OneMedNet Corp PRE 14A, filed Jul 25, 2023
OneMedNet Corp (ONMD)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
| x | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| ¨ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| ¨ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ¨ | Definitive Additional Materials |
| ¨ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12 |
DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| x | No fee required. |
| ¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ¨ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP.
Unit G6, Frome Business Park, Manor Road Frome, United Kingdom, BA11 4FN
011-44 203 833 4000
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 11, 2023
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP.:
You are cordially invited to attend the special meeting, which we refer to as the “Special Meeting,” of stockholders of Data Knights Acquisition Corp., which we refer to as “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company,” to be held at [●] Eastern Time on August 11, 2023.
The Special Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of stockholders, which will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the Special Meeting online, vote and submit your questions during the Special Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/[●]/2023. If you plan to attend the virtual online Special Meeting, you will need your 12-digit control number to vote electronically at the Special Meeting. We are pleased to utilize the virtual stockholder meeting technology to provide ready access and cost savings for our stockholders and the Company. The virtual meeting format allows attendance from any location in the world.
Even if you are planning on attending the Special Meeting online, please promptly submit your proxy vote by telephone, or, if you received a printed form of proxy in the mail, by completing, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy, so your shares will be represented at the Special Meeting. Instructions on voting your shares are on the proxy materials you received for the Special Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting online, it is strongly recommended you complete and return your proxy card before the Special Meeting date to ensure that your shares will be represented at the Special Meeting if you are unable to attend.
The accompanying proxy statement, which we refer to as the “Proxy Statement,” is dated [●], 2023, and is first being mailed to stockholders of the Company on or about [●], 2023. The sole purpose of the Special Meeting is to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
| ● | a proposal to amend the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended by the First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which we refer to as the “existing charter,” in the form set forth in Annex A to the accompanying Proxy Statement, which we refer to as the “Extension Amendment” and such proposal the “Extension Amendment Proposal,” to extend the date by which the Company must (i) consummate a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses, which we refer to as a “business combination,” (ii) cease its operations if it fails to complete such business combination, and (iii) redeem or repurchase 100% of the Company’s Class A common stock included as part of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering that closed on May 11, 2021, which we refer to as the “IPO,” from August 11, 2023 (the “Termination Date”) to May 11, 2024 in a series of up to nine (9) one-month extensions, unless the closing of the Company’s initial business combination shall have occurred, which we refer to as the “Extension,” and such later date, the “Extended Date,” provided that (i) Data Knights, LLC, the Company’s sponsor (the “Sponsor”) (or its affiliates or permitted designees), will deposit into the Trust Account the lesser of (x) $75,000 or (y) $0.045 per share for each Public Share outstanding as of the applicable Deadline Date for each such one-month extension (the “Extension Payment”) and (ii) the procedures relating to any such extension, as set forth in the Trust Agreement, shall have been complied with; |
| ● | a proposal to amend the Company’s Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2021 and as amended as of November 11, 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”), in the form set forth in Annex B, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), allowing the Company to extend the Termination Date in a series of up to nine (9) one-month extensions until May 16, 2024, such proposal the “Trust Amendment Proposal”; and |
| ● | 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 for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, which we refer to as the “Adjournment Proposal.” The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the Special Meeting if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. |
Each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
The purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow us additional time and a lower incremental and aggregate cost for each Extension to complete the proposed transaction contemplated by that certain Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), dated April 25, 2022, by and among the Company, Data Knights Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Data Knights (“Merger Sub”), OneMedNet Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“OneMedNet”), Data Knights, LLC, in its capacity as Purchaser Representative (the “Sponsor”), and Paul Casey, in his capacity as Seller Representative. For more information about the Business Combination, see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 25, 2022.
While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, our board of directors (the “Board”) believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Termination Date to complete the Business Combination without incurring significant cost to extension of the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to consummate the Business Combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Without the Extension, the Board believes that there is significant risk that we might not, despite our best efforts, be able to complete the Business Combination on or before the Termination Date. If that were to occur, we would be precluded from completing the Business Combination and would be forced to liquidate even if our stockholders are otherwise in favor of consummating the Business Combination.
If the Extension is approved and implemented, subject to satisfaction of the conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement (including, without limitation, receipt of stockholder approval of the Business Combination), we intend to complete the Business Combination as soon as possible and in any event on or before the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain their right to redeem their public shares when the Business Combination is submitted to the stockholders, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter as amended by the Extension Amendment. 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 the Business Combination by the Extended Date.
To exercise your redemption rights, you must demand that the Company redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account and tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days prior to the Special Meeting (or August 9, 2023). You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificate to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.
Based upon the current amount in the Trust Account, the Company anticipates that the per-share price at which public shares will be redeemed from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $10.88 at the time of the Special Meeting (the “Redemption Price”). The closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on July 24, 2023, was $11.05. The Company cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the Redemption Price, 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 the Board to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our stockholders in the event 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 and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by August 11, 2023, in accordance with our charter, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A common stock in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable, less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of public stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the Delaware General Corporation Law, which we refer to as the “DGCL,” to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up.
The Sponsor owns 2,830,000 Founder Shares (as defined below) that were issued to the Sponsor prior to our IPO, and 585,275 private placement units (the “Private Placement Units,”) that were purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement the closed simultaneously with the closing of the IPO. In addition, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer each own 15,000 Founder Shares, and our three independent directors each owns 5,000 Founder Shares. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are deemed to be beneficial owners of shares held by the Sponsor. As used herein, “Founder Shares” refers to all issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor and officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Units.
Subject to the foregoing, the affirmative vote of holders of at least 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, including the Founder Shares and the Class A common stock included in the Private Placement Units, will be required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. Stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment Proposal is required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date by which the Company must consummate its initial business combination. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, subject to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company’s Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting.
Our Board has fixed the close of business on July 27, 2023 as the date for determining the Company 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.
We reserve the right at any time to cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal or implement the Extension Amendment or the Trust Amendment.
You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares, provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the Business Combination, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event the Business Combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated the Business Combination by the Extended Date.
After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal are advisable and recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” such proposals.
Under the Company’s existing charter, no other business may be transacted at the Special Meeting.
Enclosed is the Proxy Statement containing detailed information concerning the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal, the Adjournment Proposal and the Special Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting, we urge you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.
| July [●], 2023 | By Order of the Board of Directors |
| /s/ Barry Anderson | |
| Barry Anderson | |
| Chief Executive Officer |
Your vote is important. If you are a stockholder of record, please sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible to make sure that your shares are represented at the Special Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may also cast your vote online at the Special Meeting. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank how to vote your shares, or you may cast your vote online at the Special Meeting by obtaining a proxy from your brokerage firm or bank. Your failure to vote or instruct your broker or bank how to vote will have the same effect as voting “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, and an abstention will have the same effect as voting “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on August 11, 2023: This notice of meeting and the accompanying Proxy Statement are available at https://www.cstproxy.com/[●]/2023.
DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP.
Unit G6, Frome Business Park, Manor Road Frome, United Kingdom, BA11 4FN
011-44 203 833 4000
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 11, 2023
PROXY STATEMENT
The special meeting, which we refer to as the “Special Meeting,” of stockholders of Data Knights Acquisition Corp., which we refer to as the “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company,” will be held at [●] Eastern Time on August 11, 2023, as a virtual meeting. You will be able to attend, vote your shares, and submit questions during the Special Meeting via a live webcast available at https://www.cstproxy.com/[●]/2023. If you plan to attend the virtual online Special Meeting, you will need your 12 digit control number to vote electronically at the Special Meeting. The Special Meeting will be held for the sole purpose of considering and voting upon the following proposals:
| ● | a proposal to amend the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended by the First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which we refer to as the “existing charter,” in the form set forth in Annex A to the accompanying Proxy Statement, which we refer to as the “Extension Amendment” and such proposal the “Extension Amendment Proposal,” to extend the date by which the Company must (i) consummate a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses, which we refer to as a “business combination,” (ii) cease its operations if it fails to complete such business combination, and (iii) redeem or repurchase 100% of the Company’s Class A common stock included as part of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering effective May 11, 2021, which we refer to as the “IPO,” from August 11, 2023 (the “Termination Date”) to May 11, 2024 in a series of up to nine (9) one-month extensions, unless the closing of the Company’s initial business combination shall have occurred, which we refer to as the “Extension,” and such later date, the “Extended Date,” provided that (i) Data Knights, LLC, the Company’s sponsor (the “Sponsor”) (or its affiliates or permitted designees), will deposit into the Trust Account the lesser of (x) $75,000 or (y) $0.045 per share for each Public Share outstanding as of the applicable Deadline Date for each such one-month extension (the “Extension Payment”) and (ii) the procedures relating to any such extension, as set forth in the Trust Agreement, shall have been complied with; |
| ● | a proposal to amend the Company’s Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2021, and as amended as of November 11, 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”), in the form set forth in Annex B, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), allowing the Company to extend the Termination Date in a series of up to nine (9) one-month extensions until May 11, 2024, such proposal the “Trust Amendment Proposal”; and |
| ● | 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 for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, which we refer to as the “Adjournment Proposal.” The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the Special Meeting if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. |
The purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow us additional time and a lower incremental and aggregate cost for each Extension to complete the proposed transaction contemplated by that certain Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), dated April 25, 2022, by and among the Company, Data Knights Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Data Knights (“Merger Sub”), OneMedNet Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“OneMedNet”), Data Knights, LLC, in its capacity as Purchaser Representative (the “Sponsor”), and Paul Casey, in his capacity as Seller Representative. For more information about the Business Combination, see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 25, 2022.
While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, our board of directors (the “Board”) believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Termination Date to complete the Business Combination without incurring significant cost to extension of the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to consummate the Business Combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Without the Extension, the Board believes that there is significant risk that we might not, despite our best efforts, be able to complete the Business Combination on or before the Termination Date. If that were to occur, we would be precluded from completing the Business Combination and would be forced to liquidate even if our stockholders are otherwise in favor of consummating the Business Combination.
If the Extension is approved and implemented, subject to satisfaction of the conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement (including, without limitation, receipt of stockholder approval of Business Combination), we intend to complete the Business Combination as soon as possible and in any event on or before the Extended Date.
In connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, 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 (the “Trust Account”), including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock issued in our IPO, which shares we refer to as the “public shares,” and which election we refer to as the “Election,” regardless of whether such public stockholders vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal. We cannot predict the amount that will remain in the Trust Account if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be only a small fraction of the approximately $[●] that was in the Trust Account as of July 27, 2023, the record date.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. Any redemption of the shares of the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company on or after January 1, 2023, such as the redemptions discussed herein, may be subject to the Excise Tax. The Company confirms that amounts placed in the Trust Account in connection with the Company’s initial public offering and any Extension Payments, as well as any interest earned thereon, will not be used to pay for the Excise Tax.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain their right to redeem their public shares when the Business Combination is submitted to the stockholders, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter as amended by the Extension Amendment. 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 Sponsor owns 2,830,000 Founder Shares (as defined below) that were issued to the Sponsor prior to our IPO, and 585,275 private placement units (the “Private Placement Units,”) that were purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement the closed simultaneously with the closing of the IPO. In addition, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer each own 15,000 Founder Shares, and our three independent directors each owns 5,000 Founder Shares. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are deemed to be beneficial owners of shares held by the Sponsor. As used herein, “Founder Shares” refers to all issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor and officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Units.
To exercise your redemption rights, you must demand that the Company redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, and tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days prior to the Special Meeting (or August 11, 2023). You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificate to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.
Based upon the current amount in the Trust Account, the Company anticipates that the per-share price at which public shares will be redeemed from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $10.88 at the time of the Special Meeting (the “Redemption Price”). The closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on July 24, 2023, was $11.05. The Company cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the Redemption Price, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by August 11, 2023, in accordance with our charter, we will incur significant cost to extend the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter or otherwise (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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A common stock in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable, less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of public stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.
There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, the Sponsor will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of its ownership of 2,830,000 Founder Shares that were issued to the Sponsor, plus the shares held by the officers and directors issued prior to the Company’s IPO and the 585,275 Private Placement Units that were purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement which occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO. As a consequence, a liquidating distribution will be made only with respect to the public shares. Certain of our executive officers have beneficial interests in the Sponsor.
We reserve the right at any time to cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal or implement the Extension Amendment or Trust Amendment. In the event the Special Meeting is cancelled, we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the charter.
If the Company liquidates, the Sponsor has agreed to indemnify us to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or any claims by a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into an acquisition 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 taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to our Trust Account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We cannot assure you, however, that the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. Based upon the current amount in the Trust Account, we anticipate that the per-share price at which public shares will be redeemed from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $10.88. Nevertheless, the Company cannot assure you that the per share distribution from the Trust Account, if the Company liquidates, will not be less than $10.10, plus interest, due to unforeseen claims of creditors.
Under 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.
Because the Company will not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL as described in our prospectus filed with the SEC on June 1, 2021, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are 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 or investment bankers) or prospective target businesses.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Company, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, will (i) remove from the Trust Account an amount, which we refer to as 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, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), 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 is approved.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, our Sponsor or its designees has agreed to loan to us $[●] for each such one-month extension up to a maximum of $[●] for a total of nine (9) one-month extensions until May 11, 2024, unless the Closing of the Company’s initial business combination shall have occurred (the “Extension Loan”), which amount will be deposited into the Trust Account. The Extension Loan is conditioned upon the implementation of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. The Extension Loan will not occur if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved, or the Extension is not completed. The Extension Loan will not bear interest and will be repayable upon consummation of a Business Combination. If the Sponsor or its designees advises us that it does not intend to make the Extension Loan, then the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal will not be put before the stockholders at the special meeting and, unless the Company can complete the Business Combination by August 11, 2023, we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with our charter.
Our Board has fixed the close of business on July 27, 2023, as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournment thereof (the “record date”). 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. On the record date of the Special Meeting, there were 2,731,544 shares of Class A common stock and 2,875,000 shares of Class B common stock outstanding. The Company’s warrants do not have voting rights in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal.
This Proxy Statement contains important information about the Special Meeting and the proposals. Please read it carefully and vote your shares.
We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies from our working capital. We have engaged Laurel Hill Advisory Group, LLC (the “Proxy Solicitor”) to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. We have agreed to pay the Proxy Solicitor its customary fee. We will also reimburse the Proxy Solicitor for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify the Proxy Solicitor and its affiliates against certain claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. While the payment of these expenses will reduce the cash available to us to consummate an initial business combination if the Extension is approved, we do not expect such payments to have a material effect on our ability to consummate an initial business combination.
This Proxy Statement is dated [●], 2023, and is first being mailed to stockholders on or about August 1, 2023.
| July [●], 2023 | By Order of the Board of Directors |
| /s/ Barry Anderson | |
Barry Anderson | |
| Chief Executive Officer |
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 carefully read the entire document, including the annexes to this Proxy Statement.
| Why am I receiving this Proxy Statement? | We are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on February 8,
2021, for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business
combination with one or more businesses. A total of $117,300,000, comprised of the proceeds from our IPO and proceeds of our private placements
that closed on May 11, 2021. Like most blank check companies, our charter provides for the return of our IPO proceeds held in trust to
the holders of shares of Class A common stock sold in our IPO if there is no qualifying business combination(s) consummated on or before
a certain date, which was initially May 11, 2022, which we extended to November 11, 2022, then to August 11, 2023. Our Board believes
that it is in the best interests of the stockholders to continue our existence until the Extended Date in order to allow us more time
to complete the Business Combination. |
| What is being voted on? | You are being asked to vote on: | ||
| ● | a proposal to amend our amended charter to extend the date by which we have to consummate a business combination from August 11, 2023, to May 11, 2024, or such earlier date as determined by the Board, in a series of nine (9) one-month extensions; | ||
| ● | a proposal to amend our amended Trust Agreement to allow us to extend the Termination Date to May 11, 2024, or the applicable Extended Date; and | ||
| ● | 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 for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. | ||
| The Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date that we have to complete our initial business combination at a lower incremental and aggregate cost for each Extension. The purpose of the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment is to allow the Company more time to complete the Business Combination. Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. | |||
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If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Company, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, will (i) remove from the Trust Account an amount, which we refer to as 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, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), 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.
We cannot predict the amount that will remain in the Trust Account if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be only a small fraction of the approximately $[●] that was in the Trust Account as of the record date. In such event, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete an initial business combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all.
We reserve the right at any time to cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal or implement the Extension Amendment or the Trust Amendment. In the event the Special Meeting is cancelled and we do not complete the Business Combination by the Termination Date, we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the charter.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by August 16, 2023, in accordance with our charter, we will incur significant cost to extend the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter or otherwise (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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A common stock in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable, less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of public stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.
There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor and directors and officers will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares and Private Placement Units. |
| Why is the Company proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal? | Our charter provides that we have until August 16, 2023 to complete our initial business combination. Our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, to allow for additional time to consummate the Business Combination and a lower incremental and aggregate cost for each Extension. While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Termination Date to complete the Business Combination without incurring significant cost to extension of the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to consummate the Business Combination efficiently, we will need to obtain the Extension. Without the Extension, the Board believes that there is significant risk that we might not, despite our best efforts, be able to complete the Business Combination on or before August 16, 2023, or without incurring significant cost to extension of the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter. If the Business Combination does not occur before the Termination Date or the Termination Date is otherwise extended on the higher-cost terms of the current charter, we would be precluded from completing the Business Combination and would be forced to liquidate even if our stockholders are otherwise in favor of consummating the Business Combination. |
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If the Extension is approved and implemented, subject to satisfaction of the conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement (including, without limitation, receipt of stockholder approval of the Business Combination), we intend to complete the Business Combination as soon as possible and in any event on or before the Extended Date.
The Company believes that given its expenditure of time, effort and money on completing the Business Combination, circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Board is proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal to amend our charter in the form set forth in Annex A hereto to extend the date by which we must (i) consummate a business combination, (ii) cease our operations if we fail to complete such business combination, and (iii) redeem or repurchase 100% of our Class A common stock included as part of the units sold in our IPO from August 16, 2023 to not later than May 11, 2024, by electing to extend the date to consummate a business combination by up to an additional nine (9) months after the Termination Date, until May 11, 2024, unless the closing of the Company’s initial business combination shall have occurred, in a series of up to nine (9) one-month extensions, which we refer to as the “Extension,” and such later date, the “Extended Date,” provided that (i) the Sponsor (or its affiliates or permitted designees), will deposit into the Trust Account the lesser of (x) $75,000 or (y) $0.045 per share for each Public Share outstanding as of the applicable Deadline Date for each such one-month extension and (ii) the procedures relating to any such extension, as set forth in the Trust Agreement, shall have been complied with.
You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares, provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the Business Combination, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event the Business Combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved, we may put the Adjournment Proposal to a vote in order to seek additional time to obtain sufficient votes in support of the Extension. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved, the Board may not be able to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates 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. |
| We reserve the right at any time to cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal or implement the Extension Amendment or Trust Amendment. In the event the Special Meeting is cancelled and we do not complete the Business Combination by the Termination Date, we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the charter. |
| Why should I vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal? |
Our Board believes stockholders will benefit from the consummation of the Business Combination and is proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal to extend the date by which we have to complete a business combination until the Extended Date in a series of nine (9) one-month extensions. The Extension would give us additional time to complete the Business Combination and a lower incremental and aggregate cost for each Extension.
The Board believes that it is in the best interests of our stockholders that the Extension be obtained to provide additional amount of time to consummate the Business Combination. Without the Extension, we believe that there is substantial risk that we might not, despite our best efforts, be able to complete the Business Combination on or before August 16, 2023. If that were to occur, we would be precluded from completing the Business Combination and would be forced to liquidate even if our stockholders are otherwise in favor of consummating the Business Combination. | |
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We believe that given our expenditure of time, effort and money on completing the Business Combination, it is in the best interests of our stockholders that we obtain the Extension. Our Board believes the Business Combination will provide significant benefits to our stockholders. For more information about the Business Combination, see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2022 and our Form S-4 filed on July 22, 2022, relating to the Business Combination (the “Registration Statement”), as last amended on July 3, 2023, as may be further amended.
Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal and in favor of the Trust Amendment Proposal. | ||
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Why should I vote “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal?
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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 and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
We reserve the right at any time to cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal or implement the Extension Amendment or Trust Amendment. In the event the Special Meeting is cancelled and we are unable to complete the Business Combination by the Termination Date, we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the charter. | |
| When would the Board abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal, and the Trust Amendment Proposal? | We intend to hold the Special Meeting to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal and only if the Board has determined as of the time of the Special Meeting that we may not be able to complete the Business Combination on or before August 16, 2023. If we complete the Business Combination on or before August 16, 2023, we will not implement the Extension. Additionally, our Board will abandon the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment if our stockholders do not approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment or Trust Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders. | |
| How do the Company insiders intend to vote their shares? | The Sponsor and all of our directors and officers are expected to vote any common stock over which they have voting control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. Currently, our Sponsor and our officers and directors own approximately [●]% of our issued and outstanding common stock, including 2,875,000 Founder Shares. Our Sponsor, directors and officers do not intend to purchase common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in connection with the stockholder vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
| What vote is required to adopt the proposals? |
The approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of at least 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, including the Founder Shares and the Class A common stock included in the Private Placement Units on the record date.
The approval of the Adjournment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person or by proxy. |
| What if I don’t want to vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal 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” such proposal. You will be entitled to redeem your public shares for cash in connection with this vote whether or not you vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal so long as you elect to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account in connection with the Extension Amendment. 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 happens if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved? |
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.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by August 16, 2023, in accordance with our charter, we will incur significant cost to extend the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter or otherwise (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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A common stock in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable, less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of public stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.
There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants which will expire worthless in the event we wind up.
In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor, directors and officers will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or Private Placement Units. | |
| 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, we will continue to attempt to consummate the Business Combination until the Extended Date. We expect to seek stockholder approval of the Business Combination. If stockholders approve the Business Combination, we expect to consummate the Business Combination as soon as possible following such stockholder approval. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination, even if we are able to effect the Extension, our failure to complete the Business Combination within the requisite time period will require us to liquidate or incur significant cost to extension of the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter. If we liquidate, our public stockholders may only receive $[●] per share, and our warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company. |
| Upon approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal by holders of at least 65% of the common stock of the Company present and entitled to vote as of the record date, we will amend our charter in the form set forth in Annex A hereto to extend the time it has to complete a business combination until the Extended Date. We will remain a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and our units, Class A common stock and public warrants will remain publicly traded. |
| What happens to the Company’s warrants if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved? | If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we have not consummated the Business Combination by the Termination Date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A common stock in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable, less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of public stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. | |
| What happens to the Company’s warrants if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved? | If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, we will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to us and continue to attempt to consummate a business combination until the Extended Date. The public warrants will remain outstanding and only become exercisable until the later of the completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of our IPO, provided we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or we permit holders to exercise warrants on a cashless basis). | |
| Am I able to exercise my redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination? | If you were a holder of common stock as of the close of business on the record date for a meeting to seek stockholder approval of the Business Combination, you will be able to vote on the business combination. The Special Meeting relating to the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal does not affect your right to elect to redeem your public shares in connection with the Business Combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter (including the requirement to submit any request for redemption in connection with the Business Combination on or before the date that is one business day before the special meeting of stockholders to vote on the Business Combination). If you disagree with the Business Combination, you will retain your right to redeem your public shares upon consummation of the Business Combination in connection with the stockholder vote to approve the Business Combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter. |
| How do I attend the meeting? | You will need your control number for access. If you do not have your control number, contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company at the phone number or e-mail address below. Beneficial investors who hold shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary, will need to contact them and obtain a legal proxy. Once you have your legal proxy, contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company to have a control number generated. Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company contact information is as follows: 1 State Street Plaza, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, or email proxy@continentalstock.com. | ||
| Stockholders will also have the option to listen to the Special Meeting by telephone by calling: | |||
| ● | Within the U.S. and Canada: +1 800- 450-7155 (toll-free) | ||
| ● | Outside of the U.S. and Canada: +1 857-999-9155 (standard rates apply) | ||
| The passcode for telephone access: [●]#. You will not be able to vote or submit questions unless you register for and log in to the Special Meeting webcast as described herein. |
| How do I change or revoke my vote? |
You may change your vote by e-mailing a later dated, signed proxy card to proxy@continentalstock.com, so that it is received by us prior to the Special Meeting or by attending the Special Meeting online and voting. You also may revoke your proxy by sending a notice of revocation to us, which must be received by us prior to the Special Meeting.
Please note, however, that if on the record date your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, custodian bank, or other nominee, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. If your shares are held in street name, and you wish to attend the Special Meeting and vote at the Special Meeting online, you must follow the instructions included with the enclosed proxy card. |
| How are votes counted? |
Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately count “FOR” and “AGAINST” votes and abstentions. The Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal must be approved by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, including the Founder Shares and the Class A common stock included in the Private Placement Units as of the record date. Accordingly, a Company stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote online at the Special Meeting or an abstention with respect to the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” such proposal.
The approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person or by proxy. Accordingly, a Company stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote online at the Special Meeting will not be counted towards the number of common stock required to validly establish a quorum, and if a valid quorum is otherwise established, it will have no effect on the outcome of any 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. |
| If my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker automatically vote them for me? | No. Under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares with respect to non-discretionary matters unless you provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and procedures provided to you by your broker, bank, or nominee. We believe all the proposals presented to the stockholders will be considered non-discretionary and therefore your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares without your instruction. 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. Holders of a majority in voting power of our common stock on the record date issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, constitute a quorum.
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 online at the Special Meeting. Abstentions will be counted towards the quorum requirement. In the absence of a quorum, the chairman of the meeting has power to adjourn the Special Meeting. As of the record date for the Special Meeting, [●] shares of our common stock would be required to achieve a quorum. |
| Who can vote at the Special Meeting? |
Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on July 27, 2023, are entitled to have their vote counted at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. On this record date, 2,731,544 shares of our Class A common stock and 2,875,000 shares of our Class B common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote.
Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the record date your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote online at the Special Meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting online, we urge 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 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. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares online at the Special Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent. |
| Does the Board recommend voting for the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal? | Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of these proposals, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. |
| What interests do the Company’s Sponsor, directors and officers have in the approval of the proposals? | Our Sponsor, directors and officers have interests in the proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include ownership of 2,875,000 Founder Shares and 585,275 Private Placement Units, which would expire worthless if a business combination is not consummated. See the section entitled “The Extension Amendment Proposal — Interests of our Sponsor, Directors and Officers.” |
| Do I have appraisal rights if I object to the Extension Amendment Proposal and/or the Trust Amendment Proposal? | Our stockholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal and/or the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
| What do I need to do now? | We urge you to read carefully and consider the information contained in this Proxy Statement, including the annexes, and to consider how the proposals will affect you as our stockholder. You should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions provided in this Proxy Statement and on the enclosed proxy card. |
| How do I vote? |
If you are a holder of record of our common stock, you may vote online at the Special Meeting or by submitting a proxy for the Special Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting online, we urge 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 online if you have already voted by proxy.
If your common stock is 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 online at the Special Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent. |
| How do I redeem my shares of Class A common stock? |
If the Extension is implemented, each of our public stockholders may seek to redeem all or a portion of its public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), 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 proposed business combination, or if we have not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
In order to exercise your redemption rights, you must, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on August 9, 2023 (two business days before the Special Meeting) tender your shares physically or electronically and submit a request in writing that we redeem your public shares for cash to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent, at the following address:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company 1 State Street Plaza, 30th Floor New York, New York 10004 Attn: SPAC Redemptions E-mail: spacredemptions@continentalstock.com |
| 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 Company shares. |
| Who is paying for this proxy solicitation? | We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies from our working capital. We have engaged Laurel Hill Advisory Group, LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. We have agreed to pay the Proxy Solicitor their usual and customary fees. We will also reimburse the Proxy Solicitor for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify the Proxy Solicitor and its affiliates against certain claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. While the payment of these expenses will reduce the cash available to us to consummate an initial business combination if the Extension is approved, we do not expect such payments to have a material effect on our ability to consummate an initial business combination. | |
| 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 our Proxy Solicitor:
Laurel Hill Advisory Group, LLC 2 Robbins Lane, Suite 201 Jericho, NY 11753 855-414-2266 Email: DKDC@laurelhill.com
You may also contact us at:
DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP. Unit G6, Frome Business Park, Manor Road Frome, United Kingdom, BA11 4FN 011-44 203 833 4000
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.” | |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained in this Proxy Statement constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, the pending Business Combination, our capital resources and results of operations. Likewise, our financial statements and all of our statements regarding market conditions and results of operations are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of terminology such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words or phrases.
The forward-looking statements contained in this Proxy Statement reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause its actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements:
| ● | our ability to complete an initial business combination; | |
| ● | the anticipated benefits of an initial business combination; | |
| ● | the volatility of the market price and liquidity of our securities; | |
| ● | the use of funds not held in the Trust Account; and | |
| ● | the competitive environment in which our successor will operate following the Business Combination. |
While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes after the date of this Proxy Statement, except as required by applicable law. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause our future results, performance or transactions to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, please see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023, and in other reports we file with the SEC. Risks regarding the Business Combination are also discussed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2022 and our Form S-4 filed on July 22, 2022, relating to the Business Combination (the “Registration Statement”), as last amended on July 3, 2023, as may be further amended. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to us (or to third parties making the forward-looking statements).
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider all of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023, the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on May 19, 2023, and in the other reports we file with the SEC before making a decision on how to vote on the proposals at the Special Meeting. 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 the aforementioned filings 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.
There are no assurances that the Extension will enable us to complete a business combination.
Approving the Extension involves a number of risks. Even if the Extension is approved, the Company can provide no assurances that the Business Combination will be consummated prior to the Extended Date. Our ability to consummate any business combination is dependent on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. If the Extension is approved, the Company expects to seek stockholder approval of the Business Combination with OneMedNet following the SEC declaring a registration statement on Form S-4 effective, which will include our preliminary proxy statement/prospectus for the Business Combination (the “Form S-4”). The Form S-4 has not been declared effective by the SEC, and the Company cannot complete the Business Combination unless the Form S-4 is declared effective. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company cannot estimate when, or if, the SEC will declare the Form S-4 effective.
We are required to offer stockholders the opportunity to redeem shares in connection with the Extension Amendment, and we will be required to offer stockholders redemption rights again in connection with any stockholder vote to approve the Business Combination. Even if the Extension or the Business Combination are approved by our stockholders, it is possible that redemptions will leave us with insufficient cash to consummate the Business Combination on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. The fact that we will have separate redemption periods in connection with the Extension and the Business Combination vote could exacerbate these risks. Other than in connection with a redemption offer or liquidation, our stockholders may be unable to recover their investment except through sales of our shares on the open market. The price of our shares may be volatile, and there can be no assurance that stockholders will be able to dispose of our shares at favorable prices, or at all.
We may be deemed a “foreign person” under the regulations relating to Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) and our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate.
The Company’s Sponsor is Data Knights, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The sponsor currently holds 2,830,000 shares of our Class B Common Stock and 585,275 Private Placement Units, that were purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement which occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO. Members of the Sponsor include certain officers and directors of the Company. The Sponsor is controlled by one or more non-U.S. persons. While we do believe that either we or our Sponsor constitute a “foreign person” under CFIUS rules and regulations we do not believe the Business Combination between the Company and OneMedNet is subject to CFIUS review. If the Business Combination with OneMedNet falls within the scope of applicable foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate the Business Combination o we may be required to make a mandatory filing or determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the Business Combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the Business Combination.
If we were to seek an initial business combination other than the Business Combination, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited as a result of any such regulatory restriction. Moreover, the process of any government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy, which could delay our ability to close our initial business combination within the requisite time period, which means we may be required to liquidate.
We may be subject to the Excise Tax included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in the event of a liquidation or in connection with redemptions of our common stock after December 31, 2022.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) (the “IRA”), which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on any domestic corporation that repurchases its stock after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the fair market value of the repurchased stock, with certain exceptions. Because we are a Delaware corporation and our securities will trade on Nasdaq, we will be a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the IRA following this offering. While not free from doubt, absent any further guidance from Congress, the Excise Tax may apply to any redemptions of our common stock after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with an initial business combination, unless an exemption is available. Issuances of securities in connection with our initial business combination transaction (including any PIPE transaction at the time of our initial business combination) are expected to reduce the amount of the Excise Tax in connection with redemptions occurring in the same calendar year, but the number of securities redeemed may exceed the number of securities issued. Consequently, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets. Further, the application of the Excise Tax in the event of a liquidation is uncertain.
Except for franchise taxes and income taxes, the proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon shall not be used to pay for possible excise tax or any other fees or taxes that may be levied on the Company pursuant to any current, pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise tax due under the IRA on any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company.
If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we would be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities would be severely restricted. As a result, in such circumstances, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we would expect to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead to liquidate the Company.
As described further above, the SPAC Rule Proposals relate, among other matters, to the circumstances in which SPACs such as the Company could potentially be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. The SPAC Rule Proposals would provide a safe harbor for such companies from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided that a SPAC satisfies certain criteria, including a limited time period to announce and complete a de-SPAC transaction. Specifically, to comply with the safe harbor, the SPAC Rule Proposals would require a company to file a report on Form 8-K announcing that it has entered into an agreement with a target company for a business combination no later than 18 months after the effective date of its registration statement for its initial public offering (the “IPO Registration Statement”). The Company would then be required to complete its initial business combination no later than 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement. If the SPAC Rule Proposals were to go into effect without a provision to allow us to continue to operate, we would be deemed to be an investment company and would likely liquidate.
Under current SEC guidance concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC, including a company like ours, that has not completed its business combination within 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement, would be held to be an Investment Company unless we change certain ways in which we operate. If we do not make these changes, it is possible that a claim could be made that we are operating as an unregistered 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 the Company. If we are required to liquidate the Company, 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.
To mitigate the risk of us being deemed to have been operating as an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act), we will instruct Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the trustee with respect to the Trust Account, on July 18, 2023 to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash items until the earlier of consummation of our Business Combination or liquidation. As of December 31, 2022, the funds in the Trust Account were held in an interest-bearing demand deposit account.
To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time, instruct the trustee to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the liquidation of securities in the Trust Account, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
The funds in the Trust Account have, since our initial public offering, been held only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. However, to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time, and we expect that we will, on or prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement, instruct Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the trustee with respect to the Trust Account, to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash until the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination or liquidation of the Company. Following such liquidation, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the Trust Account still may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, and certain other expenses as permitted. As a result, any decision to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash would reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
In addition, even prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement, we may be deemed to be an investment company. The longer that the funds in the Trust Account are held in short-term U.S. government treasury obligations or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, even prior to the 24-month anniversary, the greater the risk that we may be considered an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate the Company. Accordingly, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account at any time, even prior to the 24-month anniversary, and instead hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash, which would further reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
Since the Sponsor and our directors and officers will lose their entire investment in us if an initial business combination is not completed, they may have a conflict of interest in the approval of the proposals at the Special Meeting.
There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to the Company’s Founder Shares or Private Placement Units or their respective underlying warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor and our officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of 2,875,000 Founder Shares that were issued to the Sponsor prior to our IPO and 585,275 Private Placement Units that were purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement which occurred simultaneously with the completion of our IPO. Specifically, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer each own 15,000 Founder Shares, and our three independent directors each owns 5,000 Founder Shares. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are deemed to be beneficial owners of shares held by the Sponsor. Such persons have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to these securities, and all of such investments would expire worthless if an initial business combination is not consummated. Additionally, such persons can earn a positive rate of return after an initial business combination, even if other holders of our shares experience a negative rate of return, due to the Sponsor having initially purchased the Founder Shares for an aggregate of $25,000. The personal and financial interests of our Sponsor, directors and officers may have influenced their motivation in identifying and selecting OneMedNet for its target business combination and consummating the Business Combination in order to close the Business Combination and therefore may have interests different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder in connection with the proposals at the Special Meeting.
We have incurred and expect to incur significant costs associated with the Business Combination. Whether or not the Business Combination is completed, the incurrence of these costs will reduce the amount of cash available to be used for other corporate purposes by us if the Business Combination is not completed.
We and OneMedNet expect to incur significant transaction and transition costs associated with the Business Combination and operating as a public company following the closing of the Business Combination. We and OneMedNet may also incur additional costs to retain key employees. Certain transaction expenses incurred in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, including all legal, accounting, consulting, investment banking and other fees, expenses and costs, will be paid by the combined company following the closing of the Business Combination. Even if the Business Combination is not completed, we have incurred over $1.0 million in expenses in aggregate. These expenses will reduce the amount of cash available to be used for other corporate purposes by us if the Business Combination is not completed.
BACKGROUND
We are a blank check company incorporated in the State of Delaware on February 8, 2021, for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
There are currently 2,731,544 shares of redeemable Class A common stock, 585,275 shares of non-redeemable Class A common stock and 2,875,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. In addition, we issued 585,275 Private Placement Units issued to our Sponsor in a private placement simultaneously with the consummation of our IPO. As of July 24, 2023, there were 11,500,000 public warrants outstanding. As of July 24, 2023, there were 585,275 Private Placement Warrants outstanding, respectively. Each whole warrant entitles its holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. will become exercisable until the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of our IPO and expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. We have the ability to redeem outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the reported last sale price of shares of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period commencing once the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we give proper notice of such redemption and provided certain other conditions are met.
A total of $117,300,000 of the proceeds from our IPO and the simultaneous sale of the Private Placement Units in a private placement transaction was placed in our Trust Account in the United States maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, invested in U.S. “government securities,” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by us meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a business combination or (ii) the distribution of the proceeds in the Trust Account as described below.
Approximately $30,326,261 was held in the Trust Account as of the record date. The mailing address of the Company’s principal executive office is Unit G6, Frome Business Park, Manor Road Frome United Kingdom BA11 4FN.
OneMedNet Business Combination
As previously announced, we entered into the Business Combination Agreement on April 25, 2022. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the parties agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, to effect the Business Combination. For more information about the Business Combination, see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2022 and our Form S-4 filed on July 22, 2022, relating to the Business Combination (the “Registration Statement”), as last amended on July 3, 2023, as may be further amended.
We are not aware of any material regulatory approvals or actions that are required for completion of the Business Combination. It is presently contemplated that if any such additional regulatory approvals or actions are required, those approvals or actions will be sought. There can be no assurance, however, that any additional approvals or actions will be obtained. This includes any potential review by a U.S. government entity, such as CFIUS, on account of certain foreign ownership restrictions on U.S. businesses.
While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Termination Date to complete the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to consummate the Business Combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Without the Extension, the Board believes that there is significant risk that we might not, despite our best efforts, be able to complete the Business Combination on or before August 11, 2023. If that were to occur, we would be precluded from completing the Business Combination and would be forced to liquidate even if our stockholders are otherwise in favor of consummating the Business Combination.
Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination, even if we are able to effect the Extension, our failure to complete the Business Combination within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public stockholders may only receive $[●] per share, and our warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares, provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the Business Combination, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event the Business Combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated the Business Combination by the Extended Date.
THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
The Company is proposing to amend its charter to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate an initial business combination to the Extended Date.
The Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are required for the implementation of the Board’s plan to allow the Company more time to complete the Business Combination.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by August 11, 2023, in accordance with our charter, we will incur significant cost to extend the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter or otherwise (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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A common stock in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable, less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of public stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.
We reserve the right at any time to cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal and implement the Extension Amendment.
The Board believes that given our expenditure of time, effort and money on the Business Combination, circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider the Business Combination and that it is in the best interests of our stockholders that we obtain the Extension. The Board believes that the Business Combination will provide significant benefits to our stockholders. For more information about the Business Combination, see Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2022 and our Form S-4 filed on July 22, 2022, relating to the Business Combination (the “Registration Statement”), as last amended on July 3, 2023, as may be further amended.
A copy of the proposed amendment to the charter of the Company is attached to this Proxy Statement in Annex A.
Reasons for the Extension Amendment Proposal
The Company’s charter provides that the Company has until August 11, 2023, to complete the purposes of the Company. The purpose of the Extension Amendment is to allow the Company more time to complete its initial business combination and at a lower incremental and aggregate cost for each Extension.
As previously announced, we entered into the Business Combination Agreement on April 25, 2022. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the parties agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, to effect the Business Combination. While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Termination Date to complete the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to consummate the Business Combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Without the Extension, the Board believes that there is significant risk that we might not, despite our best efforts, be able to complete the Business Combination on or before August 11, 2023. If that were to occur, we would be precluded from completing the Business Combination and would be forced to liquidate even if our stockholders are otherwise in favor of consummating the Business Combination.
If the Extension is approved and implemented, subject to satisfaction of the conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement (including, without limitation, receipt of stockholder approval of the Business Combination), we intend to complete the Business Combination as soon as possible and in any event on or before the Extended Date.
The Company’s IPO prospectus and charter provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, including the Founder Shares and the Class A common stock included in the Private Placement Units, is required to extend our corporate existence, except in connection with, and effective upon, consummation of a business combination. Additionally, our IPO prospectus and charter provide for all public stockholders to have an opportunity to redeem their public shares in the case our corporate existence is extended as described above. Because we continue to believe that a business combination would be in the best interests of our stockholders, and because we will not be able to conclude a business combination within the permitted time period, the Board has determined to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which we have to complete a business combination beyond August 11, 2023, to the Extended Date. We intend to hold another stockholder meeting prior to the Extended Date in order to seek stockholder approval of the Business Combination.
We believe that the foregoing charter provision was included to protect Company 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. We also believe that, given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on finding a business combination and our entry into the Business Combination Agreement with respect to the Business Combination, circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider the Business Combination.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is Not Approved
Stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment Proposal are required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Therefore, our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment unless our stockholders approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by August 11, 2023, in accordance with our charter, we will incur significant cost to extend the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter or otherwise (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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A common stock in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable, less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of public stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.
There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless in the event we wind up. In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor, directors and officers will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Units.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal Is Approved
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Company will amend its charter in the form set forth in 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, Class A common stock and public warrants will remain publicly traded. The Company will then continue to work to consummate the Business Combination by the Extended Date.
Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension at any time without any further action by our stockholders, subject to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. We reserve the right at any time to cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal and implement the Extension Amendment. In the event the Special Meeting is cancelled, we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the charter.
You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares, provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the Business Combination, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event the Business Combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
Redemption Rights
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, each public stockholder may seek to redeem its public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Holders of public shares who do not elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the Extension will retain the right to redeem their public shares in connection with any stockholder vote to approve a proposed business combination, or if the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST SUBMIT A REQUEST IN WRITING THAT WE REDEEM YOUR PUBLIC SHARES FOR CASH TO CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY AT THE ADDRESS BELOW, AND, AT THE SAME TIME, ENSURE YOUR BANK OR BROKER COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED ELSEWHERE HEREIN, INCLUDING DELIVERING YOUR SHARES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON AUGUST 9, 2023.
In connection with tendering your shares for redemption, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on August 9, 2023 (two business days before the Special Meeting), you must elect either to physically tender your stock certificates to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street Plaza, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, Attn: SPAC Redemptions, e-mail: spacredemptions@continentalstock.com, or to deliver your shares to the transfer agent electronically using DTC’s DWAC system, which election would likely be determined based on the manner in which you hold your shares. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on August 9, 2023 (two business days before the Special Meeting) ensures that a redeeming holder’s election is irrevocable once the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. In furtherance of such irrevocable election, stockholders making the election will not be able to tender their shares after the vote at the Special Meeting.
Through the DWAC 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 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on August 9, 2023 (two business days before the Special Meeting) 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 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 Amendment Proposal 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Based upon the current amount in the Trust Account, the Company anticipates that the per-share price at which public shares will 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 Class A common stock on the record date was $[●].
If you exercise your redemption rights, you will be exchanging your shares of the Company’s Class A 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 August 9, 2023 (two business days before 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 Proposal would receive payment of the Redemption Price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension.
Vote Required for Approval
The affirmative vote by holders of at least 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock present and entitled to vote, including the Founder Shares and Class A common stock included in the Private Placement Units, is required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by August 11, 2023, in accordance with our charter, we will incur significant cost to extend the Termination Date under the current terms of the charter or otherwise (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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A common stock in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable, less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of public stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. Stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment is required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Therefore, our Board will abandon and not implement such amendment unless our stockholders approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment Proposal unless our stockholders approve both the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. This means that if one proposal is approved by the stockholders and the other proposal is not, neither proposal will take effect. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders.
The Sponsor, and our directors and officers, collectively own 2,875,000 Founder Shares that were issued to the Sponsor prior to the Company’s IPO, and 585,275 Private Placement Units that were purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the closing.
Our Sponsor and all of our directors and officers are expected to vote any common stock owned by them in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal. On the record date, our Sponsor, directors and officers beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 2,875,000 Founder Shares, representing approximately [●]% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Our Sponsor and directors do not intend to purchase shares of Class A common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in connection with the stockholder vote on the Extension Amendment.
Interests of our Sponsor, Directors and Officers
When you consider the recommendation of our Board, you should keep in mind that our Sponsor, executive officers, and members of our Board and special advisors have interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include, among other things:
| ● | the fact that our Sponsor holds 2,830,000 Founder Shares, all such securities beneficially owned by our Chief Executive Officer. In addition, certain of our executive officers have beneficial interests in the Sponsor. All of such investments would expire worthless if a business combination is not consummated; on the other hand, if a business combination is consummated, such investments could earn a positive rate of return on their overall investment in the combined company, even if other holders of our common stock experience a negative rate of return, due to having initially purchased the Founder Shares for $1; |
| ● | the fact that, if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period, the Sponsor has agreed to indemnify us to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced below $[10.10] per public share, or such lesser per public share amount as is in the Trust Account on the liquidation date, by the claims of prospective target businesses with which we have entered into an acquisition agreement or claims of any third party for services rendered or products sold to us, but only if such a third party or target business has not executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account; and |
| ● | the fact that none of our officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered to the Company, and 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 vote on a proposed business combination and may even continue to serve following any potential business combination and receive compensation thereafter. |
See our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2022, for more information about the interests of our Sponsor, directors, and officers in the Business Combination and our Form S-4 filed on July 22, 2022, relating to the Business Combination (the “Registration Statement”), as last amended on July 3, 2023, as may be further amended.
The Board’s Reasons for the Extension Amendment Proposal and Its Recommendation
As discussed below, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable adoption of the Extension Amendment Proposal and recommends that you vote “FOR” such proposal.
Our charter provides that the Company has until August 11, 2023 to complete the purposes of the Company. As previously announced, we entered into the Business Combination Agreement on April 25, 2022. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the parties agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, to effect the Business Combination. While we are using our best efforts to complete the Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Termination Date to complete the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to consummate the Business Combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Without the Extension, the Board believes that there is significant risk that we might not, despite our best efforts, be able to complete the Business Combination on or before August 11, 2023. If that were to occur, we would incur significant expense in completing the Business Combination and would be forced to consider liquidation even if our stockholders are otherwise in favor of consummating the Business Combination. For more information about the Business Combination, see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2022 and our Form S-4 filed on July 22, 2022, relating to the Business Combination (the “Registration Statement”), as last amended on July 3, 2023, as may be further amended.
Our charter states that if the Company’s stockholders approve an amendment to the Company’s charter that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete a business combination before August 11, 2023, the Company will provide its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon such approval at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. We believe that this charter provision was included to protect the Company 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.
In addition, the Company’s IPO prospectus and charter provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 65% of Company’s outstanding shares of common stock present and entitled to vote, including the Founder Shares and Class A common stock included in the Private Placement Units, is required to extend our corporate existence, except in connection with, and effective upon the consummation of, a business combination. We believe that, given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on finding a business combination and our entry into the Business Combination Agreement with respect to the Business Combination, circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider the Business Combination. Because we continue to believe that a Business Combination would be in the best interests of our stockholders, the Board has determined to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which we have to complete a business combination beyond August 11, 2023, to the Extended Date, in the event we cannot consummate the Business Combination by August 11, 2023.
The Company is not asking you to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination in the future and the right to redeem your public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, in the event the Business Combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated another business combination by the Extended Date. For more information about the Business Combination, see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2022 and our Form S-4 filed on July 22, 2022, relating to the Business Combination (the “Registration Statement”), as last amended on July 3, 2023, as may be further amended.
After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board determined that the Extension Amendment is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Recommendation of the Board
Our Board unanimously recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a summary of certain United States federal income tax considerations for holders of our Class A common stock with respect to the exercise of redemption rights in connection with the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the “Code,” the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, which we refer to as the “IRS,” and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain a position contrary to any of the tax considerations described below. This summary does not discuss all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances, such as investors subject to special tax rules (e.g., financial institutions, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension plans, S corporations, broker-dealers, traders in securities that elect mark-to-market treatment, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, trusts and estates, partnerships and their partners, and tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations)) and investors that will hold Class A common stock as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion,” “synthetic security,” “constructive ownership transaction,” “constructive sale,” or other integrated transaction for United States federal income tax purposes, investors subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code, U.S. Holders (as defined below) that have a functional currency other than the United States dollar, U.S. expatriates, investors that actually or constructively own 5 percent or more of the Class A common stock of the Company, and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below, and except as otherwise discussed below), all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ materially from those summarized below. In addition, this summary does not discuss any state, local, or non-United States tax considerations, any non-income tax (such as gift or estate tax) considerations, alternative minimum tax or the Medicare tax. In addition, this summary is limited to investors that hold our Class A common stock as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the Code.
If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds our Class A common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our Class A common stock, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of a redemption.
WE URGE HOLDERS OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK CONTEMPLATING EXERCISE OF THEIR REDEMPTION RIGHTS TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES THEREOF.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders
This section is addressed to U.S. Holders of our Class A common stock that elect to have their Class A common stock of the Company redeemed for cash. For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner that so redeems its Class A common stock of the Company and is:
| ● | an individual who is a United States citizen or resident of the United States; |
| ● | a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| ● | an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
| ● | a trust (a) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons (within the meaning of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) that has in effect a valid election under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person. |
Redemption of Class A Common Stock
In the event that a U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock of the Company is redeemed, the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the Class A common stock under Section 302 of the Code. Whether the redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of our stock treated as held by the U.S. Holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning warrants) relative to all of our shares both before and after the redemption. The redemption of Class A common stock generally will be treated as a sale of the Class A common stock (rather than as a distribution) if the redemption (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. Holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by it. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any stock the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include Class A common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the warrants. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption of Class A common stock must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other stock. The redemption of the Class A common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if a U.S. Holder’s conversion results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.”
If none of the foregoing tests are satisfied, then the redemption will be treated as a distribution and the tax effects will be as described below under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions.”
U.S. Holders of our Class A common stock considering exercising their redemption rights should consult their own tax advisors as to whether the redemption of their Class A common stock of the Company will be treated as a sale or as a distribution under the Code.
Gain or Loss on a Redemption of Class A Common Stock Treated as a Sale
If the redemption qualifies as a sale of Class A common stock, a U.S. Holder must treat any gain or loss recognized as capital gain or loss. Any such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock so disposed of exceeds one year. Generally, a U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash received in such redemption (or, if the Class A common stock is held as part of a unit at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the Class A common stock based upon the then fair market values of the Class A common stock and the one-half of one warrant included in the unit) and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock so redeemed. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of Class A common stock or the U.S. Holder’s initial basis for Class A common stock upon exercise of a whole warrant) less any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. Long-term capital gain realized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder generally will be taxable at a reduced rate. The deduction of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Taxation of Distributions
If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of Class A common stock, the U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a distribution. In general, any distributions to U.S. Holders generally will constitute dividends for United States federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Class A common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock and will be treated as described under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on a Redemption of Class A common stock Treated as a Sale.” Dividends we pay to a U.S. Holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions, and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. Holder generally will constitute “qualified dividends” that will be taxable at a reduced rate.
We may be subject to the Excise Tax included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in the event of a liquidation or in connection with redemptions of our common stock after December 31, 2022.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) (the “IRA”), which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on any domestic corporation that repurchases its stock after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the fair market value of the repurchased stock, with certain exceptions. Because we are a Delaware corporation and our securities will trade on Nasdaq, we will be a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the IRA following this offering. While not free from doubt, absent any further guidance from Congress, the Excise Tax may apply to any redemptions of our common stock after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with an initial business combination, unless an exemption is available. Issuances of securities in connection with our initial business combination transaction (including any PIPE transaction at the time of our initial business combination) are expected to reduce the amount of the Excise Tax in connection with redemptions occurring in the same calendar year, but the number of securities redeemed may exceed the number of securities issued. Consequently, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets. Further, the application of the Excise Tax in the event of a liquidation is uncertain.
Except for franchise taxes and income taxes, the proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon shall not be used to pay for possible excise tax or any other fees or taxes that may be levied on the Company pursuant to any current, pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise tax due under the IRA on any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to Non-U.S. Holders
This section is addressed to Non-U.S. Holders of our Class A common stock that elect to have their Class A common stock of the Company redeemed for cash. For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner (other than a partnership) that so redeems its Class A common stock of the Company and is not a U.S. Holder.
Redemption of Class A Common Stock
The characterization for United States federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a Non-U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock generally will correspond to the United States federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock, as described under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders.”
Non-U.S. Holders of our Class A common stock considering exercising their redemption rights should consult their own tax advisors as to whether the redemption of their Class A common stock of the Company will be treated as a sale or as a distribution under the Code.
Gain or Loss on a Redemption of Class A Common Stock Treated as a Sale
If the redemption qualifies as a sale of Class A common stock, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale of its Class A common stock of the Company, unless:
| ● | the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. Holder within the United States (and, under certain income tax treaties, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder), in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will generally be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. Holder with respect to the redemption, and a corporate Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to the branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty); |
| ● | the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year in which the redemption takes place and certain other conditions are met, in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s net capital gain for the year; or |
| ● | we are or have been a “U.S. real property holding corporation” for United States federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. Holder held our Class A common stock, and, in the case where shares of our Class A common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. Holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Class A common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares of our Class A common stock. We do not believe we are or have been a U.S. real property holding corporation. |
Taxation of Distributions
If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of Class A common stock, the Non-U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a distribution. In general, any distributions we make to a Non-U.S. Holder of shares of our Class A common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under United States federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our Class A common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock, which will be treated as described under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock.” Dividends we pay to a Non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with such Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States generally will not be subject to United States withholding tax, provided such Non-U.S. Holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements. Instead, such dividends generally will be subject to United States federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same graduated individual or corporate rates applicable to U.S. Holders (subject to an exemption or reduction in such tax as may be provided by an applicable income tax treaty). If the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).
As previously noted above, the foregoing discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences is included for general information purposes only and is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice to any stockholder. We once again urge you to consult with your own tax adviser to determine the particular tax consequences to you (including the application and effect of any U.S. federal, state, local or foreign income or other tax laws) of the receipt of cash in exchange for shares in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal.
THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
The Trust Amendment
The proposed Trust Amendment would amend our existing Trust Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2021, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), (i) allowing the Company to extend the business combination period from August 11, 2023 to not later than May 11, 2024 in a series of up to nine (9) one-month extensions (the “Trust Amendment”) and (ii) updating certain defined terms in the Trust Agreement. A copy of the proposed Trust Amendment is attached to this Proxy Statement as Annex B. All stockholders are encouraged to read the proposed amendment in its entirety for a more complete description of its terms.
Reasons for the Trust Amendment
The purpose of the Trust Amendment is to give the Company the right to extend the business combination period from August 11, 2023, to not later than May 11, 2024, in a series of up to nine (9) one-month extensions, and to update certain defined terms in the Trust Agreement.
The Company’s current Trust Agreement provides that the Company has until 18 months after the closing of the IPO, and such later day as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate to terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trust Account. The Trust Amendment will make it clear that the Company has until the Extended Termination Date, as defined in the Extension Amendment, to terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trust Account. The Trust Amendment also ensures that certain terms and definitions as used in the Trust Agreement are revised and updated according to the Extension Amendment.
If the Trust Amendment is not approved and we do not consummate an initial Business Combination by August 11, 2023 (subject to the requirements of law), we will be required to dissolve and liquidate our Trust Account by returning the then remaining funds (less up to $100,000 of the net interest to pay dissolution expenses) in such account to the public stockholders, and our warrants to purchase common stock will expire worthless.
If the Trust Amendment Is Approved
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the amendment to the Trust Agreement in the form of Annex B hereto will be executed and the Trust Account will not be disbursed except in connection with our completion of the Business Combination or in connection with our liquidation if we do not complete an initial business combination by the applicable termination date. The Company will then continue to attempt to consummate a business combination until the applicable Extended Termination Date or until the Company’s Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion that it will not be able to consummate an initial business combination by the applicable Extended Termination Date and does not wish to seek an additional extension.
Vote Required for Approval
The affirmative vote of holders of at least 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock present and entitled to vote is required to approve the Trust Amendment. Broker non-votes, abstentions or the failure to vote on the Trust Amendment will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Trust Amendment.
Our Board will abandon and not implement the Trust Amendment Proposal unless our stockholders approve both the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. This means that if one proposal is approved by the stockholders and the other proposal is not, neither proposal will take effect. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders.
Our Sponsor and all of our directors and officers are expected to vote any common stock owned by them in favor of the Trust Amendment Proposal. On the record date, our Sponsor, directors and officers beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 2,875,000 Founder Shares, representing approximately [●]% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Our Sponsor and directors do not intend to purchase shares of Class A common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in connection with the stockholder vote on the Trust Amendment.
You are not being asked to vote on any business combination at this time. If the Trust Amendment is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote on a proposed business combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares into a pro rata portion of the Trust Account in the event a business combination is approved and completed (as long as your election is made at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting at which the stockholders’ vote is sought) or the Company has not consummated the business combination by the Extended Termination Date.
Recommendation of the Board
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT OUR STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.
THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our stockholders in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. In no event will our Board adjourn the Special Meeting beyond August 11, 2023.
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 and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is otherwise established, a stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or online at the Special Meeting will have no effect on the outcome of any 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 of the Board
Our Board unanimously recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Adjournment Proposal.
THE SPECIAL MEETING
Overview
Date, Time and Place. The Special Meeting of the Company’s stockholders will be held at [●] a.m. Eastern Time on August 11, 2023, as a virtual meeting. You will be able to attend, vote your shares and submit questions during the Special Meeting via a live webcast available at https://www.cstproxy.com/[●]/2023. If you plan to attend the virtual online Special Meeting, you will need your 12-digit control number to vote electronically at the Special Meeting. The meeting will be held virtually over the internet by means of a live audio webcast. Only stockholders who own shares of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date will be entitled to attend the virtual meeting.
To register for the virtual meeting, please follow these instructions as applicable to the nature of your ownership of our common stock.
If your shares are registered in your name with our transfer agent and you wish to attend the online-only virtual meeting, go to https://www.cstproxy.com/[●]/2023 and enter the control number you received on your proxy card and click on the “Click here” to preregister for the online meeting link at the top of the page. Just prior to the start of the meeting you will need to log back into the meeting site using your control number. Pre-registration is recommended but is not required in order to attend.
Beneficial stockholders who wish to attend the online-only virtual meeting must obtain a legal proxy by contacting their account representative at the bank, broker, or other nominee that holds their shares and e-mail a copy (a legible photograph is sufficient) of their legal proxy to proxy@continentalstock.com. Beneficial stockholders who e-mail a valid legal proxy will be issued a meeting control number that will allow them to register to attend and participate in the online-only meeting. After contacting our transfer agent, a beneficial holder will receive an e-mail prior to the meeting with a link and instructions for entering the virtual meeting. Beneficial stockholders should contact our transfer agent no later than 72 hours prior to the meeting date.
Stockholders will also have the option to listen to the Special Meeting by telephone by calling:
| ● | Within the U.S. and Canada: +1 800-450-7155 (toll-free) |
| ● | Outside of the U.S. and Canada: +1 857-999-9155 (standard rates apply) |
The passcode for telephone access: [●]#. You will not be able to vote or submit questions unless you register for and log in to the Special Meeting webcast as described herein.
Voting Power; record date. You will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the Special Meeting, if you owned the Company’s Class A common stock at the close of business on July 27, 2023, the record date for the Special Meeting. You will have one vote per proposal for each share of the Company’s common stock you owned at that time. The Company’s 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 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock present and entitled to vote on the record date, including the Founder Shares and the Class common stock included in the Private Placement Units. If you do not vote or if you abstain from voting on a proposal, your action will have the same effect as an “AGAINST” vote. Broker non-votes will have the same effect as “AGAINST” votes.
At the close of business on the record date of the Special Meeting, there were 2,731,544 shares of Class A common stock and 2,875,000 shares of Class B common stock outstanding, each of which entitles its holder to cast one vote per proposal.
If you do not want the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote “AGAINST” such proposal. You will be entitled to redeem your public shares for cash in connection with this vote whether or not you vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal so long as you elect to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account in connection with the Extension Amendment 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 Proposal.
Proxies; Board Solicitation; Proxy Solicitor. Your proxy is being solicited by the Board on the proposals being presented to stockholders at the Special Meeting. The Company has engaged Laurel Hill Advisory Group, LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. No recommendation is being made as to whether you should elect to redeem your public shares. Proxies may be solicited in person or by telephone. If you grant a proxy, you may still revoke your proxy and vote your shares online at the Special Meeting if you are a holder of record of the Company’s common stock. You may contact the Proxy Solicitor at Laurel Hill Advisory Group, LLC, 2 Robbins Lane, Suite 201, Jericho, NY 11753, 855-414-2266, email: DKDC@laurelhill.com.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock as of the record date based on information obtained from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of the Company’s common stock, by:
| ● | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock; |
| ● | each of our executive officers and directors that beneficially owns shares of common stock; and |
| ● | all our officers and directors as a group. |
As of the record date, there were 2,731,544 shares of Class A common stock and 2,875,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. Unless otherwise indicated, all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all common stock beneficially owned by them.
| Class A Common Stock | Class B Common Stock | Approximate | ||||||||||||||||||
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Approximate Percentage of Class | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(2) | Approximate Percentage of Class | Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock | |||||||||||||||
| Directors and Executive Officers: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Barry Anderson (1) | 585,275 | 17.6 | % | 2,845,000 | 66.9 | % | — | |||||||||||||
| Firdauz Edmin bin Mokhtar (1) | 585,275 | 17.6 | % | 2,845,000 | * | — | ||||||||||||||
| Syed Musheer Ahmed | — | — | 5,000 | * | — | |||||||||||||||
| Julianne Huh | — | — | 5,000 | * | — | |||||||||||||||
| Annie Damit Undikai | — | — | 5,000 | * | — | |||||||||||||||
| All officers and directors as a group | 585,275 | 17.6 | % | 2,875,000 | 100 | % | — | |||||||||||||
| 5% Holders: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Data Knights, LLC(1) | 585,275 | 17.6 | % | 2,830,000 | 66.5 | % | 45.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Westchester Capital Management, LLC (3) | 504,457 | 15.2 | % | — | — | 6.7 | % | |||||||||||||
| Shaolin Capital Management LLC(4) | 400,000 | 12.1 | % | — | — | 5.3 | % | |||||||||||||
| ARC Group Limited | — | — | 1,378,517 | 32.4 | % | 18.2 | % | |||||||||||||
| * | Less than 1% |
| (1) | Data Knights, LLC, our sponsor, is the record holder of 585,275 shares of Class A Common Stock and 2,830,000 shares of Class B Common Stock reported herein. Barry Anderson, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is a manager of our sponsor. Firdauz Edmin Bin Mokhtar, our Chief Financial Officer, is a manager and equity holder of our sponsor. By virtue of this relationship, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Mokhtar may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the securities held of record by our sponsor. Mr. Anderson and Mr. Mokhtar each disclaims any such beneficial ownership except to the extent of his respective pecuniary interest. The business address of each of these entities and individuals is Trident Court, 1 Oakcroft Road, Chessington, Surrey KT9 1BD, United Kingdom. |
| (2) | Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, classified as shares of Class B Common Stock, as well as placement shares after the Company’s IPO. Founder shares are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. |
| (3) | Consists of shares held by one or more private funds managed by Westchester Capital Management, LLC, as reported on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023. |
| (4) | Consists of shares held by one or more private funds managed by Shaolin Capital Management LLC, as reported on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 22, 2023. |
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, we anticipate that the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders will be held no later than December 31, 2023.
Our bylaws provide notice procedures for stockholders to nominate a person as a director and to propose business to be considered by stockholders at a meeting. Notice of a nomination or proposal must be delivered to us not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made by us. Accordingly, for our 2023 Annual Meeting, assuming the meeting is held on or about December 31, 2023, notice of a nomination or proposal must be delivered to us no later than October 2, 2023 and no earlier than September 2, 2023. Nominations and proposals also must satisfy other requirements set forth in the bylaws. The Chairman of the Board may refuse to acknowledge the introduction of any stockholder proposal not made in compliance with the foregoing procedures.
HOUSEHOLDING INFORMATION
Unless we have received contrary instructions, we may send a single copy of this Proxy Statement to any household at which two or more stockholders reside if we believe the stockholders are members of the same family. This process, known as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information received at any one household and helps to reduce our expenses. However, if stockholders prefer to receive multiple sets of our disclosure documents at the same address this year or in future years, the stockholders should follow the instructions described below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another stockholder and together both of the stockholders would like to receive only a single set of our disclosure documents, the stockholders should follow these instructions:
| ● | If the shares are registered in the name of the stockholder, the stockholder should contact us at +60 3 5888 8485 to inform us of his or her request; or |
| ● | If a bank, broker or other nominee holds the shares, the stockholder should contact the bank, broker or other nominee directly. |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act. You can read the Company’s SEC filings, including this Proxy Statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
If you would like additional copies of this Proxy Statement or if you have questions about the proposals to be presented at the Special Meeting, you should contact the Company’s proxy solicitation agent at the following address, telephone number and email:
Laurel Hill Advisory Group, LLC
2 Robbins Lane, Suite 201
Jericho, NY 11753
855-414-2266
Email: DKDC@laurelhill.com
You may also obtain these documents by requesting them from the Company at:
DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP.
Unit G6, Frome Business Park, Manor Road Frome, United Kingdom, BA11 4FN
011-44 203 833 4000
If you are a stockholder of the Company and would like to request documents, please do so by August 11, 2023, in order to receive them before the Special Meeting. If you request any documents from us, we will mail them to you by first class mail, or another equally prompt means.
ANNEX A
THE PROPOSED
SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP.
SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP.
August 11, 2023
Data Knights Acquisition Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
| 1. | The name of the Corporation is Data Knights Acquisition Corp. The Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation was filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DGCL on February 8, 2021 (the “Original Certificate”). |
| 2. | An Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 8, 2021 (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”). A Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 6, 2021 (the “Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”). |
| 3. | The First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL and filed with Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 11, 2023. |
| 4. | This Second Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate (this “Certificate”), was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL. |
| 5. | The text of Section 9.2(d) of Article IX is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows: |
| (i) | In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 18 months, subject to nine one-month extensions from the closing of the initial public offering of the units provided that, pursuant to the terms of our amended charter and our amended trust agreement, the Corporation deposits into the Trust Account an additional $0.0333 per unit, for each month extended, in the Corporation’s sole discretion whether to exercise one or more extensions provided that the Corporation will not exercise an extension at such time that the redemptions of shares of Class A Common Stock by the Corporation’s Public Stockholders causes the Corporation to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets (the “Combination Period”), and the Corporation does not further extend the combination period as provided under Section 9.2(d)(ii), the Corporation shall (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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its taxes (and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then issued and outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. |
| (ii) | Provided that the period of time to consummate a Business Combination has been extended as contemplated in Section 9.2(d)(i) and the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination, the Board may elect to further extend the time to consummate an initial Business Combination for up to an additional nine (9) one-month extensions at a price which shall be the lesser of (x) $75,000 or (y) $0.045 per share for each month extended, in the Corporation’s sole discretion whether to exercise one or more extensions to extend the Combination Period provided that the Corporation will not exercise an extension at such time that the redemptions of shares of Class A Common Stock by the Corporation’s Public Stockholders causes the Corporation to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets, the Corporation shall (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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its taxes (and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then issued and outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. |
6. This Certificate shall be effective as of [●], 2023 following its filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Data Knights Acquisition Corp. has caused this Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
| By: | /s/ | |
| Name: | Barry Anderson | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
ANNEX B
FORM OF AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made as of [●], 2023, by and between Data Knights Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Trustee” and together with the Company, the “Parties”). Capitalized terms contained in this Amendment, but not specifically defined in this Amendment, shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Original Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, on May 11, 2021, the Company consummated its initial public offering of units of the Company (the “Units”), each of which is composed of one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock of the Company (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”);
WHEREAS, $117,300,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the private placement warrants were delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in the segregated Trust Account located in the United States for the benefit of the Company and the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock included in the Units issued in the Offering pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement made effective as of November 18, 2020, by and between the Company and the Trustee (the “Original Agreement”);
WHEREAS, as of October 24, 2022 the Parties entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, which (i) extended the date before which the Company must complete a business combination from November 11, 2022 to August 11, 2023 (or such earlier date after November 11, 2022 as determined by the Company’s board of directors) and (ii) extended the date on which the Trustee must liquidate the Trust Account if the Company has not completed its initial business combination from November 11, 2022 to August 11, 2023 (or such earlier date after November 11, 2022 as determined by the Company’s board of directors) (the “Amended Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Company has sought the approval of the holders of its Class A Common Stock and holders of its Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), at a Special Meeting held on August 11, 2023 to: (i) extend the date before which the Company must complete a business combination from August 11, 2023 to May 11, 2024 (or such earlier date after August 11, 2023 as determined by the Company’s board of directors) (the “Extension Amendment”) and (ii) extend the date on which the Trustee must liquidate the Trust Account if the Company has not completed its initial business combination from August 11, 2023 to May 11, 2024 (or such earlier date after August 11, 2023 as determined by the Company’s board of directors) (the “Trust Amendment”);
WHEREAS, holders of 65% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, approved the Extension Amendment, and the Trust Amendment; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Amended Agreement to, among other things, reflect amendments to the Amended Agreement contemplated by the Trust Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
| 1. | Amendments to Trust Agreement. |
Section 1(i) of the Amended Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
“(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly following (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or other authorized officer of the Company and in the case of Exhibit A, acknowledged and agreed to by the Representative, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay income taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is the later of (1) May 11, 2024 (or such earlier date after August 11, 2023 as determined by the Company’s board of directors) and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if a Termination
Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), shall be distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date. It is acknowledged and agreed that there should be no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account;”.
| 2. | Miscellaneous Provisions. |
2.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Amendment by or for the benefit of the Company or the Trustee shall bind and inure to the benefit of their permitted respective successors and assigns.
2.2. Severability. This Amendment shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Amendment or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Amendment a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
2.3. Applicable Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
2.4. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
2.5. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Amendment and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
2.6. Entire Agreement. The Amended Agreement, as modified by this Amendment, constitutes the entire understanding of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, arrangements, promises and commitments, whether written or oral, express or implied, relating to the subject matter hereof, and all such prior agreements, understandings, arrangements, promises and commitments are hereby canceled and terminated.
Signatures on following page.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER AND TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Francis Wolf | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
| DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Barry Anderson | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
DATA KNIGHTS ACQUISITION CORP.
Unit G6, Frome Business Park, Manor Road Frome, United Kingdom, BA11 4FN
011-44 203 833 4000
SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
AUGUST 11, 2023
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 11, 2023
The undersigned, revoking any previous proxies relating to these shares, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice dated August [●], 2023 and Proxy Statement, dated [●], 2023, in connection with the special meeting to be held at [●] on August 11, 2023 as a virtual meeting (the “Special Meeting”) for the sole purpose of considering and voting upon the following proposals, and hereby appoints Barry Anderson and Firdauz Edmin bin Mokhtar (with full power to act alone), the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution to each, to vote all shares of common stock of the Company registered in the name provided, which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting and at any adjournments thereof, with all the powers the undersigned would have if personally present. Without limiting the general authorization hereby given, said proxies are, and each of them is, instructed to vote or act as follows on the proposals set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
THIS PROXY, WHEN EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL (PROPOSAL 1), “FOR” THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL (PROPOSAL 2), AND “FOR” THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL (PROPOSAL 3), IF PRESENTED.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ALL PROPOSALS.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on August 11, 2023: This notice of meeting and the accompanying proxy statement are available at https://www.cstproxy.com/[●]/2023.
| Proposal 1 — Extension Amendment Proposal | FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN |
| Amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate to extend the date by which the Company has to complete a business combination from August 11, 2023 to May 11, 2024, or such earlier date as determined by the Board of Directors, in a series of up to nine (9) one-month extensions, which we refer to as the “Extension Amendment Proposal.” | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ |
| Proposal 2 — Trust Amendment Proposal | FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN |
| Amend the Company’s Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2021, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, (i) allowing the Company to extend the business combination period from August 11, 2023 to May 11, 2024 in a series of up to nine (9) one-month extensions, and (ii) updating certain defined terms in the Trust Agreement, which we refer to as the “Trust Amendment Proposal.”. | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ |
| Proposal 3 — Adjournment Proposal | FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN |
| 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 for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, which we refer to as the “Adjournment Proposal.” | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ |
| Dated: [●], 2023 |
| Stockholder’s Signature | ||
| Stockholder’s Signature |
Signature should agree with name printed hereon. If stock is held in the name of more than one person, EACH joint owner should sign. Executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, and attorneys should indicate the capacity in which they sign. Attorneys should submit powers of attorney.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE ENCLOSED TO CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSAL SET FORTH IN PROPOSAL 1, “FOR” THE PROPOSAL SET FORTH IN PROPOSAL 2, AND “FOR” THE PROPOSAL SET FORTH IN PROPOSAL 3, IF SUCH PROPOSAL IS PRESENTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING. THIS PROXY WILL REVOKE ALL PRIOR PROXIES SIGNED BY YOU.