AIB AIB Acquisition Corporation

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON [●], 2023

[●], 2022

To the Shareholders of AIB Acquisition Corporation:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of shareholders (the “Meeting”) of AIB Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, will be held on [●], 2023, at [●] a.m. Eastern Time. The Company will be holding the Meeting via live webcast. You will be able to attend the Meeting, vote and submit your questions online before the Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/[URL].

The purpose of the Meeting will be to consider and vote upon the following proposals:

Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Liquidation Amendment Proposal (together, the “Charter Amendment Proposals”) are each conditioned on one another and the Charter Amendment Proposals are conditioned on the Trust Amendment Proposal. This means that unless all three proposals are approved by the shareholders, none of these three proposals will take effect.

The Board has fixed the close of business on [●], 2022 as the record date for the Meeting and only holders of shares of record at that time will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

By Order of the Board of Directors

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS: WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY IN THE MEETING, IT IS REQUESTED THAT YOU INDICATE YOUR VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS INCLUDED ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND DATE, SIGN AND MAIL IT IN THE ENCLOSED SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR SUBMIT YOUR PROXY THROUGH THE INTERNET AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS: THIS PROXY STATEMENT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://WWW.CSTPROXY.COM/[●]. WE ARE FIRST MAILING THESE MATERIALS TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS ON OR ABOUT [●], 2022.

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

875 Third Avenue, Suite M204A

New York, NY 10022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AIB ACQUISITION CORPORATION

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR A SPECIAL MEETING
To be held at [●] a.m. Eastern Time on [●], 2023

The information provided in the Questions and Answers below 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.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Why am I receiving this proxy statement?

This proxy statement of AIB Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) and the enclosed proxy card are being sent to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors (the “Board”) for use at the Meeting, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof. This proxy statement summarizes the information that you need to make an informed decision on the proposals to be considered at the Meeting.

We are a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (our “initial business combination”). Our sponsor is AIB LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). On January 21, 2022, the Company consummated its IPO, including a concurrent private placement with our Sponsor and Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”), our IPO underwriter, of units containing 388,750 Class A ordinary shares (the “Private Placement”) (the “Private Placement Shares”) and 388,750 rights (the “Private Placement Rights”), from which it derived gross proceeds in the aggregate of $87,112,500. Prior to the Company’s IPO, the Sponsor purchased 1,437,500 of our Class B ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”), which are convertible into Class A ordinary shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.017 per Founder Share. On September 13, 2021, the Company effected a share dividend of 0.5 shares for each Class B ordinary share outstanding, resulting in an aggregate of 2,156,250 Founder Shares outstanding. Prior to the completion of the IPO, up to 281,250 shares were subject to forfeiture. At the closing of the IPO, the underwriters fully exercised their over-allotment option. Accordingly, no Founder Shares are currently subject to forfeiture. Like most blank check companies, our charter provides for the return of the IPO proceeds held in trust to the holders of public shares if there is no qualifying business combination(s) consummated on or before a certain date. In our case, such certain date was contemplated to be January 21, 2023 (i.e., 12 months from the consummation of the IPO, or the “business combination period”), subject to up to three three-month extensions (for a total of up to 21 months, or until October 21, 2023, to complete a business combination), subject to the Sponsor or its designees depositing additional funds into the Company’s Trust Account.

If the Charter Amendment Proposals (which are conditioned on each other) and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the business combination period will instead be extended to January 21, 2024 unless our Board elects to wind up our operations on any date following the filing of the Charter Amendments, in which case we will liquidate the Trust Account and dissolve in accordance with law and to redeem all public shares. Our Board believes that it is in the best interests of the shareholders to both continue the Company’s existence until the expiration of the Extension Period (as defined below) but also to enable the Company to liquidate the Trust Account and dissolve in accordance with law and to redeem all public shares on a specified date prior to January 21, 2024 (including prior to the current termination date) if it determines such action is in the best interests of the shareholders. Therefore, the Board is submitting the proposals described in this proxy statement for the shareholders to vote upon.

What is being voted on?

You are being asked to vote on the following proposals:

What is the purpose of the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment?

The purpose of the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment is to provide the Company with additional time during the Extension Period to effect a suitable initial business combination as well as to enable the Board to liquidate the Trust Account and dissolve in accordance with law and to redeem all public shares on a specified date following the filing of the amended charter and prior to the scheduled end of the Extension Period (including a date prior to the current termination date), after taking into account various factors, including, but not limited to, the prospect of identifying a target and negotiating and consummating a business combination prior to the end of the Extension Period. While we are currently seeking to identify an initial business combination target, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before January 21, 2023 to identify and complete the initial business combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that it is in the best interests of our shareholders to provide the Company more time to identify and consummate the initial business combination, as well as to provide additional flexibility to wind up our operations and liquidate the Trust Account and dissolve in accordance with law and to redeem all public shares. If a suitable business combination is timely identified, the Company intends to hold another shareholders’ meeting prior to the expiration of the Extension Period in order to seek shareholder approval of a potential business combination.

Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension Period.

Why is the Company proposing the Charter Amendment Proposals and Trust Amendment Proposal?

The Company’s IPO prospectus provided that the Company initially has until January 21, 2023 (the date which is 12 months after the consummation of the IPO) to complete the initial business combination, subject to up to three three-month extensions (until October 21, 2023) at the request of our Sponsor and the funding of additional amounts into the Trust Account.

If Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the business combination period will be extended to January 21, 2024 (i.e., twelve months from the current termination date). Additionally, our Board, in its sole discretion, will have the ability to elect to wind up our operations on an earlier date, in which case we will liquidate the Trust Account and dissolve in accordance with law and to redeem all public shares.

Our Board believes that it is in the best interests of our shareholders to provide for the Extension and incremental flexibility. If a suitable business combination is timely identified, the Company intends to hold another shareholders’ meeting prior to the expiration of the Extension Period in order to seek shareholder approval of the initial business combination.

The Company reserves the right at any time to cancel the Meeting and not to submit to its shareholders the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposals or implement the Charter Amendments. As contemplated by our IPO prospectus, we may, if requested by our Sponsor, extend the period of time to consummate a business combination up to three times, each by an additional three months (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination), subject to the Sponsor depositing into the Trust Account, upon five days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline, $862,500 ($0.10 per unit, up to an aggregate of $2,587,500). In the event the Meeting is cancelled and the Sponsor or its affiliates or designees do not elect to fund any such extension, the Company will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with our charter.

Why should I vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal?

Our Board believes shareholders will benefit from the Company consummating an initial business combination and is proposing the Charter Amendments and the Trust Amendment to extend the date by which the Company must complete the initial business combination to the expiration of the Extension Period. Our Board also believes that shareholders will benefit from enabling the Board to liquidate the Trust Account and dissolve in accordance with law and to redeem all public shares on a specified date following the filing of the amended charter and prior to the scheduled end of the Extension Period (including a date prior to the current termination date), after taking into account various factors, including, but not limited to, the prospect of identifying a target and negotiating and consummating a business combination prior to the end of the Extension Period. Your vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are required for the Company to implement the Extension Amendment, the Liquidation Amendment and the Trust Amendment, respectively.

The Company’s existing charter provides that if the Company’s shareholders approve an amendment to the Company’s charter that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem public shares if the Company does not complete its initial business combination before a certain deadline, the Company will provide holders of its public shares (“public shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon such approval (the election for such a redemption, the “Election”) 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 Trust Account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $50,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. The Company believes that this charter provision was included to protect the Company’s shareholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to find a suitable business combination during the business combination period. If you do not elect to redeem your public shares, you will retain the right to vote on any proposed initial business combination in the future and the right to redeem your public shares in connection with such initial business combination.

If the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment are approved, the Board will have the flexibility to liquidate the Trust Account and dissolve in accordance with law and to redeem all public shares on a specified date following the filing of the Charter Amendments at any time before or after the current termination date, and prior to the end of the Extension Period.

If the Company liquidates, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if, and to the extent, any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us or a prospective target businesses with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.10 per Public Share or (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.10 per Public Share is then held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, except as to any claims by a third party or a prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company has not independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believes that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company and, therefore, the Sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. None of the Company’s officers or directors will indemnify the Company for claims by third parties, including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal but expresses no opinion as to whether you should redeem your public shares. Public shareholders may elect to redeem their public shares regardless of whether or how they vote on the proposals at the Meeting; however, redemption payments for Elections in connection with this Meeting will only be made if the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal receive the requisite shareholder approvals and we determine to implement the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment.

Why should I vote “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal?

If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by our shareholders, our Board may not be able to adjourn the Meeting to a later date in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the other proposals.

How do the Company insiders intend to vote their shares?

All of the Company’s directors and their respective affiliates are expected to vote any ordinary shares over which they have voting control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of the proposals.

Our initial shareholders (and their permitted transferees) have entered into a letter agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed initial business combination and to waive their redemption rights with respect to their ordinary shares in connection with (i) the completion of our initial business combination or (ii) a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our charter (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 12 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. The initial shareholders are not entitled to redeem the Founder Shares.

On the record date, the initial shareholders beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 2,156,250 Founder Shares and 345,625 Private Placement Shares, which in the aggregate represents approximately 22.2% of the Company’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares.

In addition, the Sponsor or the Company’s or a potential target’s executive officers or advisors, or any of their respective affiliates, may purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to the Meeting, although they are under no obligation to do so. Any such purchases that are completed after the record date for the Meeting may include an agreement with a selling shareholder that such shareholder, for so long as it remains the record holder of the shares in question, will vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal and/or will not exercise its redemption rights with respect to the shares so purchased. The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would be to increase the likelihood that the proposals to be voted upon at the Meeting are approved by the requisite number of votes. In the event that such purchases do occur, the purchasers may seek to purchase shares from shareholders who would otherwise have voted against the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal and elected to redeem their shares for a portion of the Trust Account. Any such privately negotiated purchases may be effected at purchase prices that are below or in excess of the per-share pro rata portion of the Trust Account. Any public shares held by or subsequently purchased by our affiliates may be voted in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. None of the Company’s Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or during a restricted period under Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Does the Board recommend voting for the approval of the proposals?

Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of the proposals, the Board has determined that the proposals are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, “For” the Liquidation Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.

What vote is required to adopt the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal?

Approval of each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two-thirds of the of the votes cast by shareholders represented at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon.

When would the Board abandon the Charter Amendments and the Trust Amendment?

Our Board will abandon the Charter Amendments and the Trust Amendment if our shareholders do not approve the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. Additionally, notwithstanding the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal by our shareholders, the Board may decide to abandon the Charter Amendments and the Trust Amendment at any time and for any reason prior to the filing of the Certificate of Amendment setting forth the Charter Amendments with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands. If we abandon the Charter Amendments, public shareholders will not have their Public Shares redeemed in connection with the Meeting.

What happens if I sell my ordinary shares or units of the Company before the Meeting?

The [●], 2022 record date is earlier than the date of the Meeting. If you transfer your public shares after the record date but before the Meeting, unless the transferee obtains from you a proxy to vote those shares, you will retain your right to vote at the Meeting. If you transfer your ordinary shares prior to the record date, you will have no right to vote those shares at the Meeting.

Will you seek any further extensions to liquidate the Trust Account?

Other than the Extension, until the expiration of the Extension Period as described in this proxy statement, the Company does not currently anticipate seeking any further extension to consummate the initial business combination.

What happens if the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved?

If the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved, we do not consummate the initial business combination by January 21, 2023, and our Sponsor determines not to fund any additional extension, we will be required to dissolve and liquidate our Trust Account by returning the then-remaining funds in such account to the public shareholders.

The Company’s initial shareholders have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to their Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares. Additionally, Maxim owns 82,225 Class A ordinary shares, which we refer to as the “Representative Shares,” and 43,125 Private Placement Shares, all of which are not entitled to any liquidation distributions. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to the Company’s rights, which will expire worthless in the event we wind up.

Additionally, redemption payments for Elections in connection with this Meeting will only be made if the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal receive the requisite shareholder approvals and we determine to implement the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, what happens next?

Subject to the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal by a majority of at least two-thirds of the of the votes cast by shareholders represented at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon, the Company will file an amendment to the charter with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands in the form of Annex A hereto, and the Trust Amendment in the form of Annex B hereto will become effective. Unless and until the Board determines to wind up the operations of the Company, the Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units, ordinary shares, and public rights will remain publicly traded. Unless and until the Board determines to wind up the operations of the Company, the Company will then continue to work to identify and consummate the initial business combination prior to the expiration of the Extension Period.

If the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment are approved, the Board will have the flexibility to liquidate the Trust Account and dissolve in accordance with law and to redeem all public shares on a specified date following the filing of the Charter Amendments at any time before or after the current termination date, and prior to the end of the Extension Period.

If the Company liquidates, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if, and to the extent, any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us or a prospective target businesses with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.10 per Public Share or (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.10 per Public Share is then held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, except as to any claims by a third party or a prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The Company has not independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believes that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company and, therefore, the Sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. None of the Company’s officers or directors will indemnify the Company for claims by third parties, including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

The Charter Amendment Proposals are conditioned on each other and the Trust Amendment Proposal is conditioned on the Charter Amendment Proposals. Therefore, the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal must each be approved for the Extension Period to be implemented.

Would I still be able to exercise my redemption rights if I vote against the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal or Trust Amendment Proposal?

Yes, assuming you are a shareholder as of the record date and continue to hold your shares at the time of your Election (and subsequent redemption payment). However, redemption payments for Elections in connection with this Meeting will only be made if the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal receive the requisite shareholder approvals and we determine to implement the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment. If you do not redeem your public shares in connection with the Meeting, and you disagree with the initial business combination if and when it is proposed for a shareholder approval, you will retain your right to redeem your public shares upon consummation of the initial business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in the charter.

When and where is the Meeting?

The Meeting will be held at [●] a.m. Eastern Time, on [●], 2023, in virtual format. The Company’s shareholders may attend and vote at the Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/[●] and entering the control number found on their proxy card. You may also attend the Meeting telephonically by dialing 1 800-450-7155 (toll-free within the United States and Canada) or +1 857-999-9155 (outside of the United States and Canada, standard rates apply). The passcode for telephone access is [●]#. You will not be able to attend the Meeting physically. The online meeting format for the Meeting will enable full and equal participation by all our shareholders from any place in the world at little to no cost.

How do I attend the virtual Meeting?

Registered shareholders received a proxy card from Continental. The proxy card contains instructions on how to attend the Meeting including the URL address, along with a control number that you will need for access. If you do not have your control number, contact Continental by phone at: (917) 262-2373, or email proxy@continentalstock.com.

You can pre-register to attend the virtual meeting starting on [●], 2023 at [●] a.m. Eastern Time (four (4) business days prior to the meeting date). Enter the URL address into your browser https://www.cstproxy.com/[●], enter your control number, name and email address. Once you pre-register you will be able to vote. At the start of the Meeting you will need to log in again using your control number and will also be prompted to enter your control number if you vote during the Meeting.

Beneficial holders, who own their shares through a bank or broker, will need to contact Continental to receive a control number. If you plan to vote at the Meeting, you will need to have a legal proxy from your bank or broker. If you would like to attend the Meeting and not vote, Continental will issue you a guest control number after you provide proof of beneficial ownership. Either way, you must contact Continental for specific instructions on how to receive the control number, by phone at: (917) 262-2373, or email at proxy@continentalstock.com. Please allow up to seventy-two (72) hours prior to the Meeting for processing your control number.

If you do not have internet capabilities, you can listen only to the meeting by dialing 1 800-450-7155 (toll-free within the United States and Canada) or +1 857-999-9155 (outside of the United States and Canada, standard rates apply). The passcode for telephone access is [●]#. This is listen only; you will not be able to vote or enter questions during the Meeting.

How do I vote?

If you are a holder of record of Company ordinary shares, you may vote virtually at the Meeting or by submitting a proxy for the Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting virtually, the Company urges you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may submit your proxy by (i) completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope or (ii) voting online at https://www.cstproxy.com/[●]. You may still attend the Meeting and vote virtually if you have already voted by proxy.

If your Company ordinary shares 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 Meeting. However, since you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your shares virtually at the Meeting unless you first submit a legal proxy to Continental, as described above in “How do I attend the virtual Meeting?”

How do I change my vote?

If you are a holder of record of Company ordinary shares, you can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the Meeting by (i) delivering a later-dated, signed proxy card prior to the date of the Meeting, (ii) granting a subsequent proxy online or (iii) voting virtually at the Meeting. Attendance at the Meeting alone will not change your vote.

If your Company ordinary shares are held in “street name” by a broker or other agent and you wish to revoke your proxy, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker or agent.

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 for each proposal.

If my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker automatically vote them for me?

Generally, if shares are held in street name, the beneficial owner of the shares is entitled to give voting instructions to the broker, bank or other nominee holding the shares. If the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions, the broker, bank or other nominee can still vote the shares with respect to matters that are considered to be “routine,” but cannot vote the shares with respect to “non-routine” matters. Under the applicable rules, “non-routine” matters are matters that may substantially affect the rights or privileges of shareholders, such as mergers, reverse stock splits, shareholder proposals, elections of directors (even if not contested), and executive compensation, including advisory shareholder votes on executive compensation and on the frequency of shareholder votes on executive compensation. The Charter Amendment Proposals, Trust Amendment Proposal and Adjournment Proposal are considered to be “non-routine” and brokers, banks or other nominees will not have discretionary voting power with respect to such proposals. Thus, your broker can vote your shares with respect to “non-discretionary items” only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares, and your broker can tell you how to provide these instructions.

What is a quorum requirement?

A quorum of shareholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if at least a majority of the paid up voting share capital of the Company is represented virtually or by proxy at the Meeting.

Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote virtually at the Meeting. Abstentions will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairman of the Meeting may adjourn the Meeting to another date.

Who can vote at the Meeting?

Only holders of record of the Company’s ordinary shares at the close of business on [●], 2022 are entitled to have their vote counted at the Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. On this record date, 9,095,975 Class A ordinary shares and 2,156,250 Founder Shares were outstanding and entitled to vote.

See above in “How do I vote?” for information on how to vote.

What interests do the Company’s directors and executive officers have in the approval of the proposals?

The Company’s directors and executive officers have interests in the proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder. See “The Meeting — Interests of our Sponsor, Directors and Officers.”

What happens to the Company’s rights if the Charter Amendment Proposals and Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved?

If either the Charter Amendment Proposals or the Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not identify and consummate an initial business combination by January 21, 2023, and our Sponsor determines not to fund any additional extension as contemplated by our IPO prospectus, we will be required to dissolve and liquidate our Trust Account by returning the then-remaining funds in such account to the public shareholders and the Company’s public rights and Private Placement Rights will expire worthless.

What happens to the Company’s rights if the Charter Amendment Proposals and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved?

If the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and implemented, the Company will be able to continue its efforts to identify and consummate its initial business combination until the expiration of the Extension Period and will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to it, and the public rights and Private Placement Rights will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.

How do I redeem my public shares?

If the Charter Amendments and the Trust Amendment are implemented, each public shareholder may seek to redeem all or a portion of his or her public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the Trust Account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and upto $50,000 of interst to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. You will also be able to redeem your public shares in connection with any shareholder vote to approve the initial business combination, or if the Company has not consummated the initial business combination by the expiration of the Extension Period.

To demand redemption, you must ensure your bank or broker complies with the requirements identified herein, including submitting a written request that your shares be redeemed for cash to the transfer agent and delivering your shares to the transfer agent prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on [●], 2023. You will only be entitled to receive cash in connection with a redemption of these shares if you continue to hold them until the effective date of the Charter Amendments, the Trust Amendment and Election.

Pursuant to our charter, a public shareholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public shareholder’s public shares for cash if the Charter Amendments Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only if you:

If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public rights, or if a holder holds units registered in its own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public shareholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote for the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal.

Through DTC’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian) System, this electronic delivery process can be accomplished by the shareholder, 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 shareholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC, and the Company’s transfer agent will need to act together to facilitate this request. There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $100 and the broker would determine whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. It is the Company’s understanding that shareholders 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 shareholders will have less time to make their investment decision than those shareholders that deliver their shares through the DWAC system. Shareholders who request physical stock certificates and wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for tendering their shares before exercising their redemption rights and thus will be unable to redeem their shares.

Certificates that have not been tendered in accordance with these procedures prior to the vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal will not be redeemed for cash held in the Trust Account.

In the event that a public shareholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the vote at the Meeting that it does not want to redeem its shares, the shareholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide prior to the vote at the Meeting not to redeem your shares, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the address listed above. In the event that a public shareholder tenders shares and the Charter Amendment Proposals and Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved, these shares will not be redeemed and the physical certificates representing these shares will be returned to the shareholder promptly following the determination that the Charter Amendment Proposals and Trust Amendment Proposal will not be approved. The Company anticipates that a public shareholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the implementation of the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment. The transfer agent will hold the certificates of public shareholders that make the election until such shares are redeemed for cash or returned to such shareholders.

If I am a public unit holder, can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my units?

No. Holders of outstanding public units must separate the underlying public shares and public rights prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares.

If you hold units registered in your own name, you must deliver the certificate (physically or electronically) for such units to Continental, our transfer agent, with written instructions to separate such units into public shares and public rights. This must be completed far enough in advance to permit the delivery of the public share certificates back to you so that you may then exercise your redemption rights upon the separation of the units into public shares and public rights. See “How do I redeem my public shares?” above.

What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?

You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards, if your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all of your Company shares.

Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

The Company will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. The Company has engaged [●] (“Solicitor”) to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Meeting. The Company has agreed to pay Solicitor’s customary fees, plus disbursements, and indemnify Solicitor against certain damages, expenses, liabilities or claims relating to its services as the Company’s proxy solicitor. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and executive officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. The Company may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. 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.

Where do I find the voting results of the Meeting?

We will announce preliminary voting results at the Meeting. The final voting results will be tallied by the inspector of election and published in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) within four (4) business days following the Meeting.

Who can help answer my questions?

If you have questions about the proposals or if you need additional copies of the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card you should contact the Company’s proxy solicitor at [●].

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

This proxy statement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Such statements include, but are not limited to, possible business combinations and the financing thereof, and related matters, as well as all other statements other than statements of historical fact.

The forward-looking statements contained in this proxy statement are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described under “Risk Factors” in this proxy statement and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2022 (the “Annual Report”) and in our other SEC filings. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other factors discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report and in other reports we file with the SEC. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could also be materially and adversely affected by additional factors that apply to all companies generally, as well as other risks that are not currently known to us or that we currently view to be immaterial. In any such case, the trading price of our securities could decline and you may lose all or part of your original investment. While we attempt to mitigate known risks to the extent we believe to be practicable and reasonable, we can provide no assurance, and we make no representation, that our mitigation efforts will be successful. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

We may not be able to complete the initial business combination by the expiration of the Extension Period, even if the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved by our shareholders, in which case, to the extent our Sponsor determines not to fund any additional extension as contemplated by our IPO prospectus, we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate.

We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete the initial business combination by the expiration of the Extension Period, even if the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved by our shareholders. Our ability to complete the initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein, in our Annual Report and in other reports that we file with the SEC. If we have not completed the initial business combination within such time period, and our Sponsor determines not to fund any additional extension as contemplated by our IPO prospectus, we will (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) 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 in the Trust Account (net of taxes payable and up to $50,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and our Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Additionally, there will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our rights, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up.

Additionally, we are required to offer shareholders the opportunity to redeem shares in connection with the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if needed, any additional extensions, and we will be required to offer shareholders redemption rights again in connection with any shareholder vote to approve an initial business combination. Even if the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved by our shareholders, it is possible that redemptions will leave us with insufficient cash to consummate an initial business combination on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. The fact that we will have separate redemption periods in connection with the Extension and an initial business combination vote could exacerbate these risks. Other than in connection with a redemption offer or liquidation, our shareholders may be unable to recover their investment except through sales of our shares on the open market. The price of our shares may be volatile, and there can be no assurance that shareholders will be able to dispose of our shares at favorable prices, or at all.

Additional extensions past the Extension Period may be required, which may subject us and our shareholders to additional risks and contingencies that would make it more challenging for us to complete an initial business combination.

Changes to laws or regulations or in how such laws or regulations are interpreted or applied, or a failure to comply with any laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination.

We are subject to the laws and regulations, and interpretations and applications of such laws and regulations, of national, regional, state and local governments and, potentially, non-U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, we are required to comply with certain SEC and potentially other legal and regulatory requirements, and our consummation of an initial business combination may be contingent upon our ability to comply with certain laws, regulations, interpretations and applications and any post-initial business combination company may be subject to additional laws, regulations, interpretations and applications. Compliance with, and monitoring of, the foregoing may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time, and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial business combination. A failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial business combination. The SEC has, in the past year, adopted certain rules and may, in the future adopt other rules, which may have a material effect on our activities and on our ability to consummate an initial business combination, including the SPAC Rule Proposals described below.

The SEC has recently issued proposed rules relating to certain activities of SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential initial business combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with such proposals may increase our costs and the time needed to complete our initial business combination and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial business combination. The need for compliance with the SPAC Rule Proposals may cause us to liquidate the funds in the Trust Account or liquidate the Company at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose.

On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules (the “SPAC Rule Proposals”) relating, among other things, to disclosures in SEC filings in connection with initial business combination transactions between SPACS such as us and private operating companies; the financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed initial business combination transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed initial business combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), including a proposed rule that would provide SPACs a safe harbor from treatment as an investment company if they satisfy certain conditions that limit a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities. The SPAC Rule Proposals have not yet been adopted and may be adopted in the proposed form or in a different form that could impose additional regulatory requirements on SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential initial business combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with the SPAC Rule Proposals, or pursuant to the SEC’s views expressed in the SPAC Rule Proposals, may increase the costs and time of negotiating and completing an initial business combination, and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial business combination. The need for compliance with the SPAC Rule Proposals may cause us to liquidate the funds in the Trust Account or liquidate the Company at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose. Were we to liquidate, our rights would expire worthless, and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including any potential price appreciation of our securities.

If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we would be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities would be severely restricted. As a result, in such circumstances, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we may abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead liquidate the Company.

As described further above, the SPAC Rule Proposals relate, among other matters, to the circumstances in which SPACs such as the Company could potentially be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. The SPAC Rule Proposals would provide a safe harbor for such companies from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided that a SPAC satisfies certain criteria, including a limited time period to announce and complete a de-SPAC transaction. Specifically, to comply with the safe harbor, the SPAC Rule Proposals would require a company to file a report on Form 8-K announcing that it has entered into an agreement with a target company for an initial business combination no later than 18 months after the effective date of its registration statement for its initial public offering (the “IPO Registration Statement”). The company would then be required to complete its initial business combination no later than 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement.

There is currently some uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC, including a company like ours, that does not complete its initial business combination within 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement. It is possible that a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company. Such a claim can be made even prior to 24 months of the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement.

If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company 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 Investment Company Act. However, if we are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds. As a result, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we may abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead liquidate the Company. Were we to liquidate, our rights would expire worthless, and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including any potential price appreciation of our securities.

To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we expect that we will, on or prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of our IPO Registration Statement, instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash items until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the liquidation of investments in the Trust Account, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.

The funds in the Trust Account have, since our IPO, been held only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. However, to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, we expect that we will, on or prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of our IPO Registration Statement, instruct 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 as cash items until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination or the liquidation of the Company. Following such liquidation, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the Trust Account still may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, and certain other expenses as permitted. As a result, any decision to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash items would reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company. Were we to liquidate, our rights would expire worthless, and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including any potential price appreciation of our securities.

In addition, even prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement, we may be deemed to be an investment company. The longer that the funds in the Trust Account are held in short-term U.S. government treasury obligations or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, even prior to the 24-month anniversary, the greater the risk that we may be deemed to be an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate the Company. Accordingly, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account at any time and instead hold all funds in the Trust Account as cash items, which would further reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company. Were we to liquidate the Company, our rights would expire worthless, and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including any potential price appreciation of our securities.

Were we considered to be a “foreign person,” we might not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company if such initial business combination is subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), or ultimately prohibited.

Certain acquisitions or business combinations may be subject to review or approval by regulatory authorities pursuant to certain U.S. or foreign laws or regulations. In the event that such regulatory approval or clearance is not obtained, or the review process is extended beyond the period of time that would permit an initial business combination to be consummated with us, we may not be able to consummate a business combination with such target.

Certain federally licensed businesses in the United States, such as broadcasters and airlines, may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. In addition, CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by foreign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. Our Chief Executive Officer, Eric Chen, a Canadian citizen, holds an approximate 65% interest in the Sponsor, and therefore we or our Sponsor may constitute a “foreign person” under CFIUS rules and regulations. Were we considered to be a “foreign person” under such rules and regulations, any proposed business combination between us and a U.S. business engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security could be subject to such foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review. The scope of CFIUS was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”) to include certain non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subject certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within the scope of foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate an initial business combination with such business. In addition, if our potential business combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may be required to make a mandatory filing or determine 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. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance. The foreign ownership limitations, and the potential impact of CFIUS, may limit the attractiveness of a transaction with us or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. A s a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues.

Moreover, the process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public shareholders may only receive $10.10 per share, and our rights will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.

The Excise Tax included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 may decrease the value of our securities following our initial business combination, hinder our ability to consummate an initial business combination, and decrease the amount of funds available for distribution in connection with a liquidation.

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock or shares by publicly traded domestic (i.e., U.S.) corporations and certain domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock or share issuances against the fair market value of stock or share repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. Treasury has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax. The IR Act applies only to repurchases that occur after December 31, 2022.

As described under “Proposal 1: The Extension Amendment Proposal,” if the deadline for us to complete an initial business combination is extended, our public shareholders will have the right to require us to redeem their ordinary shares. Because we are a Cayman Islands company any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with an initial business combination — particularly one that involves our combination with a U.S. entity and/or our re-domestication as a U.S. corporation — may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the excise tax would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the initial business combination, (ii) the structure of the initial business combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with the initial business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with the initial business combination but issued within the same taxable year of the initial business combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by us, and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete an initial business combination and in our ability to complete an initial business combination.

BACKGROUND

We are a Cayman Islands-incorporated blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

As of the record date, there are 9,095,975 Class A ordinary shares and 2,156,250 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding. In addition, we issued (i)  8,625,000 public rights included in the public units, every 10 rights entitling their holder to one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination, and (ii)  388,750 Private Placement Rights included in the private placement units, every 10 rights entitling their holder to one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination, as part of the Private Placement with the Sponsor that we consummated simultaneously with the consummation of our IPO.

Although we have reviewed a significant number of opportunities for our initial business combination, and we continue to search for a transaction in the best interests of our shareholders, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before January 21, 2023 (i.e., 12 months from the consummation of the IPO) to complete an initial business combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to both consummate an initial business combination and allow for current holders of public shares to make the Election, we will need to implement the Charter Amendments and the Trust Amendment.

Approximately $[●] million in proceeds from our IPO, the Private Placement, and interest income are being held in our Trust Account in the United States maintained by Continental, acting as trustee. The proceeds held in the Trust Account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. The Trust Account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our charter (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 12 months from the closing of the IPO, subject to extension, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within 12 months from the closing of the IPO or during any extension period, our return of the funds held in the Trust Account to our public shareholders as part of our redemption of the public shares.

Our Sponsor, directors and officers have interests in the proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder. These interests include ownership of Founder Shares and rights that may become exercisable in the future and the possibility of future compensatory arrangements. See the section entitled “The Meeting — Interests of our Sponsor, Directors and Officers.”

You are not being asked to vote on any business combination at this time. If the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment are implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares, provided that you are a shareholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the initial business combination, you will be entitled to vote on the initial business combination if and when it is submitted to shareholders and will retain the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event the initial business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a business combination by the expiration of the Extension Period or upon the Company’s earlier liquidation, subject to the terms of the charter.

THE MEETING

Date, Time and Place of the Meeting

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board in connection with the special meeting to be held on [●], 2023 at [●] a.m. Eastern Time for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting. The Company will be holding the Meeting via live webcast. You will be able to attend the Meeting, vote and submit your questions online before the Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/[●].

Purpose of the Meeting

At the Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the following matters:

Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Liquidation Amendment Proposal are each conditioned on one another and the Charter Amendment Proposals are conditioned on the Trust Amendment Proposal. This means that unless all three proposals are approved by the shareholders, none of these three proposals will take effect.

The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the Meeting if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal.

The Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are essential to the overall implementation of the Board’s plan to extend the date by which the Company has to complete the initial business combination as well as to enable the Board to liquidate the Trust Account and dissolve in accordance with law and to redeem all public shares on a specified date following the filing of the Charter Amendments but prior to January 21, 2024 (including prior to the current termination date) if it determines such action is in the best interests of the shareholders.

You are not being asked to vote on any business combination at this time. If the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment are implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote for the initial business combination if and when it is submitted to shareholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event a business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated the business combination during the Extension Period or upon the Company’s earlier liquidation, subject to the terms of the charter.

Public shareholders may elect to redeem their public shares for their pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Liquidation Amendment Proposal regardless of whether or how such public shareholders vote with respect to such proposals. Additionally, redemption payments for Elections in connection with this Meeting will only be made if the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal receive the requisite shareholder approvals and we determine to implement the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment. If the Charter Amendment Proposals and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, the remaining public shareholders will retain their right to redeem their public shares for their pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account when the initial business combination is submitted to the shareholders. Furthermore, if the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Extension is implemented, then in accordance with the terms of Trust Agreement, as amended, the Trust Account will not be liquidated (other than to effectuate the redemptions) until the earlier of (a) receipt by the trustee of a termination letter (in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement) or (b) the expiration of Extension Period.

Any demand for redemption, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and, thereafter, with our consent. Furthermore, if a holder of public shares delivers the certificate representing such holder’s shares in connection with an Election and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).

The withdrawal of funds from the Trust Account in connection with the Election will reduce the amount held in the Trust Account following the redemption, and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be significantly reduced from the approximately $[●] million that was in the Trust Account as of [●], 2022.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by January 21, 2023, and our Sponsor determines not to fund any additional extension as contemplated by our IPO prospectus, we will (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) 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 in the Trust Account (net of taxes payable and up to $50,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and our Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. The Company’s rights will expire worthless.

The approval of the each of the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal require the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two-thirds of the of the votes cast by shareholders represented at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the votes cast by shareholders represented via the remote platform or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal unless our shareholders approve each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. Notwithstanding shareholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment at any time before the implementation thereof without any further action by our shareholders.

Only holders of record of our ordinary shares at the close of business on [●], 2022 are entitled to notice of the Meeting and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the Meeting.

After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that each of the proposals are advisable and recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” such proposals.

Voting Rights and Revocation of Proxies

The record date with respect to this solicitation is the close of business on [●], 2022 and only shareholders of record at that time will be entitled to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

If you are a holder of record of Company ordinary shares, you can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the Meeting by (i) delivering a later-dated, signed proxy card prior to the date of the Meeting, (ii) granting a subsequent proxy online or (iii) voting virtually at the Meeting. Attendance at the Meeting alone will not change your vote. If your Company ordinary shares are held in “street name” by a broker or other agent and you wish to revoke your proxy, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker or agent.

We intend to release this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card to our shareholders on or about [●], 2022.

Dissenters’ Right of Appraisal

Holders of our ordinary shares do not have appraisal rights under Cayman Islands law or under the governing documents of the Company in connection with this solicitation.

Outstanding Shares and Quorum

The number of outstanding ordinary shares entitled to vote at the Meeting is 9,095,975 public shares and 2,156,250 Founder Shares. Each ordinary share is entitled to one vote. The presence represented via the remote platform or by proxy at the Meeting of a majority of the number of outstanding ordinary shares, will constitute a quorum. There is no cumulative voting. Shares that abstain will be treated as present for quorum purposes on all matters.

Broker Non-Votes

Holders of our ordinary shares that are held in street name must instruct their bank or brokerage firm that holds their shares how to vote their shares. We believe that each of the proposals is a “non-routine” matter, and therefore, banks or brokerages cannot use discretionary authority to vote shares on such proposals if they have not received instructions from their clients. Please submit your vote instruction form so your vote is counted.

Required Votes for Each Proposal to Pass

Assuming the presence of a quorum at the Meeting:

Abstentions will count as a vote “AGAINST” each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, but will not have an effect on the Adjournment Proposal, assuming a quorum is present. The failure to vote on the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” each such proposal, but will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal, assuming a quorum is present.

The chairman of the meeting may adjourn the Meeting whether or not there is a quorum, to reconvene at the same or some other place and may adjourn the Meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

Voting Procedures

Each ordinary share that you own in your name entitles you to one vote on each of the proposals for the Meeting. Your proxy card shows the number of ordinary shares that you own.

Solicitation of Proxies

Your proxy is being solicited by our Board on the proposals being presented to shareholders at the Meeting. You may contact [●], our proxy solicitor by [●].

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. Some banks and brokers have customers who beneficially own public shares listed of record in the names of nominees and we intend to request banks and brokers to solicit such customers and will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for such solicitations.

Delivery of Proxy Materials to Shareholders

Unless we have received contrary instructions, we may send a single copy of this proxy statement to any household at which two or more shareholders reside if we believe the shareholders 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 shareholders prefer to receive multiple sets of our disclosure documents at the same address this year or in future years, the shareholders should follow the instructions described below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another shareholder and together both of the shareholders would like to receive only a single set of our disclosure documents, the shareholders should follow these instructions:

Interests of our Sponsor, Directors and Officers

When you consider the recommendation of our Board, you should keep in mind that our Sponsor, directors and officers have interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder. These interests include, among other things, the interests listed below.

Redemption Rights

Pursuant to our current charter, our public shareholders will be provided with the opportunity to redeem their public shares upon the approval of the Charter Amendments, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. If your redemption request is properly made and the Charter Amendments are approved, these shares will cease to be outstanding and will represent only the right to receive such amount. For illustrative purposes, based on funds in the Trust Account of approximately $[●] million on [●], 2022, the estimated per share redemption price would have been approximately $[●]. Public shareholders may elect to redeem their public shares regardless of whether or how they vote on the proposals at the Meeting, but redemption payments for Elections in connection with this Meeting will only be made if the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal receive the requisite shareholder approvals and we determine to implement the Charter Amendments and Trust Amendment.

In order to exercise your redemption rights, you must:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30^th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Mark Zimkind
E-mail: mzimkind@continentalstock.com

and

Any demand for redemption, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and, thereafter, with our consent. Furthermore, if a holder of public shares delivers the certificate representing such holder’s shares in connection with an Election and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the email address or mailing address listed above.

Prior to exercising redemption rights, shareholders should verify the market price of our ordinary shares, as they may receive higher proceeds from the sale of their ordinary shares in the public market than from exercising their redemption rights if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price. We cannot assure you that you will be able to sell your ordinary shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in our ordinary shares when you wish to sell your shares.

If you exercise your redemption rights and the redemption is effectuated, your ordinary shares will cease to be outstanding and will only represent the right to receive a pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account. You will no longer own those shares and will have no right to participate in, or have any interest in, the future growth of the Company, if any. You will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if you properly and timely request redemption.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Liquidation Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by January 21, 2023, and our Sponsor determines not to fund any additional extension as contemplated by our IPO prospectus, we will (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) 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 in the Trust Account (net of taxes payable and up to $50,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and our Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our rights to purchase ordinary shares will expire worthless.

Holders of outstanding units must separate the underlying public shares and public rights prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares.

If you hold units registered in your own name, you must deliver to Continental written instructions to separate such units into public shares and public rights. This must be completed far enough in advance so that you may then exercise your redemption rights with respect to the public shares upon the separation of the units into public shares and public rights.

If a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee holds your units, you must instruct such nominee to separate your units. Your nominee must send written instructions to Continental. Such written instructions must include the number of units to be split and the nominee holding such units. Your nominee must also initiate electronically, using DTC’s deposit withdrawal at custodian (DWAC) system, a withdrawal of the relevant units and a deposit of an equal number of public shares and public rights. This must be completed far enough in advance to permit your nominee to exercise your redemption rights with respect to the public shares upon the separation of the units into public shares and public rights. While this is typically done electronically the same business day, you should allow at least one full business day to accomplish the separation. If you fail to cause your public shares to be separated in a timely manner, you will likely not be able to exercise your redemption rights.

AIB Acquisition (NASDAQ:AIB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2024 to Dec 2024

AIB Acquisition (NASDAQ:AIB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2023 to Dec 2024