not by the redeeming holders. Generally, issuances of securities by Mountain Crest in connection with an initial
business combination transaction (including any PIPE transaction at the time of an initial business combination), as well as any
other issuances of securities not in connection with 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.
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 vote 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. However, because Holdco, and not Mountain Crest, will be issuing securities
in connection with the Business Combination, based on recently issued interim guidance from the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury,
such issuances will not qualify to reduce the amount of the Excise Tax. Consequently, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with
Mountain Crest less appealing to potential business combination targets. Finally, based on recently issued interim guidance from
the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury, subject to certain exceptions, the Excise Tax should not apply in the event of our
complete liquidation.
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.
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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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. |
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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 $20.1 million on April 25, 2023, the estimated per share conversion price would have been approximately $10.39 (including
interest earned through April 25, 2023, but before deducting estimated taxes payable).
In order to exercise your
conversion rights, you must:
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submit a request in writing prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time on May 10, 2023 (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
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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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal is 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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by May 16,
2023, 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
4,060,008 shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date of this Proxy Statement, 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 | |
| Suying
Liu(2) | |
| 0 | | |
| 0 | |
| Nelson
Haight | |
| 2,400 | | |
| * | |
| Todd
T. Milbourn | |
| 2,400 | | |
| * | |
| Wenhua
Zhang | |
| 2,400 | | |
| * | |
| All
directors and executive officers as a group (4 individuals) | |
| 7,200 | | |
| 0.2 | % |
| Mountain
Crest Global Holdings LLC(3) | |
| 1,940,800 | | |
| 47.8 | % |
| Owl
Creek Asset Management, L.P.(4) | |
| 225,000 | | |
| 5.5 | % |
| Polar
Asset Management Partners Inc.(5) | |
| 345,000 | | |
| 8.5 | % |
|
(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) |
On
March 28, 2023, Dr. Suying Liu resigned from his position as the managing member of the Sponsor, and as result, he no
longer has any voting and dispositive power over the shares owned by the Sponsor. |
|
(3) |
Dong
Liu has voting and dispositive power over the shares owned by the Sponsor. Dong Liu is not related to Dr. Suying Liu, the
Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. |
| (4) |
Based
on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on February 9, 2023. Owl Creek Asset Management, L.P. and Jeffrey
A. Altman (together, the “Reporting Persons”) made certain joint acquisition statement, dated February 9,
2023. 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 640 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10019. |
| (5) |
Based
on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on February 10, 2023. The address of the principal office of the
Reporting Person is 16 York Street, Suite 2900, Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 0E6. |
Risks Related to Being Deemed an Investment
Company
If we are deemed to be an investment company
for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), we would be required
to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities would be severely restricted and, as a result, we may abandon our efforts
to consummate the Initial Business Combination and liquidate the Company.
The Company could potentially be subject to the
Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act,
our activities would be severely restricted. In addition, we would be subject to burdensome compliance requirements. We do not believe
that our principal activities will subject us to regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. However, if we
are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject
to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds. As a result, unless we are able to modify our activities
so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we would expect to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination
and instead to liquidate the Company. If we are required to liquidate the Company, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits
of owning shares in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our shares and rights following
such a transaction, and our rights would expire worthless.
To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed
to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we intend to convert all of the assets held in the Trust Account
into cash prior to November 12, 2023, and hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash until the earlier of the consummation of the Initial
Business Combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the conversion of securities in the Trust Account, we would likely receive
minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive
upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
As of the date hereof, substantially all of the
assets held in the Trust Account are held in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment
Company Act. The fact that the funds in our Trust Account have been held in securities makes it more likely that we could be deemed to
be an unregistered investment company than other special purpose acquisition companies that hold their trust account funds solely in cash.
The Company’s IPO registration statement
became effective on November 12, 2021. In order to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company
(including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under
the Investment Company Act, 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. Following such conversion, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust
Account. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the Trust Account still may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any,
and certain other expenses as permitted. As a result, any decision to convert the securities held in the Trust Account and thereafter
to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash would reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption
or liquidation of the Company.
In addition, the longer that the funds in the
Trust Account are held in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities the greater the risk that we may be considered an
unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate the Company. If we are required to liquidate the Company,
our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation
in the value of our shares and warrants following such a transaction, and our warrants would expire worthless. Accordingly, we may determine,
in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the trust account at any time and instead hold all funds in the trust account in
cash, which would further reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
PROPOSAL
1: THE SECOND EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
This
is a proposal to amend (the “Second Extension Amendment”) the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate
a business combination from May 16, 2023 to February 16, 2024 (the “Extended Date”). We refer
to this proposal as the “Second Extension Amendment Proposal.” All stockholders are encouraged to read
the proposed Second Extension Amendment in its entirety for a more complete description of its terms. A copy of the proposed Second
Extension Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A.
If
the Second Extension Amendment Proposal is 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 Second Extension Amendment is not approved.
Reasons
for the Proposed Second Extension Amendment
The
purpose of the Second Extension Amendment is to give the right to extend the Combination Period from May 16, 2023 to February 16,
2024 to complete a business combination.
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”). On January 27, 2023, AUM Biosciences Limited, a Cayman Islands
exempted company (“Holdco”), AUM Biosciences Subsidiary Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares
incorporated in Singapore, with company registration number 202238778Z (“Amalgamation Sub”) and AUM Biosciences Delaware
Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub” and, together with Holdco and Amalgamation Sub,
each, individually, an “Acquisition Entity” and, collectively, the “Acquisition
Entities”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (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 (the “Closing”) was February 15,
2023 (the “Outside Date”). On February 10, 2023, AUM, Mountain Crest, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub and
Merger Sub signed an amendment to Business Combination Agreement to extend the Outside Date from February 15, 2023 to
May 15, 2023. On March 30, 2023, AUM, Mountain Crest, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub and Merger Sub signed an amendment No. 2 to
Business Combination Agreement to consent to the termination of the Stock Escrow Agreement, eliminate Mountain Crest’s right
to designate a director of the Holdco Board, remove the Closing condition that Mountain Crest shall have net tangible assets of at
least $5,000,001 on its pro forma consolidated balance sheet after giving effect to the Closing, and update the Company Interests
issued and paid-up as of the Amalgamation Effective Time from 8,779,752 AUM ordinary shares to 9,841,118 AUM ordinary shares. On
April 19, 2023, AUM, Mountain Crest, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub and Merger Sub signed an amendment No. 3 to Business Combination
Agreement (the “Amendment No. 3”)
to (1) amend the definition of “Fully-Diluted Company Shares” and (2) update the Company Interests issued and paid-up as
of the Amalgamation Effective Time from 9,841,118 AUM ordinary shares to 9,125,538 AUM ordinary shares. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Business
Combination Agreement.
At
the special meeting of stockholders held on December 20, 2022, Mountain Crest’s stockholders approved an amendment
to Mountain Crest’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “First Extension Amendment Proposal”)
and an amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated November 12,
2021 (the “First Trust Amendment Proposal”), giving Mountain Crest the right to extend the Combination
Period for a period of 3 months from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 and, to the extent Mountain Crest’s Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was amended, to extend the Combination Period, by depositing into the Trust Account $300,000,
upon five days’ advance notice prior to February 16, 2023.
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 SEC related to the transaction, but have determined that there
will not be sufficient time before May 15, 2023, the Outside Date, to hold a special meeting (the “Merger Meeting”)
to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of, and/or to consummate, the Business Combination. The Company’s management
believes that it can close the Business Combination before February 16, 2024 (i.e., the end of the Combination Period).
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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved.
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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved.
As of the date hereof, substantially
all of the assets held in the Trust Account are held in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under
the Investment Company Act. There is uncertainty under 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. However, the longer that the funds in the Trust Account are held in money market funds invested exclusively
in such securities, the greater the risk that we may be considered an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required
to liquidate the Company. If we are required to liquidate the Company, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning
shares in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our shares and rights following such a
transaction and our rights would expire worthless. See “Risks Related to Being Deemed an Investment Company.”
In connection with the Second
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 Second Extension 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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal is 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 Second 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). Each redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease
the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately $20.1 million of marketable securities as of April 25, 2023. 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 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
May 10, 2023). 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 April 25, 2023, there was approximately $20.1 million in the
Trust Account, and the estimated redemption price is approximately $10.39 per share, before deducting estimated taxes payable. The closing
price of the Company’s Common Stock on April 25, 2023 was $10.35. 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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate a business combination
by May 16, 2023, as 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 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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal. The approval of the Second Extension Amendment is
essential to the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the Combination Period. Therefore, our Board will abandon and
not implement the Second Extension Amendment unless our stockholders approve the Second Extension Amendment. Notwithstanding
stockholder approval of the Second Extension Amendment, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Second
Extension Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders. Our Board has fixed the close of business on April
14, 2023 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 Second 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 Second Extension Amendment Proposal.
PROPOSAL
2: 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 Second
Extension 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 May 3, 2023.
Annex
A
Second
Extension Amendment
AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION OF
MOUNTAIN
CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V
[●],
2023
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. The Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on December 20,
2022.
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 February 16, 2024 (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”) in accordance with the terms of the Investment Management Trust Agreement,
as amended, between the Corporation and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 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.”
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 |
|
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 May 12, 2023 at 1 p.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 April 26, 2023 (the “Notice”), a copy of which
has been received by the undersigned, as follows:
| |
1. |
PROPOSAL
1. SECOND EXTENSION AMENDMENT — APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED, TO EXTEND THE DATE BY WHICH THE COMPANY HAS TO CONSUMMATE A BUSINESS COMBINATION FROM MAY 16,
2023 TO FEBRUARY 16, 2024. |
For
☐ Against ☐ Abstain
☐
| |
2. |
PROPOSAL
2. 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. |
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 POSTPONEMENT(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.
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Signature
of Stockholder |
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PLEASE
PRINT NAME |
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Certificate
Number(s) |
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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)
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