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:
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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 under §240.14a-12
Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation
(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 all boxes that apply):
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
PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT –
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED JANUARY 12, 2024
AULT DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240
Las Vegas, Nevada 89141
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 15, 2024
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF AULT DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
CORPORATION:
You are cordially invited to attend the special meeting (the “special
meeting”) of stockholders of Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company,”
“we,” “us” or “our”), to be held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time,
on February 15, 2024. The special meeting will be held virtually, at [•]. At the special meeting, the stockholders will consider
and vote upon the following proposals:
| 1. | A proposal to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended (our “Charter”), to extend the date (the “Termination Date”)
by which the Company must consummate a business combination (as defined below) (the “Extension”) from February
20, 2024 (the date that is 26 months from the closing date of the Company’s initial public offering of units (the “IPO”))
to December 20, 2024 (the date that is 36 months from the closing date of the IPO) (the “Extended Date”) (such
proposal, the “Extension Amendment Proposal”); and |
| 2. | A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later
date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve
the Extension Amendment Proposal, or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension (the “Adjournment
Proposal”).
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The Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement. You will be able to attend and participate in the special meeting
online by visiting [•]. Please see “Questions and Answers about the Special Meeting — When and where is the special
meeting?” and “Questions and Answers about the Special Meeting — How do I attend the virtual special meeting,
and will I be able to ask questions?” in the accompanying proxy statement for more information.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR”
THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL AND, IF PRESENTED, THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal
is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “business combination”).
The Charter provides that the Company has until February 20, 2024 to complete an initial business combination. Pursuant to the Charter,
the Company previously extended the period of time to consummate a business combination by three months from the initial termination date
of December 20, 2022 (the “Initial Termination Date”) to March 20, 2023. Subsequent to the extension of the
Initial Termination Date, pursuant to the Charter, the Company extended the period of time to consummate a business combination by an
additional three months to June 20, 2023. On June 15, 2023, we held a special meeting of stockholders and obtained stockholder approval
of a further extension of the period of time to consummate an initial business combination from June 20, 2023 to September 20, 2023 with
the option to elect, without another stockholder vote, to extend the period of time to consummate a business combination on a monthly
basis up to five times by an additional one month each time after September 20, 2023 upon request by Ault Disruptive Technologies Company,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and approval by the Company’s board of directors
(the “Board”) until February 20, 2024. While we are currently in discussions regarding various business combination
opportunities, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before February 20, 2024 to complete an initial business
combination. Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination.
Therefore, our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to extend the date by which the Company must
consummate a business combination to the Extended Date in order for our stockholders to have the opportunity to participate in our future
investment.
The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to
allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates if we determine that additional time is necessary to permit
further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal, or
if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
The affirmative vote of at least 65% of the Company’s
then outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), then entitled to vote
thereon as of the Record Date (as defined below) will be required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires
the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the
special meeting and entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date.
In connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal,
stockholders who own shares of our common stock issued in our IPO (we refer to such stockholders as “Public Stockholders”
and such shares as “Public Shares”) may elect to redeem their Public Shares for a per-share price, payable
in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account established in connection with the IPO (the “Trust
Account”), including any interest earned on the Trust Account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided
by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, regardless of how such Public Stockholders vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal or
if they vote at all. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders and implemented, the remaining
Public Stockholders that do not redeem their Public Shares in connection with such Extension Amendment Proposal will retain their right
to redeem their shares of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination if and when it is submitted to a vote of
our stockholders, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter, as amended. In addition, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is
approved and implemented, the remaining Public Stockholders will be entitled to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company
has not completed an initial business combination by the Extended Date. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions
with respect to our warrants, including the warrants included in the units sold in the IPO (the “public warrants”),
which will expire worthless in the event the Company winds up.
Based upon the amount held in the Trust Account as of [•], which
was $[•], the Company estimates that the per-share price at which Public Shares may be redeemed from cash held in the Trust
Account will be approximately $[•] at the time of the special meeting. The closing price of our common stock on the NYSE American
LLC (“NYSE American”) on [•], 2024 was $[•]. The Company cannot assure stockholders that they will
be able to sell their shares of common stock in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price
stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
In order to exercise your redemption rights, you
must, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on February 13, 2024 (two business days before the special meeting), (i) submit a written
request to our transfer agent that we redeem your Public Shares for cash and (ii) deliver your stock to our transfer agent physically
or electronically through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). The address of Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, our transfer agent (“transfer agent”), is listed under the question “Who can help answer
my questions?” below. Pursuant to the Charter, a Public Stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of
such Public Stockholder’s Public Shares for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and implemented. You will be entitled
to receive cash for any Public Shares to be redeemed only if you: (a) hold Public Shares or (b) hold Public Shares as part of
units and elect to separate such units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights
with respect to the Public Shares.
Any demand for redemption, once made, may be withdrawn
at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and thereafter, with our consent, until the vote is taken with respect
to the Extension Amendment Proposal. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide within the required
timeframe not to exercise your redemption rights, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically).
You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the phone number or address listed under the question “Who can
help answer my questions?” below.
Additionally, we will not redeem the Public Shares
if (i) the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or (ii) the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, but is not implemented.
In any of these scenarios, you will not receive cash for your Public Shares. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or not
implemented, then we will not proceed with the form of amendments set forth in Annex A of the accompanying proxy statement and we
will not redeem any Public Shares. In such case, Public Shares which a Public Stockholder elects to redeem but which are not redeemed
shall be returned to such Public Stockholder or such Public Stockholder’s account and such Public Stockholder will retain the right
to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed an initial business combination by February 20, 2024.
Holders of units of the Company must elect to
separate the underlying Public Shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares. If
holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank, as applicable, that they
elect to separate the units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its, his or
her own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Your broker, bank or other nominee may have
an earlier deadline by which you must provide instructions to separate the units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants
in order to exercise redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares, so you should contact your broker, bank or other nominee or
intermediary. Public Stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares even if they vote “FOR”
the Extension Amendment Proposal.
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow
our Board to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation of proxies.
The Adjournment Proposal will be presented to our stockholders only in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in
connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved,
and the Company does not consummate an initial business combination by the Termination Date, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus and
in accordance with our Charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably
possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the
aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously
released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding
Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive
further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,
subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will
be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, including the public warrants, which will expire worthless
in the event the Company winds up.
Notwithstanding the approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal, our Board may decide to abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal at any time and for any reason prior to the effectiveness
of the filing of the proposed amendment to the Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. If our Board abandons the
Extension Amendment Proposal (even if approved), Public Stockholders will not be entitled to exercise redemption rights and will not have
their Public Shares redeemed.
The Board has fixed the close of business on January
9, 2024 as the record date for the special meeting (the “Record Date”). Only stockholders of record on January
9, 2024 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. Further information regarding
voting rights and the matters to be voted upon is presented in the accompanying proxy statement.
You are not being asked to vote on a business
combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your Public Shares in connection with the Extension,
you will retain the right to vote on a business combination when it is submitted to the Public Stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder
on the record date for a meeting to consider a business combination) and the right to redeem your Public Shares for a pro rata portion
of the Trust Account in the event a business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated a business combination
by the Extended Date.
After careful consideration of all relevant
factors, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal are advisable and
recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment
Proposal.
Enclosed is the proxy statement containing detailed
information concerning the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Adjournment Proposal and the special meeting. Whether or not you plan to
attend the special meeting, the Company urges you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.
[•], 2024 |
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Milton C. (Todd) Ault III |
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Chairman of the Board |
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 virtually 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 virtually
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 an abstention will have the same effect as voting
against the Extension Amendment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is
established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability
of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on February 15, 2024: This notice of meeting and the accompanying
proxy statement are available at [•].
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST
(1) IF YOU HOLD PUBLIC SHARES THROUGH UNITS, ELECT TO SEPARATE YOUR UNITS INTO THE UNDERLYING PUBLIC SHARES AND PUBLIC WARRANTS PRIOR
TO EXERCISING YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC SHARES, (2) SUBMIT A WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER AGENT BY 5:00 P.M.
EASTERN TIME, ON FEBRUARY 13, 2024, THE DATE THAT IS TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED VOTE AT THE SPECIAL MEETING, THAT YOUR PUBLIC
SHARES BE REDEEMED FOR CASH, INCLUDING THE LEGAL NAME, PHONE NUMBER, AND ADDRESS OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE SHARES FOR WHICH REDEMPTION
IS REQUESTED, AND (3) DELIVER YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK TO THE TRANSFER AGENT, PHYSICALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY’S DWAC (DEPOSIT WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES DESCRIBED
IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT. IF YOU HOLD THE SHARES IN STREET NAME, YOU WILL NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BANK
OR BROKER TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
The accompanying proxy statement is dated [•],
2024 and is first being mailed to our stockholders on or about [•], 2024.
AULT DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240
Las Vegas, Nevada 89141
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 15, 2024
The special meeting of stockholders (the “special
meeting”) of Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company,”
“we,” “us” or “our”), will be held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern
Time, on February 15, 2024. The special meeting will be held virtually, at [•]. At the special meeting, the stockholders will consider
and vote upon the following proposals:
| 1. | A proposal to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended (our “Charter”), to extend the date (the “Termination Date”)
by which the Company must consummate a business combination (as defined below) (the “Extension”) from February
20, 2024 (the date that is 26 months from the closing date of the Company’s initial public offering of units (the “IPO”))
to December 20, 2024 (the date that is 36 months from the closing date of the IPO) (the “Extended Date”) (such
proposal, the “Extension Amendment Proposal”); and |
| 2. | A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later
date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve
the Extension Amendment Proposal, or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension (the “Adjournment
Proposal”). |
The Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement. You will be able to attend and participate in the special meeting
online by visiting [•]. Please see “Questions and Answers about the Special Meeting — When and where is the special
meeting?” and “Questions and Answers about the Special Meeting — How do I attend the virtual special meeting,
and will I be able to ask questions?” for more information.
The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal
is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “business combination”).
The Charter provides that the Company has until February 20, 2024 to complete an initial business combination. Pursuant to the Charter,
the Company previously extended the period of time to consummate a business combination by three months from the initial termination date
of December 20, 2022 (the “Initial Termination Date”) to March 20, 2023. Subsequent to the extension of the
Initial Termination Date, pursuant to the Charter, the Company extended the period of time to consummate a business combination by an
additional three months to June 20, 2023. On June 15, 2023, we held a special meeting of stockholders and obtained stockholder approval
of a further extension of the period of time to consummate an initial business combination from June 20, 2023 to September 20, 2023 with
the option to elect, without another stockholder vote, to extend the period of time to consummate a business combination on a monthly
basis up to five times by an additional one month each time after September 20, 2023 upon request by Ault Disruptive Technologies Company,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and approval by the Company’s board of directors
(the “Board”) until February 20, 2024. While we are currently in discussions regarding various business combination
opportunities, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before February 20, 2024 to complete an initial business
combination. Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination.
Therefore, our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to extend the date by which the Company must
consummate a business combination to the Extended Date in order for our stockholders to have the opportunity to participate in our future
investment.
The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to
allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates if we determine that additional time is necessary to permit
further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal, or
if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
The affirmative vote of at least 65% of the Company’s
then outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), then entitled to vote
thereon as of the Record Date (as defined below) will be required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires
the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the
special meeting and entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date.
In connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal,
stockholders who own shares of our common stock issued in our IPO (we refer to such stockholders as “Public Stockholders”
and such shares as “Public Shares”) may elect to redeem their Public Shares for a per-share price, payable
in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account established in connection with the IPO (the “Trust
Account”), including any interest earned on the Trust Account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided
by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, regardless of how such Public Stockholders vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal or
if they vote at all. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders and implemented, the remaining
Public Stockholders that do not redeem their Public Shares in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal will retain their right
to redeem their shares of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination if and when it is submitted to a vote of
our stockholders, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter, as amended. In addition, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is
approved and implemented, the remaining Public Stockholders will be entitled to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company
has not completed an initial business combination by the Extended Date. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions
with respect to our warrants, including the warrants included in the units sold in the IPO (the “public warrants”),
which will expire worthless in the event the Company winds up.
Based upon the amount held in the Trust
Account as of [•], which was $[•], the Company estimates that the per-share price at which Public Shares may be
redeemed from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $[•] at the time of the special meeting. The closing price
of our common stock on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) on [•], 2024 was $[•]. The
Company cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of common stock in the open market, even if the
market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities
when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
In order to exercise your redemption rights, you
must, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on February 13, 2024 (two business days before the special meeting), (i) submit a written
request to our transfer agent that we redeem your Public Shares for cash and (ii) deliver your stock to our transfer agent physically
or electronically through DTC. The address of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent (“transfer
agent”), is listed under the question “Who can help answer my questions?” below. Pursuant to the Charter,
a Public Stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such Public Stockholder’s Public Shares for cash if
the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and implemented. You will be entitled to receive cash for any Public Shares to be redeemed
only if you: (a) hold Public Shares or (b) hold Public Shares as part of units and elect to separate such units into the underlying
Public Shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares.
Any demand for redemption, once made, may be withdrawn
at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and thereafter, with our consent, until the vote is taken with respect
to the Extension Amendment Proposal. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide within the required
timeframe not to exercise your redemption rights, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically).
You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the phone number or address listed under the question “Who can
help answer my questions?” below.
Additionally, we will not redeem the Public Shares
if (i) the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or (ii) the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, but is not implemented.
In any of these scenarios, you will not receive cash for your Public Shares. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or not
implemented, then we will not proceed with the form of amendments set forth in Annex A hereto and we will not redeem any Public Shares.
In such case, Public Shares which a Public Stockholder elects to redeem but which are not redeemed shall be returned to such Public Stockholder
or such Public Stockholder’s account and such Public Stockholder will retain the right to have their Public Shares redeemed for
cash if the Company has not completed an initial business combination by February 20, 2024.
Holders of units of the Company must elect to
separate the underlying Public Shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares. If
holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank, as applicable, that they
elect to separate the units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its, his or
her own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Your broker, bank or other nominee may have
an earlier deadline by which you must provide instructions to separate the units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants
in order to exercise redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares, so you should contact your broker, bank or other nominee or
intermediary. Public Stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares even if they vote “FOR”
the Extension Amendment Proposal.
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow
our Board to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation of proxies.
The Adjournment Proposal will be presented to our stockholders only in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in
connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved,
and the Company does not consummate an initial business combination by the Termination Date, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus and
in accordance with our Charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably
possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the
aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously
released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding
Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive
further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,
subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will
be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, including the public warrants, which will expire worthless
in the event the Company winds up.
Our Sponsor and our officers and directors (altogether
the “Initial Stockholders”) have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to the shares of common
stock initially purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement prior to the IPO (such shares are referred to as the “Founder
Shares”) and their Public Shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s Charter.
Our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable
to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business
with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce
the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.35 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share
held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.35 per Public Share due to reductions
in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective
target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable)
nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). However, we have not asked our Sponsor
to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy
its indemnity obligations and believe that our Sponsor’s only assets are securities of our Company. Therefore, we cannot assure
you that our Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third
parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
“DGCL”), stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of
distributions received by them in a dissolution. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL
intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party
claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional
150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a
liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to
the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
However, because the Company will not be complying
with Section 280 of the DGCL, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires the Company to adopt a plan, based on facts known to the Company at
such time, that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against the
Company within the subsequent ten years following our dissolution. However, because the Company is a blank check company, rather than
an operating company, and our operations have been limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely
claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved,
such approval will constitute consent for the Company to (i) remove from the Trust Account an amount (the “Withdrawal
Amount”) equal to the number of Public Shares properly redeemed multiplied by the per-share price, such per-share price
will be equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to such approval, including any
interest earned on the Trust Account deposits (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 funds remaining
in the Trust Account after the removal of such Withdrawal Amount shall be available for use by the Company to complete an initial 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 an initial business combination through the Extended Date if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved.
The withdrawal of the Withdrawal Amount will reduce
the amount held in the Trust Account, and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be significantly less than the approximately $[•]
that was in the Trust Account as of [•]. In such event, the Company may need to obtain additional funds to complete its initial business
combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all.
Notwithstanding the approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal, our Board may decide to abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal at any time and for any reason prior to the effectiveness
of the filing of the proposed amendment to the Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. If our Board abandons the
Extension Amendment Proposal (even if approved), Public Stockholders will not be entitled to exercise redemption rights and will not have
their Public Shares redeemed.
The Board has fixed the close of business on January
9, 2024 as the record date for the special meeting (the “Record Date”). Only stockholders of record on January
9, 2024 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. Further information regarding
voting rights and the matters to be voted upon is presented in this proxy statement.
This proxy statement contains important information
about the special meeting and the proposals to be voted on at the special meeting. Please read it carefully and vote your shares.
This proxy statement is dated [•], 2024 and
is first being mailed to our stockholders on or about [•], 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in
this proxy statement that are not purely historical are “forward-looking statements.” Our forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies
regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or
circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,”
“continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,”
“plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,”
“would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that
a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this proxy statement may include, without limitation, statements about:
| · | our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses; |
| · | our ability to complete our initial business combination on attractive terms, or at all; |
| · | our ability to consummate an initial business combination due to the economic uncertainty and volatility
in the financial markets; |
| · | our expectations around the performance of the prospective target business or businesses; |
| · | our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors
following our initial business combination; |
| · | our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts
of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination; |
| · | actual and potential conflicts of interest relating to our management team, Sponsor or directors or any
of their respective affiliates; |
| · | our ability to draw from the support and expertise of affiliates of our Sponsor; |
| · | our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination on attractive
terms, or at all; |
| · | our pool of prospective target businesses, including the location and industry of such target businesses; |
| · | the ability of our management team to generate a number of potential business combination opportunities; |
| · | failure to maintain the listing on, or the delisting of our securities
from, the NYSE American or an inability to have our securities listed on the NYSE American or another national securities exchange following
our initial business combination; |
| · | our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; |
| · | the lack of a market for our securities; |
| · | the use of proceeds not held in the Trust Account or available to us from interest income on the Trust
Account balance; |
| · | the Trust Account not being subject to claims of third parties; or |
| · | our financial performance. |
The forward-looking statements
contained in this proxy statement are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential
effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual
results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023 and subsequent periodic filings with the
SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable
law.
RISK FACTORS
You should consider carefully
all of the risks described in our final prospectus dated December 15, 2021, filed with the SEC on December 16, 2021, our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
and any other reports we file with the SEC, before making a decision to invest in our securities. Furthermore, if any of the following
events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected or we could face liquidation.
In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties
described in 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 an initial business combination.
Approving the Extension involves
a number of risks. Even if the Extension is approved, the Company can provide no assurances that an initial business combination will
be consummated prior to the Extended Date. Our ability to consummate an initial 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 an initial business
combination. We are required to offer stockholders the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in connection with the Extension, and
we will be required to offer stockholders redemption rights again in connection with any stockholder vote to approve an initial business
combination. Even if the Extension or an initial business combination are approved by our stockholders, it is possible that redemptions
will leave us with insufficient cash to consummate an initial business combination on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. The fact
that we will have separate redemption periods in connection with the Extension and an initial 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.
A 1% U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed
on us in connection with redemptions by us of our shares or our liquidation.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation
Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) was signed into law. The IRA provides for, among other things, a 1% U.S. federal
excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by “covered corporations” beginning in 2023, with certain exceptions (the “Excise
Tax”). We are a “covered corporation” for this purpose, and therefore are subject to the Excise Tax if we are
treated as repurchasing our stock. Generally, the Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from
which the stock is repurchased. The amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the
time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the Excise Tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market
value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain
exceptions may apply to the Excise Tax. On December 27, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”)
published Notice 2023-2 to provide interim guidance on some aspects of the application of the Excise Tax, including with respect to redemptions
and certain other transactions in which special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) typically engage. However,
certain aspects of the application of the Excise Tax remain unclear, and the interim guidance in the Notice are subject to change.
Because the application of
the Excise Tax is not entirely clear, any redemption or other repurchase effected by us, in connection with a business combination, extension
vote or otherwise, may be subject to the Excise Tax. Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the Excise Tax on a redemption
of our shares of common stock or other stock issued by us would depend on a number of factors, including (i) whether the redemption is
treated as a repurchase of stock for purposes of the Excise Tax, (ii) the fair market value of the redemption treated as a repurchase
of stock in connection with our initial business combination, an extension or otherwise, (iii) the structure of the initial business combination,
(iv) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with the initial business combination (or
otherwise issued not in connection with the initial business combination but issued within the same taxable year of a redemption treated
as a repurchase of stock) and (v) the content of regulations and other guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As noted above,
the Excise Tax would be payable by us, and not by the redeeming holder, and the mechanics of any required payment of the Excise Tax have
not yet been determined.
As described under “The
Extension Amendment Proposal — Redemption Rights,” if the Termination Date is extended (currently February 20, 2024),
our Public Stockholders will have the right to require us to redeem their Public Shares. In order to mitigate the current uncertainty
surrounding the implementation of the IRA, in the event that the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and implemented as described
in this proxy statement, funds in the Trust Account, including any interest earned thereon, will not be used, now or in the future, to
pay for any excise tax imposed under the IRA.
Consequently, a substantial
risk remains that any redemptions may result in the Excise Tax to us, including in circumstances where we either engage in a business
combination in 2024 in which we do not issue shares sufficient to offset the earlier redemptions or liquidate later in 2024. The imposition
of the Excise Tax could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete an initial business combination or for effecting redemptions
and may affect our ability to complete an initial business combination.
Changes to laws or regulations or in how
such laws or regulations are interpreted or applied, or a failure to comply with any laws, regulations, interpretations or applications,
may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
We are subject to the laws
and regulations, and interpretations and applications of such laws and regulations, of national, regional, state and local governments
and, potentially, non-U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, we are required to comply with certain SEC and potentially other legal and regulatory
requirements, and our consummation of an initial business combination may be contingent upon our ability to comply with certain laws,
regulations, interpretations and applications and any post-initial business combination company may be subject to additional laws, regulations,
interpretations and applications. Compliance with, and monitoring of, the foregoing may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those
laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time, and those changes could have a material
adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial business combination. A failure to comply with
applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability
to negotiate and complete an initial business combination. The SEC has adopted certain rules and may in the future adopt other rules which
may have a material effect on our activities and on our ability to consummate an initial business combination, including the SPAC Rule
Proposals described below.
In the event that the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and
the proposed amendment to our Charter is effected, the NYSE American may delist our securities from trading on its exchange following
stockholder redemptions of Public Shares, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject
us to additional trading restrictions.
Our common stock and units are listed on the NYSE American. Our public
warrants are trading on the OTC Market. We are subject to compliance with the NYSE American’s continued listing requirements in
order to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE American. Such continued listing requirements for our common stock include,
among other things, the requirement to maintain at least 300 public holders, at least 200,000 publicly held shares and the total value
of market capitalization of at least $50 million. Pursuant to the terms of our Charter, in the event the Extension Amendment Proposal
is approved and the proposed amendment to the Charter is effected, Public Stockholders may elect to redeem their Public Shares and, as
a result, we may not be in compliance with the NYSE American’s continued listing requirements.
On July 21, 2023, the Company received a deficiency letter from the
NYSE American indicating that the Company was not in compliance with (i) Section 1003(b)(i)(A) of the NYSE American Company Guide (the
“Company Guide”), which requires the Company to maintain a minimum of 200,000 shares publicly held and (ii)
Section 1003(b)(i)(B) of the Company Guide, which requires the Company to maintain a minimum of 300 public stockholders on a continuous
basis.
On August 18, 2023, the Company submitted a plan of compliance (the
“Plan”) to the NYSE American addressing how the Company intends to regain compliance with these requirements
by December 20, 2024.
On September 27, 2023, the Company received notice from the NYSE American
that it had accepted the Plan and granted a plan period until December 20, 2024, in order to regain compliance. The Company’s progress
toward regaining compliance is subject to periodic review by the NYSE American, including quarterly monitoring for compliance with the
initiatives outlined in the Plan.
We expect that if our common stock fails to meet the NYSE American’s
continued listing requirements, our units will also fail to meet the NYSE American’s continued listing requirements for those
securities. We cannot assure you that any of our common stock or units will be able to meet any of the NYSE American’s continued
listing requirements following any redemptions of our Public Shares. If our securities do not meet the NYSE American’s continued
listing requirements, the NYSE American may delist our securities from trading on its exchange.
If the NYSE American delists any of our securities from trading on
its exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted
on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| · | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
| · | a determination that our common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading
in our common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading
market for our securities; |
| · | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
| · | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a
federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered
securities.” Our common stock and units qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from
regulating the sale of covered securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion
of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular
case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by special purpose
acquisition companies, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten
to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on
the NYSE American, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in
each state in which we offer our securities.
The SEC has recently issued proposed rules
relating to certain activities of SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential initial business combination target, or others
may determine to undertake in connection with such proposals may increase our costs and the time needed to complete an initial business
combination and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial business combination. The need for compliance
with the SPAC Rule Proposals may cause us to liquidate the funds in the Trust Account or liquidate the Company at an earlier time than
we might otherwise choose.
On March 30, 2022, the SEC
issued proposed rules (the “SPAC Rule Proposals”) relating to, among other things, disclosures in SEC filings
in connection with business combination transactions between SPACs such as us and private operating companies; the financial statement
requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed
business combination transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and
the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment
Company Act”), including a proposed rule that would provide SPACs a safe harbor from treatment as an investment company
under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act if they satisfy certain conditions that limit a SPAC’s duration, asset composition,
business purpose and activities. Pursuant to Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, an “investment company” is
defined as an issuer that holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing,
reinvesting, or trading in securities. To assess whether a company is deemed to be an investment company under that definition, multiple
factors are analyzed such as a company’s assets, its sources of income, its historical development, its representations of policy,
and the activities of its officers and directors. This multiple factor test is commonly known as the subjective test. There can be no
assurance that the Company would not be considered an investment company under the current rules and regulations set forth in the Investment
Company Act.
The SPAC Rule Proposals have
not yet been adopted, and may be adopted in the proposed form or in a different form that could impose additional regulatory requirements
on SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential initial business combination target, or others may determine to undertake in
connection with the SPAC Rule Proposals, or pursuant to the SEC’s views expressed in the SPAC Rule Proposals, may increase the costs
and time of negotiating and completing an initial business combination, and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete
an initial business combination. The need for compliance with the SPAC Rule Proposals may cause us to liquidate the funds in the Trust
Account or liquidate the Company at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose. Were we to liquidate, our warrants would expire worthless,
and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including any potential
price appreciation of our securities.
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 may abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead liquidate the Company.
In order not to be regulated
as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged
primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting,
owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government
securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business is to identify and complete an initial business combination and thereafter
to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale
or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
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 Current 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.
There is currently some uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC, including a company like ours, that does not complete its business combination within 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement. Although the SPAC Rule Proposals, including the proposed safe harbor rule, have not yet been adopted, and may be adopted in a revised form, the SEC has indicated that there are serious questions concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC that does not complete its initial business combination within the proposed time frame set forth in the proposed safe harbor rule. As indicated above, we completed our IPO in December 2021 and have operated as a blank check company searching for a target business with which to consummate a business combination since such time (or approximately 25 months after the effective date of our IPO, as of the date of this proxy statement). As a result of all of the foregoing, it is possible that a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company.
If we are deemed to be an
investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities would be severely restricted, including restrictions on the nature
of our investments and restrictions on the issuance of securities. In addition, we would be subject to burdensome compliance requirements
for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete an initial business combination, including registration as
an investment company with the SEC, adoption of a specific form of corporate structure and reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and
disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations that we are currently not subject to. As a result, if we were deemed to be an
investment company under the Investment Company Act, we would expect to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination
and liquidate the Trust Account. We do not believe that our principal activities will subject us to regulation as an investment company
under the Investment Company Act. However, if we are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation
under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds.
As a result, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we may abandon our efforts
to complete an initial business combination and instead liquidate the Company. Were we to liquidate, our warrants would expire worthless,
and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including any potential
price appreciation of our securities.
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 IPO, been held only in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment
Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under
the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. 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 the current regulations under the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time instruct Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company, the trustee with respect to the Trust Account (the “Trustee”), to liquidate the U.S. government
securities 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.
The ability of our Public Stockholders to
exercise redemption rights if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved with respect to a large number of our Public Shares may adversely
affect the liquidity of our securities.
Pursuant to our Charter, a
Public Stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such Public Stockholder’s Public Shares for cash if the
Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. The ability of our Public Stockholders to exercise such redemption rights with respect to a
large number of our Public Shares may adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock. As a result, you may be unable to sell your
common stock even if the per-share market price is higher than the per-share redemption price paid to Public Stockholders that elect to
redeem their Public Shares if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING
These Questions and Answers
are only summaries of the matters they discuss. They do not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read
carefully the entire document, including the annexes to this proxy statement.
Why am I receiving this proxy statement?
This proxy statement and the
enclosed proxy card are being sent to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board for use at the special meeting,
or at any adjournments thereof. This proxy statement summarizes the information that you need to make an informed decision on the proposals
to be considered at the special meeting.
The Company is a blank check
company formed in 2021 for the purpose of entering into a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On December 20, 2021, the Company consummated its IPO of 11,500,000 units,
of which 1,500,000 represents the full exercise by the underwriters’ of their over-allotment option (the “units”).
Each unit consists of one share of common stock and three-fourths of one redeemable warrant. The units were sold at an offering price
of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $115,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the
sale of an aggregate of 7,100,000 private placement warrants, of which 600,000 private placement warrants represents the number sold as
a result of the underwriters’ full exercise of the over-allotment option (the “private placement warrants”),
at a price of $1.00 per warrant in a private placement to our Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $7,100,000.
Following the closing of the
IPO on December 20, 2021, an amount of $116,725,000 ($10.15 per unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the units in the IPO and the
sale of the private placement warrants was placed in the Trust Account. Proceeds held in the Trust Account have been invested in U.S.
government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or
less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only
in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. The Trust Account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earlier of: (a)
the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any Public Shares properly submitted in connection
with a stockholder vote to amend our Charter (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection
with our initial business combination or certain amendments to our Charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we
do not consummate our initial business combination within 18 months following the closing of the IPO or (ii) with respect to any other
provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of the Company’s
Public Shares if the Company is unable to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period (as defined below). Like
most blank check companies, our Charter provides for the return of the IPO proceeds held in the Trust Account to the holders of shares
of common stock sold in the IPO if there is no qualifying business combination(s) consummated on or before a certain date. In our case,
such date was initially set at June 20, 2023. In June 2023, stockholders approved an amendment to the Charter extending the deadline to
September 20, 2023, with the option to elect, without another stockholder vote, to extend the period of time to consummate a business
combination on a monthly basis up to five times by an additional one month each time after September 20, 2023 upon request by the Sponsor
and approval by the Board until February 20, 2024. Our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders
to amend the Company’s Charter to extend the date we have to consummate a business combination to December 20, 2024. Therefore,
our Board is submitting the proposal described in this proxy statement for the stockholders to vote upon.
What is being voted on?
You are being asked to vote
on the Extension Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal. The proposals are listed below:
| 1. | Extension Amendment Proposal: A proposal to amend our Charter to extend the date by which the Company
must consummate a business combination from February 20, 2024 (the date that is 26 months from the closing date of the IPO) to December
20, 2024 (the date that is 36 months from the closing date of the IPO). |
| 2. | Adjournment Proposal: A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date
or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the
Extension Amendment Proposal, or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension. |
You are not being asked
to vote on any proposed business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your Public
Shares now, you will retain the right to vote on any proposed business combination when and if one is submitted to the Public Stockholders
(provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider a business combination) and the right to redeem your
Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the Trust Account in the event a proposed business combination is approved and completed or the
Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
What is the purpose of the Extension Amendment
Proposal?
The purpose of the Extension
Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a business combination. While we are currently in discussions
regarding various business combination opportunities, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before February
20, 2024 to complete an initial business combination. Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able
to consummate an initial business combination. Therefore, our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders
to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination to the Extended Date in order for our stockholders to have
the opportunity to participate in our future investment.
What is the purpose of the Adjournment Proposal?
The purpose of the Adjournment
Proposal is to allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates if we determine that additional time is necessary
to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal,
or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
Why should I vote to approve the Extension
Amendment Proposal?
Our Board believes stockholders
will benefit from the Company consummating a business combination and is proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal to extend the date
by which the Company must complete a business combination until the Extended Date. The Extension would give the Company the opportunity
to complete a business combination, which our Board believes is in the best interests of the stockholders.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved or not implemented and we do not consummate an initial business combination by February 20, 2024, the Charter
provides that we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more
than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then
on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to
pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public
Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive
further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,
subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will
be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete
our initial business combination by February 20, 2024, or, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Extended Date.
The provisions of the Charter
described in the preceding paragraph were included to protect the Company’s stockholders from having to sustain their investments
for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to find a suitable initial business combination in the timeframe contemplated by
the Charter. The Company believes that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on pursuing a business combination,
circumstances warrant providing those who believe they might find a business combination to be an attractive investment with an opportunity
to consider such transaction. The purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with additional time to complete
an initial business combination, which the Board believes is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.
Our Board recommends that
you vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Why should I vote for the Adjournment Proposal?
If the Adjournment Proposal
is presented and not approved by our stockholders, our Board may not be able to adjourn the special meeting to a later date in the event
that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Our Board recommends that
you vote in favor of the Adjournment Proposal.
When would the Board abandon the Extension
Amendment Proposal?
Our Board will abandon the
Extension if our stockholders do not approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. Additionally, notwithstanding the approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal, our Board may decide to abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal at any time and for any reason prior to the effectiveness
of the filing of the proposed amendment to the Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. If our Board abandons the
Extension Amendment Proposal (even if approved), Public Stockholders will not be entitled to exercise redemption rights and will not have
their Public Shares redeemed.
Who owns the Sponsor?
The Company’s sponsor
is Ault Disruptive Technologies Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The Sponsor currently owns 2,875,000 shares of common
stock and 9,400,000 private placement warrants. The Sponsor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ault Alliance, Inc. (“Ault Alliance”,
formerly known as BitNile Holdings, Inc.). Milton C. (Todd) Ault III, our Chairman of the Board, is also the Executive Chairman of Ault
Alliance. By virtue of his relationship, Ault Alliance and Mr. Ault may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned directly by
the Sponsor. Mr. Ault disclaims any such beneficial interest except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.
The Sponsor has substantial
ties to one non-U.S. person, namely a citizen of Sweden who has held resident alien status in the United States for more than forty years.
While the Sponsor may constitute a “foreign person” under the strict terms of the rules and regulations of the Committee on
Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), we do not believe any initial business combination between
us and a potential target company would be subject to rigorous or any CFIUS review in view of the individual’s foreign citizenship
of Sweden, or in view of the “benign” asset class in which we seek to complete a business combination. If, however, our initial
business combination should fall within the scope of applicable foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate particular
proposed business combinations that could be favorable to us. The process of any governmental review of an acquisition, whether under
CFIUS or other regulations, could be lengthy, which could delay our ability to complete our initial business combination within the requisite
time period, which means we may be required to liquidate, in which case investors could lose their entire investment. If we make a mandatory
filing or determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or proceed with a business combination without notifying CFIUS, we risk CFIUS
intervention, before or after the closing of a business combination.
How do the Company insiders intend to vote
their shares?
The Initial Stockholders and
their respective affiliates are expected to vote any common stock over which they have voting control (including any Public Shares owned
by them) in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
The Initial Stockholders are
not entitled to redeem the Founder Shares or any Public Shares held by them. On the Record Date, the Initial Stockholders beneficially
owned and were entitled to vote 2,875,000 shares of common stock, which represents 93.84% of the Company’s issued and outstanding
common stock.
In addition, the Sponsor and
the Company’s directors, officers or advisors, or any of their respective affiliates, may purchase Public Shares in privately negotiated
transactions or in the open market prior to the special meeting, although they are under no obligation to do so. Any such purchases that
are completed after the Record Date for the special meeting may include an agreement with a selling stockholder that such stockholder,
for so long as it remains the record holder of the shares in question, will vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal and/or will
not exercise its redemption rights with respect to the shares so purchased. The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions
would be to increase the likelihood that the proposals to be voted upon at the special meeting are approved by the requisite number of
votes. In the event that such purchases do occur, the purchasers may seek to purchase shares from stockholders who would otherwise have
voted against the Extension Amendment Proposal and elected to redeem their Public Shares for a portion of the Trust Account. Any such
privately negotiated purchases may be effected at purchase prices that are below or in excess of the per-share pro rata portion of the
Trust Account. Any Public Shares held by or subsequently purchased by our affiliates may be voted in favor of the Extension Amendment
Proposal. None of the Company’s Sponsor, director, officers, advisors or their affiliates may make any such purchases when they
are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or during a restricted period under Regulation M under
the Exchange Act.
Does the Board recommend voting for the
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal?
Yes. After careful consideration
of the terms and conditions of the proposals, the Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment
Proposal are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR”
the Extension Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal.
What vote is required to approve the Extension
Amendment Proposal?
Approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of
the Company’s common stock entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date.
What vote is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal?
Approval of the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person (including virtually) or represented
by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date.
What if I want to vote against or do not
want to vote for any of the proposals?
If you do not want any of
the proposals to be approved, you should vote against such proposals. A stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person
at the special meeting will not be counted towards the number of shares required to validly establish a quorum. If a valid quorum is otherwise
established, such failure to vote will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal, but will
have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum
is established and will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal, but will have no effect
on the Adjournment Proposal. We believe that each of the proposals is a “non-discretionary” matter, and therefore, there will
not be any broker non-votes at the special meeting.
What happens if the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved or not implemented?
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or not implemented and we do not consummate an initial business combination by February 20, 2024, the Charter provides that we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination by February 20, 2024.
The Initial Stockholders and
their permitted transferees have agreed to waive their respective rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account in respect
of any Founder Shares held by it or them, as applicable, if the Company fails to complete an initial business combination by February
20, 2024, or, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Extended Date, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions
from the Trust Account with respect to any shares of common stock they hold if the Company fails to complete its initial business combination
by the applicable deadline. The Company will pay the costs of liquidation from up to $50,000 of interest from the Trust Account and its
remaining assets outside of the Trust Account, if any.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved,
what happens next?
The Company is continuing
its efforts to complete an initial business combination. The Company is seeking approval of the Extension because the Company may not
be able to complete an initial business combination prior to February 20, 2024. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the
Extension is implemented, the Company expects to continue working towards the execution of a definitive initial business combination agreement
and seeking stockholder approval of an initial business combination. If stockholders approve such initial business combination, the Company
expects to consummate an initial business combination as soon as possible following stockholder approval and satisfaction of the other
conditions to the consummation of an initial business combination.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, the Company will file the proposed amendment to the Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
in the form set forth in Annex A hereto. Upon approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal by the required number of votes, we plan to
proceed with the Extension. The Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units, shares of common stock
and public warrants will remain publicly traded. However, notwithstanding the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board
may decide to abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal at any time and for any reason prior to the effectiveness of the filing the proposed
amendment to the Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. If our Board abandons the Extension Amendment Proposal
(even if approved), Public Stockholders will not be entitled to exercise redemption rights and will not have their Public Shares redeemed.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved and implemented, any removal of any Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account will reduce the amount remaining in
the Trust Account and increase the percentage interest of shares of common stock held by the Sponsor through its Founder Shares.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and we amend our Charter
will our securities remain listed on the NYSE American following stockholder redemptions?
Our common stock and units are listed on the NYSE American. Our public
warrants are trading on the OTC Market. We are subject to compliance with the NYSE American’s continued listing requirements in
order to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE American. Such continued listing requirements for our common stock include,
among other things, the requirement to maintain at least 300 public holders, at least 200,000 publicly held shares and the total value
of market capitalization of at least $50 million. Pursuant to the terms of our Charter, in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal,
Public Stockholders may elect to redeem their Public Shares and, as a result, we may not be in compliance with the NYSE American’s
continued listing requirements.
On July 21, 2023, the Company received a deficiency letter from the
NYSE American indicating that the Company was not in compliance with (i) Section 1003(b)(i)(A) of the Company Guide, which requires the
Company to maintain a minimum of 200,000 shares publicly held and (ii) Section 1003(b)(i)(B) of the Company Guide, which requires the
Company to maintain a minimum of 300 public stockholders on a continuous basis.
On August 18, 2023, the Company submitted the Plan to the NYSE American
addressing how the Company intends to regain compliance with these requirements by December 20, 2024.
On September 27, 2023, the Company received notice from the NYSE American
that it had accepted the Plan and granted a plan period until December 20, 2024, in order to regain compliance. The Company’s progress
toward regaining compliance is subject to periodic review by the NYSE American, including quarterly monitoring for compliance with the
initiatives outlined in the Plan.
If our securities do not meet the NYSE American's continued listing
requirements, the NYSE American may delist our securities from trading on its exchange. If the NYSE American delists any of our securities
from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another approved national securities exchange, we expect that
such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences,
including: (i) a limited availability of market quotations for our securities, (ii) reduced liquidity for our securities, (iii) a determination
that our common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our common stock to adhere to more stringent
rules, including being subject to the depository requirements of Rule 419 of the Securities Act, and possibly result in a reduced level
of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities, (iv) a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain
additional financing in the future, and (v) a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business in connection with an initial business
combination. See the section entitled “Risk Factors – In the event that the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and
the proposed amendment to our Charter is effected, the NYSE American may delist our securities from trading on its exchange following
stockholder redemptions of Public Shares, which could limit investors' ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to
additional trading restrictions.”
When and where is the special meeting?
The special meeting will be
held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on February 15, 2024, in virtual format. The Company’s stockholders may attend, vote and examine
the list of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting by visiting [•] and entering the control number found on their proxy
card, voting instruction form or notice included in their proxy materials. You may also attend the special meeting telephonically by dialing
[•] (toll-free within the United States and Canada) or [•] (outside of the United States and Canada, standard rates apply).
The pin number for telephone access is [•], but please note that you will not be able to vote or ask questions if you choose to participate
telephonically. The special meeting will be held in virtual meeting format only, you will not be able to attend the special meeting physically.
How do I attend the virtual special meeting,
and will I be able to ask questions?
If you are a registered stockholder,
you will receive a proxy card from the Company’s transfer agent. The proxy card will contain instructions on how to attend the virtual
special meeting including the URL address, along with your control number. You will need your control number for access. If you do not
have your control number, contact the transfer agent at the phone number or e-mail address below. The transfer agent support contact information
is as follows: [•], or email [•].
You can pre-register to attend
the virtual meeting starting at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on February 8, 2023 (five business days prior to the special meeting date). Enter
the URL address into your browser at [•], enter your control number, name and email address. Once you pre-register you can vote or
enter questions in the chat box. At the start of the special meeting you will need to re-log in using your control number and will also
be prompted to enter your control number if you vote during the special meeting.
Beneficial holders who own
their investments through a bank or broker will need to contact the transfer agent to receive a control number. If you plan to vote at
the special meeting you will need to have a legal proxy from your bank or broker or if you would like to join and not vote, the transfer
agent will issue you a guest control number with proof of ownership. Either way you must contact the transfer agent for specific instructions
on how to receive the control number. The transfer agent can be contacted at the number or email address above. Please allow up to 72
hours prior to the special meeting for processing your control number.
If you do not have internet
capabilities, you can listen only to the special meeting by dialing [•] (toll-free within the United States and Canada) or [•]
(outside of the United States and Canada, standard rates apply); when prompted enter the pin number [•]. If you attend the special
meeting telephonically by dialing the phone number listed above, you will not be able to vote or enter questions during the special meeting,
you will only have the ability to listen to the special meeting.
How do I vote?
If you are a holder of record
of Company common stock you may vote virtually at the special meeting or by submitting a proxy for the special meeting. Whether or not
you plan to attend the special meeting virtually, the Company urges you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may submit
your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope.
You may still attend the special meeting and vote virtually if you have already voted by proxy.
If your shares of Company
common stock, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, are held in “street name” by a broker or other
agent, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend
the special meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares virtually at the special meeting
unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.
How do I change my vote?
If you have submitted a proxy
to vote your shares and wish to change your vote, you may do so by delivering a later-dated, signed proxy card prior to the date of the
special meeting or by voting virtually at the special meeting. Attendance at the special meeting alone will not change your vote. You
also may revoke your proxy by sending a notice of revocation to the Company at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas,
Nevada 89141, Attn: David Katzoff, Vice President of Finance. However, if your shares are held in “street name” by your broker,
bank or another nominee, you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee to change your vote.
How are votes counted?
Votes will be counted by the
inspector of election appointed for the special meeting, who will separately count “FOR” and “AGAINST” votes,
and abstentions for each of the proposals. A stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote online at the special meeting will
not be counted towards the number of shares required to validly establish a quorum. If a valid quorum is otherwise established, such failure
to vote will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal but will have no effect on the Adjournment
Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established and will have the
same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal but will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. We believe
that each of the proposals are “non-discretionary” matters, and therefore, there will not be any broker non-votes at the special
meeting.
If my shares are held in “street name,”
will my broker automatically vote them for me?
If you do not give instructions
to your broker, your broker can vote your shares with respect to “discretionary” items, but not with respect to “non-discretionary”
items. We believe that each of the proposals are “non-discretionary” items. Your broker can vote your shares with respect
to “non-discretionary” items only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your
shares. Your broker can tell you how to provide these instructions. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of
whether a valid quorum is established and will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal but
will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. We believe that each of the proposals are “non-discretionary” matters, and
therefore, there will not be any broker non-votes at the special meeting.
What is a quorum requirement?
A quorum of stockholders is
necessary to hold a valid meeting. The presence, in person (including virtually) or by proxy, of the holders of shares of outstanding
capital stock of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled
to vote at the special meeting shall constitute a quorum. As of the Record Date for the special meeting, 1,531,938 shares of our common
stock would be required to achieve a quorum. Abstentions will be treated as shares present for purposes of determining the presence of
establishing a quorum on all matters. Broker non-votes will not count towards the quorum. If a stockholder does not give the broker voting
instructions, under applicable self-regulatory organization rules, its broker may not vote its shares on “non-discretionary”
matters. We believe that each of the proposals are “non-discretionary” matters, and therefore, there will not be any broker
non-votes at the special meeting.
Who can vote at the special meeting?
Only holders of record of
the Company’s common stock at the close of business on January 9, 2024 are entitled to have their vote counted at the special meeting
and any adjournments or postponements thereof. As of the Record Date, 3,063,875 shares of common stock were outstanding and entitled to
vote.
Stockholder of Record:
Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the Record Date your shares or units were registered directly in your name with our transfer
agent then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote virtually at the special meeting or vote by proxy.
Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting virtually, the Company urges you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card
to ensure your vote is counted.
Beneficial Owner: Shares
Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank. If on the Record Date your shares or units were held, not in your name, but rather in
an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street
name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct
your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the special meeting virtually. However,
since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares virtually at the special meeting unless you request and obtain
a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.
What happens if I sell my Public Shares
or units before the special meeting?
The January 9, 2024 Record
Date is earlier than the date of the special meeting. If you transfer your Public Shares, including those shares held as a constituent
part of our units, after the Record Date, but before the special meeting, unless the transferee obtains from you a proxy to vote those
shares, you will retain your right to vote at the special meeting. If you transfer your Public Shares prior to the Record Date, you will
have no right to vote those shares at the special meeting. If you acquire your Public Shares after the Record Date, you will still have
an opportunity to redeem them if you so decide.
What interests do the Company’s directors
and executive officers have in the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal?
The Company’s directors
and executive officers have interests in the Extension Amendment Proposal that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests
as a stockholder. These interests include ownership by them or their affiliates of Founder Shares, and warrants that may become exercisable
in the future, loans by them that will not be repaid in the event of our winding up and the possibility of future compensatory arrangements.
See the section entitled “The Extension Amendment Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and the Company’s Directors
and Officers.”
Where will I be able to find the voting
results of the special meeting?
We will announce preliminary
voting results at the special meeting. We will also disclose voting results on a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the
SEC within four business days after the special meeting. If final voting results are not available to us in time to file a Current Report
on Form 8-K within four business days after the special meeting, we will file a Current Report on Form 8-K to publish preliminary results
and will provide the final results in an amendment to such Current Report on Form 8-K as soon as they become available.
What if I object to the Extension Amendment
Proposal and/or the Adjournment Proposal? Do I have appraisal rights?
Stockholders do not have appraisal
rights in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal or, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal under the DGCL.
What happens to the Company’s warrants
if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or not implemented?
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved or not implemented and we do not consummate an initial business combination by February 20, 2024, the Charter
provides that we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more
than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then
on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to
pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public
Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive
further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,
subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will
be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete
our initial business combination by February 20, 2024.
What happens to the Company’s warrants
if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved?
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, the Company expects to continue to attempt to consummate an initial business combination until the Extended Date,
and will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to it. The warrants will remain outstanding in accordance with
their terms.
How do I redeem my Public Shares?
In order to exercise your
redemption rights, you must, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on February 13, 2024 (two business days before the special meeting), (i)
submit a written request to our transfer agent that we redeem your Public Shares for cash, and (ii) deliver your stock to our transfer
agent physically or electronically through DTC. The address of our transfer agent is listed under the question “Who can help
answer my questions?” below. Pursuant to our Charter, a Public Stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion
of such Public Stockholder’s Public Shares for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and implemented. You will be
entitled to receive cash for any Public Shares to be redeemed only if you: (a) hold Public Shares or (b) hold Public Shares as part of
units and elect to separate such units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights
with respect to the Public Shares.
Any demand for redemption,
once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and thereafter, with our consent, until
the vote is taken with respect to the Extension Amendment Proposal. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent
and decide within the required timeframe not to exercise your redemption rights, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares
(physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the phone number or address listed under
the question “Who can help answer my questions?” below.
Additionally, we will not
redeem Public Shares if (i) the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or (ii) the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, but
is not implemented. In any of these scenarios, you will not receive cash for Public Shares. In such case, Public Shares which a Public
Stockholder elects to redeem but which are not redeemed shall be returned to such Public Stockholder or such Public Stockholder’s
account and such Public Stockholder will retain the right to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed
an initial business combination by February 20, 2024.
Holders of units must elect
to separate the underlying Public Shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares.
If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate
the units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its, their own name, the holder
must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Your broker, bank or other nominee may have an earlier deadline by
which you must provide instructions to separate the units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants in order to exercise
redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares, so you should contact your broker, bank or other nominee or intermediary. Public
Stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares regardless of whether they vote for the Extension Amendment
Proposal or whether they vote at all.
Would I still be able to exercise my redemption
rights in connection with a vote to approve a proposed initial business combination?
If your Public Shares are
not redeemed in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, and assuming you are a stockholder as of the record date for voting
on a proposed initial business combination, you will be able to vote on a proposed initial business combination with respect to the Public
Shares you hold as of such record date. If you disagree with an initial business combination, you will retain your right to redeem your
Public Shares upon consummation of such initial business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our Charter.
Will you seek any further extensions to
liquidate the Trust Account?
Other than the Extension until
the Extended Date, as described in this proxy statement, we do not currently anticipate seeking any further extension to consummate an
initial business combination, although we may determine to do so in the future.
How are the funds in the Trust Account currently
being held?
With respect to the regulation
of SPACs like the Company, on March 30, 2022, the SEC issued the SPAC Rule Proposals relating to, among other items, disclosures in business
combination transactions involving SPACs and private operating companies; the condensed financial statement requirements applicable to
transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination
transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs
could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including a proposed rule that would provide SPACs a safe harbor
from treatment as an investment company if they satisfy certain conditions that limit a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business
purpose and activities.
With regard to the SEC’s
investment company proposals included in the SPAC Rule Proposals, while the funds in the Trust Account have, since the Company’s
IPO, been held only in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with
a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company
Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, to mitigate the risk of being viewed as operating an unregistered
investment company (including pursuant to the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act), the Company may, at
any time, instruct the Trustee to hold all funds in the Trust Account as cash items (which may be interest bearing to the extent permitted
by the Trustee and the applicable rules of the SEC) until the earlier of the consummation of an initial business combination and the liquidation
of the Company.
If I am a unitholder, can I exercise redemption
rights with respect to my units?
No. Holders of outstanding
units must separate the underlying Public Shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the Public
Shares.
If you hold units registered
in your own name, you must deliver the certificate for such units to our transfer agent with written instructions to separate such units
into Public Shares and public warrants. This must be completed far enough in advance to permit the mailing of the Public Share certificates
back to you so that you may then exercise your redemption rights upon the separation of the Public Shares from the units. See “How
do I redeem my Public Shares?” above.
What should I do if I receive more than
one set of voting materials?
You may receive more than
one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards, if
your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. For example, if you hold your shares in more
than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. Please
complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all
of your shares of common stock.
Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?
The Company will pay for the
entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and executive officers may also solicit
proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting
proxies. The Company may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial
owners.
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:
Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation
11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240
Las Vegas, Nevada 89141
Attn: David Katzoff, Vice President of Finance
If you are a holder of Public
Shares and you intend to seek redemption of your Public Shares, you will need to deliver your Public Shares (either physically or electronically)
to the transfer agent at the address below prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on February 13, 2024 (two business days prior to the special
meeting). If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your shares, please contact:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street Plaza, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: SPAC Redemption Team
Email: spacredemptions@continentalstock.com
You may also obtain additional
information about the Company from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You
Can Find More Information.”
THE SPECIAL MEETING
Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Special
Meeting
The special meeting will be
held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on February 15, 2024. The special meeting will be held virtually, at [•]. At the special meeting,
the stockholders will consider and vote upon the following proposals.
| 1. | Extension Amendment Proposal: A proposal to amend our Charter to extend the date by which the Company
must consummate a business combination from February 20, 2024 (the date that is 26 months from the closing date of the IPO) to December
20, 2024 (the date that is 36 months from the closing date of the IPO). |
| 2. | The Adjournment Proposal: A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later
date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve
the Extension Amendment Proposal, or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension. |
Voting Power; Record Date
You will be entitled to vote
or direct votes to be cast at the special meeting if you owned our common stock, including as a constituent part of a unit, at the close
of business on January 9, 2024, the Record Date for the special meeting. You will have one vote per share for each share of common stock
you owned at that time. Our warrants do not carry voting rights.
At the close of business on
the Record Date, there were 3,063,875 outstanding shares of common stock, each of which entitles its holder to cast one vote per share.
The warrants do not carry voting rights.
Quorum and Vote of Stockholders
The presence, in person or
by proxy, of the holders of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at the special meeting shall constitute a quorum. As of the Record Date for the
special meeting, 1,531,938 shares of our common stock would be required to achieve a quorum. Abstentions will be treated as shares present
for purposes of determining the presence of establishing a quorum on all matters. Broker non-votes will not count towards the quorum.
If a stockholder does not give the broker voting instructions, under applicable self-regulatory organization rules, its broker may not
vote its shares on “non-discretionary” matters. We believe that each of the proposals are “non-discretionary”
matters, and therefore, there will not be any broker non-votes at the special meeting.
Votes Required
Approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of
the Company’s common stock entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date.
Approval of the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the common stockholders present in person (including virtually)
or represented by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date.
If you do not want any of
the proposals to be approved, you should vote against such proposals. A stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person
at the special meeting will not be counted towards the number of shares required to validly establish a quorum. If a valid quorum is otherwise
established, such failure to vote will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal but will
have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum
is established and will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal but will have no effect
on the Adjournment Proposal. We believe that each of the proposals are “non-discretionary” matters, and therefore, there will
not be any broker non-votes at the special meeting.
Voting
You can vote your shares at
the special meeting by proxy or virtually.
You can vote by proxy by having
one or more individuals who will be at the special meeting vote your shares for you. These individuals are called “proxies”
and using them to cast your vote at the special meeting is called voting “by proxy.”
If you wish to vote by proxy,
you must (i) complete the enclosed form, called a “proxy card,” and mail it in the envelope provided or (ii) submit your proxy
by telephone or over the Internet (if those options are available to you) in accordance with the instructions on the enclosed proxy card
or voting instruction card.
If you complete the proxy
card and mail it in the envelope provided or submit your proxy by telephone or over the Internet as described above, you will designate
Milton C. (Todd) Ault III, William B. Horne and Henry C.W. Nisser to act as your proxy at the special meeting. One of them will then vote
your shares at the special meeting in accordance with the instructions you have given them in the proxy card or voting instructions, as
applicable, with respect to the proposals presented in this proxy statement. Proxies will extend to, and be voted at, any adjournment(s)
of the special meeting.
Alternatively, you can vote
your shares in person by attending the special meeting virtually.
A special note for those
who plan to attend the special meeting and vote virtually: if your shares or units are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee,
please follow the instructions you receive from your broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares. You will not be able to vote at
the special meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from the record holder of your shares.
Our Board is asking for your
proxy. Giving our Board your proxy means you authorize it to vote your shares at the special meeting in the manner you direct. You may
vote for or against any proposal or you may abstain from voting. All valid proxies received prior to the special meeting will be voted.
All shares represented by a proxy will be voted, and where a stockholder specifies by means of the proxy a choice with respect to any
matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with the specification so made. If no choice is indicated on the proxy,
the shares will be voted “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal, and as the proxy
holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters that may properly come before the special meeting.
Stockholders who have questions
or need assistance in completing or submitting their proxy cards should contact David Katzoff, Vice President of Finance, at Ault Disruptive
Technologies Corporation, 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, Nevada 89141.
Stockholders who hold their
shares in “street name,” meaning the name of a broker or other nominee who is the record holder, must either direct the record
holder of their shares to vote their shares or obtain a legal proxy from the record holder to vote their shares at the special meeting.
Revocability of Proxies
Any proxy may be revoked by
the person giving it at any time before the polls close at the special meeting. A proxy may be revoked by providing David Katzoff, Vice
President of Finance, at Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation, 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, Nevada 89141,
with either a written notice of revocation bearing a date later than the date of such proxy or a subsequent proxy relating to the same
shares or by attending the special meeting and voting virtually. However, if your shares are held in “street name” by your
broker, bank or another nominee, you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee to change your vote.
Simply attending the special
meeting will not constitute a revocation of your proxy. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee who is the record
holder, you must follow the instructions of your broker or other nominee to revoke a previously given proxy.
Attendance at the Special Meeting
Only holders of common stock,
their proxy holders and guests of the Company may attend the special meeting. If you wish to attend the special meeting virtually but
you hold your shares or units through someone else, such as a broker, please follow the instructions you receive from your broker, bank
or other nominee holding your shares. You must bring a legal proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares, confirming
your beneficial ownership of the shares and giving you the right to vote your shares.
Solicitation of Proxies
Your proxy is being solicited
by our Board on the proposals being presented to the stockholders at the special meeting. In addition to these mailed proxy materials,
our directors and executive officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties
will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. The Company may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents
for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
The cost of preparing, assembling,
printing and mailing this proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy, and the cost of soliciting proxies relating to the special
meeting, will be borne by the Company.
Some banks and brokers have
customers who beneficially own common stock listed of record in the names of nominees. The Company intends to request banks and brokers
to solicit such customers and will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for such solicitations. If any additional
solicitation of the holders of our outstanding common stock is deemed necessary, the Company (through our directors and executive officers)
anticipates making such solicitation directly.
No Right of Appraisal
The Company’s stockholders
do not have appraisal rights under the DGCL in connection with the proposals to be voted on at the special meeting. Accordingly, our stockholders
have no right to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.
Other Business
The Company is not currently
aware of any business to be acted upon at the special meeting other than the matters discussed in this proxy statement. The form of proxy
accompanying this proxy statement confers discretionary authority upon the named proxy holders with respect to amendments or variations
to the matters identified in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting and with respect to any other matters which may properly come
before the special meeting. If other matters do properly come before the special meeting, or at any adjournment(s) of the special meeting,
the Company expects that the shares of common stock represented by properly submitted proxies will be voted by the proxy holders in accordance
with the recommendations of our Board.
Principal Executive Offices
Our principal executive offices
are located 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, Nevada 89141. Our telephone number at such address is (949) 444-5464.
THE EXTENSION
AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Background
We are a blank check company
whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase reorganization or similar business
combination with one or more businesses. We were incorporated in Delaware on February 22, 2021. In connection with our formation, we issued
an aggregate of 2,875,000 Founder Shares to our Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000.
On December 20, 2021, we
consummated our IPO of 10,000,000 units. Simultaneously with the closing of our IPO on December 20, 2021, we consummated the full
exercise of the underwriters’ 1,500,000 unit over-allotment option. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and
three-fourths of one redeemable public warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of common
stock for $11.50 per share. The units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $115,000,000, which
includes the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, we
completed the private sale of an aggregate of 6,500,000 private placement warrants to our Sponsor at a price of $1.00 per warrant,
generating gross proceeds of $6,500,000. Simultaneously with the consummation of the full exercise of the underwriters’
over-allotment option, we completed the private sale of an additional 600,000 private placement warrants to our Sponsor at a price
of $1.00 per warrant, generating additional gross proceeds of $600,000. A total of $116,725,000 of the net proceeds from our IPO
(including the over-allotment) and the private placement with the Sponsor were deposited in the Trust Account established for the
benefit of the Company’s Public Stockholders.
On June 15, 2023, we held
a special meeting of stockholders and obtained stockholder approval for an extension of the period of time to consummate an initial business
combination from June 20, 2023 to September 20, 2023 with the option to elect, without another stockholder vote, to extend the period
of time to consummate a business combination on a monthly basis up to five times by an additional one month each time after September
20, 2023 upon request by the Sponsor, and approval by the Board until February 20, 2024. In connection with such stockholder approval,
Public Stockholders, following a redemption reversal period, elected to redeem 11,311,125 shares of common stock at a redemption price
of approximately $10.61 per share (without giving effect to any interest that may be withdrawn to pay taxes), for an aggregate redemption
amount of approximately $120,063,827.97. Upon completion of the redemption, the balance of the Trust Account was approximately $2,004,845.34.
The Extension Amendment Proposal
The Company is proposing to
amend its Charter to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination to the Extended Date.
The purpose of the Extension
Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete an initial business combination.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved and the Company has not consummated an initial business combination by February 20, 2024, the Company will (i)
cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days
thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust
Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to
$50,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will
completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions,
if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of
our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above to our obligations
under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights
or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination
by February 20, 2024, or, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Extended Date.
A copy of the form of the
amendment to the Company’s Charter is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.
Reasons for the Extension Amendment Proposal
The Charter provides that
we have until February 20, 2024 to complete an initial business combination. Pursuant to the Charter, the Company previously extended
the period of time to consummate a business combination by three months from the Initial Termination Date of December 20, 2022 to March
20, 2023. Subsequent to the extension of the Initial Termination Date, pursuant to the Charter, the Company extended the period of time
to consummate a business combination by an additional three months to June 20, 2023. On June 15, 2023, we held a special meeting of stockholders
and obtained stockholder approval of a further extension of the period of time to consummate an initial business combination from June
20, 2023 to September 20, 2023 with the option to elect, without another stockholder vote, to extend the period of time to consummate
a business combination on a monthly basis up to five times by an additional one month each time after September 20, 2023 upon request
by the Sponsor and approval by the Board until February 20, 2024. While we are currently in discussions regarding various business combination
opportunities, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before February 20, 2024 to complete an initial business
combination. Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination.
Therefore, our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to extend the date by which the Company must
consummate a business combination to the Extended Date in order for our stockholders to have the opportunity to participate in our future
investment.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved or not implemented and we do not consummate an initial business combination by February 20, 2024, the Charter
provides that we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more
than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then
on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to
pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public
Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive
further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,
subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will
be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete
our initial business combination by February 20, 2024.
We believe that the provisions
of the Charter described in the preceding paragraph were included to protect the Company’s stockholders from having to sustain their
investments for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to find a suitable initial business combination in the timeframe contemplated
by the Charter. We also believe, however, that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on pursuing an initial
business combination, and our belief that an initial business combination is in the best interest of the Company and our stockholders,
the Extension is warranted.
The purpose of the Extension
Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with additional time to complete an initial business combination, which the Board believes
is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. A copy of the form of the proposed amendment to the Charter is attached
to this proxy statement as Annex A.
You are not being asked
to vote on an initial business combination at this time. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and implemented and you do not
elect to redeem your Public Shares in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, you will retain the right to vote on an initial
business combination if and when such transaction is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your Public Shares for cash from
the Trust Account in the event a proposed initial business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated an
initial business combination by the applicable deadline. If an initial business combination is not consummated by the Extended Date, assuming
the Extension is implemented, the Company will redeem its Public Shares.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is Not
Approved or Not Implemented
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved or not implemented and we do not consummate an initial business combination by February 20, 2024, the Charter
provides that we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more
than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then
on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to
pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public
Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive
further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,
subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will
be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete
our initial business combination by February 20, 2024.
The Initial Stockholders have
agreed to waive their respective rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account in respect of any Founder Shares and private
placement warrants held by it or them, as applicable, if the Company fails to complete an initial business combination by February 20,
2024, or, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Extended Date, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions
from the Trust Account with respect to any shares of common stock that are not Founder Shares which they hold if the Company fails to
complete its initial business combination by the applicable deadline. The Company will pay the costs of liquidation from up to $50,000
of interest from the Trust Account and its remaining assets outside of the Trust Account, if any.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is Approved
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, the Company plans to file the proposed amendment to the Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
in the form set forth on Annex A hereto to extend the time it has to complete an initial business combination until the Extended Date.
The Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units, shares of common stock and public warrants will remain
publicly traded. The Company will then continue to work to consummate its initial business combination by the Extended Date.
However, notwithstanding the
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board may decide to abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal at any time and for any
reason prior to the effectiveness of the filing of the proposed amendment to the Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
If our Board abandons the Extension Amendment Proposal (even if approved), Public Stockholders will not be entitled to exercise redemption
rights and will not have their Public Shares redeemed.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, the amount held in the Trust Account will be reduced by withdrawals in connection
with any stockholder redemptions. The Company cannot predict the amount that will remain in the Trust Account if the Extension is approved
and implemented, and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be significantly less than the approximately $[•] that was in
the Trust Account as of [•].
Redemption Rights
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, each Public Stockholder may seek to redeem his, her or its Public Shares. Holders
of Public Shares who do not elect to redeem their Public Shares in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal will retain the right
to redeem their Public Shares in connection with any stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination, or if the Company
has not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.
TO DEMAND REDEMPTION, YOU
MUST ENSURE YOUR BANK OR BROKER COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED HEREIN, INCLUDING SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST THAT YOUR SHARES
BE REDEEMED FOR CASH TO THE TRANSFER AGENT AND TENDERING AND DELIVERING YOUR SHARES (AND SHARE CERTIFICATES (IF ANY) AND OTHER REDEMPTION
FORMS) TO THE TRANSFER AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME, ON FEBRUARY 13, 2024 (TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE VOTE AT THE SPECIAL
MEETING). You will only be entitled to receive cash in connection with a redemption of these shares if you continue to hold them until
the effective date of the Extension and redemptions.
In order to exercise your
redemption rights, you must, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on February 13, 2024 (two business days before the special meeting), (i)
submit a written request to our transfer agent that we redeem your Public Shares for cash and (ii) deliver your stock to our transfer
agent physically or electronically through DTC. The address of our transfer agent is listed under the question “Who can help
answer my questions?” above. Pursuant to the Charter, a Public Stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion
of such Public Stockholder’s Public Shares for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and implemented. You will be
entitled to receive cash for any Public Shares to be redeemed only if you: (a) hold Public Shares or (b) hold Public Shares as part of
units and elect to separate such units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights
with respect to the Public Shares.
Any demand for redemption,
once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and thereafter, with our consent, until
the vote is taken with respect to the Extension Amendment Proposal. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent
and decide within the required timeframe not to exercise your redemption rights, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares
(physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the phone number or address listed under
the question “Who can help answer my questions?” above.
Additionally, we will not
redeem Public Shares if (i) the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or (ii) the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, but
is not implemented. In any of these scenarios, you will not receive cash for Public Shares. In such case, Public Shares which a Public
Stockholder elects to redeem but which are not redeemed shall be returned to such Public Stockholder or such Public Stockholder’s
account and such Public Stockholder will retain the right to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed
an initial business combination by February 20, 2024.
Holders of units must elect
to separate the underlying Public Shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares.
If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate
the units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its, his or her own name, the
holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Your broker, bank or other nominee may have an earlier deadline
by which you must provide instructions to separate the units into the underlying Public Shares and public warrants in order to exercise
redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares, so you should contact your broker, bank or other nominee or intermediary. Public
Stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares regardless of whether they vote for the Extension Amendment Proposal
or if they vote at all.
Through the Deposit/Withdrawal
at Custodian (“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 a tendering broker fee 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 may be unable to redeem their shares.
Certificates that have not
been tendered in accordance with these procedures prior to the vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal will not be redeemed for cash
held in the Trust Account. In the event that a Public Stockholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the vote at the special meeting
that it does not want to redeem its shares, the stockholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our
transfer agent and decide prior to the vote at the special meeting not to redeem your 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
in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal 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 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 as of two business days prior
to approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, including any interest earned on the Trust Account deposits (which interest shall be
net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. Based upon the amount held in the Trust Account as of
[•], which was $[•], the Company estimates that the per-share price at which Public Shares may be redeemed from cash held in
the Trust Account will be approximately $[•] at the time of the special meeting. The closing price of our common stock on the NYSE
American on [•], 2024 was $[•]. The Company cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of common
stock in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient
liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
If you exercise your redemption
rights, you will be exchanging your shares of common stock for cash and will no longer own such shares. You will be entitled to receive
cash for these shares only if you properly demand redemption and tender or deliver your shares (and share certificates (if any) and other
redemption forms) to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through DTC prior to the vote on 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 approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Interests of the Sponsor and the Company’s
Directors and Officers
When you consider the recommendation
of our Board, you should keep in mind that the Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors have interests that may be different
from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include, among other things:
| · | if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or not implemented and we do not consummate an initial
business combination by February 20, 2024, the 2,875,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor will be worthless (as the Sponsor has waived
liquidation rights with respect to such shares), as will the 9,400,000 private placement warrants held by the Sponsor; |
| · | our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for
services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent,
confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser
of (i) $10.35 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation
of the Trust Account, if less than $10.35 per Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided
that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all
rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity
of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked
our Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds
to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our Sponsor’s only assets are securities of our Company. Therefore, we cannot
assure you that our Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims
by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses; |
| · | any rights specified in the Charter relating to the right of officers and directors to be indemnified
by the Company, and of the Company’s officers and directors to be exculpated from monetary liability with respect to prior acts
or omissions, will continue after an initial business combination and, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or not implemented
and no initial business combination is completed by February 20, 2024, so that the Company liquidates, the Company will not be able to
perform its obligations to its officers and directors under those provisions; |
| · | the Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors and their respective affiliates are entitled
to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them related to identifying, investigating, negotiating and completing an initial
business combination and, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or not implemented and we do not consummate an initial business
combination by February 20, 2024, they will not have any claim against the Trust Account for reimbursement so that the Company will most
likely be unable to reimburse such expenses; |
| · | we have entered into an Administrative Support Agreement pursuant to which we pay an affiliate of our
Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month, until the earlier of the Company’s consummation of an initial business combination or the
Company’s liquidation, for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of our initial business
combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees; and |
| · | in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination, the Sponsor
or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company
funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes an initial business combination,
the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working
Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that an initial business combination does
not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans, but no proceeds
held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital
Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Up to $1,500,000 of the Working Capital
Loans may be converted into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender, upon consummation of the initial business
combination. The warrants would be identical to the Sponsor’s private placement warrants. |
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is
a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations for U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (each as defined below, and together,
“Holders”) of Public Shares (i) of the Extension Amendment Proposal and (ii) that elect to have their Public
Shares redeemed for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and
gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and
published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), in each
case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing
interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect the tax consequences discussed below. We have not
sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court
will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by the Extension
Amendment Proposal (including any redemption of the public shares in connection therewith), including with respect to any Public Shares
held through the units (and including alternative characterizations of the units). Holders are urged to consult with and rely solely upon
their tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by the Extension
Amendment Proposal.
This discussion is limited
to Holders that hold their Public Shares as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property
held for investment). For purposes of this discussion, because the components of the units are separable, the Holder of a unit should
be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying Public Share and public warrant components of the unit,
and the discussion below with respect to actual Holders of Public Shares also should apply to Holders of units (as the deemed owners of
the underlying Public Shares and public warrants that constitute the units). This position is not free from doubt, and no assurance can
be given that the IRS would not assert, or that the court would not sustain, a contrary position. Moreover, this discussion does not address
all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the alternative
minimum tax or the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Holders
subject to special rules, including, without limitation:
| · | certain financial institutions or financial services entities; |
| · | regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts; |
| · | brokers, dealers or traders in securities; |
| · | traders in securities that elect mark to market; |
| · | tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations; |
| · | U.S. expatriates or former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
| · | persons that hold their Public Shares as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedge, wash sale, conversion
or other integrated or similar transaction; |
| · | persons that actually or constructively own ten percent or more (by vote or value) of the Company’s
shares (except as specifically provided below); |
| · | “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and
corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
| · | pass-through entities (including S corporations), partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated
as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and persons that will hold the Public Shares through such a pass-through entity
or partnership); |
| · | persons deemed to sell the Company’s Public Shares under the constructive sale provisions of the
Code; |
| · | the Sponsor, its affiliates, or any person owning a direct or indirect interest in the Sponsor, and any
person that owns Founder Shares or private placement warrants; |
| · | except as specifically provided below, persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more
(by vote or value) of any class of shares of the Company; |
| · | persons who acquired their Public Shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise
as compensation; |
| · | tax-qualified retirement plans; and |
| · | “qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities
all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds. |
If an entity or arrangement
treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Public Shares, the tax treatment of an owner of such an entity or
arrangement will depend on the status of the owner, the activities of the entity or arrangement and certain determinations made at the
owner level. Accordingly, entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes holding Public Shares
and the owners in such entities or arrangements should consult with and rely solely upon their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal
income tax consequences to them of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the exercise of redemption rights with respect to their Public
Shares in connection therewith.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY
A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL AND THE EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION
RIGHTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. EACH HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT WITH AND RELY SOLELY UPON ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH HOLDER OF THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL AND THE EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY
AND EFFECTS OF U.S. FEDERAL NON-INCOME, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS.
Tax Treatment of Non-Redeeming Stockholders
A Public Stockholder who does
not elect to redeem their Public Shares (including any Public Stockholder who votes in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal) will
continue to own its Public Shares, and should not recognize any income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes solely as a
result of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Tax Treatment of Redeeming Stockholders
U.S. Holders
As used herein, a “U.S.
Holder” is a beneficial owner of a Public Share who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| · | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| · | a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) that is created or organized (or treated as created
or organized) in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| · | an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
| · | a trust if (1) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and
one or more United States persons (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) have the authority to control all substantial
decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a United States person. |
Generally
The U.S. federal income tax
consequences to a U.S. Holder of Public Shares that exercises its redemption rights with respect to its Public Shares to receive cash
in exchange for all or a portion of its Public Shares will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of Public Shares under
Section 302 of the Code.
If the redemption qualifies
as a sale of Public Shares by a U.S. Holder, the tax consequences to such U.S. Holder are as described below under the section entitled
“— Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale of Public Shares.” If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of
Public Shares, a U.S. Holder should be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences to such U.S. Holder as
described below under the section entitled “—Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Distribution.”
Whether a redemption of Public
Shares qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of the Company’s stock treated as held by
the redeemed U.S. Holder before and after the redemption (including any stock of the Company treated as constructively owned by the U.S.
Holder as a result of owning public warrants) relative to all of the stock of the Company outstanding both before and after the redemption.
The redemption of Public Shares generally should be treated as a sale of Public Shares (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the
redemption (1) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (2) results in a “complete termination”
of the U.S. Holder’s interest in the Company or (3) 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 result in a redemption qualifying for sale treatment, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only shares of the Company’s
stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also shares of the Company’s stock that are constructively owned by it under certain
attribution rules set forth in the Code. 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 that the holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include Public Shares which could be acquired
pursuant to the exercise of public warrants.
In order to meet the substantially
disproportionate test, the percentage of the Company’s outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder
immediately following the redemption of Public Shares must, among other requirements, be less than eighty percent (80%) of the percentage
of the Company’s outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption
(taking into account redemptions by other holders of Public Shares). Prior to the completion of an initial business combination, the Public
Shares may not be treated as voting shares for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not apply.
There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (1) all of the Public Shares actually and constructively
owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (2) all of the Public Shares 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 Public Shares (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as
a result of owning public warrants). The redemption of Public Shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if the redemption
results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in the Company. Whether the redemption
will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in the Company 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 where such stockholder exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute
such a “meaningful reduction.”
If none of the foregoing tests
is satisfied, then the redemption of Public Shares should be treated as a corporate distribution to the redeemed U.S. Holder and the tax
effects to such a U.S. Holder will be as described below under the section entitled “—Taxation of Redemption Treated as
a Distribution.” After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the redeemed Public Shares
will be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining shares of the Company’s stock or, if it has none, to
the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its public warrants or possibly in other shares of the Company’s stock constructively
owned by it.
Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Distribution
If the redemption of a U.S.
Holder’s Public Shares is treated as a corporate distribution, as discussed above under the section entitled “—Generally,”
the amount of cash received in the redemption generally will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent
paid from the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles.
Distributions in excess of
the Company’s 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 its Public Shares. Any remaining excess should be treated as
gain realized on the sale of Public Shares and should be treated as described below under the section entitled “—Taxation
of Redemption Treated as a Sale of Public Shares.”
Any dividends received by
corporate U.S. Holders should be taxable at regular corporate tax rates and should generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction
if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders and with certain exceptions, dividends may be
“qualified dividend income,” which is currently taxed at the lower applicable long-term capital gain rate provided that the
U.S. Holder satisfies certain holding period requirements and the U.S. Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with
respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the Company’s
Public Shares may prevent a U.S. Holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received
deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be. If the holding period requirements are not satisfied,
then non-corporate U.S. Holders may be subject to tax on such dividends at regular ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential
rate that applies to qualified dividend income.
Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale
of Public Shares
If the redemption of a U.S.
Holder’s Public Shares is treated as a sale, as discussed above under the section entitled “—Generally,”
a U.S. Holder generally should recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received
in the redemption and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Public Shares redeemed. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis
in its Public Shares will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated
to a Public Share or the U.S. Holder’s initial basis for the shares of common stock received upon exercise of a public warrant)
less any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. Any such capital gain or loss generally should be long-term capital gain
or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Public Shares so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether
the redemption rights with respect to the Company’s Public Shares may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this
purpose. If the running of the holding period is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. Holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding
period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of the shares or warrants
would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital gains
recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders generally should be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses
is subject to limitations.
U.S. Holders who hold different
blocks of Public Shares (including as a result of holding different blocks of Public Shares purchased or acquired on different dates or
at different prices) should consult with and rely solely upon their tax advisors to determine how the above rules apply to them.
U.S. Holders who actually
or constructively own at least five percent (5%) by vote or value (or, if the Public Shares are not then considered to be publicly traded,
at least one percent (1%) by vote or value) or more of the total outstanding Company stock may be subject to special reporting requirements
with respect to a redemption of Public Shares, and such holders should consult with and rely solely upon their tax advisors with respect
to their reporting requirements.
ALL U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED
TO CONSULT WITH AND RELY SOLELY UPON THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF A REDEMPTION OF ALL OR A PORTION OF THEIR
PUBLIC SHARES PURSUANT TO AN EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of cash to a U.S.
Holder as a result of the redemption of Public Shares may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and possible U.S. backup withholding.
Backup withholding should not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes other
required certifications, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and establishes such exempt status.
Backup withholding is not
an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability,
and the U.S. Holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the
appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information.
Non-U.S. Holders
As used herein, a “Non-U.S.
Holder” is a beneficial owner of a Public Share who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| · | a non-resident alien individual; |
| · | a foreign corporation; or |
| · | a foreign estate or trust. |
Generally
The U.S. federal income tax
consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder of Public Shares that exercises its redemption rights to receive cash from the Trust Account in exchange
for all or a portion of its Public Shares will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the Public Shares redeemed, as
described above under “Tax Treatment of Redeeming Stockholders—U.S. Holders—Generally.” If such a redemption
qualifies as a sale of Public Shares, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Non-U.S. Holder should be as described below under
“—Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale of Public Shares.” If such a redemption does not qualify as a sale
of Public Shares, the Non-U.S. Holder should be treated as receiving a corporate distribution, the U.S. federal income tax consequences
of which are described below under “—Taxation of Redemption as a Distribution.”
Because it may not be certain
at the time a Non-U.S. Holder is redeemed whether such Non-U.S. Holder’s redemption will be treated as a sale of shares or a corporate
distribution, and because such determination will depend in part on a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, the applicable
withholding agent may not be able to determine whether (or to what extent) a Non-U.S. Holder is treated as receiving a dividend for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. Therefore, the applicable withholding agent may withhold tax at a rate of thirty percent (30%) (or such lower
rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on the gross amount of any consideration paid to a Non-U.S. Holder in redemption
of such Non-U.S. Holder’s Public Shares, unless (a) the applicable withholding agent has established special procedures allowing
Non-U.S. Holders to certify that they are exempt from such withholding tax and (b) such Non-U.S. Holders are able to certify that they
meet the requirements of such exemption (e.g., because such Non-U.S. Holders are not treated as receiving a dividend under the Section
302 tests described above under the section entitled “Tax Treatment of Redeeming Stockholders—U.S. Holders—Generally”).
However, there can be no assurance that any applicable withholding agent will establish such special certification procedures. If an applicable
withholding agent withholds excess amounts from the amount payable to a Non-U.S. Holder, such Non-U.S. Holder generally may obtain a refund
of any such excess amounts by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult with and rely
solely upon their tax advisors regarding the application of the foregoing rules in light of their particular facts and circumstances and
any applicable procedures or certification requirements.
Taxation of Redemption as a Distribution
In general, any distributions
made to a Non-U.S. Holder of Public Shares, to the extent paid out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits
(as determined under U.S. 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
(and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to
which such dividends are attributable), the Company will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of
thirty percent (30%) of the gross amount of the dividends, unless such Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a lower withholding rate under
an applicable income tax treaty and provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation)
certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate. A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that
qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund
with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult with and rely solely upon their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under
any applicable income tax treaty. In addition, if we determine that we are likely to be classified as a “United States real property
holding corporation” (see “—Taxation of Redemption as a Sale of Public Shares” below), the Company will
withhold fifteen percent (15%) of any distribution that exceeds the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, including
a distribution in redemption of Public Shares.
If dividends paid to a Non-U.S.
Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required
by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends
are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the
Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively
connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
Any such effectively connected
dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a
corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of thirty percent (30%) (or such lower rate specified by an applicable
income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult with and rely
solely upon their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Taxation of Redemption as a Sale of Public
Shares
A Non-U.S. Holder generally
should not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a redemption of Public Shares that is
treated as a sale as described above under “—Generally,” unless:
| (i) | the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within
the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the
United States to which such gain is attributable); |
| (ii) | the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more
during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or |
| (iii) | the Company is or has been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. 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 Public Shares and, in the case where the Company’s Public Shares are treated as regularly traded on an established securities
market, the Non-U.S. Holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than five percent (5%) of the Company’s Public Shares 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 Public
Shares. There can be no assurance that the Company’s Public Shares will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities
market for this purpose. |
Gain described in the first
bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates applicable
to a U.S. Holder, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject
to a branch profits tax at a rate of thirty percent (30%) (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively
connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.
If the third bullet point
above applies to a Non-U.S. Holder, gain recognized by such Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal
income tax rates. In addition, the Company may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of fifteen percent (15%) of the
amount realized upon such redemption. The Company will be classified as a “United States real property holding corporation”
if the fair market value of its “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the sum of
the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. It is not expected that the Company would be a United States real property holding corporation in
the immediate foreseeable future. However, such determination is factual in nature and subject to change and no assurance can be provided
as to whether the Company would be treated as a United States real property holding corporation at the relevant time.
Non-U.S. Holders should consult
with and rely solely upon their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information returns will be
filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends on, and the proceeds from a sale of, Public Shares. A Non-U.S. Holder may
have to comply with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person in order to avoid information reporting and backup
withholding requirements. The certification procedures required to claim a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty generally will satisfy
the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding as well.
Backup withholding is not
an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be allowed as a credit against
such Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required
information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Provisions commonly referred
to as “FATCA” impose withholding of thirty percent (30%) on payments of dividends (including constructive dividends) on Public
Shares to “foreign financial institutions” (which is broadly defined for this purpose and in general includes investment vehicles)
and certain other non-U.S. entities unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements (generally relating to ownership
by U.S. persons of interests in or accounts with those entities) have been satisfied by, or an exemption applies to, the payee (typically
certified as to by the delivery of a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN-E). Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that
have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances,
a Non-U.S. Holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such withholding taxes, and a Non-U.S. Holder might be required to file
a U.S. federal income tax return to claim such refunds or credits. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of
gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition Public Shares on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA
withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury
Regulations are issued. However, there can be no assurance that final Treasury Regulations will provide the same exceptions from FATCA
withholding as the proposed Treasury Regulations.
Non-U.S. Holders should consult
with and rely solely upon their tax advisors regarding the effects of FATCA on their redemption of Public Shares.
Required Vote
Approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of
the Company’s common stock entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination
of whether a valid quorum is established, but will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or not implemented and we do not consummate an initial business combination by February
20, 2024, the Charter provides that we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably
possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the
aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously
released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $50,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding
Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive
further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,
subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
above to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will
be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete
our initial business combination by February 20, 2024, or, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Extended Date.
The Sponsor and all of the
Company’s directors, officers and their affiliates are expected to vote any shares of common stock owned by them in favor of the
Extension Amendment Proposal. On the Record Date, the Initial Stockholders beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 2,875,000 shares
of common stock, representing 93.84% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock.
In addition, the Sponsor and
the Company’s directors, officers or advisors, or any of their respective affiliates, may purchase Public Shares in privately negotiated
transactions or in the open market prior to the special meeting, although they are under no obligation to do so. Any such purchases that
are completed after the Record Date for the special meeting may include an agreement with a selling stockholder that such stockholder,
for so long as it remains the record holder of the shares in question, will vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal and/or will
not exercise its redemption rights with respect to the shares so purchased. The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions
would be to increase the likelihood that the proposals to be voted upon at the special meeting are approved by the requisite number of
votes. In the event that such purchases do occur, the purchasers may seek to purchase shares from stockholders who would otherwise have
voted against the Extension Amendment Proposal and elected to redeem their shares for a portion of the Trust Account. Any such privately
negotiated purchases may be effected at purchase prices that are below or in excess of the per-share pro rata portion of the Trust Account.
Any Public Shares held by or subsequently purchased by our affiliates may be voted in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal. None
of the Company’s Sponsor, director, officers, advisors or their affiliates may make any such purchases when they are in possession
of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or during a restricted period under Regulation M under the Exchange
Act.
Recommendation
As discussed above, after
careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal is in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable adoption of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT
YOU VOTE “FOR” THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL. OUR BOARD EXPRESSES NO OPINION AS TO WHETHER YOU SHOULD REDEEM YOUR PUBLIC
SHARES.
THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The Adjournment Proposal,
if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further
solicitation of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the Extension Amendment Proposal.
The Adjournment Proposal will be presented to our stockholders only in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in
connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
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.
Required Vote
The approval of the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the Company’s stockholders represented in person (including
virtually) or by proxy. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established, but
will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. We believe each of the proposals constitutes a “non-discretionary” matter,
and therefore, there will not be any broker non-votes at the special meeting.
Recommendation
As discussed above, after
careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Adjournment Proposal is in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable the adoption of the Adjournment Proposal.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT
YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth
information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of January 9, 2024, the Record Date of the special meeting, by:
| · | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of our outstanding shares
of common stock; |
| · | each of our executive officers and directors; and |
| · | all our executive officers and directors as a group. |
Unless otherwise indicated,
we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially
owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the public warrants or private placement warrants
as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this proxy statement.
The beneficial ownership of
our common stock is based on 3,063,875 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of January 9, 2024, consisting of 188,875 shares
of common stock and 2,875,000 Founder Shares.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
|
Number of
Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned |
|
Approximate
Percentage
of
Outstanding
Common Stock |
Directors and Officers |
|
|
|
|
Milton C. (Todd) Ault III(2) |
|
2,875,000(3) |
|
93.84% |
William B. Horne |
|
- |
|
- |
Henry C.W. Nisser |
|
- |
|
- |
Kenneth S. Cragun |
|
- |
|
- |
David Katzoff |
|
- |
|
- |
Jeffrey A. Bentz |
|
- |
|
- |
Mark Nelson |
|
- |
|
- |
Robert O. Smith |
|
- |
|
- |
All officers and directors as a group (eight individuals) |
|
2,875,000 |
|
93.84% |
5% Stockholders |
|
|
|
|
Ault Disruptive Technologies Company, LLC(2) |
|
2,875,000(3) |
|
93.84% |
__________________________
* less than 1%.
| (1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Ault
Disruptive Technologies Corporation, 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, Nevada 89141. |
| (2) | Ault Disruptive Technologies Company, LLC, the Sponsor, is the record holder of the securities reported
herein. The Sponsor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ault Alliance. Milton C. (Todd) Ault III is the Executive Chairman of Ault Alliance.
By virtue of this relationship, Ault Alliance and Mr. Ault may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned directly by the Sponsor.
Mr. Ault disclaims any such beneficial interest except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. |
| (3) | Represents Founder Shares. |
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS
Pursuant to the rules of the
SEC, the Company and its agents that deliver communications to its stockholders are permitted to deliver to two or more stockholders sharing
the same address a single copy of the Company’s proxy statement. Upon written or oral request, the Company will deliver a separate
copy of the proxy statement to any stockholder at a shared address who wishes to receive separate copies of such documents in the future.
Stockholders receiving multiple copies of such documents may likewise request that the Company deliver single copies of such documents
in the future. Stockholders may notify the Company of their requests by writing the Company at the Company’s principal executive
offices at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, Nevada 89141, Attn: David Katzoff, Vice President of Finance.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The Company files annual,
quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet website that contains
reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC.
The public can obtain any documents that we file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
You may obtain additional
copies of this proxy statement, at no cost, and you may ask any questions you may have about the Extension Amendment Proposal by contacting
us at the following address or email:
Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation
11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240
Las Vegas, Nevada 89141
Attn: David Katzoff, Vice President of Finance
In order to receive timely
delivery of the documents in advance of the special meeting, you must make your request for information no later than February 8, 2024
(one week prior to the date of the special meeting).
Annex
A
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
AULT DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
[•], 2024
Ault Disruptive Technologies
Corporation (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
does hereby certify:
1. The name of the corporation
is: Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation.
2. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed
with the Secretary of State of Delaware on February 22, 2021. An amended and restated certificate of incorporation was filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 15, 2021, which was subsequently amended by a certificate of amendment to the
amended and restated certificate of incorporation dated June 15, 2023 (the “A&R Certificate of Incorporation”).
3. This Certificate of Amendment
to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amendment”) was duly proposed, adopted and approved
by the Corporation’s board of directors and by the affirmative vote of holders of 65% of the Corporation’s outstanding common
stock entitled to vote in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware.
4. This Amendment shall become
effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
5. Section 9.1(b) of Article
IX of the A&R Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
“(b) Immediately after the Offering,
a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the
underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration statement on Form
S-1, as initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 5, 2021 (as amended or supplemented,
the “Registration Statement”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), established for the
benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for
the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes (less up to $50,000 interest to pay dissolution expenses), none of the funds held in the Trust
Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest
to occur of (i) the consummation of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below)
if the Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination by December 20, 2024 (or, if the Office of the Delaware Division
of Corporations shall not be open for business (including filing of corporate documents) on such date the next date upon which the Office
of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall be open (or such later date pursuant to the extension set forth under Section 9.1(c), the
“Deadline Date”)) and (iii) the redemption of shares in connection with a vote seeking (a) to modify the substance or timing
of the Corporation’s obligation to provide for the redemption of the Offering Shares in connection with an initial Business Combination
or amendments to this Amended and Restated Certificate prior thereto or to redeem 100% of such shares if the Corporation has not consummated
an initial Business Combination by the Deadline Date or (b) with respect to any other provisions relating to stockholders’ rights
or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 9.7). Holders of shares of Common Stock included as part of the
units sold in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the
secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are Ault Disruptive Technologies Company, LLC (the “Sponsor”)
or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as “Public Stockholders.””
6. Section 9.1(c) of Article
IX of the A&R Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended by deleting Section 9.1(c) in its entirety.
7. All other provisions of the
A&R Certificate of Incorporation shall remain in full force and effect.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be duly executed in its name and on its behalf by
an authorized officer as of the first date set forth above.
|
AULT DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
Name: |
|
|
|
Title: |
|
AULT DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION –
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL AND THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
| 1. | The Extension Amendment Proposal - a proposal to amend Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation’s
(the “Company”) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to extend the date (the “Termination
Date”) by which the Company must consummate a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses from February 20, 2024 (the date that is 26 months from
the closing date of the Company’s initial public offering of units (the “IPO”)) to December 20, 2024 (the
date that is 36 months from the closing date of the IPO) (the “Extended Date”) (such proposal, the “Extension
Amendment Proposal”). |
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
o |
o |
o |
| 2. | The Adjournment Proposal - a proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later
date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve
the Extension Amendment Proposal, or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the extension of the Termination
Date (such proposal, the “Adjournment Proposal”). |
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
o |
o |
o |
Dated [•], 2024 |
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
|
|
|
|
(Signature if held Jointly) |
When shares are held by joint tenants, both should
sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please
sign in full corporate name by the president or another authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized
person.
The shares represented by the proxy, when properly
executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder(s). If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted
FOR each of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, unless
such authority is withheld on this proxy card, the proxies will vote on such matters in their discretion.
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