PROXY
STATEMENT — DATED [●], 2023
REDWOODS
ACQUISITION CORP.
1115
Broadway, 12th Floor
New
York, NY 10010
PROXY
STATEMENT FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON [●], 2023
The
special meeting of stockholders (the “special meeting”) of Redwoods Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,”
“we,” “us” or “our”), will be held at [●], on [●],
2023. The special meeting will be held virtually, at [●]. At the special meeting, the stockholders will consider and vote upon
the following proposals:
1. |
To amend (the “Extension Amendment”)
the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (our “charter”) to allow the Company
to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination (as defined below) (the “Extension”)
from April 4, 2023 (the date that is 12 months from the closing date of the Company’s initial public offering of units (the
“IPO”)) to July 4, 2023 (the date that is 15 months from the closing date of the IPO) (the “Amended
Date”) and on a monthly basis up to five times from the Amended Date to December 4, 2023 (the date that is 20 months
from the closing date of the IPO) (the “Extended Date”) (the “Extension Amendment Proposal”).
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2. |
To amend (the “Trust Amendment”) the Investment
Management Trust Agreement, dated March 30, 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), to allow the Company to extend the date on which the
Trustee must liquidate the trust account established by the Company in connection with the IPO (the “trust account”)
if the Company has not completed its initial business combination, from April 4, 2023 (the date that is 12 months from the closing date
of the IPO) to July 4, 2023 (the date that is 15 months from the closing date of the IPO) and on a monthly basis up to five times from
the Amended Date to December 4, 2023 (the date that is 20 months from the closing date of the IPO) by depositing into the trust account
$360,000 for the initial three-month Extension and $120,000 per month for each subsequent one-month Extension (the “Trust
Amendment Proposal”). |
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3. |
A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special
meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient
votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary
to effectuate the Extension (the “Adjournment Proposal”). The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented
at the special meeting if there are not sufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
The
purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal, and, if necessary the Adjournment Proposal, is more fully
described herein. The special meeting will be a virtual meeting. You will be able to attend and participate in the special meeting online
by visiting [●]. Please see “Questions and Answers about the Special Meeting — How do I attend the special meeting?”
for more information.
The
Company’s charter provides that the Company has the right to extend the period to complete a business combination (the “Combination
Period”) two times by an additional three months each time (for a total of 18 months to complete a business combination).
In order to extend the time available for the Company to consummate a business combination without the need for a separate stockholder
vote under the charter, the Sponsor or its affiliate or designees must deposit into the trust account $1,150,000 ($0.10 per public share)
on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline. Given current market conditions, the Sponsor (as defined below) would like to pay
extension fees that are substantially less than the $1,150,000 required for each three month extension under the existing charter. The
Company expects that there will be significant redemptions at the special meeting.
The
Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment will provide the Company with additional time to complete a business combination. While we
are currently in discussions with respect to a business combination, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”)
currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before April 4, 2023 (unless the Combination Period is extended in accordance
with the terms of the existing charter) to complete an initial business combination. Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension
is necessary in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination. Therefore, our Board has determined that it is in the
best interests of our stockholders to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination to the Extended Date
in order to provide our stockholders with the opportunity to participate in the prospective investment. In the event that we enter into
a definitive agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current
Report on Form 8-K with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announcing the proposed
business combination. The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date
or dates if we determine that additional time is necessary to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there
are insufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional
time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
Each of the Company, the Sponsor or any of their respective affiliates
(the “Contributors”) have agreed that if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are
approved, they will contribute to the trust account $360,000 for the initial three-month Extension (or approximately $0.03 per share assuming
no redemptions) and $120,000 per month for each subsequent one-month Extension (or approximately $0.01 per share assuming no redemptions),
paid on a month-to-month and as-needed basis (each being referred to herein as a “Contribution”), upon five
days’ advance notice prior to the applicable deadlines, to extend the Combination Period for an additional one (1) month period
each time, up to five (5) times, until December 4, 2023. Each Contribution will be deposited in the trust account within two business
days prior to the beginning of the additional extension period (or portion thereof). If the Company extends the time to complete a business
combination to December 4, 2023, the Contributors would make aggregate Contributions in the amount of $960,000, or approximately $0.08
per share assuming no redemptions.
The
Contributors will not make any Contribution unless the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are both approved
and the Combination Period is extended. The Contribution(s) will not bear any interest. The Contributions will be lost if the Company
is unable to consummate an initial business combination except to the extent of any funds held outside of the trust account. The Company
will have the sole discretion whether to continue extending the time to complete a business combination until the Extended Date, and
if the Company determines not to continue extending for an additional period, any obligation to make additional Contributions will terminate.
If this occurs, or if the Company’s board of directors otherwise determines that the Company will not be able to consummate an
initial business combination by the Extended Date and does not wish to seek an additional Extension, the Company would wind up the Company’s
affairs and redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares in accordance with the same procedures set forth below that would be applicable
if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved.
The
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Company’s outstanding common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, held by the Company’s
public stockholders (the “public shares”), and the outstanding common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, held
by the Company’s initial stockholders (the “founder shares” and, together with the public shares, the
“common stock”), will be required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.
Approval
of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including
virtually) or by proxy at the special meeting.
Our
Board has fixed the close of business on February 27, 2023 as the record date for determining the Company’s stockholders entitled
to receive notice of and vote at the special meeting and any adjournment 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 adjournment thereof. A complete list of stockholders
of record entitled to vote at the special meeting will be available for ten days before the special meeting at the Company’s principal
executive offices for inspection by stockholders during ordinary business hours for any purpose germane to the special meeting.
In
connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, holders of public shares (“public stockholders”) may elect
to redeem their public shares for a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account
established by the Company in connection with the IPO (the “trust account”) as of two business days prior to
such approval, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes,
divided by the number of then outstanding public shares (the “Election”), regardless of whether such public
stockholders vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust
Amendment Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the holders of public shares that do not make the Election will
retain the opportunity to have their public shares redeemed in conjunction with the consummation of a business combination, subject to
any limitations set forth in our charter, as amended. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled
to have their public shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a business combination by the Extended Date.
The withdrawal of funds from the trust account in connection with the
Election will reduce the amount held in the trust account following the Election, and the amount remaining in the trust account after
such withdrawal may be only a fraction of the $[●] (including interest, but less the funds used to pay taxes) that was in the trust
account as of [●], 2023. In such event, the Company may still seek to obtain additional funds to complete a business combination,
and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all. The Company will not use
the proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon to pay any excise taxes or any other similar fees or taxes in
nature that may be imposed on the Company pursuant to any current, pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise
tax due imposed under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company.
The
Company estimates that the per share price at which the public shares may be redeemed from cash held in the trust account will be approximately
$[●] at the time of the special meeting. The closing price of the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market (the
“NASDAQ”) on [●], 2023, was $[●]. Accordingly, if the market price were to remain the same until
the date of the special meeting, exercising redemption rights would result in a public stockholder receiving approximately $[●]
more per share than if such stockholder sold the public shares in the open market. The Company cannot assure public stockholders that
they will be able to sell their public shares 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.
The
Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate,
to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will be presented to our stockholders only in the event that there
are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance
with the terms of the existing charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as
promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor,
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 interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay
taxes, 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 each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and requirements of other
applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless
in the event the Company winds up.
Redwoods
Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), has agreed that it will be liable to the
Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm)
for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering
into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $10.10 per public share or (ii) such
lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in
the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes, except as to
any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims
under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended. However, we have not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently
verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that the Sponsor’s only assets
are securities of the Company. Therefore, we cannot assure that the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations.
Under
the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties
against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. If the corporation complies with certain procedures
set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including
a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation
may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders,
any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata
share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third
anniversary of the dissolution.
However,
because the Company will not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires the Company to
adopt a plan, based on facts known to the Company at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or
claims that may be potentially brought against the Company within the subsequent ten years following our dissolution. However, because
the Company is a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations have been limited to searching for prospective
target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or
prospective target businesses.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, such approval will constitute consent for the Company
to (i) remove from the trust account an amount (the “Withdrawal Amount”) equal to the number of public
shares properly redeemed multiplied by the per share price, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of
two business days prior to such approval, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released
to the Company to pay taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares and (ii) deliver to the holders of such redeemed
public shares their portion of the Withdrawal Amount. The remainder of such funds shall remain in the trust account and be available
for use by the Company to complete a business combination on or before the Extended Date. Holders of public shares who do not redeem
their public shares now will retain their redemption rights and their ability to vote on a business combination through the Extended
Date if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved.
Our
Board has fixed the close of business on February 27, 2023 as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive notice
of and vote at the special meeting. Only record holders of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on the record date
are entitled to vote or have their votes cast at the special meeting. On the record date, there were 14,905,000 outstanding shares of
common stock entitled to vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. The Company’s warrants do not
have voting rights in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal or, if presented, the Adjournment
Proposal.
This
proxy statement contains important information about the special meeting and the proposals to be voted on at the special meeting. Please
read it carefully and vote your shares.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
proxy statement contains statements that are forward-looking and as such are not historical facts. This includes, without limitation,
statements regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future
operations, including as they relate to a business combination. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking
statements, and are not guarantees of performance. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors
that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly
to historical or current facts. When used in this proxy statement, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,”
“could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,”
“possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “strive,”
“would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that
a statement is not forward-looking. When the Company discusses its strategies or plans, including as they relate to a business combination,
it is making projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the beliefs of, as well as assumptions
made by and information currently available to, the Company’s management. Actual results and stockholders’ value will be
affected by a variety of risks and factors, including, without limitation, international, national and local economic conditions, merger,
acquisition and business combination risks, financing risks, geo-political risks, acts of terror or war, and those risk factors described
under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2022,
in this proxy statement and in other reports the Company files with the SEC. Many of the risks and factors that will determine these
results and stockholders’ value are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict.
All
such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this proxy statement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or
undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in
the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement
is based. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on the Company’s behalf
are qualified in their entirety by this “Forward-Looking Statements” section.
RISK
FACTORS
You
should consider carefully all of the risks described in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2022, and
in the other reports we file with the SEC before making a decision to invest in our securities. Furthermore, if any of the following
events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected or we could face liquidation.
In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties
described in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are
unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that adversely affect our business, financial
condition and operating results or result in our liquidation.
If
we were deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment
Company Act”), we may be forced to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead be required to liquidate
the Company. To avoid that result, on or shortly prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement
relating to our initial public offering, we will liquidate the securities held in the trust account and instead hold all funds in the
trust account in an interest bearing bank demand deposit account, which may earn less interest than we otherwise would have if the trust
account had remained invested in U.S. government securities or money market funds.
There is currently uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment
Company Act to a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”), including companies that do not enter into a definitive
agreement within 18 months after the effective date of the registration statement relating to their initial public offerings or that that
do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months after such date. We may not be able to enter into a definitive business
combination agreement within 18 months after the effective date of the registration statement relating to our initial public offering,
and we may not be able to complete our initial business combination within 24 months of such date and, as a result, we may in the future
be subject to a claim that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company. If we were deemed to be an investment company
for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we might be forced to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination
and instead be required to liquidate. If we are required to liquidate, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning
stock in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our stock and warrants following such a
transaction, and our warrants would expire worthless.
We
may not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company if such initial business combination is 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.
The
Sponsor is controlled by and it has substantial ties with non-U.S. persons. As a result, the Company may be considered a “foreign
person” under the regulations administered by CFIUS. If our initial business combination with a U.S. business is subject to 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 our potential initial business combination with a U.S. business 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 April 4, 2023 (or up to the Extended Date
if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved) 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. If we liquidate,
our public stockholders may only receive an amount per share that will be determined by when we liquidate and whether the Extension Amendment
Proposal has been approved, and our warrants will expire worthless. 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.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING
These
Questions and Answers are only summaries of the matters they discuss. They do not contain all of the information that may be important
to you. You should read carefully the entire document, including the annexes to this proxy statement.
Why
am I receiving this proxy statement?
This
proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card are being sent to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board for use
at the special meeting, or at any adjournments thereof. This proxy statement summarizes the information that you need to make an informed
decision on the proposals to be considered at the special meeting.
The
Company is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on March 16, 2021 formed for the purpose of effecting a merger,
share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On April
4, 2022, the Company consummated the IPO of 10,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit (the “Public
Units’), generating gross proceeds of $100,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company sold to the
Sponsor and Chardan Capital Markets LLC (“Chardan”), in a private placement, 377,500 units and 100,000 units,
respectively, at $10.00 per unit (the “Private Units”), generating total gross proceeds of $4,775,000,
which is described in Note 5.
The
Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional Public Units to cover over-allotments,
if any. On April 7, 2022, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in full and purchased 1,500,000 Public Units
at a price of $10.00 per Public Unit, generating gross proceeds of $15,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the over-allotment
option, the Company consummated the sale of an additional aggregate of 52,500 Private Units with the Sponsor and Chardan at
a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, generating total proceeds of $525,000.
Following
the closing of the IPO on April 4, 2022, an amount of $116,150,000 ($10.10 per unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the units in
the IPO and the sale of the Private Units was placed in the trust account. The trust account was invested in U.S. government securities,
within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money
market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government
treasury obligations, until the earliest of: (a) the completion of the Company’s initial business combination, (b) the
redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s charter (i) to
modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination
or to redeem 100% of our public shares if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within 12 months (or up to 18
months if the Combination Period is extended in accordance with the existing charter) from the closing of the IPO or (ii) with respect
to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption
of the Company’s public shares if the Company is unable to complete the initial business combination within the Combination Period
(as defined below). Like most blank check companies, our charter provides for the return of the IPO proceeds held in the trust account
to the holders of shares of common stock sold in the IPO if there is no qualifying business combination consummated on or before a certain
date (the “Combination Period”). In our case such certain date is April 4, 2023 (unless the Combination Period
is extended in accordance with the terms of the existing charter). Our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company
to amend the Company’s charter to allow the Company to extend the date to consummate a business combination from April 4, 2023
to July 4, 2023 and on a monthly basis up to five times from the Amended Date to December 4, 2023 in order to allow the Company more
time to complete a business combination. Therefore, our Board is submitting the proposals described in this proxy statement for the stockholders
to vote upon.
What
is being voted on?
You
are being asked to vote on each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment
Proposal. The proposals are listed below:
1. |
Extension Amendment Proposal: To amend our charter
to allow the Company to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination from April 4, 2023 (the date
that is 12 months from the closing date of the IPO) to July 4, 2023 (the date that is 15 months from the closing date of the IPO)
and on a monthly basis up to five times from the Amended Date to December 4, 2023 (the date that is 20 months from the closing date
of the IPO). |
2. |
Trust Amendment Proposal: To amend the Trust
Agreement to extend the liquidation date from April 4, 2023 to July 4, 2023 and on a monthly basis up to five times from the Amended
Date to December 4, 2023. |
|
|
3. |
Adjournment Proposal: A proposal to approve
the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies
in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if
we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the
special meeting if there are not sufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
What
are the purposes of the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment?
The
Company’s charter provides that the Company has the right to extend the period to complete a business combination two times by
an additional three months each time (for a total of 18 months to complete a business combination). In order to extend the time available
for the Company to consummate a business combination without the need for a separate stockholder vote under the charter, the Sponsor
or its affiliate or designees must deposit into the Trust Account $1,150,000 ($0.10 per public share) on or prior to the date of the
applicable deadline. Given current market conditions, the Sponsor would like to pay extension fees that are substantially less than the
$1,150,000 required for each three month extension under the existing charter. The Company expects that there will be significant redemptions
at the special meeting.
The
Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment will provide the Company with additional time to complete a business combination. While we
are currently in discussions with respect to a business combination, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time
within the Combination Period to complete an initial business combination. Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension is necessary
in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination. Therefore, our Board has determined that it is in the best interests
of our stockholders to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination to the Extended Date in order to provide
our stockholders with the opportunity to participate in the prospective investment. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement
for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K
with the SEC announcing the proposed business combination.
The
purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates if we determine that
additional time is necessary to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate
the Extension.
Approval
of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.
If
the Extension is implemented, such approval will constitute consent for the Company to remove the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account,
deliver to the holders of redeemed public shares their portion of the Withdrawal Amount and retain the remainder of the funds in the
trust account for the Company’s use in connection with consummating a business combination on or before the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
are approved and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account in connection with the Election
will reduce the amount held in the trust account following the Election. The Company cannot predict the amount that will remain in the
trust account after such withdrawal if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the amount remaining
in the trust account may be only a fraction of the $[●] (including interest but less the funds used to pay taxes) that was in the
trust account as of [●], 2023. In such event, the Company may still seek to obtain additional funds to complete a business combination,
and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all. The Company will not use
the proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon to pay any excise taxes or any other similar fees or taxes in
nature that may be imposed on the Company pursuant to any current, pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise
tax due imposed under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance
with the terms of the existing charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as
promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor,
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 interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay
taxes, 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 each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and requirements of other
applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless
if we fail to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period.
The
Adjournment Proposal will be presented at the special meeting only if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
Why
is the Company proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal?
The
Company’s charter provides that the Company has the right to extend the period to complete a business combination two times by
an additional three months each time (for a total of 18 months to complete a business combination). In order to extend the time available
for the Company to consummate a business combination without the need for a separate stockholder vote under the charter, the Sponsor
or its affiliate or designees must deposit into the Trust Account $1,150,000 ($0.10 per public share) on or prior to the date of the
applicable deadline. Given current market conditions, the Sponsor would like to pay extension fees that are substantially less than the
$1,150,000 required for each three month extension under the existing charter. The Company expects that there will be significant redemptions
at the special meeting.
The
Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment will provide the Company with additional time to complete a business combination, which our
Board believes is in the best interest of our stockholders. The Company believes that given the Company’s expenditure of time,
effort and money on searching for potential business combination opportunities, including the fact that we are in active discussions
regarding a business combination, circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider an initial business
combination. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting,
we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC announcing the proposed business combination. The purpose
of the Adjournment Proposal is to allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates if we determine that additional
time is necessary to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
Accordingly, our Board is proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment
Proposal to extend the Company’s corporate existence until the Extended Date.
You
are not being asked to vote on any proposed business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to
redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote on any proposed business combination when and if one is submitted to
the public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider a business combination) and
the right to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the trust account in the event a proposed business combination is approved
and completed or the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
Why
should I vote for the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal?
Our
Board believes stockholders will benefit from the Company consummating a business combination and is proposing the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal to extend the date by which the Company must complete a business combination until the Extended
Date. The Extension would give the Company the opportunity to complete a business combination, which our Board believes in the best interests
of the stockholders.
Our
charter provides that if our stockholders approve an amendment to our charter that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s
obligation to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if the Company does not complete a business combination within the Combination
Period, the Company will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock
upon such approval at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two
business days prior to such approval, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to
the Company to pay taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. This charter provision was included to protect the
Company’s stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to find a
suitable business combination in the timeframe contemplated by the charter. The Company also believes, however, that given the Company’s
expenditure of time, effort and money on pursuing a business combination, including the fact that we are in active discussions regarding
a business combination, circumstances warrant providing those who believe they might find a business combination to be an attractive
investment with an opportunity to consider such transaction.
The
Trust Agreement provides that if a business combination has not been consummated, upon the date which is 12 months (or up to 18 months
if the Combination Period is extended in accordance with the terms of the existing charter) after the closing of the IPO, the trust account
is to be liquidated and its proceeds are to be distributed to the Company’s public stockholders of record as of such date, including
interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes. The purpose of the
Trust Amendment is to amend the Trust Agreement to extend the liquidation date of the trust account from April 4, 2023 to July 4, 2023
and on a monthly basis up to five times from the Amended Date to December 4, 2023 to match the Company’s charter if the Extension
Amendment is approved.
Our
Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal but expresses no opinion
as to whether you should redeem your public shares.
Why
should I vote for the Adjournment Proposal?
If
the Adjournment Proposal is presented and not approved by our stockholders, our Board may not be able to adjourn the special meeting
to a later date in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Our
Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Adjournment Proposal.
When
would the Board abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal?
Our
Board will abandon the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment if our stockholders do not approve the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal. In addition, notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board will
retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders.
How
do the Company insiders intend to vote their shares?
The
Company’s initial stockholders (the “initial stockholders”) and their respective affiliates are expected
to vote any common stock over which they have voting control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of all proposals.
The
initial stockholders are not entitled to redeem the founder shares or any public shares held by them. On the record date, the initial
stockholders beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 2,875,000 founder shares, which represents 20% of the Company’s issued
and outstanding common stock, and 519,005 shares of common stock underlying the Private Units.
In
addition, the Company’s initial stockholders or advisors, or any of their respective affiliates, may purchase public shares in
privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to or following the special meeting, although they are under no obligation
to do so. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase
in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and NASDAQ rules. The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions
would be to increase the likelihood that the proposals to be voted upon at the special meeting is approved by the requisite number of
votes and to reduce the number of public shares that are redeemed. In the event that such purchases do occur, the purchasers may seek
to purchase shares from stockholders who would otherwise have voted against the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal
and elected to redeem their shares for a portion of the trust account. Any public shares held by or subsequently purchased by our affiliates
may be voted in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal. None of the initial stockholders, advisors or
their respective affiliates may make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed
to the seller or during a restricted period under Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”).
Does
the Board recommend voting for the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the
Adjournment Proposal?
Yes.
After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of the proposals, the Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal,
the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
The Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal
and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal.
What
vote is required to adopt the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal?
Approval
of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority
of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, on the record
date.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, any holder of public shares may redeem all or a portion of
their public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two
business days prior to such approval, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to
the Company to pay taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
What
vote is required to adopt the Adjournment Proposal?
If
presented, the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person
(including virtually) or by proxy at the special meeting.
What
happens if I sell my public shares or units before the special meeting?
The
February 27, 2023 record date is earlier than the date of the special meeting. If you transfer your public shares, including those shares
held as a constituent part of our units, after the record date, but before the special meeting, unless the transferee obtains from you
a proxy to vote those shares, you will retain your right to vote at the special meeting. If you transfer your public shares prior to
the record date, you will have no right to vote those shares at the special meeting. If you acquired your public shares after the record
date, you will still have an opportunity to redeem them if you so decide.
What
if I don’t want to vote for the Extension Amendment Proposal and/or the Trust Amendment Proposal?
If
you do not want the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal to be approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote
against the proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, and the Extension is implemented,
then the Withdrawal Amount will be withdrawn from the trust account and paid to the redeeming holders.
What
if I don’t want to vote for the Adjournment Proposal?
If
you do not want the Adjournment Proposal to be approved, you must vote against the proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection
with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Adjournment
Proposal.
Will
you seek any further extensions to liquidate the trust account?
Other
than the extension until the Extended Date as described in this proxy statement, the Company does not currently anticipate seeking any
further extension to consummate its initial business combination, although it may determine to do so in the future.
What
happens if the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved?
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance
with the terms of the existing charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as
promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor,
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 interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay
taxes, 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 each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and requirements of other
applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless
if we fail to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, what happens next?
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Company will continue to attempt to consummate an
initial business combination until the Extended Date.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will file an amendment to the charter with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware in the form of Annex A hereto. The Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units,
public shares, and public warrants will remain publicly traded. The Company will also execute an amendment to the Trust Agreement in
the form of Annex B hereto.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
are approved, the Contributors have agreed they will contribute to the trust account $360,000 for the initial three-month Extension and
$120,000 per month for each subsequent one-month Extension, paid on a month-to-month and as-needed basis, upon five days’ advance
notice prior to the applicable deadlines, to extend the Combination Period from April 4, 2023 to July 4, 2023 and on a monthly basis up
to five times from the Amended Date to December 4, 2023. Each Contribution will be deposited in the trust account within two business
days prior to the beginning of the additional extension period (or portion thereof). If the Company extends the time to complete a business
combination to December 4, 2023, the Contributors would make aggregate Contributions in the amount of $960,000.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account
will reduce the amount remaining in the trust account and increase the percentage interest of the Company’s common stock held by
our initial stockholders through the founder shares.
If
I do not redeem my shares now, would I still be able to vote on an initial business combination and exercise my redemption rights with
respect to an initial business combination?
Yes.
If you do not redeem your shares in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, then, assuming you are a stockholder as of the
record date for voting on a business combination, you will be able to vote on the business combination when it is submitted to stockholders.
You will also retain your right to redeem your public shares upon consummation of a business combination, subject to any limitations
set forth in the charter, as amended.
When
and where is the special meeting?
The
special meeting will be held at [●] Eastern time, on [●], 2023, in virtual format. The Company’s stockholders may attend,
vote and examine the list of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting by visiting [●] and entering the control number
found on their proxy card, voting instruction form or notice included in their proxy materials. You may also attend the special meeting
telephonically by dialing [●] (toll-free within the United States and Canada) or [●] (outside of the United States and Canada,
standard rates apply). The pin number for telephone access is [●]#, but please note that you will not be able to vote or ask questions
if you choose to participate telephonically. The special meeting will be held in virtual meeting format only. You will not be able to
attend the special meeting physically.
How
do I attend the virtual special meeting, and will I be able to ask questions?
If
you are a registered stockholder, you received a proxy card from the Company’s transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company (“transfer agent”). The form contains instructions on how to attend the virtual annual meeting including the
URL address, along with your control number. You will need your control number for access. If you do not have your control number, contact
the transfer agent at the phone number or e-mail address below. The transfer agent support contact information is as follows: [●],
or email [●].
You
can pre-register to attend the virtual meeting starting [●], 2023 at [●] Eastern time. Enter the following URL address into
your browser: [●], enter your control number, name and email address. Once you pre-register you can vote or enter questions in
the chat box. At the start of the special meeting you will need to re-log in using your control number and will also be prompted to enter
your control number if you vote during the special meeting.
Beneficial
holders, who own their investments through a bank or broker, will need to contact the transfer agent to receive a control number. If
you plan to vote at the special meeting you will need to have a legal proxy from your bank or broker or if you would like to join and
not vote, the transfer agent will issue you a guest control number with proof of ownership. Either way you must contact the transfer
agent for specific instructions on how to receive the control number. We can be contacted at the number or email address above. Please
allow up to 72 hours prior to the special meeting for processing your control number.
If
you do not have internet capabilities, you can listen only to the special meeting by dialing [●], within the U.S. and Canada, or
[●] (standard rates apply) outside the U.S. and Canada; when prompted enter the pin number [●]#. This is listen only, you
will not be able to vote or enter questions during the special meeting.
How
do I vote?
If
you are a holder of record of Company common stock, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, you may vote virtually
at the special meeting or by submitting a proxy for the special meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting virtually,
the Company urges you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning
the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope. You may still attend the special meeting and vote virtually
if you have already voted by proxy.
If
your shares of Company common stock, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, are held in “street name”
by a broker or other agent, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are
also invited to attend the special meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares virtually
at the special meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.
How
do I change my vote?
If
you have submitted a proxy to vote your shares and wish to change your vote, you may do so by delivering a later-dated, signed proxy
card prior to the date of the special meeting or by voting virtually at the special meeting. Attendance at the special meeting alone
will not change your vote. You also may revoke your proxy by sending a notice of revocation to the Company at 1115 Broadway, 12th Floor,
New York, NY 10010, Attn: Corporate Secretary.
How
are votes counted?
Votes
will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the special meeting, who will separately count “FOR” and “AGAINST”
votes, abstentions and broker non-votes. Because approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal requires
the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least a majority of the public shares and founder shares outstanding on the record
date, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as votes against the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal.
Approval
of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including
virtually) or by proxy. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but
will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal.
If
my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker automatically vote them for me?
No.
Under the rules governing banks and brokers who submit a proxy card with respect to shares held in street name, such banks and brokers
have the discretion to vote on routine matters, but not on non-routine matters. It is expected that all proposals to be voted on at the
special meeting will be treated as “non-routine” matters and therefore, we do not expect there to be any broker non-votes
at the special meeting.
Your
bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker
to vote your shares in accordance with directions you provide. If your shares are held by your broker as your nominee, which we refer
to as being held in “street name”, you may need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow
the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares.
What
is a quorum requirement?
A
quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if at least a majority of the outstanding shares
of common stock on the record date, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, are represented virtually or by proxy
at the special meeting.
Your
shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or
other nominee) or if you vote virtually at the special meeting. Because all of the proposals to be voted on at the special meeting are
expected to be treated as “non-routine” matters, banks, brokers and other nominees will not have authority to vote on any
proposals unless instructed, so we do not expect there to be any broker non-votes at the special meeting. If there is no quorum, the
presiding officer of the special meeting may adjourn the special meeting to another date.
Who
can vote at the special meeting?
Only
holders of record of the Company’s common stock, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, at the close of
business on February 27, 2023, are entitled to have their vote counted at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
As of the record date, there were 14,905,000 outstanding shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.
Stockholder
of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the record date your shares or units were registered directly in your name with
the Company’s transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder
of record, you may vote virtually at the special meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting virtually,
the Company urges you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card to ensure your vote is counted.
Beneficial
Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank. If on the record date your shares or units were held, not in your name,
but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares
held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. As a beneficial owner, you
have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the special
meeting virtually. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares virtually at the special meeting
unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.
What
interests do the Company’s directors and executive officers have in the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal?
The
Company’s directors and executive officers have interests in the Extension Amendment Proposal that may be different from, or in
addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include ownership by them or their affiliates of founder shares and the
Private Units, loans by them that will not be repaid in the event of our winding up and the possibility of future compensatory arrangements.
See the section entitled “The Extension Amendment — Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers.”
What
if I object to the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and/or the Adjournment Proposal? Do I have appraisal rights?
Stockholders
do not have appraisal rights in connection with either the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal or, if presented,
the Adjournment Proposal under the DGCL.
What
happens to the Company’s warrants if the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved?
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance
with the terms of the existing charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as
promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor,
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 interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay
taxes, 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 each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors
and requirements of other applicable law. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants, which will
expire worthless in the event the Company winds up.
What
happens to the Company warrants if the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved?
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Company will continue its efforts to consummate a
business combination until the Extended Date and will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to it. The warrants
will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.
How
do I redeem my public shares?
If
the Extension is implemented, each public stockholder may seek to redeem all or a portion of his or her public shares at a per share
price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the approval
of the Extension, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay
taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. You will also be able to redeem your public shares in connection with
any stockholder vote to approve a business combination, or if the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended
Date.
Pursuant
to our charter, a public stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public stockholder’s public shares
for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only
if you:
(i) |
(a) hold public shares or (b) hold public shares
through units and you elect to separate your units into the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising your
redemption rights with respect to the public shares; and |
|
|
(ii) |
prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, on [●], 2023
(two business days prior to the scheduled vote at the special meeting), (a) submit a written request, including the name, phone number,
and address of the beneficial owner of the shares for which redemption is requested, to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, the Company’s transfer agent, at Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street, 30th Floor,
New York, New York 10004, Attn: [●], that the Company redeem your public shares for cash and (b) deliver your public shares
to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). |
Holders
of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to
the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that
they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its
own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public stockholders may elect to redeem all
or a portion of their public shares regardless of whether they vote for or against the Extension Amendment Proposal and regardless of
whether they hold public shares on the record date.
If
you hold your shares through a bank or broker, you must ensure your bank or broker complies with the requirements identified herein,
including submitting a written request that your shares be redeemed for cash to the transfer agent and delivering your shares to the
transfer agent prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on [●], 2023 (two business days before the scheduled vote at the special meeting).
You will only be entitled to receive cash in connection with a redemption of these shares if you continue to hold them until the effective
date of the Extension Amendment and Election.
Through
DTC’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian) System, this electronic delivery process can be accomplished by the stockholder, whether
or not it is a record holder or its shares are held in “street name,” by contacting the transfer agent or its broker and
requesting delivery of its shares through the DWAC system.
Delivering
shares physically may take significantly longer. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a stockholder’s broker and/or
clearing broker, DTC, and the Company’s transfer agent will need to act together to facilitate this request. There is a nominal
cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC
system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $100 and the broker would determine whether or not to pass this
cost on to the redeeming holder. It is the Company’s understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks
to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. The Company does not have any control over this process or over the brokers
or DTC, and it may take longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. Such stockholders will have less time to make their
investment decision than those stockholders that deliver their shares through the DWAC system. Stockholders who request physical stock
certificates and wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for tendering their shares before exercising their redemption rights
and thus will be unable to redeem their shares.
Certificates
that have not been tendered in accordance with these procedures prior to the vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal will not be redeemed
for cash held in the trust account. In the event that a public stockholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the vote at the special
meeting that it does not want to redeem its shares, the stockholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption
to our transfer agent and decide prior to the vote at the special meeting not to redeem your public shares, 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 address
listed above. In the event that a public stockholder tenders shares and the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved, these shares
will not be redeemed and the physical certificates representing these shares will be returned to the stockholder promptly following the
determination that the Extension Amendment Proposal will not be approved. The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders
shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Extension would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares
soon after the completion of the Extension Amendment. The transfer agent will hold the certificates of public stockholders that make
the election until such shares are redeemed for cash or returned to such stockholders.
If
I am a unit holder, can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my units?
No.
Holders of outstanding units must separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption 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, our transfer agent, with written instructions to separate such units into public shares, and public warrants. 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
redemption rights upon the separation of the public shares from the units. See “How do I redeem my public shares?”
above.
What
should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?
You
may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting
instruction cards, if your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. For example, if you hold
your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which
you hold shares. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast
a vote with respect to all of your shares of common stock.
Who
is paying for this proxy solicitation?
The
Company will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. The Company has engaged Morrow Sodali LLC (“Morrow Sodali”)
to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the special meeting. The Company has agreed to pay Morrow Sodali a fee of $[●]. The
Company will also reimburse Morrow Sodali for reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials,
our directors and executive 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. The Company may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other
agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
Where
do I find the voting results of the special meeting?
We
will announce preliminary voting results at the special meeting. The final voting results will be tallied by the inspector of election
and published in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company is required to file with the SEC within four business
days following the special meeting.
Who
can help answer my questions?
If
you have questions about the proposals or if you need additional copies of the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card you should
contact:
Redwoods
Acquisition Corp.
1115
Broadway, 12th Floor
New
York, NY 10010
Attn:
[●]
Email:
[●]
You
may also contact the Company’s proxy solicitor at:
Morrow
Sodali LLC
333
Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford,
CT 06902
Tel:
(800) 662-5200 (toll-free) or
(203)
658-9400 (banks and brokers can call collect)
Email:
[●]
You
may also obtain additional information about the Company from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section
entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
THE
SPECIAL MEETING
Date,
Time, Place and Purpose of the Special Meeting
The
special meeting will be held at [●], on [●], 2023. The special meeting will be held virtually, at [●]. At the special
meeting, the stockholders will consider and vote upon the following proposals.
1. |
Extension Amendment Proposal: To amend our charter
to allow the Company to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination from April 4, 2023 (the date
that is 12 months from the closing date of the IPO) to July 4, 2023 (the date that is 15 months from the closing date of the IPO)
and on a monthly basis up to five times from the Amended Date to December 4, 2023 (the date that is 20 months from the closing date
of the IPO). |
|
|
2. |
Trust Amendment Proposal: To amend the Trust
Agreement to extend the liquidation date from April 4, 2023 (the date that is 12 months from the closing date of the IPO) to July
4, 2023 (the date that is 15 months from the closing date of the IPO) and on a monthly basis up to five times from the Amended Date
to December 4, 2023 (the date that is 20 months from the closing date of the IPO) . |
|
|
3. |
Adjournment Proposal: A proposal to approve
the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies
in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if
we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the
special meeting if there are not sufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
Voting
Power; Record Date
You
will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the special meeting if you owned our common stock, including as a constituent
part of a unit, at the close of business on February 27, 2023, the record date for the special meeting. You will have one vote per share
for each share of common stock you owned at that time. Our warrants do not carry voting rights.
At
the close of business on the record date, there were 14,905,000 shares of common stock outstanding, each of which entitles its holder
to cast one vote per share. The warrants do not carry voting rights.
Votes
Required
Approval
of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority
of the Company’s public shares and founder shares outstanding on the record date.
Approval
of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including
virtually) or by proxy at the special meeting.
If
you do not vote (i.e., you “abstain” from voting), your action will have the same effect as an “AGAINST” vote
with regards to the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the
determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal.
If
you do not want the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal to be approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote
against the proposal. The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote
to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of
the Extension Amendment.
If
you do not want the Adjournment Proposal to be approved, you must vote against the proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection
with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal.
Voting
You
can vote your shares at the special meeting by proxy or virtually.
You
can vote by proxy by having one or more individuals who will be at the special meeting vote your shares for you. These individuals are
called “proxies” and using them to cast your vote at the special meeting is called voting “by proxy.”
If
you wish to vote by proxy, you must (i) complete the enclosed form, called a “proxy card,” and mail it in the envelope
provided or (ii) submit your proxy by telephone or over the Internet (if those options are available to you) in accordance with
the instructions on the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card.
If
you complete the proxy card and mail it in the envelope provided or submit your proxy by telephone or over the Internet as described
above, you will designate Jiande Chen to act as your proxy at the special meeting. One of them will then vote your shares at the special
meeting in accordance with the instructions you have given them in the proxy card or voting instructions, as applicable, with respect
to the proposals presented in this proxy statement. Proxies will extend to, and be voted at, any adjournment(s) of the special meeting.
Alternatively,
you can vote your shares in person by attending the special meeting virtually.
A
special note for those who plan to attend the special meeting and vote virtually: if your shares or units are held in the name of a broker,
bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions you receive from your broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares. You will
not be able to vote at the special meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from the record holder of your shares.
Our
Board is asking for your proxy. Giving our Board your proxy means you authorize it to vote your shares at the special meeting in the
manner you direct. You may vote for or against any proposal or you may abstain from voting. All valid proxies received prior to the special
meeting will be voted. All shares represented by a proxy will be voted, and where a stockholder specifies by means of the proxy a choice
with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with the specification so made. If no choice is indicated
on the proxy, the shares will be voted “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented,
the Adjournment Proposal, and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters that may properly
come before the special meeting.
Stockholders
who have questions or need assistance in completing or submitting their proxy cards should contact our proxy solicitor, Morrow Sodali,
at (203) 658-9400 (call collect), (800) 662-5200 (call toll-free), or by sending an email to [●].
Stockholders
who hold their shares in “street name,” meaning the name of a broker or other nominee who is the record holder, must either
direct the record holder of their shares to vote their shares or obtain a legal proxy from the record holder to vote their shares at
the special meeting.
Revocability
of Proxies
Any
proxy may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before the polls close at the special meeting. A proxy may be revoked by filing
with [●], at Redwoods Acquisition Corp., 1115 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10010, either a written notice of revocation bearing
a date later than the date of such proxy or a subsequent proxy relating to the same shares or by attending the special meeting and voting
virtually.
Simply
attending the special meeting will not constitute a revocation of your proxy. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other
nominee who is the record holder, you must follow the instructions of your broker or other nominee to revoke a previously given proxy.
Attendance
at the Special Meeting
Only
holders of common stock, their proxy holders and guests the Company may invite may attend the special meeting. If you wish to attend
the special meeting virtually but you hold your shares or units through someone else, such as a broker, please follow the instructions
you receive from your broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares. You must bring a legal proxy from the broker, bank or other
nominee holding your shares, confirming your beneficial ownership of the shares and giving you the right to vote your shares.
Solicitation
of Proxies
Your
proxy is being solicited by our Board on the proposals being presented to the stockholders at the special meeting. The Company has agreed
to pay Morrow Sodali a fee of $[●]. The Company will also reimburse Morrow Sodali for reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses.
In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and executive 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. The Company may also
reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. You may contact Morrow
Sodali at:
Morrow
Sodali LLC
333
Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford,
CT 06902
Tel:
(800) 662-5200 (toll-free) or
(203)
658-9400 (banks and brokers can call collect)
Email:
[●]
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. The Company intends 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, the Company (through our directors
and executive officers) anticipates making such solicitation directly.
No
Right of Appraisal
The
Company’s stockholders do not have appraisal rights under the DGCL in connection with the proposals to be voted on at the special
meeting. Accordingly, our stockholders have no right to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.
Other
Business
The
Company is not currently aware of any business to be acted upon at the special meeting other than the matters discussed in this proxy
statement. The form of proxy accompanying this proxy statement confers discretionary authority upon the named proxy holders with respect
to amendments or variations to the matters identified in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting and with respect to any other matters
which may properly come before the special meeting. If other matters do properly come before the special meeting, or at any adjournment(s)
of the special meeting, the Company expects that the shares of common stock represented by properly submitted proxies will be voted by
the proxy holders in accordance with the recommendations of our Board.
Principal
Executive Offices
Our
principal executive offices are located at 1115 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10010. Our telephone number at such address is (646)
916-5315.
THE
EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Background
We
are a blank check company whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We were incorporated in Delaware on March 16, 2021. On January 4, 2022,
the Company issued 2,875,000 founder shares to the Company’s initial stockholders for an aggregate consideration of $25,000, or
approximately $0.009 per share.
On
April 4, 2022, the Company consummated the IPO of 10,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit (the “Public
Units”), generating gross proceeds of $100,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company sold to the
Sponsor and Chardan Capital Markets LLC (“Chardan”), in a private placement, 377,500 units and 100,000 units,
respectively, at $10.00 per unit (the “Private Units”), generating total gross proceeds of $4,775,000,
which is described in Note 5.
The
Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional Public Units to cover over-allotments,
if any. On April 7, 2022, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option in full and purchased 1,500,000 Public Units
at a price of $10.00 per Public Unit, generating gross proceeds of $15,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the over-allotment
option, the Company consummated the sale of an additional aggregate of 52,500 Private Units with the Sponsor and Chardan at
a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, generating total proceeds of $525,000.
A
total of $116,150,000 of the net proceeds from our initial public offering and the private placement were deposited in a trust account
established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders.
The
Extension Amendment
The
Company is proposing to amend its charter to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination to the Extended
Date.
The
Company’s charter provides that the Company has the right to extend the period to complete a business combination two times by
an additional three months each time (for a total of 18 months to complete a business combination). In order to extend the time available
for the Company to consummate a business combination without the need for a separate stockholder vote under the charter, the Sponsor
or its affiliate or designees must deposit into the Trust Account $1,150,000 ($0.10 per public share) on or prior to the date of the
applicable deadline. Given current market conditions, the Sponsor would like to pay extension fees that are substantially less than the
$1,150,000 required for each three month extension under the existing charter. The Company expects that there will be significant redemptions
at the special meeting. The Extension Amendment will provide the Company with additional time to complete an initial business combination.
Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.
We
are currently in discussions with respect to a business combination. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial
business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC announcing
a proposed business combination.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance with the terms of the existing
charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible
but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 interest
earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes, 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 each
case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and requirements of other applicable law. There will be
no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete an
initial business combination within the Combination Period.
A
copy of the proposed amendment to the Company’s charter is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.
Reasons
for the Proposal
The
Company’s charter provides that the Company has the right to extend the period to complete a business combination two times by
an additional three months each time (for a total of 18 months to complete a business combination). In order to extend the time available
for the Company to consummate a business combination without the need for a separate stockholder vote under the charter, the Sponsor
or its affiliate or designees must deposit into the Trust Account $1,150,000 ($0.10 per public share) on or prior to the date of the
applicable deadline. Given current market conditions, the Sponsor would like to pay extension fees that are substantially less than the
$1,150,000 required for each three month extension under the existing charter. The Company expects that there will be significant redemptions
at the special meeting.
The
Extension Amendment will provide the Company with additional time to complete a business combination, which our Board believes is in
the best interest of our stockholders. The Company believes that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on searching
for potential business combination opportunities, including the fact that we are in active discussions regarding a business combination,
circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider an initial business combination. Accordingly, since the
Company will not be able to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period, the Company has determined to seek
stockholder approval to extend the time for closing a business combination beyond the last day of the Combination Period to the Extended
Date. The Company and its officers and directors agreed that they would not seek to amend the Company’s charter to allow for a
longer period of time to complete a business combination unless the Company provided holders of public shares with the right to seek
conversion of their public shares in connection therewith.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal is Not Approved
Stockholder
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal is required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date by which
we must consummate an initial business combination. Therefore, our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment unless
our stockholders approve the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance with the terms of the existing
charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible
but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 interest
earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes, 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 each
case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and requirements of other applicable law. There will be
no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event the Company
winds up.
The
holders of the founder shares have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to such shares. There
will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless in the event
the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved. The Company will pay the costs of liquidation from its remaining assets outside of
the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, the Sponsor has agreed to advance it the funds necessary to complete such liquidation
and has agreed not to seek repayment of such expenses.
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal is Approved
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will file an amendment to the charter with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware in the form of Annex A hereto to extend the time it has to complete a business combination until the Extended Date.
The Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units, common stock and public warrants will remain publicly
traded. The Company will then continue to work to consummate a business combination by the Extended Date.
You
are not being asked to vote on a business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your
public shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to vote on a business combination when it is submitted to the
public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider a business combination) and the
right to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the trust account in the event a business combination is approved and completed
or the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is
implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account in connection with the Election will reduce the amount held in
the trust account following the Election. The Company cannot predict the amount that will remain in the trust account after such withdrawal
if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the amount remaining in the trust account may be only a fraction of the $[●]
(including interest but less the funds used to pay taxes) that was in the trust account as of the record date. In such event, the Company
may still seek to obtain additional funds to complete a business combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available
on terms acceptable to the parties or at all. The Company will not use the proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned
thereon to pay any excise taxes or any other similar fees or taxes in nature that may be imposed on the Company pursuant to any current,
pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise tax due imposed under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on
any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company.
Redemption
Rights
If
the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, public stockholders may elect to redeem their shares
for a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior
to such approval, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay
taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote
of stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain the opportunity to have their public shares redeemed in conjunction
with the consummation of a business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter, as amended. In addition, public
stockholders who vote for the Extension Amendment Proposal and 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.
TO
EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST ENSURE YOUR BANK OR BROKER COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED HEREIN, INCLUDING SUBMITTING
A WRITTEN REQUEST THAT YOUR SHARES BE REDEEMED FOR CASH TO THE TRANSFER AGENT AND DELIVERING YOUR SHARES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT PRIOR
TO 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON [●], 2023 (TWO BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED VOTE AT THE SPECIAL MEETING). YOU WILL ONLY BE ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE CASH IN CONNECTION WITH A REDEMPTION OF THESE SHARES IF YOU CONTINUE TO HOLD THEM UNTIL THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE EXTENSION
AMENDMENT PROPOSAL AND ELECTION.
Pursuant
to our charter, a public stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public stockholder’s public shares
for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only
if you:
(i) |
(a) hold public shares or (b) hold public shares
through units and you elect to separate your units into the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising your
redemption rights with respect to the public shares; and |
|
|
(ii) |
prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, on [●], 2023
(two business days prior to the scheduled vote at the special meeting), (a) submit a written request, including the name, phone number,
and address of the beneficial owner of the shares for which redemption is requested, to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, the Company’s transfer agent, at Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street, 30th Floor,
New York, New York 10004, Attn: [●], that the Company redeem your public shares for cash and (b) deliver your public shares
to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through DTC. |
Holders
of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to
the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that
they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its
own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public stockholders may elect to redeem all
or a portion of their public shares regardless of whether they vote for or against the Extension Amendment Proposal and regardless of
whether they hold public shares on the record date.
Through
DTC’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian) System, this electronic delivery process can be accomplished by the stockholder, whether
or not it is a record holder or its shares are held in “street name,” by contacting the transfer agent or its broker and
requesting delivery of its shares through the DWAC system. Delivering shares physically may take significantly longer. In order to obtain
a physical stock certificate, a stockholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC, and the Company’s transfer agent will need
to act together to facilitate this request. There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act
of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker
$100 and the broker would determine whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. It is the Company’s understanding
that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. The Company does
not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, and it may take longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate.
Such stockholders will have less time to make their investment decision than those stockholders that deliver their shares through the
DWAC system. Stockholders who request physical stock certificates and wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for tendering
their shares before exercising their redemption rights and thus will be unable to redeem their shares. Certificates that have not been
tendered in accordance with these procedures prior to the vote on the Extension Amendment will not be redeemed for cash held in the trust
account on the redemption date. In the event that a public stockholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the vote at the special
meeting that it does not want to redeem its shares, the stockholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption
to our transfer agent and decide prior to the vote at the special meeting not to redeem your public shares, 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 address
listed above. In the event that a public stockholder tenders shares and the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved, these shares
will not be redeemed and the physical certificates representing these shares will be returned to the stockholder promptly following the
determination that the Extension Amendment will not be approved. The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares
for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Extension would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon
after the completion of the Extension Amendment. The transfer agent will hold the certificates of public stockholders that make the election
until such shares are redeemed for cash or returned to such stockholders.
If
properly demanded, the Company will redeem each public share for a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then
on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the
Company to pay taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Based on the amount in the trust account as of [●],
2023, this would amount to approximately $[●] per share. The closing price of the public shares on the NASDAQ on [●], 2023,
was $[●]. Accordingly, if the market price were to remain the same until the date of the special meeting, exercising redemption
rights would result in a public stockholder receiving approximately $[●] more per share than if such stockholder sold the public
shares in the open market. The Company cannot assure public stockholders that they will be able to sell their public shares 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
you exercise your redemption rights, you will be exchanging your shares of the Company’s common stock for cash and will no longer
own the shares. You will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if you properly demand redemption and tender your stock certificate(s)
to the Company’s transfer agent prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on [●], 2023 (two business days before the scheduled vote
at the special meeting). The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote
to approve the Extension Amendment would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension
Amendment.
Interests
of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers
When
you consider the recommendation of our Board, you should keep in mind that the Company’s executive officers and directors, and
their affiliates, have interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include,
among other things:
● |
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved
and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance with the terms of the existing charter, the [●] founder shares (after
giving effect to the forfeiture following expiration of the unexercised underwriters’ over-allotment option) that we issued
to the Sponsor in exchange for an aggregate capital contribution of $25,000, or approximately $0.009 per share, will be worthless
(as the initial stockholders have waived liquidation rights with respect to such shares). The founder shares had an aggregate market
value of approximately $[●] based on the last sale price for the Company’s public shares of $[●] on the NASDAQ
on [●], 2023; |
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● |
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved
and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance with the terms of the existing charter, the 530,000 Private Units purchased
by the Sponsor and Chardan for an aggregate investment of $5,300,000, or $10.00 per Private Unit, will be worthless. The Private
Units had an aggregate market value (assuming they have the same value per unit as the Public Units) of $[●] based on the last
sale price for the public warrants of $[●] on the NASDAQ on [●], 2023; |
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● |
Even if the trading price of our common stock was as
low as $[●] per share, the aggregate market value of the Sponsor’s founder shares alone (without taking into account
the value of the Private Units) would be approximately equal to the initial investment in the Company by the Sponsor. As a result,
if an initial business combination is completed, the initial stockholders are likely to be able to make a substantial profit on their
investment in us even at a time when the common stock has lost significant value. On the other hand, if the Extension Amendment Proposal
is not approved (and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance with the terms of the existing charter) and the Company
liquidates without completing its initial business combination before April 4, 2023, the initial stockholders will lose their entire
investment in us; |
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● |
The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us,
if and to the extent any claims by a third-party (other than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) for
services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction
agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below: (i) $10.10 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount
per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value
of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes, except as to any claims
by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under
the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended; |
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All rights specified in the charter relating to the
right of officers and directors to be indemnified by the Company, and of the Company’s executive officers and directors to
be exculpated from monetary liability with respect to prior acts or omissions, will continue after a business combination. If a business
combination is not approved and the Company liquidates, the Company will not be able to perform its obligations to its officers and
directors under those provisions; |
● |
All of the current members of our Board are expected
to continue to serve as directors at least through the date of the special meeting to approve a business combination and some may
continue to serve following a business combination and receive compensation thereafter; and |
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● |
The
Company’s executive officers and directors, and their affiliates are entitled to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by them in connection with certain activities on the Company’s behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business
targets and business combinations. However, if the Company fails to obtain the Extension and consummate a business combination, they
will not have any claim against the trust account for reimbursement. Accordingly, the Company will most likely not be able to reimburse
these expenses if a business combination is not completed. As of the date of this proxy statement, there are no outstanding out-of-pocket
expenses for which the Company’s executive officers or directors, or their respective affiliates are awaiting reimbursement. |
Additionally,
if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and we consummate an initial business combination, the Sponsor, officers and directors
may have additional interests as will be described in the proxy statement for the business combination.
Required
Vote
The
affirmative vote by holders of at least a majority of the Company’s outstanding common stock is required to approve the Extension
Amendment. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Combination Period is not extended in accordance with the terms
of the existing charter, the Extension Amendment will not be implemented and the Company will be required by its charter to (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, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 interest earned on the funds held in the
trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes, 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 each case to our obligations under Delaware
law to provide for claims of creditors and requirements of other applicable law.
All
of the Company’s initial stockholders are expected to vote any common stock owned by them in favor of the Extension Amendment.
On the record date, the initial stockholders beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 2,875,000 founder shares, representing 20%
of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock, and 519,005 shares of common stock underlying the Private Units.
In
addition, the Company’s initial stockholders or advisors, or any of their respective affiliates, may purchase public shares in
privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to or following the special meeting, although they are under no obligation
to do so. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase
in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and NASDAQ rules. The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions
would be to increase the likelihood that the proposals to be voted upon at the special meeting is approved by the requisite number of
votes and to reduce the number of public shares that are redeemed. In the event that such purchases do occur, the purchasers may seek
to purchase shares from stockholders who would otherwise have voted against the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal
and elected to redeem their shares for a portion of the trust account. Any public shares held by or subsequently purchased by our affiliates
may be voted in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal. None of the initial stockholders, advisors or
their respective affiliates may make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed
to the seller or during a restricted period under Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
Recommendation
As
discussed above, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal
is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable adoption of the Extension
Amendment Proposal.
OUR
BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL. OUR BOARD EXPRESSES NO OPINION AS TO WHETHER YOU SHOULD
REDEEM YOUR PUBLIC SHARES.
The
existence of financial and personal interests of our directors and officers may result in a conflict of interest on the part of one or
more of the directors or officers between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that stockholders vote for
the proposals. See the section entitled “— The Extension Amendment — Interests of the Company’s Directors
and Officers” for a further discussion.
THE
TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The
Company entered into the Trust Agreement in connection with the IPO and a potential business combination.
The
Trust Amendment would amend the Trust Agreement to authorize the Extension as contemplated by the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Reasons
for the Proposal
The
purpose of the Trust Amendment Proposal is to authorize the Extension under the Trust Agreement, as the Extension is not contemplated
under the Trust Agreement’s current terms.
We
believe that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on pursuing an initial business combination, circumstances
warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider a business combination. For the Company to implement the Extension,
the Trust Agreement must be amended to authorize the Extension.
Vote
Required for Approval
The
affirmative vote by holders of at least a majority of the Company’s outstanding common stock is required to approve the Trust Amendment.
If
you do not vote, you abstain from voting or you fail to instruct your broker or other nominee as to the voting of shares you beneficially
own, your action will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Trust Amendment Proposal. If you do not want the Trust
Amendment Proposal approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote “AGAINST” the Trust Amendment Proposal.
The
Company’s initial stockholders and their respective affiliates are expected to vote any common stock over which they have voting
control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of the Trust Amendment Proposal.
The
initial stockholders are not entitled to redeem the founder shares or any public shares held by them. On the record date, the initial
stockholders beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 2,875,000 founder shares, which represents 20% of the Company’s issued
and outstanding common stock, 519,005 shares of common stock underlying the Private Units.
Recommendation
Our
Board has determined that the Trust Amendment Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved
and declared advisable adoption of the Trust Amendment Proposal.
OUR
BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.
The
existence of financial and personal interests of our directors and officers may result in a conflict of interest on the part of one or
more of the directors or officers between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that stockholders vote for
the proposals. See the section entitled “The Extension Amendment — Interests of the Company’s Directors and
Officers” for a further discussion.
THE
ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The
Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate,
to permit further solicitation of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the Extension
Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal. The Adjournment Proposal will be presented to our stockholders only in the event
that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust
Amendment Proposal.
Consequences
if the Adjournment Proposal is Not Approved
If
the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by our stockholders, our Board may not be able to adjourn the special meeting to a later date
in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal
or the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Required
Vote
The
approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the Company’s stockholders
represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the special meeting. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is otherwise established,
a stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or in person (including virtually) at the special meeting or an abstention will have no
effect on the outcome of the vote on the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether
a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal.
Recommendation
As
discussed above, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Adjournment Proposal is in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable the adoption of the Adjournment Proposal.
OUR
BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
The
existence of financial and personal interests of our directors and officers may result in a conflict of interest on the part of one or
more of the directors or officers between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that stockholders vote for
the proposals. See the section entitled “The Extension Amendment — Interests of the Company’s Directors and
Officers” for a further discussion.