Filed by Clever Leaves Holdings Inc.
Pursuant to
Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, and
deemed filed
pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Companies:
Clever Leaves
International Inc.
Schultze Special
Purpose Acquisition Corp.
(Commission
File No. 001-38760)
Clever Leaves Business Combination
Agreement Update
Dear Friends and Investors,
Regardless of what side of the political aisle you sit on, the
clear takeaway from the recent US elections is that the end of cannabis prohibition is an unstoppable train that is picking up
steam. While you cannot time everything in life, it is with great timing that we are pleased to announce an exciting revision
to the transaction terms of our upcoming business combination with Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. (SAMA). Since initially
announcing our definitive agreement in July 2020, we have been working diligently with the SAMA team to construct an agreement
with two goals in mind: (i) raising the necessary capital to execute the company’s business plan and (ii) creating value
for our shareholders by enhancing the liquidity profile of the company by listing on Nasdaq. Accordingly, we are pleased to share
these revised terms which we believe will increase transaction certainty and add further value to our shareholders. Please see
below for some of the amendment highlights1:
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Enterprise Value Reduction of 20%: The expected enterprise
value has been reduced from $255 million to $206 million. Since the initial transaction announcement, peer company valuation multiples
have increased by approximately 20%.
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Significant Reduction in the Minimum Cash Condition to $26 Million:
The minimum cash condition for SAMA to achieve closing has been reduced from $60 million to $26 million, substantially increasing
the likelihood of the transaction completion.
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Institutional Investor Sponsorship through Private Placement and
Reduction of SAMA’s Sponsor Economics: In connection with these revised terms, institutional investors, including
existing equity holders, existing convertible noteholders and a new institutional investor, have committed over $10.0 million through
a private placement to be funded at closing of the Business Combination. This is in addition to private capital investments
closed over the past few weeks of over $4 million. Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Sponsor, LLC has also restructured
its equity ownership to better align with the capital retained at closing.
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Committed Capital Pool in Excess of the Minimum Cash Condition:
Combined with the private placement, certain stockholders holding over 1.5 million shares of SAMA common stock have agreed not
to redeem their shares (subject to certain conditions), providing a path to over $16 million of additional committed capital available
to Clever Leaves at closing, bringing the committed capital pool to over $26 million, which would satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition.
When including SAMA’s cash in trust, we are hopeful to secure over $80 million of cash on the balance sheet following closing.
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Committed Capital Pool in Excess of the Minimum Cash Condition:
In addition to contributions to the $10 million private placement,
our existing convertible noteholders have agreed to several amendments which will become effective
only upon closing of the SAMA transaction. These amendments include: (i) reducing the interest rate to 8% from 10% commencing
January 1, 2021, (ii) granting the company the option to pay interest by issuing common shares, (iii) granting the company
the option to prepay the convertible notes at any time, and (iv) granting the company the option to repay up to $2
million of principal every quarter through issuing common shares. Combined, nearly 1/3rd of amounts owed to the convertible
noteholders through maturity could be repaid in common shares, creating a significant show of support and mutual alignment about
compounding equity value over time.
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Read the full press release here2:
SAMA and Clever Leaves Announce Revised Transaction Terms
I would like to take a moment to thank the Clever Leaves and SAMA team members who have worked tirelessly for the last couple months on drafting documents and conducting investor outreach, and we will continue to work together to stay on pace to consummate the transaction in the coming weeks.
Additionally, I would like to thank all existing investors and supporters who have helped build Clever Leaves into what we are today. For any questions on disclosed terms or general questions on the transaction, please feel free to reach out to our Investor Relations team at Gateway by emailing Cody Slach (cody@gatewayir.com), Sean Mansouri (sean@gatewayir.com) or Del Wright (del.wright@cleverleaves.com).
Please keep an eye out in the coming
weeks for an update on commercial developments, which we anticipate to carry even more of an impact within the industry as we
watch the shift in momentum as a result of the U.S. Presidential election. Thank you for the continued support and we will be
in touch soon!
Cultivate Mojo. Create Value. Change Lives.
Regards,
Kyle Detwiler
CEO, Clever Leaves
www.cleverleaves.com
1 This summary of the transaction is qualified in its
entirety by the information contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration Statement) filed by Clever
Leaves Holdings Inc. with the SEC on November 9, 2020, which can be found by accessing the following link2:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1819615/000121390020036028/fs42020a2_cleverleaves.htm
2 The information contained on our website or any external websites does not form a part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this announcement.
About Schultze Special Purpose
Acquisition Corp.
Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition
Corp. (Nasdaq: SAMA, SAMAW, and SAMAU) is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, stock exchange,
asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses
or entities. SAMA’s sponsor is an affiliate of Schultze Asset Management, LP, an alternative investment management firm founded
in 1998 that focuses on distressed, special situation and event-driven securities and has invested over $3.2 billion since inception
with a notable track-record through its active investment strategy. SAMA itself is backed by an experienced team of operators and
investors with a successful track-record of creating material value in public and private companies.
About Clever Leaves
Clever Leaves is a multi-national
cannabis company with a mission to operate in compliance with federal and state laws and with an emphasis on ecologically sustainable,
large-scale cultivation and pharmaceutical-grade processing as the cornerstones of its global cannabinoid business. With operations
and investments in Canada, Colombia, Germany, Portugal, and the United States, Clever Leaves has created an effective distribution
network and global footprint, with a foundation built upon capital efficiency and rapid growth. Clever Leaves aims to be one of
the industry's leading global cannabinoid companies recognized for its principles, people, and performance while fostering a healthier
global community.
Additional Information and Where
to Find It
SAMA, Clever Leaves and Clever Leaves
Holdings Inc. (“Holdco”) urge investors, stockholders and other interested persons to read the Registration Statement,
including the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, as well as other documents filed with the SEC, because these documents
will contain important information about the proposed business combination between Clever Leaves and SAMA (the “Business
Combination”). Following the Registration Statement having been declared effective by the SEC, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus
will be mailed to stockholders of SAMA as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination. SAMA’s
stockholders will also be able to obtain a copy of such documents, without charge, by directing a request to: Schultze Special
Purpose Acquisition Corp, 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite 632, Rye Brook, New York 10573; e-mail: sdu@samco.net. These documents,
once available, can also be obtained, without charge, at the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).
Participants in Solicitation
SAMA, Clever Leaves, Holdco and
their respective directors, executive officers and other members of their management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed
to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of SAMA stockholders in connection with the Business Combination. Information
regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to SAMA’s stockholders
in connection with the Business Combination is set forth in the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement and will also be included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the Business Combination when available. Information
concerning the interests of SAMA’s and Clever Leaves’ participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be
different than those of SAMA’s and Clever Leaves’ equity holders generally, is also set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus
contained in the Registration Statement, and will also be included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the Business
Combination when available.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement includes
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts and may be identified by the words "estimates," "projected," "expects," "anticipates,"
"forecasts," "plans," "intends," "believes," "seeks," "may," "will,"
"should," "future," "propose" and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative
versions of such words or expressions). Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause
actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation,
SAMA's and Clever Leaves' inability to complete the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination; matters discovered
by the parties as they complete their respective due diligence investigation of the other; the inability to recognize the anticipated
benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, the amount of cash available following any
redemptions by SAMA stockholders and the ability to close the private placement with certain institutional investors; the ability
to meet Nasdaq's listing standards following the consummation of the Business Combination; costs related to the Business Combination;
expectations with respect to future operating and financial performance and growth, including when Clever Leaves or Holdco will
become cash flow positive; the timing of the completion of the Business Combination; Clever Leaves' ability to execute its business
plans and strategy and to receive regulatory approvals; potential litigation involving the parties; global economic conditions;
geopolitical events, natural disasters, acts of God and pandemics, including, but not limited to, the economic and operational
disruptions and other effects of COVID-19; regulatory requirements and changes thereto; access to additional financing; and other
risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in filings with the SEC. Other factors include the possibility that the proposed
transaction does not close, including due to the failure to receive required security holder approvals or the failure to satisfy
other closing conditions. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Additional information concerning certain of these and
other risk factors is contained in SAMA's most recent filings with the SEC and is contained in the Registration Statement, including
the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning SAMA,
Clever Leaves or Holdco, the transactions described herein or other matters and attributable to SAMA, Clever Leaves, Holdco or
any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Each of SAMA, Clever Leaves
and Holdco expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect any change in their expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions
or circumstances on which any statement is based.
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