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
(Amendment No. )
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Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive
Proxy Statement |
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Definitive
Additional Materials |
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Soliciting
Material under §240.14a-12 |
IRIS
ACQUISITION CORP
(Name of Registrant as
Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing
Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply): |
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Fee paid previously with
preliminary materials. |
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Fee computed on table in
exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
PROXY STATEMENT
IRIS ACQUISITION CORP
3rd Floor Zephyr House
122 Mary Street, George Town
PO Box 10085
Grand Cayman KY1-1001, Cayman Islands
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MARCH 7, 2024
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF Iris
Acquisition Corp:
You are cordially invited
to attend the special meeting, which we refer to as the “Special Meeting”, of stockholders of Iris Acquisition Corp, which
we refer to as “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”, to be held at 11 a.m. Eastern
Time on March 7, 2024.
The Special Meeting will
be a completely virtual meeting of stockholders, which will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the Special Meeting
online, vote and submit your questions during the Special Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/irisacquisition/2024.
Even if you are planning
on attending the Special Meeting online, please promptly submit your proxy vote by telephone, or, if you received a printed form of proxy
in the mail, by completing, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy, so your shares will be represented at the Special Meeting.
Instructions on voting your shares are on the proxy materials you received for the Special Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Special
Meeting online, it is strongly recommended you complete and return your proxy card before the Special Meeting date to ensure that your
shares will be represented at the Special Meeting if you are unable to attend.
The accompanying proxy statement,
which we refer to as the “Proxy Statement”, is dated February 26,
2024, and is first being mailed to stockholders of the Company on or about February 26,
2024. The sole purpose of the Special Meeting is to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
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a proposal to amend the
Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which we refer to as the “charter”, in the form set
forth in Annex A to the accompanying Proxy Statement, which we refer to as the “Extension Amendment” and such
proposal the “Extension Amendment Proposal”, to extend the date by which the Company must: (i) consummate a merger,
capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company
and one or more businesses, which we refer to as a “business combination”, (ii) redeem 100% of the Company’s
Class A common stock included as part of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering that was consummated
on March 9, 2021, which we refer to as the “IPO”, and (iii) redeem 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 Company's Class A
Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Company's IPO in connection with an initial business combination or amendments
to the Company's charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of such shares if the Company has not consummated an initial business combination
or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination
activity to June 9, 2024 (subject to an additional three month extension at the discretion of the Board), which we refer to
as the “Extension”, and such later date, the “Extended Date”; and |
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a proposal to approve the
adjournment of the Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in
the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal,
which we refer to as the “Adjournment Proposal”. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the Special Meeting
if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. |
The Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
The purpose of the Extension
Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow us additional time to complete our initial business combination.
As previously disclosed on the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 1, 2022, on November 30, 2022, the Company, Iris
Parent Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ParentCo”), Liminatus Pharma, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Liminatus”),
Liminatus Pharma Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of ParentCo (“Liminatus Merger Sub”),
and SPAC Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of ParentCo (“SPAC Merger Sub” and together
with Liminatus Merger Sub, the “Merger Subs”), entered into a business combination agreement (as it may be amended, supplemented
or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”) for a proposed business combination. Our board
of directors (the “Board”) currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before March 9, 2024 to complete
the business combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to consummate the business combination, we will need
to obtain the Extension. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to extend the date
by which the Company has to consummate a business combination to the Extended Date in order for our stockholders to have the opportunity
to participate in our future investment.
In connection with the Extension
Amendment Proposal, public stockholders may elect to redeem their public shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the
aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (the “Trust Account”), including interest (which interest shall be
net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock issued in our IPO, which shares
we refer to as the “public shares”, and which election we refer to as the “Election”, regardless of whether such
public stockholders vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of
stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain their right to redeem their public shares when the business combination
is submitted to the stockholders, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter, as amended by the Extension Amendment. In addition,
public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled to have their public shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not
completed a business combination by the Extended Date. The Sponsor owns 6,900,000 shares of our Class A common stock, which we refer
to as the “Founder Shares”, that were issued to the Sponsor prior to our IPO. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO,
the Company consummated the sale of 5,013,333 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) to the Sponsor and Cantor Fitzgerald &
Co. (“Cantor”), the representative of the underwriters of the IPO.
To exercise your redemption
rights, you must demand that the Company redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, and
tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days prior to the Special Meeting (or March 5,
2024). You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificate to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically
using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you
will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption
rights.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Sponsor or its designees has agreed to loan to us the lesser of: (x) $30,000
and (y) $0.06 per month for each public share that is not redeemed (the “Loan”). Assuming the Extension Amendment Proposal
is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Loan will be deposited in the Trust Account promptly following the beginning of the
Extension period. Accordingly, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the redemption amount
per share at the meeting for the Company’s business combination or the Company’s subsequent liquidation will be approximately
$10.73 per share, subject to adjustment for the Excise Tax (as defined below), if applicable, and such other taxes payable from the
Trust Account, in comparison to the current redemption amount of approximately $10.65 per share, subject to adjustment for the Excise
Tax (as defined below), if applicable, and such other taxes payable from the Trust Account. The Loan is conditioned upon the implementation
of the Extension. The Loan will not occur if the Extention Amendment Proposal is not approved or the Extension is not implemented. The
Loan will only be made on a month-to-month basis at the end of every month and until the consummation of the business combination transaction.
The amount of the Loan will not bear interest and will be repayable by us to the Sponsor or its designees upon consummation of an initial
business combination, in cash, at the option of the Sponsor. If the Sponsor or its designees advises us that it does not intend to make
the Loan, then the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal will not be put before the stockholders at the Special Meeting
and we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with our charter.
Based upon the current amount
in the Trust Account, the Company anticipates that the per-share price at which public shares will be redeemed from cash held in the Trust
Account will be approximately $10.65 at the time of the Special Meeting, subject to adjustment for the Excise Tax (as defined below),
if applicable, and such other taxes payable from the Trust Account. The closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock
on February 21, 2024 was $10.32. The Company cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of the Company’s
Class A common stock in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as
there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
The Adjournment Proposal,
if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The
Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our stockholders in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection
with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If both the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the business combination by March 9, 2024, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus
and in accordance with our charter, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly
as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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
(which interest shall be net of income taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number
of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public stockholders’ rights as stockholders
(including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as
reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Board, liquidate
and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the
requirements of other applicable law. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will expire
worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, the Sponsor and our officers and directors will not receive
any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Warrants.
Subject to the foregoing,
the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, including the Founder Shares, will be
required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. Stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment is required for the implementation
of our Board’s plan to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Notwithstanding stockholder
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment at
any time without any further action by our stockholders.
The
Company is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq IM-5101-2 requires that a special purpose acquisition company complete one or more
business combinations within 36 months of the effectiveness of its initial public offering registration statement, which, in the case
of the Company, would be March 9, 2024 (the “Nasdaq Deadline”). If the Extension Amendment is approved and the Board exercises
its right to extend the life of the Company past March 9, 2024, such extension would extend the life of the Company past the Nasdaq Deadline.
As a result, the Extension Amendment does not comply with Nasdaq IM-5101-2. There is a risk that trading in the Company’s securities
may be suspended and the Company’s securities may be subject to delisting by Nasdaq on March 9, 2024 if the Board exercises its
right to extend the life of the Company past March 9, 2024 pursuant to the Extension Amendment. See “Risk Factors - The Extension
Amendment contemplated by the Extension Amendment Proposal contravenes Nasdaq rules, and as a result, could lead Nasdaq to suspend trading
in the Company’s securities or lead the Company to be delisted from Nasdaq.” for more information.
Approval of the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person or by proxy at the Special
Meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
Our Board has fixed the
close of business on February 9, 2024, as the date for determining the Company
stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of the
Company’s common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
You are not being asked
to vote on the business combination at this time. If the Extension Amendment is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public
shares, provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the business combination, you will retain the
right to vote on the business combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in
the event the business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
After careful consideration
of all relevant factors, the 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” such proposals.
Under Delaware law and the
Company’s bylaws, no other business may be transacted at the Special Meeting.
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, we urge you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.
If you have any questions
regarding the accompanying proxy statement, you may contact Alliance Advisors, LLC, the Company's proxy solicitor, toll-free at (844)-670-2141
or email at IRAA@allianceadvisors.com.
| February 26,
2024 |
By Order of
the Board of Directors |
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/s/ Sumit Mehta |
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Sumit Mehta |
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Chief Executive Officer |
Your vote is important.
If you are a stockholder of record, please sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible to make sure that your shares are
represented at the Special Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may also cast your vote online at the Special Meeting. If
your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank how to vote your shares, or you
may cast your vote online at the Special Meeting by obtaining a proxy from your brokerage firm or bank. Your failure to vote or instruct
your broker or bank how to vote will have the same effect as voting “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal, and an abstention
will have the same effect as voting “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on March
7, 2024: This notice of meeting and the accompanying Proxy Statement are available at https://www.cstproxy.com/irisacquisition/2024.
IRIS ACQUISITION CORP
3rd Floor Zephyr House
122 Mary Street, George Town
PO Box 10085
Grand Cayman KY1-1001, Cayman Islands
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MARCH 7, 2024
PROXY STATEMENT
The special meeting, which
we refer to as the “Special Meeting”, of stockholders of Iris Acquisition Corp, which we refer to as the “we”,
“us”, “our” or the “Company”, will be held at 11 a.m. on March 7,
2024 as a virtual meeting. You will be able to attend, vote your shares, and submit questions during the Special Meeting via a live webcast
available at https://www.cstproxy.com/irisacquisition/2024. The Special Meeting will be held for the sole purpose of considering and voting upon the following proposals:
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a proposal to amend the
charter, in the form set forth in Annex A to the accompanying Proxy Statement, to extend the date by which the Company must:
(i) consummate a business combination, (ii) redeem 100% of the Company’s Class A Common Stock included as part
of the units sold in the Company’s IPO, and (iii) redeem 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 Company’s Class A Common
Stock included as part of the units sold in the Company's IPO in connection with an initial business combination or amendments to
the Company's charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of such shares if the Company has not consummated an initial business combination
or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination
activity to June 9, 2024 (subject to an additional three month extension at the discretion of the Board); and |
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a proposal to approve the
adjournment of the Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in
the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the Special Meeting if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Extension
Amendment Proposal. |
The Extension Amendment
Proposal is required for the implementation of the plan of the Board to extend the date by which the Company has to complete our initial
business combination. The purpose of the Extension Amendment is to allow the Company more time to complete the business combination.
In connection with the Extension
Amendment Proposal, public stockholders may elect to redeem their public shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the
aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by
the number of then outstanding public shares, regardless of whether such public stockholders vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain
their right to redeem their public shares when the business combination is submitted to the stockholders, subject to any limitations
set forth in our charter, as amended by the Extension Amendment. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would
be entitled to have their public shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a business combination by the Extended Date.
To exercise your redemption
rights, you must demand that the Company redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, and
tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days prior to the Special Meeting (or March 5,
2024). You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificate to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically
using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you
will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption
rights.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved and the Extension Amendment is implemented, the Sponsor or its designees has agreed to loan to us the lesser of:
(x) $30,000 and (y) $0.06 per month for each public share that is not redeemed. Assuming the Extension Amendment Proposal is
approved and the Extension Amendment is implemented, the Loan will be deposited in the Trust Account promptly following the beginning
of the Extension period. Accordingly, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the redemption
amount per share at the meeting for the Company’s business combination or the Company’s subsequent liquidation will be approximately
$10.73 per share, subject to adjustment for the Excise Tax (as defined below), if applicable, and such other taxes payable from the
Trust Account, in comparison to the current redemption amount of approximately $10.65 per share, subject to adjustment for the Excise
Tax (as defined below), if applicable, and such other taxes payable from the Trust Account. The Loan is conditioned upon the implementation
of the Extension Amendment. The Loan will not occur if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or the Extension Amendment is
not implemented. The Loan will only be made on a month-to-month basis at the end of every month and until the consummation of the business
combination transaction. The amount of the Loan will not bear interest and will be repayable by us to the Sponsor or its designees upon
consummation of an initial business combination, in cash, at the option of the Sponsor. If the Sponsor or its designees advises us that
it does not intend to make the Loan, then the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal will not be put before the stockholders
at the Special Meeting and we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with our charter.
The withdrawal of funds
from the Trust Account in connection with the Election will reduce the amount held in the Trust Account following the Election. In such
event, the Company may need to obtain additional funds to complete the business combination, and there can be no assurance that such
funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the business combination by March 9, 2024, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus
and in accordance with our charter, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly
as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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
(which interest shall be net of income taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number
of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public stockholders’ rights as stockholders
(including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as
reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Board, liquidate
and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the
requirements of other applicable law.
There will be no distribution
from the Trust Account with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the
event of a liquidation, the Sponsor and our officers or directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of
their ownership of 6,900,000 Founder Shares, which were issued to the Sponsor prior to our IPO, and 5,013,333 Private Placement Warrants,
which were purchased by the Sponsor and Cantor in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO. As
a consequence, a liquidating distribution will be made only with respect to the public shares. In the event of a liquidation, the Sponsor
and our officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares
or the Private Placement Warrants.
The Sponsor, officers and
directors have agreed to: (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares and public shares they hold in connection
with the completion of the initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares
and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the charter, (iii) waive their rights to liquidating
distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares they hold if the Company fails to complete the initial business
combination by March 9, 2024, and (iv) vote any Founder Shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after
the IPO in favor of the initial business combination.
Under the DGCL, stockholders
may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution.
If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable
provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the
corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before
any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited
to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability
of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
Because the Company will
not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL as described in our IPO prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
which we refer to as the “SEC”, on March 8, 2021, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan,
based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially
brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating
company, and our operations have been limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise
would be from our vendors (such as lawyers or investment bankers) or prospective target businesses.
Our Board has fixed the
close of business on February 9, 2024 as the date for determining the Company stockholders
entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s
common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof. On the record date
of the Special Meeting, there were 7,306,609 shares of Class A common stock outstanding. The Company’s warrants do not have
voting rights in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal.
This Proxy Statement contains
important information about the Special Meeting and the proposals. Please read it carefully and vote your shares.
We will pay for the entire
cost of soliciting proxies from our working capital. We have engaged Alliance Advisors, LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies
for the Special Meeting. We have agreed to pay Alliance Advisors, LLC a fee of $15,000. We will also reimburse Alliance Advisors, LLC
for standard out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify and hold Alliance Advisors, LLC and its employees harmless against certain losses,
damages, expenses, liabilities or claims. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and officers may also solicit proxies
in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting
proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
While the payment of these expenses will reduce the cash available to us to consummate an initial business combination if the Extension
is approved, we do not expect such payments to have a material effect on our ability to consummate an initial business combination.
This Proxy Statement is
dated February 26, 2024 and is first being mailed to stockholders
on or about February 26, 2024.
| Date: February
26, 2024 |
By Order of
the Board of Directors |
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|
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/s/ Sumit Mehta |
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Sumit Mehta |
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Chief Executive Officer |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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? |
|
We are a blank
check company incorporated in Delaware on November 5, 2020, for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset
acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. In March 2021, we consummated
our IPO from which we derived gross proceeds of approximately $276,000,000 in the aggregate. The amount in the Trust Account was
initially $10.00 per public share. Like most blank check companies, our charter provides for the return of our IPO proceeds held
in trust to the holders of shares of Class A common stock sold in our IPO if there is no qualifying business combination(s) consummated
on or before a certain date (in our case, March 9, 2024 ). Our Board believes that it is in the best interests of the stockholders
to continue our existence until the Extended Date in order to allow us more time to complete the business combination. |
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The purpose of the Extension
Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow us additional time to complete the business combination. |
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| What is being voted on? |
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You are being asked to
vote on: |
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· a
proposal to amend our charter to extend the date by which we have to consummate a business combination to June 9, 2024 (subject
to an additional three month extension at the discretion of the Board); and |
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· a
proposal to approve the adjournment of the Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation
and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal. |
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The Extension Amendment
Proposal is required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date that we have to complete our initial business
combination. The purpose of the Extension Amendment is to allow the Company more time to complete the business combination. Approval
of the Extension Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. |
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If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, we will, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, remove the Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account, deliver to the
holders of redeemed public shares their portion of the Withdrawal Amount and retain the remainder of the funds in the Trust Account
for our use in connection with consummating a business combination on or before the Extended Date. |
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If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account in connection
with the Election will reduce the amount held in the Trust Account following the Election. We cannot predict the amount that will
remain in the Trust Account if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. In such event, we may need to obtain additional funds
to complete the business combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the
parties or at all. |
| |
|
If the Extension
Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the business combination by March 9, 2024, as contemplated by our
IPO prospectus and in accordance with our charter, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as
promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 (which interest shall be net of income taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided
by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public stockholders’ rights
as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as
promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders
and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for
claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. |
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|
|
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|
There will be no distribution
from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of
a liquidation, the Sponsor and our officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their
ownership of the Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants. |
| |
|
|
| Why is the Company proposing the Extension Amendment
Proposal? |
|
Our charter provides for
the return of our IPO proceeds held in trust to the holders of shares of Class A common stock sold in our IPO if there is no
qualifying business combination(s) consummated on or before March 9, 2024. As explained below, we will not be able to complete
the business combination by that date and therefore, we are asking for an extension of this timeframe. |
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|
|
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|
The purpose of the Extension
Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow us additional time to complete the business combination.
There is no assurance that the Company will be able to consummate the business combination, given the actions that must occur prior
to closing of the business combination. |
| |
|
The Company
believes that given its expenditure of time, effort and money on finding a business combination, circumstances warrant providing
public stockholders an opportunity to consider the business combination. Accordingly, the Board is proposing the Extension Amendment
Proposal to amend our charter in the form set forth in Annex A hereto to extend the date by which we must: (i) consummate
a business combination, (ii) cease our operations if we fail to complete such business combination, and (iii) redeem or
repurchase 100% of our Class A common stock included as part of the units sold in our IPO to June 9, 2024 (subject to an
additional three month extension at the discretion of the Board). |
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|
|
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|
You are not being asked
to vote on the business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares,
provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the business combination, you will retain the right
to vote on the business combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the
event the business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date. |
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|
|
| Why should I vote “FOR” the Extension
Amendment Proposal? |
|
Our Board believes stockholders
should have an opportunity to evaluate the business combination. Accordingly, the Board is proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal
to amend our charter in the form set forth in Annex A hereto to extend the date by which we must: (i) consummate a business
combination, (ii) cease our operations if we fail to complete such business combination, and (iii) redeem or repurchase
100% of our Class A common stock included as part of the units sold in our IPO to June 9, 2024 (subject to an additional
three month extension at the discretion of the Board). The Extension would give the Company the opportunity to complete the business
combination. |
| |
|
Our charter
provides that if our stockholders approve an amendment to our charter that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation
to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our business combination before March 9, 2024, we will provide our
public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon such approval at a per-share price,
payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be
net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. We believe that this charter provision was included
to protect our stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if we failed to find a suitable
business combination in the timeframe contemplated by the charter. |
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|
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Our Board recommends that
you vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal. |
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|
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| Why should I vote “FOR” the Adjournment
Proposal? |
|
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. |
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|
|
| What amount will holders receive upon consummation
of a subsequent business combination or liquidation if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved? |
|
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension Amendment
is implemented, the Sponsor or its designees has agreed to loan to us the lesser of: (x) $30,000 and (y) $0.06 per month
for each public share that is not redeemed. Assuming the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension Amendment is implemented,
the Loan will be deposited in the Trust Account promptly following the beginning of the Extension period. Accordingly, if the Extension
Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension Amendment is implemented, the redemption amount per share at the meeting for the Company’s
business combination or the Company’s subsequent liquidation will be approximately $10.73 per share, subject to adjustment
for the Excise Tax (as defined below), if applicable, and such other taxes payable from the Trust Account. The Loan is conditioned upon
the implementation of the Extension Amendment Proposal. The Loan will not occur if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or
the Extension Amendment is not implemented. The Loan will only be made on a month-to-month basis at the end of every month and until the
consummation of the business combination transaction. The amount of the Loan will not bear interest and will be repayable by us to the
Sponsor or its designees upon consummation of an initial business combination, in cash, at the option of the Sponsor. If the Sponsor or
its designees advises us that it does not intend to make the Loan, then the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal
will not be put before the stockholders at the Special Meeting and we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with our charter |
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|
|
| When would the Board abandon the Extension Amendment
Proposal? |
|
Our Board will abandon
the Extension Amendment if our stockholders do not approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. In addition, notwithstanding stockholder
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment
at any time without any further action by our stockholders. |
| How do the Company insiders intend to vote their
shares? |
|
All of our directors, executive
officers 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. Currently, the Sponsor and our officers and directors
own approximately 94.4% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, including 6,900,000 Founder Shares. The Sponsor and
our directors, executive officers and their affiliates do not intend to purchase shares of common stock in the open market or in
privately negotiated transactions in connection with the stockholder vote on the Extension Amendment. |
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|
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| What vote is required to adopt the proposals? |
|
The approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of at least 65% of our outstanding shares of common stock on the
record date. |
| |
|
The approval of the Adjournment
Proposal will require the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person or by proxy at
the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. |
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|
|
| What if I don’t want to vote “FOR”
the Extension Amendment Proposal? |
|
If you do not want the
Extension Amendment Proposal to be approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote “AGAINST” such proposal. You
will be entitled to redeem your public shares for cash in connection with this vote whether or not you vote on the Extension Amendment
Proposal so long as you elect to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account in
connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented,
then the Withdrawal Amount will be withdrawn from the Trust Account and paid to the redeeming holders. |
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|
|
| What happens if the Extension Amendment Proposal
is not approved? |
|
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the business combination by March 9, 2024, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus
and in accordance with our charter, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly
as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 (which interest shall be net of income taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided
by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public stockholders’ rights
as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as
promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders
and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for
claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. |
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|
|
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There will be no distribution from the
Trust Account with respect to our warrants which will expire worthless in the event we wind up.
In the event of a liquidation, the Sponsor
and our officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder
Shares or Private Placement Warrants. |
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|
|
| If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved,
what happens next? |
|
We are seeking the Extension
Amendment to provide us time to compete the business combination. Our seeking to complete the business combination will involve: |
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|
· negotiating
and executing a definitive agreement and related agreements; |
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|
|
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· completing
proxy materials; |
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|
|
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· establishing
a meeting date and record date for considering the business combination, and distributing proxy materials to stockholders; and |
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|
|
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|
· holding
a special meeting to consider the business combination. |
| |
|
We are seeking
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal because we will not be able to complete all of the tasks listed above prior to March 9,
2024. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, we expect to seek stockholder approval of the business combination. If stockholders
approve the business combination, we expect to consummate the business combination as soon as possible following such stockholder
approval. |
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|
|
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|
Upon approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal by holders of at least 65% of the common stock outstanding as of the record date, we will file an amendment to
the charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in the form set forth in Annex A hereto. |
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|
|
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|
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account will reduce the amount remaining in the Trust Account
and increase the percentage interest of our common stock held by the Sponsor and our directors and our officers as a result of their
ownership of the Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants. |
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|
|
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|
Notwithstanding stockholder
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment
at any time without any further action by our stockholders. |
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|
|
| What happens to the Company warrants if the Extension
Amendment Proposal is not approved? |
|
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the business combination by March 9, 2024, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus
and in accordance with our charter, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly
as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 (which interest shall be net of income taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided
by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public stockholders’ rights
as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as
promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders
and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for
claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect
to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. |
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|
|
| What happens to the Company’s warrants
if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved? |
|
If the Extension
Amendment Proposal is approved, we will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to us and continue to attempt
to consummate a business combination until the Extended Date. The public warrants will remain outstanding and only become exercisable
30 days after the completion of a business combination, provided that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to
them is available (or we permit holders to exercise warrants on a cashless basis). |
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|
|
| Would I still be able to exercise my redemption
rights if I vote “AGAINST” the business combination? |
|
Unless you elect to redeem
your public shares at this time, you will be able to vote on the business combination when it is submitted to stockholders if you
are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to seek stockholder approval of the business combination. If you disagree with
the business combination, you will retain your right to redeem your public shares upon consummation of the business combination in
connection with the stockholder vote to approve the business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter. |
| How do I attend the meeting? |
|
As a registered stockholder,
you received a proxy card from Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. The form contains instructions
on how to attend the Special Meeting including the URL address, along with your 12 digit control number. You
will need your control number for access. If you do not have your control number, contact Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company at the phone number or e-mail address below. Beneficial investors who hold
shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary, will need to contact them and obtain a legal proxy. Once
you have your legal proxy, contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company to have a control number
generated. Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company contact information is as follows: 917-262-2373,
or email proxy@continentalstock.com.
If you do not have internet capabilities,
you can listen only to the meeting by dialing (800) 450-7155 (toll-free) within the U.S. and Canada, or +1 857-999-9155 (standard
rates apply) outside of the U.S. and Canada. When prompted, enter the pin number 5182615#. This is listen-only, and you will not
be able to vote or enter questions during the meeting. |
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|
|
| How do I change or revoke my vote? |
|
You may change your vote by e-mailing
a later-dated, signed proxy card to our Secretary at ssg@arrcap.com, so that it is received by our Secretary prior to the Special
Meeting or by attending the Special Meeting online and voting. You also may revoke your proxy by sending a notice of revocation
to our Secretary, which must be received by our Secretary prior to the Special Meeting.
Please note, however, that if on the record
date, your shares were held not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, custodian bank, or other nominee, then
you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by
that organization. If your shares are held in street name, and you wish to attend the Special Meeting and vote at the Special Meeting
online, you must follow the instructions included with the enclosed proxy card. |
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|
|
| How are votes counted? |
|
Votes will be counted by the inspector
of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately count “FOR” and “AGAINST” votes and abstentions.
The Extension Amendment Proposal must be approved by the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the outstanding shares as of the
record date of our common stock, including the Founder Shares, voting together as a single class. Accordingly, a Company stockholder’s
failure to vote by proxy or to vote online at the Special Meeting or an abstention with respect to the Extension Amendment Proposal
will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” such proposal.
The approval of the Adjournment Proposal
requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person or by proxy at the Special
Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Accordingly, a Company stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote online at the
Special Meeting will not be counted towards the number of shares of common stock required to validly establish a quorum, and if a
valid quorum is otherwise established, it will have no effect on the outcome of any vote on the Adjournment Proposal. |
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|
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. |
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|
|
| If my shares are held in “street name,”
will my broker automatically vote them for me? |
|
No. Under the rules of
various national and regional securities exchanges, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares with respect to non-discretionary
matters unless you provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and procedures provided to you by your
broker, bank, or nominee. We believe all the proposals presented to the stockholders will be considered non-discretionary and therefore
your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares without your instruction. Your bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your
shares only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares in accordance with directions
you provide. If your shares are held by your broker as your nominee, which we refer to as being held in “street name”,
you may need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form
regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares. |
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|
|
| What is a quorum requirement? |
|
A quorum of stockholders
is necessary to hold a valid meeting. Holders of a majority in voting power of our common stock on the record date issued and outstanding
and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, constitute a quorum. |
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|
|
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|
Your shares will be counted
towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or
if you vote online at the Special Meeting. Abstentions will be counted towards the quorum requirement. In the absence of a quorum,
the chairman of the meeting has power to adjourn the Special Meeting. As of the record date for the Special Meeting, 3,653,305 shares
of our common stock would be required to achieve a quorum. |
| Who can vote at the Special
Meeting? |
|
Only holders
of record of our common stock at the close of business on February 9, 2024 are entitled
to have their vote counted at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. On this record date, 7,306,609 shares
of Class A common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote. |
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|
|
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|
Stockholder of Record:
Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the record date your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer
agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you
may vote online at the Special Meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting online, we urge you
to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card to ensure your vote is counted. |
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|
Beneficial
Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank. If on the record date your shares were held, not in your name,
but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares
held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. As a beneficial owner,
you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend
the Special Meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares online at the Special Meeting
unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent. |
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|
|
| Does the Board recommend voting for the approval
of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal? |
|
Yes. After careful consideration
of the terms and conditions of these proposals, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal, and, if presented,
the Adjournment Proposal are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board recommends that our stockholders
vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. |
| What interests do the Company’s
Sponsor, directors and officers have in the approval of the proposals? |
|
The Sponsor,
directors and officers have interests in the proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder.
These interests include ownership of: (i) 6,900,000 Founder Shares (purchased for $25,000) and 5,013,333 Private Placement Warrants
(purchased for $7,520,000), which would expire worthless if a business combination is not consummated, and (ii) promissory notes
issued by the Company to the Sponsor with an outstanding balance of $1,433,720 as of September 30, 2023. See the sections entitled
“The Extension Amendment Proposal - Interests of the Sponsor, Directors and Officers.” |
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|
|
| Do I have appraisal rights if I object to the
Extension Amendment Proposal? |
|
Our stockholders do not
have appraisal rights in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal under the DGCL. |
| |
|
|
| What do I need to do now? |
|
We urge you to read carefully
and consider the information contained in this Proxy Statement, including the annexes, and to consider how the proposals will affect
you as our stockholder. You should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions provided in this Proxy Statement
and on the enclosed proxy card. |
| How do I vote? |
|
If you are
a holder of record of our common stock, you may vote online at the Special Meeting or by submitting a proxy for the Special Meeting.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting online, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may
submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage
paid envelope. You may still attend the Special Meeting and vote online if you have already voted by proxy. |
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|
|
| |
|
If your shares of our common
stock 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 online at the Special Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker
or other agent. |
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|
|
| How do I redeem my shares of Class A common
stock? |
|
If the Extension Amendment
is implemented, each of our public stockholders may seek to redeem all or a portion of its public shares at a per-share price, payable
in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes
payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. You will also be able to redeem your public shares in connection
with any stockholder vote to approve a proposed business combination, or if we have not consummated a business combination by the
Extended Date. |
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|
|
| |
|
In order to exercise your
redemption rights, you must, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 5,
2024 (two business days before the Special Meeting) tender your shares physically or electronically and submit a request in writing
that we redeem your public shares for cash to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent, at the following
address: |
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|
|
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|
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street Plaza, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Mark Zimkind
E-mail: mzimkind@continentalstock.com |
| What should I do if I receive
more than one set of voting materials? |
|
You may receive
more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this Proxy Statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction
cards, if your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. For example, if you hold your
shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which
you hold shares. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to
cast a vote with respect to all of your Company shares. |
| Who is paying for this proxy
solicitation? |
|
We will pay
for the entire cost of soliciting proxies from our working capital. We have engaged Alliance Advisors, LLC to assist in the solicitation
of proxies for the Special Meeting. We have agreed to pay Alliance Advisors, LLC a fee of $15,000. We will also reimburse Alliance
Advisors, LLC for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify Alliance Advisors, LLC and its affiliates against certain
claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and officers may also
solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation
for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials
to beneficial owners. While the payment of these expenses will reduce the cash available to us to consummate an initial business
combination if the Extension is approved, we do not expect such payments to have a material effect on our ability to consummate an
initial business combination. |
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|
|
| Who can help answer my questions? |
|
If you have questions about
the proposals or if you need additional copies of the Proxy Statement or the enclosed proxy card you should contact our proxy solicitor,
Alliance Advisors, LLC, at 844-670-2141 or by email at IRAA@allianceadvisors.com. |
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|
|
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|
You may also contact us at:
Iris Acquisition Corp
3rd Floor Zephyr House
122 Mary Street, George Town
PO Box 10085
Grand Cayman KY1-1001, Cayman Islands |
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|
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|
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”. |
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain
statements contained in this proxy statement constitute “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of the federal securities
laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’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,” “will,” “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. The following factors, among
others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking
statements:
| |
• |
Our ability to enter into
a definitive agreement and related agreements; |
| |
• |
our ability to complete
the business combination; |
| |
• |
the anticipated benefits
of the business combination; |
| |
• |
the volatility of the market
price and liquidity of our securities; |
| |
• |
the use of funds not held
in the trust account; and |
| |
• |
the competitive environment
in which our successor will operate following the business combination. |
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. Future developments affecting us may not 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 in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed
with the SEC on May 1, 2023. 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 securities laws.
In addition, statements
that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based
upon information available to us as of the date of this proxy statement, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis
for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted
an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and
investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements as predictions of future results. Our actual future results may be materially
different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
RISK FACTORS
In addition to the below
risk factors, you should consider carefully all of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2022, any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and in the other reports we file with the SEC before making
a decision to invest in our securities. 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.
The
Extension Amendment contemplated by the Extension Amendment Proposal contravenes Nasdaq rules, and as a result, could
lead Nasdaq to suspend trading in the Company’s securities or lead the Company to be delisted from Nasdaq.
The Company is listed on
the Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq IM-5101-2 requires that a special purpose acquisition company complete one or more business combinations
within 36 months of the effectiveness of its initial public offering registration statement, which, in the case of the Company, would
be March 9, 2024. If the Extension Amendment is approved and the Board exercises its right to extend the life of the Company past March
9, 2024, such extension would extend the life of the Company past the Nasdaq Deadline. As a result, the Extension Amendment does not comply
with Nasdaq IM-5101-2. There is a risk that trading in the Company’s securities may be suspended and the Company’s securities
may be subject to delisting by Nasdaq on March 9, 2024 if the Board exercises its right to extend the life of the Company past March 9,
2024 pursuant to the Extension Amendment. We cannot assure you that Nasdaq will not suspend or delist the Company’s securities in
the event the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension Amendment is implemented and the Company does not complete one
or more business combinations by the Nasdaq Deadline, that we will be able to obtain a hearing with Nasdaq to appeal the delisting determination,
or that our securities will not be suspended pending Nasdaq’s decision.
Additionally, the Company
received a written notice on December 26, 2023, from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq notifying the Company that because
it no longer meets the minimum 500,000 publicly held shares requirement for the Nasdaq Capital Market, it no longer complies with Listing
Rule 5550(a)(4) of Nasdaq’s Listing Rules for continued listing. The Company submitted a compliance plan to Nasdaq on February 9,
2024, and is planning to remain listed.
If Nasdaq delists any of
our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our 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;
· we may be unable
to complete the business combination;
· reduced liquidity
for our securities;
· a determination
that our Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A 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.
We may not be able
to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company if such initial business combination is subject to U.S. foreign
investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS),
and ultimately prohibited by the same.
Our Sponsor, Iris Acquisition
Holdings LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company, but as our Sponsor has certain ties with non-U.S. persons, CFIUS may deem our
Sponsor a “foreign person.” As such, an initial business combination with a U.S. business may be subject to CFIUS review,
the scope of which was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”), to include certain
non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in
force, also subjects certain categories of investments to mandatory filings.
We may choose to submit
a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention,
before or after closing the initial business combination. If we do not file voluntarily with CFIUS and obtain CFIUS clearance of the
initial business combination, CFIUS may initiate a review at any time in the future. Following review, CFIUS may decide to block the
initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination
or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if we haven’t first obtained CFIUS clearance,
which may have an impact on the potential value of the transaction.
Moreover, the process of
government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy and we have limited time to complete our initial business combination.
If we cannot complete our initial business combination by March 9, 2024 (or June 9, 2024 (subject to an additional three month
extension at the discretion of the Board) if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved) because the review process drags on beyond
such timeframe or because our initial business combination is ultimately prohibited by CFIUS or another U.S. government entity, we may
be required to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public stockholders may only receive an amount per share that will be determined by when
we liquidate and whether the Extension Amendment Proposal has been approved, and our warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause
you to lose the investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price
appreciation in the combined company.
A new 1% U.S. federal
excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with redemptions by us of our shares that occur after December 31, 2022.
On August 16, 2022,
President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) (the “IRA”), which, among other things, imposes
a 1% excise tax on any publicly traded domestic corporation that repurchases its stock after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise
Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the fair market value of the repurchased stock, with certain exceptions. Because we are a Delaware
corporation and our securities trade on Nasdaq, we are a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the IRA. While not free
from doubt, absent any further guidance, there is significant risk that the Excise Tax will apply to any redemptions of our Public Shares
after December 31, 2022, including redemptions made if we are unable to consummate a business combination by or before the March 9,
2024. The application of the Excise Tax to any redemptions we make after December 31, 2022 could potentially reduce the per-share
amount that our Public Stockholders would otherwise be entitled to receive.
The SEC has issued
final rules and guidance relating to certain activities of SPACs. The need for compliance with these rules and the guidance
may cause us to liquidate the Company at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose.
On
January 24, 2024, the SEC issued final rules (the “2024 SPAC Rules”) relating, among other things, to disclosures
in SEC filings in connection with business combination transactions involving special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”)
such as us and private operating companies; the financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies;
and the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions. In connection with
the issuance of the 2024 SPAC Rules, the SEC also issued guidance (the “SPAC Guidance”) regarding the potential liability
of certain participants in business combination transactions and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, which we refer to as the “1940 Act.” The need for compliance with the SPAC Rules and the SPAC Guidance
may cause us to liquidate the Company at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose.
If we are deemed to
be an investment company for purposes of the 1940 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 a business combination and instead liquidate the
Company.
As noted above, the SPAC
Guidance relates, among other matters, to the circumstances in which SPACs such as the Company could potentially be subject to the 1940
Act and the regulations thereunder. If we are deemed to be an investment company under the 1940 Act, our activities would be severely
restricted. In addition, we would be subject to burdensome compliance requirements. We do not believe that our principal activities will
subject us to regulation as an investment company under the 1940 Act. However, if we are deemed to be an investment company and
subject to compliance with and regulation under the 1940 Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses
for which we have not allotted funds. As a result, unless we were able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment
company, we may be unable to complete a business combination and could be required to 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 target
company with which we could have consummated a business combination.
To mitigate the risk
that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the 1940 Act, we previously instructed the trustee to liquidate
the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in an interest-bearing demand deposit account
until the earlier of the consummation of a business combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the liquidation of investments
in the Trust Account, we will have received less interest on the funds held in the Trust Account than we would have had the Trust Account
remained invested and our public stockholders will receive a lower amount upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company than what
they would have received had the investments not been liquidated.
The
funds in the Trust Account were previously held only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in
money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under
the 1940 Act. However, to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective
test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act) under the proposed rules issued by the SEC and thus potentially subject to
regulation under the 1940 Act, in December 2023, we instructed Continental, the trustee with respect to the Trust Account,
to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds
in the Trust Account in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank until the earlier of the consummation of a business combination
or the liquidation of the Company. Following such liquidation, we will have received less interest on the funds held in the Trust Account
than we would have if we had not liquidated such assets. As a result, our public stockholders will receive a lower amount upon any redemption
or liquidation of the Company as compared to what they would have received had the investments not been so liquidated.
BACKGROUND
We are a blank check company
incorporated in Delaware on November 5, 2020 for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock
purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have operated as a blank check company while
searching for a target business with which to consummate an initial business combination since March 2021 (or approximately 35 months).
On January 24, 2024,
the SEC adopted the 2024 SPAC Rules, which rules relate to, among other items, enhanced disclosure requirements in initial business
combination transactions involving SPACs and private operating companies; amended financial statement requirements applicable to transactions
involving shell companies; enhanced disclosure requirements related to projections, including required disclosure of all material bases
of the projections and all material assumptions underlying the projections; increasing the potential liability of certain participants
in proposed initial business combination transactions; and the circumstances in which SPACs such as the Company could be subject to the
1940 Act, and the regulations thereunder. The 2024 SPAC Rules will become effective no sooner than 125 days after publication in
the Federal Register.
In addition, the IRA imposes
a 1% excise tax on any publicly traded domestic corporation that repurchases its stock after December 31, 2022. The Excise Tax is
imposed on the fair market value of the repurchased stock, with certain exceptions. Because we are a Delaware corporation and our securities
trade on Nasdaq, we are a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the IRA. While not free from doubt, absent any further
guidance, there is significant risk that the Excise Tax will apply to any redemptions of our public shares after December 31, 2022,
including redemptions made if we are unable to consummate an initial business combination by or before March 9, 2024 (or June 9,
2024 (subject to an additional three month extension at the discretion of the Board) if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved).
The application of the Excise Tax to any redemptions we make after December 31, 2022 could potentially reduce the per-share amount
that our public stockholders would otherwise be entitled to receive.
There are currently 7,306,609
shares of Class A common stock. In addition, we issued warrants to purchase 6,900,000 shares of Class A common stock as part
of our IPO and warrants to purchase 5,013,000 shares of Class A common stock as part of the private placement with the Sponsor that
we consummated simultaneously with the consummation of our IPO. Each whole warrant entitles its holder to purchase one share of Class A
common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, to be exercised only for a whole number of shares of our Class A common stock.
The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and expire five years after the
completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company
may redeem the outstanding warrants at a price of $0.01 per warrant, if the last sale price of the Company’s Class A common
stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third business day before
the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. The warrants underlying the Private Placement Warrants, however, are
non-redeemable so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Approximately $4.3 million
from our IPO and the simultaneous sale of the Private Placement Warrants are being held in our Trust Account in the United States maintained
by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, invested in U.S. “government securities”, within
the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the 1940 Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open ended investment company that
holds itself out as a money market fund selected by us meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act, until the earlier of:
(i) the consummation of a business combination or (ii) the distribution of the proceeds in the Trust Account as described below.
In addition, in order to
fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended business combination, the Sponsor or an
affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds
as may be required on a non-interest bearing basis (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes the initial business
combination, it would repay the Working Capital Loans. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, the Company
may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans, but no proceeds from the
Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into
warrants of the post-business combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be
identical to the Private Warrants. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.
You are not being asked
to vote on the business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares,
provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the business combination, you will retain the right
to vote on the business combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event
the business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT
PROPOSAL
Overview
The Company is proposing
to amend its charter to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination to the Extended Date.
The Extension Amendment
Proposal is required for the implementation of the Board’s plan to allow the Company more time to complete our initial business
combination.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the business combination by March 9, 2024, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus
and in accordance with our charter, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly
as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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
(which interest shall be net of income taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number
of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public stockholders’ rights as stockholders
(including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as
reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Board, liquidate
and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the
requirements of other applicable law.
A copy of the proposed amendment
to the charter of the Company is attached to this Proxy Statement in Annex A.
Reasons for the Extension Amendment Proposal
The Company’s charter
provides that the Company has until March 9, 2024 to complete an initial business combination. The purpose of the Extension Amendment
is to allow the Company more time to complete its initial business combination.
The Company’s IPO
prospectus and charter provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 65% of all outstanding shares of common stock, including
the Founder Shares, is required to extend our corporate existence, except in connection with, and effective upon, consummation of a business
combination. Additionally, our IPO prospectus and charter provide for all public stockholders to have an opportunity to redeem their
public shares in the case our corporate existence is extended as described above. Because we continue to believe that a business combination
would be in the best interests of our stockholders, and because we will not be able to conclude a business combination within the permitted
time period, the Board has determined to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which we have to complete a business combination
beyond March 9, 2024 to the Extended Date. We intend to hold another stockholder meeting prior to the Extended Date in order to
seek stockholder approval of the business combination.
We believe that the foregoing
charter provision was included to protect Company stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period
if the Company failed to find a suitable business combination in the timeframe contemplated by the charter.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is
Not Approved
Stockholder approval of
the Extension Amendment is required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date by which we must consummate our
initial business combination. Therefore, our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment unless our stockholders approve
the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the business combination by March 9, 2024, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus
and in accordance with our charter, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly
as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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
(which interest shall be net of income taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number
of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public stockholders’ rights as stockholders
(including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as
reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Board, liquidate
and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the
requirements of other applicable law.
There will be no distribution
from the Trust Account with respect to the Company’s warrants which will expire worthless in the event we wind up. In the event
of a liquidation, the Sponsor and our officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their
ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Warrants.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal Is
Approved
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, the Company will file an amendment to the charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in the form
set forth in Annex A hereto to extend the time it has to complete a business combination until the Extended Date. The Company
will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act and its units, Class A common stock and public warrants will remain publicly
traded. The Company will then continue to work to consummate the business combination by the Extended Date.
Notwithstanding stockholder
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension at any time
without any further action by our stockholders.
The
Company is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq IM-5101-2 requires that a special purpose acquisition company complete one or more
business combinations within 36 months of the effectiveness of its initial public offering registration statement, which, in the case
of the Company, would be March 9, 2024. If the Extension Amendment is approved and the Board exercises its right to extend the life of
the Company past March 9, 2024, such extension would extend the life of the Company past the Nasdaq Deadline. As a result, the Extension
Amendment does not comply with Nasdaq IM-5101-2. There is a risk that trading in the Company’s securities may be suspended and the
Company’s securities may be subject to delisting by Nasdaq on March 9, 2024 if the Board exercises its right to extend the life
of the Company past March 9, 2024 pursuant to the Extension Amendment. See “Risk Factors - The Extension Amendment
contemplated by the Extension Amendment Proposal contravenes Nasdaq rules, and as a result, could lead Nasdaq to suspend trading in the
Company’s securities or lead the Company to be delisted from Nasdaq.” for more information.
You are not being asked
to vote on the business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares,
provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the business combination, you will retain the right
to vote on the business combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event
the business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account in connection with
the Election will reduce the amount held in the Trust Account. The Company cannot predict the amount that will remain in the Trust Account
if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved.
Redemption Rights
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, each public stockholder may seek to redeem its public shares at a per-share price,
payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net
of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Holders of public shares who do not elect to redeem their
public shares in connection with the Extension will retain the right to redeem their public shares in connection with any stockholder
vote to approve a proposed business combination, or if the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Sponsor or its designees has agreed to loan to us the lesser of: (x) $30,000
and (y) $0.06 per month for each public share that is not redeemed. Assuming the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the
Extension Amendment is implemented, the Loan will be deposited in the Trust Account promptly following the beginning of the Extension
period. Accordingly, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension Amendment is implemented, the redemption amount
per share at the meeting for the Company’s business combination or the Company’s subsequent liquidation will be approximately
$10.73 per share, subject to adjustment for the Excise Tax, if applicable, and such other taxes payable from the Trust Account, in
comparison to the current redemption amount of approximately $10.65 per share, subject to adjustment for the Excise Tax, if applicable,
and such other taxes payable from the Trust Account. The Loan is conditioned upon the implementation of the Extension Amendment. The Loan
will not occur if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved or the Extension Amendment is not implemented. The Loan will only be
made on a month-to-month basis at the end of every month and until the consummation of the business combination transaction. The amount
of the Loan will not bear interest and will be repayable by us to the Sponsor or its designees upon consummation of an initial business
combination, in cash, at the option of the Sponsor. If the Sponsor or its designees advises us that it does not intend to make the Loan,
then the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal will not be put before the stockholders at the Special Meeting and
we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with our charter.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION
RIGHTS, YOU MUST SUBMIT A REQUEST IN WRITING THAT WE REDEEM YOUR PUBLIC SHARES FOR CASH TO CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY AT THE ADDRESS BELOW, AND, AT THE SAME TIME, ENSURE YOUR BANK OR BROKER COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED ELSEWHERE HEREIN, INCLUDING
DELIVERING YOUR SHARES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.
In connection with tendering
your shares for redemption, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 5, 2024
(two business days before the Special Meeting), you must elect either to physically tender your stock certificates to Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street Plaza, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, Attn: Mark Zimkind, mzimkind@continentalstock.com,
or to deliver your shares to the transfer agent electronically using DTC’s DWAC system, which election would likely be determined
based on the manner in which you hold your shares. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern
time on March 5, 2024 (two business days before the Special Meeting) ensures that
a redeeming holder’s election is irrevocable once the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. In furtherance of such irrevocable
election, stockholders making the election will not be able to tender their shares after the vote at the Special Meeting.
Through the DWAC system,
this electronic delivery process can be accomplished by the stockholder, whether or not it is a record holder or its shares are held
in “street name,” by contacting the transfer agent or its broker and requesting delivery of its shares through the DWAC system.
Delivering shares physically may take significantly longer. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a stockholder’s broker
and/or clearing broker, DTC, and the Company’s transfer agent will need to act together to facilitate this request. There is a
nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through
the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and the broker would determine whether or not to pass
this cost on to the redeeming holder. It is the Company’s understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks
to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. The Company does not have any control over this process or over the brokers
or DTC, and it may take longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. Such stockholders will have less time to make their
investment decision than those stockholders that deliver their shares through the DWAC system. Stockholders who request physical stock
certificates and wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for tendering their shares before exercising their redemption rights
and thus will be unable to redeem their shares.
Certificates that have not
been tendered in accordance with these procedures prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 5,
2024 (two business days before the Special Meeting) will not be redeemed for cash held in the Trust Account on the redemption date. In
the event that a public stockholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the vote at the Special Meeting that it does not want to
redeem its shares, the stockholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide
prior to the vote at the Special Meeting not to redeem your public shares, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares
(physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the address listed above. In the event
that a public stockholder tenders shares and the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved, these shares will not be redeemed and
the physical certificates representing these shares will be returned to the stockholder promptly following the determination that the
Extension Amendment Proposal will not be approved. The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption
in connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares
soon after the completion of the Extension Amendment. The transfer agent will hold the certificates of public stockholders that make
the election until such shares are redeemed for cash or returned to such stockholders.
If properly demanded, the
Company will redeem each public share for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust
Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Based
upon the current amount in the Trust Account, the Company anticipates that the per-share price at which public shares will be redeemed
from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $10.65 at the time of the Special Meeting. The closing price of the Company’s
Class A common stock on February 21, 2024 was $10.32.
If you exercise your redemption
rights, you will be exchanging your shares of the Company’s Class A common stock for cash and will no longer own the shares.
You will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if you properly demand redemption and tender your stock certificate(s) to
the Company’s transfer agent prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 5,
2024 (two business days before the Special Meeting). The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption
in connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares
soon after the completion of the Extension.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote
by holders of at least 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, including the Founder Shares, is required to approve
the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the business combination by March 9, 2024, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus
and in accordance with our charter, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly
as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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
(which interest shall be net of income taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number
of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public stockholders’ rights as stockholders
(including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as
reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Board, liquidate
and dissolve, subject, in each case, to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the
requirements of other applicable law. Stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment is required for the implementation of our Board’s
plan to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Therefore, our Board will abandon and not implement
such amendment unless our stockholders approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment at any time without any further
action by our stockholders.
The Sponsor and all of our
directors, executive officers and their affiliates are expected to vote any common stock owned by them in favor of the Extension Amendment
Proposal. On the record date, the Sponsor and our directors and executive officers of the Company and their affiliates beneficially owned
and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 6,900,000 Founder Shares representing approximately 94.4% of the Company’s issued and
outstanding shares of common stock. The Sponsor and our directors, executive officers and their affiliates do not intend to purchase
shares of Class A common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in connection with the stockholder vote
on the Extension Amendment.
Interests of the Sponsor, Directors and Officers
When you consider the
recommendation of our Board, you should keep in mind that the Sponsor, executive officers and members of our Board have interests that
may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include, among other things:
| |
· |
the fact that the Sponsor
holds 6,900,000 Founder Shares and 5,013,333 Private Placement Warrants, which would expire worthless if a business combination is
not consummated; |
| |
· |
the fact that, unless the
Company consummates the business combination, the Sponsor will not receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by an
affiliate on behalf of the Company ($75,000 of such expenses were incurred that had not been reimbursed as of January 31, 2024) to the extent that such expenses exceed the amount of available proceeds not deposited in the Trust Account; |
| |
· |
the fact that the Company
has issued promissory notes to the Sponsor with an outstanding balance of $1,433,720 as of September 30, 2023, which amount
the Company will be unable to repay to the Sponsor to the extent that the amount of such loans exceeds the amount of available proceeds
not deposited in the Trust Account if a business combination is not completed; |
| |
· |
the fact that, if the Trust
Account is liquidated, including in the event we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time
period, the Sponsor has agreed to indemnify us to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced below $10.00 per
public share, or such lesser per public share amount as is in the Trust Account on the liquidation date, by the claims of prospective
target businesses with which we have entered into an acquisition agreement or claims of any third party for services rendered or
products sold to us, but only if such a third party or target business has not executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access
to the Trust Account; and |
| |
· |
the fact that none of our
officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered to the Company, and all of the current members of
our Board are expected to continue to serve as directors at least through the date of the special meeting to vote on a proposed business
combination and may even continue to serve following any potential business combination and receive compensation thereafter. |
The Board’s Reasons for the Extension Amendment Proposal
and Its Recommendation
As discussed below, after
careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment is in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable adoption of the Extension Amendment Proposal and recommends
that you vote “FOR” such proposal.
Our charter provides that
the Company has until March 9, 2024 to complete the purposes of the Company including, but not limited to, effecting a business
combination under its terms.
Our charter states that
if the Company’s stockholders approve an amendment to the Company’s charter that would affect the substance or timing of
the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete a business combination before
March 9, 2024, the Company will provide its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public
shares upon such approval at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account,
including interest (which interest shall be net of the Excise Tax, if applicable, and such other taxes payable from the Trust Account),
divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. We believe that this charter provision was included to protect the Company stockholders
from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to find a suitable business combination
in the timeframe contemplated by the charter.
In addition, the Company’s
IPO prospectus and charter provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 65% of all outstanding shares of common stock,
including the Founder Shares, is required to extend our corporate existence, except in connection with, and effective upon the consummation
of, a business combination. Because we continue to believe that a business combination would be in the best interests of our stockholders
and because we will not be able to conclude a business combination within the permitted time period, the Board has determined to seek
stockholder approval to extend the date by which we have to complete a business combination beyond March 9, 2024 to the Extended
Date.
The Company is not asking
you to vote on the business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares,
you will retain the right to vote on the business combination in the future and the right to redeem your public shares at a per-share
price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall
be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, in the event the business combination is approved
and completed or the Company has not consummated another business combination by the Extended Date.
After careful consideration
of all relevant factors, the Board determined that the Extension Amendment is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Recommendation of the Board
Our Board unanimously
recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The Adjournment Proposal,
if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The
Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our stockholders in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection
with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal. In no event will our Board adjourn the Special Meeting beyond March 7, 2024.
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 the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person or by proxy at the Special
Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is otherwise established, a stockholder’s failure to vote
by proxy or online at the Special Meeting will have no effect on the outcome of any vote on the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will
be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the
Adjournment Proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal.
Recommendation of the Board
Our Board unanimously
recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Adjournment Proposal.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion
is a summary of certain United States federal income tax considerations for holders of our Class A common stock with respect to
the exercise of redemption rights in connection with the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal. This summary is based upon the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the “Code”, the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury
Department, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, which we refer to as the “IRS”,
and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with
retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain a position contrary to
any of the tax considerations described below. This summary does not discuss all aspects of United States federal income taxation that
may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances, such as investors subject to special tax rules (e.g.,
financial institutions, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension plans, S corporations, broker-dealers, traders in securities that
elect mark-to-market treatment, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, trusts and estates, partnerships and their
partners, and tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations)) and investors that will hold Class A common stock as part
of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion,” “synthetic security,” “constructive ownership
transaction,” “constructive sale,” or other integrated transaction for United States federal income tax purposes, investors
subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code, U.S. Holders (as defined below) that have a functional currency other
than the United States dollar, U.S. expatriates, investors that actually or constructively own 5 percent or more of the Class A
common stock of the Company, and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below, and except as otherwise discussed below), all of whom may be subject
to tax rules that differ materially from those summarized below. In addition, this summary does not discuss any state, local, or
non-United States tax considerations, any non-income tax (such as gift or estate tax) considerations, alternative minimum tax or the
Medicare tax. In addition, this summary is limited to investors that hold our Class A common stock as “capital assets”
(generally, property held for investment) under the Code.
If a partnership (including
an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds our Class A common stock,
the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership
and certain determinations made at the partner level. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our Class A common stock, you
are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of a redemption.
WE URGE HOLDERS OF OUR
CLASS A COMMON STOCK CONTEMPLATING EXERCISE OF THEIR REDEMPTION RIGHTS TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE UNITED STATES
FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES THEREOF.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to
U.S. Holders
This section is addressed
to U.S. Holders of our Class A common stock that elect to have their Class A common stock of the Company redeemed for cash.
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner that so redeems its Class A common stock of the
Company and is:
| |
· |
an individual who is a
United States citizen or resident of the United States; |
| |
· |
a corporation (including
an entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the
United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| |
· |
an estate the income of
which is includible in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
| |
· |
a trust (A) the administration
of which is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons (within the
meaning of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has in effect a valid
election under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person. |
Redemption of Class A Common Stock
In the event that a U.S.
Holder’s Class A common stock of the Company is redeemed, the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes
will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale or exchange of the Class A common stock under Section 302(a) of
the Code. Whether the redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of our stock treated
as held by the U.S. Holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning warrants) relative to all
of our shares both before and after the redemption. The redemption of Class A common stock generally will be treated as a sale of
the Class A common stock (rather than as a distribution) if the redemption: (i) is “substantially disproportionate”
with respect to the U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of such U.S. Holder’s interest in us
or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more
fully below.
In determining whether any
of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also shares
of our stock that are constructively owned by it. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned
by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as
well as any stock the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include Class A common
stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the warrants. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the
percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption
of Class A common stock must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively
owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if
either: (i) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of
the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives
in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively
own any other stock. The redemption of the Class A common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if a U.S. Holder’s
conversion results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption
will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances.
However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder
in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.”
If none of the foregoing
tests are satisfied, then the redemption will be treated as a distribution and the tax effects will be as described below under “U.S.
Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders - Taxation of Distributions.”
U.S. Holders of our Class A
common stock considering exercising their redemption rights should consult their own tax advisors as to whether the redemption of their
Class A common stock of the Company will be treated as a sale or as a distribution under the Code.
Gain or Loss on a Redemption of Class A
Common Stock Treated as a Sale or Exchange
If the redemption qualifies
as a sale or exchange of Class A common stock under Section 302(a) of the Code, a U.S. Holder must treat any gain or loss
recognized as capital gain or loss. Any such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding
period for the Class A common stock so disposed of exceeds one year. Generally, a U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss in an
amount equal to the difference between: (i) the amount of cash received in such redemption (or, if the Class A common stock
is held as part of a unit at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to
the Class A common stock based upon the then fair market values of the Class A common stock and the three-quarters of one warrant
included in the unit) and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock so redeemed. A U.S. Holder’s
adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, the portion
of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of Class A common stock or the U.S. Holder’s initial basis for Class A
common stock received upon exercise of a whole warrant) less any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. Long-term capital
gain realized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder generally will be taxable at a reduced rate. The deduction of capital losses is subject
to limitations.
Taxation of Distributions
If the redemption does not
qualify as a sale or exchange of Class A common stock under Section 302(a) of the Code, the U.S. Holder will be treated
as receiving a distribution. In general, any distributions to U.S. Holders generally will constitute dividends for United States federal
income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal
income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that
will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Class A common stock.
Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock and will be treated
as described under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders - Gain or Loss on a Redemption of Class A Common
Stock Treated as a Sale or Exchange”. Dividends we pay to a U.S. Holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for
the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions, and provided certain holding
period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. Holder generally will constitute “qualified dividends”
that will be taxable at a reduced rate.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to
Non-U.S. Holders
This section is addressed
to Non-U.S. Holders of our Class A common stock that elect to have their Class A common stock of the Company redeemed for cash.
For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner (other than a partnership) that so redeems its
Class A common stock of the Company and is not a U.S. Holder.
Redemption of Class A Common Stock
The characterization for
United States federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a Non-U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock generally will correspond
to the United States federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock, as
described under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders”.
Non-U.S. Holders of our
Class A common stock considering exercising their redemption rights should consult their own tax advisors as to whether the redemption
of their Class A common stock of the Company will be treated as a sale or as a distribution under the Code.
Gain or Loss on a Redemption of Class A
Common Stock Treated as a Sale or Exchange
If the redemption qualifies
as a sale or exchange of Class A common stock under Section 302(a) of the Code, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be
subject to United States federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale of its Class A common stock of
the Company, unless:
| |
· |
the gain is effectively
connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. Holder within the United States (and, under certain income tax
treaties, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder), in which case
the Non-U.S. Holder will generally be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. Holder with respect to the redemption, and a corporate
Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to the branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income
tax treaty); |
| |
· |
the Non-U.S. Holder is
an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year in which the redemption takes place and
certain other conditions are met, in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s net capital
gain for the year; or |
| |
· |
we are or have been a “U.S.
real property holding corporation” for United States federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year
period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. Holder held our Class A common stock, and, in the case
where shares of our Class A common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. Holder has owned,
directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Class A common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period
preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares of our Class A common stock. We do not
believe we are or have been a U.S. real property holding corporation. |
Taxation of Distributions
If the redemption does not
qualify as a sale or exchange of Class A common stock under Section 302(a) of the Code, the Non-U.S. Holder will be treated
as receiving a distribution. In general, any distributions we make to a Non-U.S. Holder of shares of our Class A common stock, to
the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under United States federal income tax principles),
will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S.
Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of
the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income
tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will
be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our Class A common
stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or
other disposition of the Class A common stock, which will be treated as described under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
to Non-U.S. Holders - Gain or Loss on a Redemption of Class A Common Stock Treated as a Sale or Exchange”. Dividends we pay
to a Non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with such Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United
States generally will not be subject to United States withholding tax, provided such Non-U.S. Holder complies with certain certification
and disclosure requirements. Instead, such dividends generally will be subject to United States federal income tax, net of certain deductions,
at the same graduated individual or corporate rates applicable to U.S. Holders (subject to an exemption or reduction in such tax as may
be provided by an applicable income tax treaty). If the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income
may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income
tax treaty).
As previously noted above,
the foregoing discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences is included for general information purposes only and
is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice to any stockholder. We once again urge you to consult with
your own tax adviser to determine the particular tax consequences to you (including the application and effect of any U.S. federal, state,
local or foreign income or other tax laws) of the receipt of cash in exchange for shares in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal.
THE SPECIAL MEETING
Overview
Date,
Time and Place. The Special Meeting of the Company’s stockholders will be held at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on
March 7, 2024 as a virtual meeting. You will be able to attend, vote your shares and submit questions during the Special Meeting via
a live webcast available at https://www.cstproxy.com/irisacquisition/2024. The meeting will be held virtually over the internet by
means of a live audio webcast. Only stockholders who own shares of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date
will be entitled to attend the virtual meeting.
To register for the virtual
meeting, please follow these instructions as applicable to the nature of your ownership of our common stock.
If your shares are registered
in your name with our transfer agent and you wish to attend the online-only virtual meeting, go to https://www.cstproxy.com/irisacquisition/2024, enter the control number
you received on your proxy card and click on the “Click here” to preregister for the online meeting link at the top of the
page. Just prior to the start of the meeting you will need to log back into the meeting site using your control number. Pre-registration
is recommended but is not required in order to attend.
Beneficial stockholders
who wish to attend the online-only virtual meeting must obtain a legal proxy by contacting their account representative at the bank,
broker, or other nominee that holds their shares and e-mail a copy (a legible photograph is sufficient) of their legal proxy to proxy@continentalstock.com.
Beneficial stockholders who e-mail a valid legal proxy will be issued a meeting control number that will allow them to register to attend
and participate in the online-only meeting. After contacting our transfer agent, a beneficial holder will receive an e-mail prior to
the meeting with a link and instructions for entering the virtual meeting. Beneficial stockholders should contact our transfer agent
at least five business days prior to the meeting date.
Voting
Power; Record Date. You will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the Special Meeting, if you owned the Company’s
Class A common stock at the close of business on February 9,
2024, the record date for the Special Meeting. You will have one vote per proposal for each share of the Company’s common stock
you owned at that time. The Company’s warrants do not carry voting rights.
Votes
Required. Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal will each require the affirmative vote of holders of at least 65% of
the Company’s common stock outstanding on the record date, including the Founder Shares. If you do not vote or you abstain from
voting on a proposal, your action will have the same effect as an “AGAINST” vote. Broker non-votes will have the same effect
as “AGAINST” votes.
At the close of business
on the record date of the Special Meeting, there were 7,306,609 shares of Class A common stock outstanding, each of which entitles
its holder to cast one vote per proposal.
If you do not want the Extension
Amendment Proposal approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal. You will be
entitled to redeem your public shares for cash in connection with this vote whether or not you vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal
so long as you elect to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account in connection with
the Extension Amendment Proposal. The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with
the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion
of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Proxies;
Board Solicitation; Proxy Solicitor. Your proxy is being solicited by the Board on the proposals being presented to stockholders
at the Special Meeting. The Company has engaged Alliance Advisors, LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting.
No recommendation is being made as to whether you should elect to redeem your public shares. Proxies may be solicited in person or by
telephone. If you grant a proxy, you may still revoke your proxy and vote your shares online at the Special Meeting if you are a holder
of record of the Company’s common stock. You may contact Alliance Advisors, LLC at 844-670-2141 (toll free) or by email at IRAA@allianceadvisors.com.
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets
forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock as of the record date based on information obtained
from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of the Company’s common stock, by:
| |
· |
each person known by us
to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock; |
| |
· |
each of our executive officers
and directors that beneficially owns shares of common stock; and |
| |
· |
all our officers and directors
as a group. |
As of the record date, there
were 7,306,609 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding. Unless otherwise indicated, all persons named in the table
have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.
| | |
Class A
Common Stock | |
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | |
Number
of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned | | |
Approximate
Percentage of
Class | |
| Directors
and Officers(1) | |
| | | |
| | |
| Iris
Acquisition Holdings LLC (2) | |
| 6,900,000 | (3) | |
| 94.4 | % |
| Moore
Capital Management, LP(4) | |
| 100,000 | | |
| 1.4 | % |
| Sumit
Mehta (5) | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Lisha
Parmar(5) | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Omkar
Halady(5) | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Rohit
Nanani(5) | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Richard
Peretz(5) | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Manish
Shah(5) | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Nicholas
Fernandez(5) | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| All executive officers and directors as a group (7 individuals) | |
| | | |
| % | % |
| (1) |
Unless otherwise
noted, the business address of each of the following is 3rd Floor Zephyr House, 122 Mary Street, George Town, PO Box 10085, Grand
Cayman KY1-1001, Cayman Islands. |
| (2) |
Iris Acquisition
Holdings LLC, our Sponsor, is the record holder of the shares reported herein. Columbass Limited, a
limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, is the managing member of our Sponsor. Our
Sponsor is owned by two Cayman private equity funds: Arrow Multi-Asset Fund SPC – SP 4 and Arrow Multi-Asset Fund SPC –
SP 6, and Columbass. In its role as managing member, Columbass possesses sole voting and investment power over the Class A Shares
held by our Sponsor. The natural person who has voting and/or investment power over the shares held by the Sponsor is Kanwarjeet
Tucker. |
| (3) |
Interests
shown consist solely of Founder Shares, which were initially classified as Class B Common Stock. Such shares were converted
into shares of Iris Class A Common Stock on September 25, 2023. |
|
|
| (4) |
According to
the Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2023, Moore Capital Management, LP (“MCM”), MMF LT, LLC (“MMF”),
Moore Global Investments, LLC (“MGI”), Moore Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (“MCA”) and Louis M. Bacon (“Mr. Bacon”)
own an aggregate of 100,000 shares of our Class A common stock. MCM, MMF, MGI, MCA and Mr. Bacon maintain sole voting and
sole dispositive power over an aggregate of 100,000 shares of our Class A common stock. The address of the principal business
office of each of the persons referred to in this footnote is 11 Times Square, 39th Floor, New York, New York 10036. |
| (5) |
Each of our
officers, directors and strategic advisors is, directly or indirectly, a member of our Sponsor or have direct or indirect economic
interests in our Sponsor, and each of them disclaims any beneficial ownership of any shares held by our Sponsor except to the extent
of his or her ultimate pecuniary interest. |
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Our bylaws provide notice
procedures for stockholders to nominate a person as a director and to propose business to be considered by stockholders at a meeting.
Notice of a nomination or proposal must be delivered to us not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the
opening of business on the 120th day prior to the date for the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however,
that in the event that the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date (or if there has
been no prior annual meeting), notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on
the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or
(y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first
made by us.
HOUSEHOLDING INFORMATION
Unless we have received
contrary instructions, we may send a single copy of this Proxy Statement to any household at which two or more stockholders reside if
we believe the stockholders are members of the same family. This process, known as “householding”, reduces the volume of
duplicate information received at any one household and helps to reduce our expenses. However, if stockholders prefer to receive multiple
sets of our disclosure documents at the same address this year or in future years, the stockholders should follow the instructions described
below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another stockholder and together both of the stockholders would like to receive only a
single set of our disclosure documents, the stockholders should follow these instructions:
| · |
If the shares
are registered in the name of the stockholder, the stockholder should contact us at ssg@arrcap.com to inform us of his or her request;
or |
| · |
If a bank,
broker or other nominee holds the shares, the stockholder should contact the bank, broker or other nominee directly. |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act. You can read the Company’s SEC filings, including this Proxy
Statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
If you would like additional
copies of this Proxy Statement or if you have questions about the proposals to be presented at the Special Meeting, you should contact
the Company’s proxy solicitation agent at the following address and telephone number:
Alliance Advisors, LLC
200 Broadacres Drive, 3rd Floor
Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003
Toll Free: 844-670-2141
Email: IRAA@allianceadvisors.com
You may also obtain these
documents by requesting them via e-mail from IRAA@allianceadvisors.com.
If
you are a stockholder of the Company and would like to request documents, please do so by February 29,
2024, in order to receive them before the Special Meeting. If you request any documents from us, we will mail them to you
by first class mail, or another equally prompt means.
ANNEX A
FOURTH AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
IRIS ACQUISITION CORP
IRIS
ACQUISITION CORP (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
does hereby certify as follows:
| 1. |
The Corporation’s
original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 5, 2020 under
the name “Tribe Capital Growth Corp I”. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary
of State of Delaware on March 4, 2021 and thereafter amended by a Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation on July 26, 2022, by a Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on
December 20, 2022 and a Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on September 7,
2023 (the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the “Amended and Restated Certificate”). |
| 2. |
This Certificate
of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate amends the Amended and Restated Certificate. |
| 3. |
This Certificate
of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and 65% of the
stock entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware. |
| 4. |
The text of
Section 9.1(b) of Article IX is hereby amended and restated to read in full 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 January 25, 2021,
as amended (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 $100,000 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 completion 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 June 9, 2024 (subject to
an additional three month extension at the discretion of the Board) (or, in each case, if the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations
shall not be open for business (including filing of corporate documents) on such date the next date upon which the Office of the Delaware
Division of Corporations shall be open) (the “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 material 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 the Sponsor or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as
“Public Stockholders.”
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Iris Acquisition Corp has caused this Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed
in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of this __ day of _____________, 2024.
| |
IRIS ACQUISITION
CORP |
| |
|
| |
By: |
|
| |
Name: |
Sumit Mehta |
| |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
Iris Acquisition (NASDAQ:IRAAU)
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