Form PRER14A - Preliminary Proxy Soliciting materials

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 1)

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

☒	Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐	Confidential, for the use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☐	Definitive Proxy Statement

☐	Definitive Additional Materials

☐	Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

☒	No fee required.

☐	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

☐	Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V

311 West 43^rd Street, 12^th Floor
New York, NY 10036

[●], 2023

Dear Stockholder:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V (“Mountain Crest,” the “Company” or “we”), I invite you to attend our Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). We hope you can join us. The Annual Meeting will be held at [●].m. Eastern Time on [●], 2023. The Company will be holding the Annual Meeting as a virtual meeting via the following information:

Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V Virtual Shareholder Meeting Information:

Meeting Date: [●], 2023

Meeting Time: [●].m. Eastern Time

Annual Meeting-meeting webpage (information, webcast, telephone access and replay):

https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/[●]

Telephone access (listen-only):

Within the U.S. and Canada:

1 800-450-7155 (toll-free)

Outside of the U.S. and Canada:

+1 857-999-9155 (standard rates apply)

Conference ID: [●]#

The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Proxy Statement and the proxy card accompany this letter are also available at https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/[●]. We are first mailing these materials to our stockholders on or about [●], 2023.

As discussed in the enclosed Proxy Statement, the purpose of the Annual Meeting is to consider and vote upon the following proposals:

(i)

Proposal 1 — A proposal to amend (the “Charter Amendment”) the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), to vote on the following proposed amendments:

●

Extension Amendment: to modify the terms and extend the date (the “Business Combination Period”) by which the Company has to consummate an initial business combination (the “Business Combination”) to November 16, 2024, provided that the Company deposits into the trust account (the “Trust Account”) an amount equal to $0.10 per outstanding share of common stock sold in the Company’s initial public offering (the “Public Share”) for each three-month extension commencing on November 17, 2023;

●

NTA Requirement Amendment: to eliminate the requirement to maintain $5,000,001 of net tangible book value prior to or upon consummation of a Business Combination (the “NTA Requirement”) by eliminating such requirement set forth in paragraph D of Article Sixth; and

●

Issuance Amendment: to permit prior to a Business Combination the issuance of common stock or securities convertible into common stock or the issuance of securities which vote as a class with the common stock on a business combination by eliminating the restrictions on such issuances set forth in paragraph G of Article Sixth.

We refer to these proposals as the “Charter Amendment Proposals”. A copy of the proposed Charter Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A.

(ii)

Proposal 2 — A proposal to remove the restriction proscribing the Company from consummating an initial business combination with a target business with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) (the “Target Amendment Proposal”);

(iii)

Proposal 3 — A proposal to elect two (2) directors to serve until the 2026 annual meeting and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal or death (the “Directors Proposal”);

(iv)

Proposal 4 — A proposal to ratify the appointment of UHY LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023 (the “Auditor Proposal”); and

(v)

Proposal 5 — A proposal to authorize the Chairman of the Annual Meeting to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates (the “Adjournment”), from time to time, as the Chairman of the Annual Meeting may deem necessary or appropriate (we refer to this proposal as the “Adjournment Proposal”).

The purpose of the Charter Amendment Proposals and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow us additional time to complete a Business Combination, to remove the NTA Requirement, and to permit the Company to issue additional shares of common stock to meet certain continued listing rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”).

a. Extension Amendment

As previously announced, on October 19, 2022, the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and between the Company and AUM Biosciences Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares incorporated in Singapore, with company registration 201810204D (the “AUM”), which was subsequently amended on February 10, 2023, March 30, 2023 and April 19, 2023. On January 27, 2023, AUM Biosciences Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Holdco”), AUM Biosciences Subsidiary Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares incorporated in Singapore, with company registration number 202238778Z (“Amalgamation Sub”) and AUM Biosciences Delaware Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”) executed a joinder agreement with Mountain Crest and AUM and joined the Business Combination Agreement as parties. The Business Combination Agreement would have provided, subject to its terms and conditions, for a Business Combination of Mountain Crest. Pursuant to stockholder approval obtained as special meetings held on December 20, 2022 and May 12, 2023, the Company has twice amended its Charter to extend a Business Combination Period to February 16, 2024. On June 8, 2023, Mountain Crest received a termination notice (the “Notice”) from AUM. The Notice terminated a Business Combination Agreement as of June 8, 2023.

The Company’s Charter provides that the Company has until February 16, 2024 (the “Termination Date”) to complete a Business Combination. The only way to extend the time for the Company to complete its Business Combination (the “Combination Period”) is to have a separate stockholder vote to amend the current Charter.

The Company is working towards a Business Combination, by identifying and conducting discussions with potential target companies, but has determined that there will not be sufficient time before February 16, 2024, the Termination Date, to hold a special meeting to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of, and to consummate, any Business Combination. The Company’s management believes that it can close a Business Combination before November 16, 2024 (i.e., the end of the Combination Period). If the Extension Amendment is approved, the Company will have the right to modify and extend the Combination Period to November 16, 2024, provided that the Company deposits into the Trust Account an amount equal to $0.10 per Public Share (the “Extension Payment”) for each of the following three-month extensions: (1) November 17, 2023 to February 16, 2024, (2) February 17, 2024 to May 16, 2024, (3) May 17, 2024 to August 16, 2024 and (4) August 17, 2024 to November 16, 2024. If the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved, November 16, 2023, if not extended, or the last day of the final extension period, if extended, shall be referred to as the “Extended Date.” The Extension Payment will be deposited in the Trust Account prior to the beginning of the additional extension period (or portion thereof).

If the Extension Amendment is not approved, or if the Extension Amendment is approved and the Charter Amendment is implemented, but the Company’s Board determines that the Company will not be able to consummate a Business Combination by the Extended Date, then the Company will wind up its affairs and redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares in accordance with the same procedures set forth below that would be applicable if the Extension Amendment is not approved.

b. NTA Requirement Amendment

Paragraph D of Article VI of the Charter provides that Mountain Crest will not consummate a Business Combination unless it has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon consummation of such Business Combination. The purpose of this provision was to ensure that, in connection with its Business Combination, Mountain Crest would continue, as it has since the IPO, to not be subject to the “penny stock” rules promulgated by the SEC, because Mountain Crest satisfied an exclusion to the “penny stock” rules for companies that have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001. However, Mountain Crest believes that it may rely on another exclusion, which relates to its securities being listed on Nasdaq, known as the “Exchange Rule.” Therefore, Mountain Crest intends to rely on the Exchange Rule to not be deemed subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules. If the NTA Requirement Amendment is approved, Paragraph D of Article VI of the Charter will be eliminated and the Company will not be required to have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon consummation of a Business Combination.

c. Issuance Amendment

On April 3, 2023, the Company received a notice from Nasdaq stating that the Company’s listed securities failed to satisfy the $50,000,000 market value of listed securities (“MVLS”) requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(A) (the “MVLS Requirement”) based upon the Company’s MVLS for the 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the notice. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has been provided a period of 180 calendar days, or until October 2, 2023, in which to regain compliance with the MVLS Requirement.

On May 18, 2023, the Company received a second notice from Nasdaq, stating that the Company no longer satisfies the requirement to maintain a minimum of 1,100,000 publicly held shares (the “PHS Requirement”) for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market, according to the number of publicly held shares reported on its Form 8-K for May 12, 2023. The Company has been provided 45 calendar days, or until July 3, 2023, to submit a plan to Nasdaq to regain compliance with the PHS Requirement. If the plan is accepted, Nasdaq can grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the date of the Notice, or until November 14, 2023, to evidence compliance with the PHS Requirement. If the plan is not accepted, the Company will have the right to appeal, and the Company’s securities would remain listed on The Nasdaq Global Market until completion of the appeal process.

On June 27, 2023, the Company received a third notice from Nasdaq stating that the Company’s listed securities failed to maintain a minimum Market Value of Publicly Held Shares (“MVPHS”) of $15,000,000 which is a requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(3)(C) (the “MVPHS Requirement”) based upon the Company’s MVPHS for the 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the notice. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing 5810(c)(3)(D), the Company has been provided a period of 180 calendar days, or until December 26, 2023, in which to regain compliance with the MVPHS Requirement.

Alternatively, The Nasdaq Capital Market has different requirements for the continued listings. The chart below shows some differences, among others:

	The Nasdaq Global Market’s Requirement	The Nasdaq Capital Market’s Requirement	MCV as of June 27, 2023
MVLS	$50 million	$35 million	Approximately $28 million
PHS	1.1 million	500,000	706,874
MVPHS	$15 million	$1 million	Approximately $7 million

As part of the Company’s plan to address the deficiencies delineated in the Nasdaq notices, referenced above, the Company has submitted its application to transfer the listing of its securities from The Nasdaq Global Market to The Nasdaq Capital Market on April 7, 2023, and plans to consummate a private placement of its common stock to satisfy the MVLS Requirement, PHS Requirement and MVPHS Requirement. However, the Company is not currently allowed to issue additional shares of common stock, because Paragraph G of Article VI of the Charter provides that “Prior to a Business Combination, the Board of Directors may not issue any securities which participate in or are otherwise entitled in any manner to any of the proceeds in the Trust Fund or which vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.” By eliminating this provision, through the Issuance Amendment, the Company will be permitted to conduct a private placement and issue additional shares of common stock, and therefore regain the compliance with the Nasdaq listing standards noted above.

The Charter Proposals are required for the implementation of the Board’s plan to allow the Company more time to complete a Business Combination and to regain the compliance with the Nasdaq listing standards noted above. Each of the three separate charter proposals described above needs to be approved in order for the Charter Proposals to be considered to have been approved.

The purpose of the Target Amendment Proposal is to afford the Company with flexibility for its search of a target company to undertake an initial business combination. While the Charter does not impose any restrictions on the Company’s choice of target, the Company’s prospectus for its initial public offering, dated November 12, 2021 (the “IPO prospectus”), provides that the Company shall not undertake an initial business combination with a target business with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau). If the Target Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will be allowed to undertake an initial business combination with a target business with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) (the “China-based Target”), which will allow the Company to access a larger pool of target candidates and provide additional flexibility for the Company to consummate an initial business combination. The Board has determined that, given the Company’s expenditure of time, efforts and money on identifying suitable target business and completion of a business combination, and the market opportunity the Company has observed in China (including Hong Kong and Macau), it is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders to approve the Target Amendment Proposal.

If the Target Amendment Proposal is approved, there will be no restriction in the geographic location of targets that we can pursue, and we may pursue a business combination with a China-based Target. If we undertake a business combination with a China-based Target, we will be subject to legal and operational risks associated with being based in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”, or “China”). See “Proposal 2 — The Target Amendment Proposal — Risks Related to Acquiring a China-Based Target” for details.

The purpose of the Director Proposal is to re-elect Dr. Todd Milbourn and Wenhua Zhang to serve as directors of the Company until the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors have been elected and has qualified, or until their earlier resignation, removal or death, unless the term is otherwise fixed by a resolution of members.

The purpose of the Auditor Proposal is to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of UHY LLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, to audit and comment on our financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2023, and to conduct whatever audit functions are deemed necessary.

The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to authorize the Chairman of the Annual Meeting (who has agreed to act accordingly) to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies to the extent the Chairman of the Annual Meeting deems it necessary or appropriate.

Each of the Charter Proposals, the Target Amendment Proposal, the Directors Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

You are not being asked to vote on any Business Combination at this time. If the Charter Amendment is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your Public Shares now, you will retain the right to vote on a Business Combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your Public Shares into a pro rata portion of the Trust Account in the event a Business Combination is approved and completed (as long as your election is made at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting at which the stockholders’ vote is sought) or the Company has not consummated a Business Combination by the Extended Date.

In connection with the Charter Amendment Proposals, public stockholders may elect (the “Election”) to redeem their shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, regardless of whether such public stockholders vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the Charter Amendment Proposals and Adjournment Proposal, and an Election can also be made by public stockholders who do not vote, or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the Annual Meeting. Public stockholders may make an Election regardless of whether such public stockholders were holders as of the record date. Each redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately $[●] million of marketable securities as of [●], 2023. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled to have their shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a Business Combination by the Extended Date. Our sponsor, our officers and directors, hold the right to vote over an aggregate of 1,948,000 shares of common stock which include 1,725,000 shares of our common stock, which we refer to as the “Founder Shares,” that were issued prior to our initial public offering (“IPO”) and 223,000 shares of common stock that make part of the units, which we refer to as the “Private Units,” that were purchased by our sponsor in a private placement which occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO.

To exercise your redemption rights, you must tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days prior to the Annual Meeting (or [●], 2023). You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificate to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.

As of [●], 2023, there was approximately $[●] million in the Trust Account, and the estimated redemption price is approximately $[●] per share, before deducting estimated taxes payable. The closing price of the Company’s common stock on [●], 2023 was $[●]. The Company cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.

If the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Adjournment Proposal are not approved and we do not consummate a Business Combination by February 16, 2024, as 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 100% of the outstanding Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including any interest not previously released to us (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our rights, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, our sponsor, our officers and directors and our other initial stockholders will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Units.

If the Target Amendment Proposal is not approved, we will continue to be bound by our IPO prospectus, and will not seek to consummate a business combination with a target with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau).

Subject to the foregoing, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Company’s outstanding common stock, including the Founder Shares, will be required to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals, the Target Amendment Proposal, and the Auditor Proposal. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Charter Amendment and the Target Amendment Proposal at any time without any further action by our stockholders. Approval of the Directors Proposal requires a plurality of the eligible votes cast is required to elect director nominees, and as such, the nominee who receives the greatest number of votes cast by stockholders, entitled to vote at the meeting, will be elected. A nominee who receives a plurality means he or she has received more votes than any other nominee for the same director’s seat. Broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal.

Our Board has fixed the close of business on [●], 2023 as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

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.

Enclosed is the Proxy Statement containing detailed information concerning the proposals at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.

Sincerely,

/s/ Suying Liu
Suying Liu
Chief Executive Officer
[●], 2023

MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V

311 West 43^rd Street, 12^th Floor

New York, NY 10036

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON [●], 2023

[●], 2023

To the Stockholders of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V (“Mountain Crest,” the “Company” or “we”), a Delaware corporation, will be held on [●], 2023, at [●].m. Eastern Time. The Company will be holding the Annual Meeting as a virtual meeting via the following information:

Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V Virtual Shareholder Meeting Information:

Meeting Date: [●], 2023

Meeting Time: [●].m. Eastern Time

Annual Meeting-meeting webpage (information, webcast, telephone access and replay):

https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/[●]

Telephone access (listen-only):

Within the U.S. and Canada:

1 800-450-7155 (toll-free)

Outside of the U.S. and Canada:

+1 857-999-9155 (standard rates apply)

Conference ID: [●]#

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

A proposal to amend (the “Charter Amendment”) the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), to vote on the following proposed amendments:

●

Issuance Amendment: to permit prior to a Business Combination the issuance of common stock or securities convertible into common stock or the issuance of securities which vote as a class with the common stock on a Business Combination by eliminating the restrictions on such issuances set forth in paragraph G of Article Sixth.

We refer to these proposals as the “Charter Amendment Proposals”. A copy of the proposed Charter Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A;

A proposal to remove the restriction proscribing the Company from consummating an initial business combination with a target business with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) (the “Target Amendment Proposal”);

A proposal to elect two (2) directors to serve until the 2026 annual meeting and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal or death (the “Directors Proposal”);

A proposal to ratify the appointment of UHY LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023 (the “Auditor Proposal”); and

A proposal to authorize the Chairman of the Annual Meeting to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates (the “Adjournment”), from time to time, as the Chairman of the Annual Meeting may deem necessary or appropriate (we refer to this proposal as the “Adjournment Proposal”); and

To act on such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on [●], 2023 as the record date for the Annual Meeting and only holders of shares of record at that time will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

	By Order of the Board of Directors

	/s/ Suying Liu
	Chief Executive Officer

New York, New York

[●], 2023

IMPORTANT

IF YOU CANNOT PERSONALLY ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, IT IS REQUESTED THAT YOU INDICATE YOUR VOTE ON THE ISSUES 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.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON [●], 2023. THIS PROXY STATEMENT TO THE STOCKHOLDERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/[●].

MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V

311 West 43^rd Street, 12^th Floor

New York, NY 10036

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD [●], 2023

FIRST MAILED ON OR ABOUT [●], 2023

Date, Time and Place of the Annual Meeting

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V (the “Company,” or “we”), a Delaware corporation, in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on [●], 2023 at [●].m. Eastern time for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting. The Company will be holding the Annual Meeting, and any adjournments or postponements thereof, as a virtual meeting via the following information:

Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V Virtual Shareholder Meeting Information:

Meeting Date: [●], 2023

Meeting Time: [●].m. Eastern Time

Annual Meeting-meeting webpage (information, webcast, telephone access and replay):

https://www.cstproxy.com/mcacquisitionv/[●]

Telephone access (listen-only):

Within the U.S. and Canada:

1 800-450-7155 (toll-free)

Outside of the U.S. and Canada:

+1 857-999-9155 (standard rates apply)

Conference ID: [●]#

The principal executive office of the Company is 311 West 43^rd Street, 12^th Floor, New York, NY 10036 and its telephone number, including area code, is (646) 493-6558.

Forward Looking Statements

This Proxy Statement (this “Proxy Statement”) contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “shall,” “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “would,” “positioned,” “future,” “forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements made in this Proxy Statement regarding the proposed Nasdaq compliance plan, including the benefits of the Nasdaq compliance plan, and the expected timing of the private placement and a Business Combination. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company’s managements’ current beliefs, expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward- looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those indicated in the forward- looking statements include, among others, the following: (1) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of a Business Combination; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company following the announcement of the termination of a Business Combination Agreement; (3) the inability to complete any Business Combination, including due to failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of any target and the Company, certain regulatory approvals, or satisfy other conditions to closing in the Business Combination agreement; (4) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of any Business Combination agreement or could otherwise cause the transaction to fail to close; (5) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and/or the ability of the parties to complete the proposed Business Combination; (6) the inability to obtain the listing of combined company’s ordinary shares on any stock exchange following a Business Combination; (7) the risk that the any Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of a Business Combination; (8) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of a Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of any target to grow and manage growth profitably, and retain its key employees; (9) costs related to any Business Combination; (10) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (11) the possibility that any target or the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (12) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to any target; (13) risks related to the organic and inorganic growth of any target’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; (14) the amount of redemption requests made by the Company’s stockholders; (15) the inability to regain compliance with Nasdaq or the acceptance of any Nasdaq compliance plan; (16) the inability to contemplate any private placement; and (17) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the final prospectus of the Company for its initial public offering and the Registration Statement relating to the any Business Combination, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. The Company caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Purpose of the Annual Meeting

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

●

Issuance Amendment: to permit prior to a Business Combination the issuance of common stock or securities convertible into common stock or the issuance of securities which vote as a class with the common stock on a Business Combination by eliminating the restrictions on such issuances set forth in paragraph G of Article Sixth.

We refer to these proposals as the “Charter Amendment Proposals”. A copy of the proposed Charter Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A;

Proposal 4 — A proposal to ratify the appointment of UHY LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023 (the “Auditor Proposal”); and

To act on such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

a. Extension Amendment

The Company’s Charter provide that the Company has until February 16, 2024 (the “Termination Date”) to complete a Business Combination. The only way to extend the time for the Company to complete its Business Combination (the “Combination Period”) is to have a separate stockholder vote to amend the current Charter.

The Company is working towards a Business Combination by identifying and conducting negotiations with target companies, but has determined that there will not be sufficient time before February 16, 2024, the Termination Date, to hold a special meeting to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of, and to consummate, any Business Combination. The Company’s management believes that it can close a Business Combination before November 16, 2024 (i.e., the end of the Combination Period). If the Extension Amendment is approved, the Company will have the right to modify and extend the Combination Period to November 16, 2024, provided that the Company deposits into the Trust Account an amount equal to $0.10 per Public Share (the “Extension Payment”) for each of the following three-month extensions: (1) November 17, 2023 to February 16, 2024, (2) February 17, 2024 to May 16, 2024, (3) May 17, 2024 to August 16, 2024 and (4) August 17, 2024 to November 16, 2024. If the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved, November 16, 2023, if not extended, or the last day of the final extension period, if extended, shall be referred to as the “Extended Date.” The Extension Payment will be deposited in the Trust Account prior to the beginning of the additional extension period (or portion thereof).

b. NTA Requirement Amendment

c. Issuance Amendment

Alternatively, The Nasdaq Capital Market has different requirements for the continued listings. The chart below shows some differences, among others:

	The Nasdaq Global Market’s Requirement	The Nasdaq Capital Market’s Requirement	MCV as of June 27, 2023
MVLS	$50 million	$35 million	Approximately $28 million
PHS	1.1 million	500,000	706,874
MVPHS	$15 million	$1 million	Approximately $7 million

As part of the Company’s plan to address the deficiencies delineated in the Nasdaq notices, referenced above, the Company has submitted its application to transfer the listing of its securities from The Nasdaq Global Market to The Nasdaq Capital Market on April 7, 2023, and plans to consummate a private placement of its common stock to meet the MVLS Requirement, PHS Requirement and MVPHS Requirement. However, the Company is not currently allowed to issue additional shares of common stock, because Paragraph G of Article VI of the Charter provides that “Prior to a Business Combination, the Board of Directors may not issue any securities which participate in or are otherwise entitled in any manner to any of the proceeds in the Trust Fund or which vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.” By eliminating this provision, through the Issuance Amendment, the Company will be permitted to conduct a private placement and issue additional shares of common stock, and therefore regain the compliance with the Nasdaq listing standards noted above.

The purpose of the Target Amendment Proposal is to afford the Company with flexibility for its search of target to undertake an initial business combination. While the Charter does not impose any restrictions on the Company’s choice of target, the Company’s prospectus for its initial public offering, dated November 12, 2021 (the “IPO prospectus”), provides that the Company shall not undertake an initial business combination with a target business with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau). If the Target Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will be allowed to undertake an initial business combination with a target business with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) (the “China-based Target”), which will allow the Company to access a larger pool of target candidates and provide additional flexibility for the Company to consummate an initial business combination. The Board has determined that, given the Company’s expenditure of time, efforts and money on identifying a suitable target business and completion of a business combination, and the market opportunity the Company has observed in China (including Hong Kong and Macau), it is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders to approve the Target Amendment Proposal.

Each of the Charter Proposals, the Target Amendment Proposal, the Directors Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

In connection with the Charter Proposals, public stockholders may elect (the “Election”) to redeem their shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, regardless of whether such public stockholders vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the Charter Amendment Proposals and Adjournment Proposal, and an Election can also be made by public stockholders who do not vote, or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the Annual Meeting. Public stockholders may make an Election regardless of whether such public stockholders were holders as of the record date. Each redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately $[●] million of marketable securities as of [●], 2023. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled to have their shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a Business Combination by the Extended Date. Our sponsor, our officers and directors, hold the right to vote over an aggregate of 1,948,000 shares of common stock which include 1,725,000 shares of our common stock, which we refer to as the “Founder Shares,” that were issued prior to our initial public offering (“IPO”) and 223,000 shares of common stock that make part of the units, which we refer to as the “Private Units,” that were purchased by our sponsor in a private placement which occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO.

If the Target Amendment Proposal is not approved, we will continue to be bound by our IPO prospectus, and continue to seek a target with its principal business operations not in China (including Hong Kong and Macau).

Subject to the foregoing, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Company’s outstanding common stock, including the Founder Shares, will be required to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals, the Target Amendment Proposal, and the Auditor Proposal. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals and the Target Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Charter Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders. Approval of the Directors Proposal requires a plurality of the eligible votes cast is required to elect director nominees, and as such, the nominee who receives the greatest number of votes cast by stockholders, entitled to vote at the meeting, will be elected. A nominee who receives a plurality means he or she has received more votes than any other nominee for the same director’s seat. Broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal.

Voting Rights and Revocation of Proxies

The record date with respect to this solicitation is the close of business on [●], 2023 (the “Record Date”) and only stockholders of record at that time will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

The shares of the Company’s Common Stock represented by all validly executed proxies received in time to be taken to the Annual Meeting and not previously revoked will be voted at the meeting. This proxy may be revoked by the stockholder at any time prior to its being voted by filing with the Secretary of the Company either a notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. We intend to release this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card to our stockholders on or about [●], 2023.

Dissenters’ Right of Appraisal

Holders of shares of our Common Stock do not have appraisal rights under Delaware law or under the governing documents of the Company in connection with this solicitation.

Outstanding Shares and Quorum

The number of outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is 2,654,874, assuming no shares will be redeemed at the Merger Meeting. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote. The presence in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting of the holders of 1,327,438 shares (assuming no shares will be redeemed at the Merger Meeting), or a majority of the shares of capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. There is no cumulative voting. Shares that abstain or for which the authority to vote is withheld on certain matters (so- called “broker non-votes”) will be treated as present for quorum purposes on all matters.

Broker Non-Votes

Holders of shares of our Common Stock that are held in street name must instruct their bank or brokerage firm that holds their shares how to vote their shares. If a stockholder does not give instructions to his or her bank or brokerage firm, it will nevertheless be entitled to vote the shares with respect to “routine” items, but it will not be permitted to vote the shares with respect to “non-routine” items. In the case of a non- routine item, such shares will be considered “broker non-votes” on that proposal.

Proposal 1 (Charter Amendment) is a matter that we believe will be considered “non-routine.”

Proposal 2 (Target Amendment) is a matter that we believe will be considered “non-routine.”

Proposal 3 (Directors) is a matter that we believe will be considered “non-routine.”

Proposal 4 (Auditor) is a matter that we believe will be considered “routine.”

Proposal 5 (Adjournment) is a matter that we believe will be considered “non-routine.”

Banks or brokerages cannot use discretionary authority to vote shares on these proposals except Proposal 4 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 Annual Meeting:

Proposal	Votes Required	Broker Discretionary Vote Allowed
Charter Amendment	Majority of outstanding shares	No
Target Amendment	Majority of outstanding shares	No
Directors	Majority of outstanding shares	No
Auditor	Majority of outstanding shares	Yes
Adjournment	Majority of the outstanding shares represented by virtual attendance or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Annual Meeting	No

Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on these proposals.

Factors to Consider

When you consider the recommendation of our board, you should consider, among other things, the following benefits and detriments of the proposals to you as the public stockholders:

●

If the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved and the Company extends the Combination Period to November 16, 2024, no redemption amount will be added to the Trust Account.

●

As of today, Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC (the “Sponsor”) has made an interest-free loan in the aggregate amount of $300,000 to the Company. The loan will be repaid at the closing of the Business Combination, and therefore, funds available to the post-combination company will be reduced by that same amount. No funds from the Trust Account would be used to repay such loans in the event of our liquidation.

●

Public stockholders may seek to have their shares redeemed regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposals and whether or not they are holders of our Common Stock as of the Record Date. (See “Conversion Rights” below).

●

Each redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately $[●] million of marketable securities as of [●], 2023.

Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers

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

●

On April 8, 2021, Mountain Crest’s insiders, including the Sponsor, purchased an aggregate of 1,437,500 shares of Mountain Crest Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. On November 2, 2021, Mountain Crest declared a 20% stock dividend on each insider share thereby increasing the number of issued and outstanding Founder Shares to 1,725,000. If Mountain Crest does not consummate a Business Combination by February 16, 2024, or November 16, 2024 if the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved, the Mountain Crest will be required to dissolve and liquidate. In such event, the 1,725,000 shares of Mountain Crest Common Stock held by the Initial Stockholders, which were acquired prior to the IPO for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, will be worthless. Such shares had an aggregate market value of approximately $[●] million based on the closing price of Common Stock of $[●] on Nasdaq as of [●], 2023.

	●	On November 16, 2021, simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, Mountain Crest consummated a private placement for an aggregate of 205,000 units (the “Private Units”), at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, generating total proceeds of $2,050,000. On November 18, 2021, simultaneously with the sale of the over-allotment units in the IPO, Mountain Crest consummated the private sale of an additional 18,000 Private Units to the Sponsor. If Mountain Crest does not consummate a Business Combination by February 16, 2024, or November 16, 2024 if the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved, Mountain Crest will be required to dissolve. In such event, the 223,000 Private Units purchased by the Sponsor for a total purchase price of $2,230,000, will be worthless. Such Private Units had an aggregate market value of approximately $[●] million based on the closing price of Mountain Crest public units of $[●] on Nasdaq as of [●], 2023.

	●	If the Extension Amendment is approved, our Sponsor may loan Mountain Crest the Extension Payment to deposit in the Trust Account as an interest-free loan to be repaid by us upon consummation of a Business Combination. No funds from the Trust Account would be used to repay such loans in the event of our liquidation.

●

The exercise of the Company’s directors’ and officers’ discretion in agreeing to changes or waivers in the terms of a Business Combination may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether such changes or waivers are appropriate and in the Company’s stockholders’ best interests.

●

The Sponsor will benefit from the completion of a Business Combination and may be incentivized to complete an acquisition of a less favorable target company or on terms less favorable to shareholders rather than liquidate.

●

Only if a Business Combination is completed by February 16, 2024, or November 16, 2024 if the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved, Mountain Crest’s officers and directors, the Sponsor and its affiliates will be reimbursed for any reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on Mountain Crest’s behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations (including a Business Combination). As of [●], 2023, an aggregate of $0 had been incurred or accrued in respect of such expense reimbursement obligation.

●

Unless Stock Escrow Agreement dated as of November 12, 2021, entered into by and among Mountain Crest, Mountain Crest’s initial stockholders and Continental as the escrow agent (the “Stock Escrow Agreement”) is terminated, with certain limited exceptions, 50% of the Company’s founder shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold or released from escrow until the earlier of six months after the date of the consummation of our initial Business Combination and the date the closing price of our Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial Business Combination and the remaining 50% of the insider shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold or released from escrow until six months after the date of the consummation of our initial Business Combination or earlier in either case if, subsequent to our initial Business Combination, we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property;

●

In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, Mountain Crest’s insiders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan Mountain Crest funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. If Mountain Crest completes a Business Combination, Mountain Crest may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, Mountain Crest may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from Mountain Crest’s Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units, at a price of $10.00 per Unit, at the option of the lender. These private units would be identical to the Private Units. As of [●], 2023, the Sponsor loaned to Mountain Crest an aggregate of $0, excluding the interest-free extension loan of $300,000.

●

If a Business Combination is not completed, the Sponsor will lose an aggregate of approximately $[●] million, comprised of the following:

●

approximately $[●] million (based on the closing price of $[●] per share of Mountain Crest Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market as of [●], 2023) of the 1,717,800 Founder Shares it holds;

●

approximately $[●] million (based on the closing price of $[●] per public unit on the Nasdaq Stock Market as of [●], 2023) of the 223,000 Private Units it holds;

●

repayment of an interest-free extension loan of $300,000, which will be forgiven, except to the extent of any funds held outside of the Trust Account, by the Sponsor or its affiliates if Mountain Crest is unable to consummate a Business Combination during the Combination Period.

●

At the special meeting of stockholders held on December 20, 2022, Mountain Crest’s stockholders approved an amendment to Mountain Crest’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “First Extension Amendment Proposal”) and an amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated November 12, 2021 (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”), giving Mountain Crest the right to extend the Combination Period for a period of 3 months from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 and to the extent Mountain Crest’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is amended to extend the Combination Period, by depositing into the Trust Account $300,000, upon five days’ advance notice prior to February 16, 2023. We refer to the amendments to the certificate of incorporation and to the Trust Agreement collectively as the “Initial Extension Amendments.” As a result of the Initial Extension Amendments, public stockholders forfeited their right to receive $690,000 under the original trust agreement entered into in connection with Mountain Crest’s IPO, if Mountain Crest seeks to extend the Combination Period for three months, but does not consummate a Business Combination.

●

As a result of the Initial Extension Amendments, the Sponsor was no longer required to deposit into the Trust Account $690,000 prior to the three-month extension and this amount will not be repaid if a Business Combination is not consummated to the extent fund is not available outside of the Trust Account.

●

As a result of the Initial Extension Amendments, Mountain Crest has extended the Combination Period to May 16, 2023, by depositing $300,000 into the Trust Account for the benefit of the public stockholders for the extension. The additional amount added to the Trust Account was reduced from what was included in Mountain Crest’s IPO prospectus, which was $0.10 per share to approximately $0.05 per share.

●

As a result of the Initial Extension Amendments, the Sponsor has contributed to Mountain Crest $300,000 in an interest-free loan for the extension of the Combination Period. If the Initial Extension Amendments were not adopted, the Sponsor would be expected to deposit into the Trust Account $690,000 in an interest-free loan. Since both loans will become payable only after Closing of a Business Combination, the Sponsor will lose repayment of the $300,000 loan if a Business Combination is not completed after the extension. No funds from the Trust Account would be used to repay such loan in the event of Mountain Crest’s liquidation.

Additionally, if the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved and the Charter Amendment is implemented and the Company consummates a Business Combination, the officers and directors may have additional interests that would be described in the proxy statement for such transaction.

We may not be able to complete a Business Combination with a U.S. target company since such initial Business Combination may be 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.

One of our directors is a citizen of a country other than the United States. While we believe that the nature of the Company’s business should not make the transaction subject to U.S. foreign regulations or review by a U.S. government entity, it is possible that a Business Combination may be subject to a 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 and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subjects certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If a Business Combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with a Business Combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing a 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 without first obtaining CFIUS clearance, which may limit the attractiveness of or prevent us from pursuing certain initial Business Combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete a 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 the 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 February 16, 2024 (or November 16, 2024 if the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved by the shareholders and the Company extends the Combination Period to the fullest extent) 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. 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.

Mountain Crest may be subject to the Excise Tax included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in connection with redemptions of Mountain Crest Common Stock after December 31, 2022.

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”), 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 Mountain Crest is a Delaware corporation and because its securities trade on Nasdaq, Mountain Crest is a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the IR Act. While not free from doubt, absent any further guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”), who has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the Excise Tax, the Excise Tax may apply to any redemptions of Mountain Crest Common Stock after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise, unless an exemption is available. The Excise Tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holders. Generally, issuances of securities by Mountain Crest in connection with a Business Combination transaction (including any PIPE transaction at the time of a Business Combination), as well as any other issuances of securities not in connection with a Business Combination, would be expected to reduce the amount of the Excise Tax in connection with redemptions occurring in the same calendar year.

Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the Excise Tax in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. Consequently, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with Mountain Crest less appealing to potential Business Combination targets. Finally, based on recently issued interim guidance from the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury, subject to certain exceptions, the Excise Tax should not apply in the event of our complete liquidation.

Payment of the Excise Tax if the Company is subject to the Excise Tax.

We shall not be permitted to use the proceeds placed in the Trust Account and the interests earned thereon to pay any excise taxes imposed under the IR Act on any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company. In the event an Excise Tax is imposed on us pursuant to the IR Act in relation to a redemption of securities as described in the registration statement or otherwise, and such tax has not been paid by us to the applicable regulatory authority on or prior to the due date for such a tax, our Sponsor agrees to promptly (but in any event sufficiently prior to the due date for such tax to assure timely payment thereof) either directly pay such tax on behalf of us or advance to us such funds as necessary and appropriate to allow us to pay such tax timely. Our Sponsor agrees not to seek recourse from the Trust Account for such tax payment.

Voting Procedures

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

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You can vote your shares in advance of the Annual Meeting by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you hold your shares in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee, you will need to follow the instructions provided to you by your broker, bank or other nominee to ensure that your shares are represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. If you vote by proxy card, your “proxy,” whose name is listed on the proxy card, will vote your shares as you instruct on the proxy card. If you sign and return the proxy card but do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your shares of our Common Stock will be voted as recommended by our Board. Our Board recommends voting “FOR” the Charter Amendment Proposals, the Target Amendment Proposal, the Directors Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.

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You can attend the Annual Meeting virtually and vote telephonically even if you have previously voted by submitting a proxy. However, if your shares of Common Stock are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you must get a proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee. That is the only way we can be sure that the broker, bank or nominee has not already voted your shares of Common Stock.

Solicitation of Proxies

Your proxy is being solicited by our Board on the proposals being presented to stockholders at the Annual Meeting. The Company has agreed to pay Advantage Proxy its customary fee and out-of-pocket expenses. The Company will reimburse Advantage Proxy for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify Advantage Proxy 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. You may contact Advantage Proxy at:

Advantage Proxy

P.O. Box 13581

Des Moines, WA 98198

Toll Free: 877-870-8565

Collect: 206-870-8565

The cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy, and the cost of soliciting proxies relating to the Annual Meeting, will be borne by the Company.

Some banks and brokers have customers who beneficially own Common Stock listed of record in the names of nominees. 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. If any additional solicitation of the holders of our outstanding Common Stock is deemed necessary, we (through our directors and officers) anticipate making such solicitation directly.

Delivery of Proxy Materials to Households

Only one copy of this Proxy Statement will be delivered to an address where two or more stockholders reside with the same last name or whom otherwise reasonably appear to be members of the same family based on the stockholders’ prior express or implied consent.

We will deliver promptly upon written or oral request a separate copy of this Proxy Statement. If you share an address with at least one other stockholder, currently receive one copy of our Proxy Statement at your residence, and would like to receive a separate copy of our Proxy Statement for future stockholder meetings of the Company, please specify such request in writing and send such written request to Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V, 311 West 43^rd Street, 12^th Floor, New York, NY 10036; Attention: Secretary, or call the Company promptly at (646) 493-6558.

If you share an address with at least one other stockholder and currently receive multiple copies of our Proxy Statement, and you would like to receive a single copy of our Proxy Statement, please specify such request in writing and send such written request to Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V, 311 West 43rd Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036; Attention: Secretary.

Conversion Rights

Pursuant to our currently existing charter, any holders of our Public Shares may demand that such shares be converted for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account, less taxes payable, calculated as of two business days prior to the Annual Meeting. Public stockholders may seek to have their shares redeemed regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposals and whether or not they are holders of our Common Stock as of the Record Date. If you properly exercise your conversion rights, your shares will cease to be outstanding and will represent only the right to receive a pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account which holds the proceeds of our IPO (calculated as of two business days prior to the Annual Meeting). For illustrative purposes, based on funds in the Trust Account of approximately $[●] million on [●], 2023, the estimated per share conversion price would have been approximately $[●] (including interest earned through [●], 2023, but before deducting estimated taxes payable).

In order to exercise your conversion rights, you must:

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submit a request in writing prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time on [●], 2023 (two business days before the Annual Meeting) that we convert your Public Shares for cash to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent, at the following address:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30^th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Attn: Mark Zimkind

E-mail: mzinkind@continentalstock.com

and

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deliver your Public Shares either physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company to our transfer agent at least two business days before the Annual Meeting. Stockholders seeking to exercise their conversion rights and opting to deliver physical certificates should allot sufficient time to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent and time to effect delivery. It is our understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, we do not have any control over this process and it may take longer than two weeks. Stockholders who hold their shares in street name will have to coordinate with their broker, bank or other nominee to have the shares certificated or delivered electronically. If you do not submit a written request and deliver your Public Shares as described above, your shares will not be redeemed.

Any demand for conversion, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising conversion requests (and submitting shares to the transfer agent) and thereafter, with our consent. If you delivered your shares for conversion to our transfer agent and decide within the required timeframe not to exercise your conversion rights, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the phone number or address listed above.

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

If you exercise your conversion rights, your shares of our Common Stock will cease to be outstanding immediately prior to the Annual Meeting (assuming the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved) 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 conversion.

If the Charter Amendment Proposals are not approved and we do not consummate a Business Combination by February 16, 2024, we will be required to dissolve and liquidate our Trust Account by returning then remaining funds in such account to the public stockholders and our rights to purchase Common Stock will expire worthless.

Holders of outstanding units must separate the underlying Public Shares and public rights prior to exercising conversion rights with respect to the Public Shares.

If you hold units registered in your own name, you must deliver the certificate for such units to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company with written instructions to separate such units into Public Shares and public rights. This must be completed far enough in advance to permit the mailing of the Public Share certificates back to you so that you may then exercise your conversion rights with respect to the Public Shares upon the separation of the Public Shares from the units.

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 by facsimile to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. 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 conversion rights with respect to the Public Shares upon the separation of the Public Shares from the units. 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 conversion rights.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our voting securities by (i) each person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each of our officers and directors, and (iii) all of our officers and directors as a group as of the Record Date. The percentages below are based on 2,654,874 shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date of this Proxy Statement, including common shares underlying the Company’s units. The following table does not reflect record of beneficial ownership of the rights included in the units or the private rights issued pursuant to the Company’s initial public offering as these rights are not convertible until consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner⁽¹⁾	Number of Shares Beneficially Owned		Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock
Suying Liu⁽²⁾		0		0
Nelson Haight		2,400		*
Todd T. Milbourn		2,400		*
Wenhua Zhang		2,400		*
All directors and executive officers as a group (4 individuals)		7,200		0.3	%
Mountain Crest Global Holdings LLC⁽³⁾		1,940,800		73.1	%
Owl Creek Asset Management, L.P.⁽⁴⁾		225,000		8.5	%
Polar Asset Management Partners Inc.⁽⁵⁾		345,000		13.0	%
Meteora Capital, LLC⁽⁶⁾		342,020		12.9	%

Less than one percent.

(1)

Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V, 311 West 43rd Street, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10036.

(2)

On March 28, 2023, Dr. Suying Liu resigned from his position as the managing member of the Sponsor, and as result, he no longer has any voting and dispositive power over the shares owned by the Sponsor.

(3)

Dong Liu has voting and dispositive power over the shares owned by the Sponsor. Dong Liu is not related to Dr. Suying Liu, Mountain Crest’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Number of Shares includes (i) 1,717,800 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 223,000 shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Units.

(4)	Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on February 9, 2023. Owl Creek Asset Management, L.P. and Jeffrey A. Altman (together, the “Reporting Persons”) made certain joint acquisition statement, dated February 9, 2023. Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company’s shares of Common Stock except to the extent of that person’s pecuniary interest therein. The address of the principal office of the Reporting Persons is 640 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10019.
(5)	Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on February 10, 2023. The address of the principal office of the Reporting Person is 16 York Street, Suite 2900, Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 0E6.
(6)	Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on June 12, 2023. The address of the principal office of the Reporting Person is 1200 N Federal Hwy, #200, Boca Raton FL 33432.

Risks Related to Being Deemed an Investment Company

If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), we would be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities would be severely restricted and, as a result, we may abandon our efforts to consummate the Initial Business Combination and liquidate the Company.

The Company could potentially be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. 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 would expect to abandon our efforts to complete a Business Combination and instead to liquidate the Company. If we are required to liquidate the Company, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our shares and rights following such a transaction, and our rights would expire worthless.

To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we intend to convert all of the assets held in the Trust Account into cash prior to November 12, 2023, and hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash until the earlier of the consummation of the Initial Business Combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the conversion of securities in the Trust Account, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.

As of the date hereof, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account are held in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act. The fact that the funds in our Trust Account have been held in securities makes it more likely that we could be deemed to be an unregistered investment company than other special purpose acquisition companies that hold their trust account funds solely in cash.

The Company’s IPO registration statement became effective on November 12, 2021. In order 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, the Company intends to convert all of the assets held in the Trust Account into cash prior to November 12, 2023 to ensure that the Company does not fall within the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act. Following such conversion, 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 convert the securities held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash would reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.

In addition, the longer that the funds in the Trust Account are held in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities the greater the risk that we may be considered an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate the Company. If we are required to liquidate the Company, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our shares and warrants following such a transaction, and our warrants would expire worthless. 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 in cash, which would further reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.

PROPOSAL 1: THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSALS

This is a proposal to amend (the “Charter Amendment”) the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), (a) to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a Business Combination to November 16, 2024, provided that the Company deposits into the Trust Account an amount equal to $0.10 per Public Share for each three-month extension commencing on November 17, 2023; (b) to eliminate the requirement to maintain $5,000,001 of net tangible book value prior to or upon consummation of a Business Combination (the “NTA Requirement”) by eliminating such requirement set forth in paragraph D of Article Sixth; and (c) permit prior to a Business Combination the issuance of common stock or securities convertible into common stock or the issuance of securities which vote as a class with the common stock on a Business Combination by eliminating the restrictions on such issuances set forth in paragraph G of Article Sixth. We refer to these proposals as the “Charter Amendment Proposals.” All stockholders are encouraged to read the proposed Charter Amendment in its entirety for a more complete description of its terms. A copy of the proposed Charter Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A.

If the Charter Amendment Proposals are not approved or if the Company’s Board determines that the Company will not be able to consummate a Business Combination by the Extended Date, then the Company will wind up its affairs and redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares in accordance with the same procedures set forth below that would be applicable if the Charter Amendment is not approved.

Reasons for the Proposed Charter Amendment

a. Extension Amendment

As previously announced, on October 19, 2022, the Company entered into that a Business Combination Agreement by and between the Company and AUM, which was subsequently amended on February 10, 2023, March 30, 2023 and April 19, 2023. On January 27, 2023, Holdco, Amalgamation Sub and Merger Sub executed a joinder agreement with Mountain Crest and AUM and joined the Business Combination Agreement as parties. The Business Combination Agreement would have provided, subject to its terms and conditions, for a Business Combination of Mountain Crest. Pursuant to stockholder approval obtained as Annual Meetings held on December 20, 2022 and May 12, 2023, the Company has twice amended its Charter to extend a Business Combination Period to February 16, 2024. On June 8, 2023, Mountain Crest received the Notice from AUM. The Notice terminated a Business Combination Agreement as of June 8, 2023.

The Company’s Charter provides that the Company has until February 16, 2024, the Termination Date, to complete a Business Combination. The only way to extend the Combination Period is to have a separate stockholder vote to amend the current Charter.

The Company is working towards a Business Combination by identifying and conducting discussions with potential target companies, but has determined that there will not be sufficient time before February 16, 2024, the Termination Date, to hold a Annual Meeting to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of, and to consummate, any Business Combination. The Company’s management believes that it can close a Business Combination before November 16, 2024 (i.e., the end of the Combination Period). If the Extension Amendment is approved, the Company will have the right to modify and extend the Combination Period to November 16, 2024, provided that the Company deposits into the Trust Account an amount equal to $0.10 per Public Share (the “Extension Payment”) for each of the following three-month extensions: (1) November 17, 2023 to February 16, 2024, (2) February 17, 2024 to May 16, 2024, (3) May 17, 2024 to August 16, 2024 and (4) August 17, 2024 to November 16, 2024. If the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved, November 16, 2023, if not extended, or the last day of the final extension period, if extended, shall be referred to as the “Extended Date.” The Extension Payment will be deposited in the Trust Account prior to the beginning of the additional extension period (or portion thereof).

As of the date hereof, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account are held in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act. There is uncertainty under the Investment Company Act whether certain special purpose acquisition companies, or “SPACs,” with trust account assets held in securities, that do not consummate a Business Combination within 24 months after the effective date the SPAC’s IPO registration statement, would fall within the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act. The Company’s IPO registration statement became effective on November 12, 2021. Due to this uncertainty, the Company intends to convert all of the assets held in the Trust Account into cash prior to November 12, 2023 to ensure that the Company does not fall within the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act. However, the longer that the funds in the Trust Account are held in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, the greater the risk that we may be considered an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate the Company. If we are required to liquidate the Company, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our shares and rights following such a transaction and our rights would expire worthless. See “Risks Related to Being Deemed an Investment Company.”

b. NTA Requirement Amendment

c. Issuance Amendment

On April 3, 2023, the Company received a notice from Nasdaq stating that the Company’s listed securities failed to satisfy the MVLS Requirement of $50,000,000 MVLS for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(A) based upon the Company’s MVLS for the 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the notice. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has been provided a period of 180 calendar days, or until October 2, 2023, in which to regain compliance with the MVLS Requirement.

On May 18, 2023, the Company received a second notice from Nasdaq, stating that the Company no longer satisfies the PHS Requirement to maintain a minimum of 1,100,000 for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market, according to the number of publicly held shares reported on its Form 8-K for May 12, 2023. The Company has been provided 45 calendar days, or until July 3, 2023, to submit a plan to Nasdaq to regain compliance with the PHS Requirement. If the plan is accepted, Nasdaq can grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the date of the Notice, or until November 14, 2023, to evidence compliance with the PHS Requirement. If the plan is not accepted, the Company will have the right to appeal, and the Company’s securities would remain listed on The Nasdaq Global Market until completion of the appeal process.

On June 27, 2023, the Company received a third notice from Nasdaq stating that the Company’s listed securities failed to satisfy the MVPHS Requirement to maintain a minimum of $15,000,000 for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(3)(C) based upon the Company’s MVPHS for the 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the notice. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing 5810(c)(3)(D), the Company has been provided a period of 180 calendar days, or until December 26, 2023, in which to regain compliance with the MVPHS Requirement.

Alternatively, The Nasdaq Capital Market has different requirements for the continued listings. The chart below shows some differences, among others:

	The Nasdaq Global Market	The Nasdaq Capital Market	MCV as of June 27, 2023
MVLS	$50 million	$35 million	Approximately $28 million
PHS	1.1 million	500,000	706,874
MVPHS	$15 million	$1 million	Approximately $7 million

As part of the Company’s plan to address the deficiencies delineated in the Nasdaq notices, referenced above, the Company has submitted its application to transfer the listing of its securities from The Nasdaq Global Market to The Nasdaq Capital Market on April 7, 2023, and plans to consummate a private placement of its common stock to meet the MVLS Requirement, PHS Requirement and MVPHS Requirement. However, the Company is not currently allowed to issue additional shares of common stock, because Paragraph G of Article VI of the Charter provides that “Prior to a Business Combination, the Board of Directors may not issue any securities which participate in or are otherwise entitled in any manner to any of the proceeds in the Trust Fund or which vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.” By eliminating this provision, through the Issuance Amendment, the Company will be permitted to conduct a private placement and issue additional shares of common stock, and therefore regain the compliance with the Nasdaq listing standards noted above.

In connection with the Charter Amendment, public stockholders may elect to redeem their shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, regardless of whether such public stockholders vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the Charter Amendment Proposals and Adjournment Proposal, and an Election can also be made by public stockholders who do not vote, or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the Annual Meeting. Public stockholders may make an Election regardless of whether such public stockholders were holders as of the record date. Each redemption of shares by our public stockholders will decrease the amount in our Trust Account, which held approximately $[●] million of marketable securities as of [●], 2023. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled to have their shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a Business Combination by the Extended Date. Our sponsor, our officers and directors, hold the right to vote over an aggregate of 1,948,000 shares of common stock which include 1,725,000 Founder Shares that were issued prior to our IPO and 223,000 shares of common stock that make part of the Private Units that were purchased by our sponsor in a private placement which occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO.

If the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved, the Company will file a Charter Amendment 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 and make the other amendments contained therein. The Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act and its units, Common Stock and rights will remain publicly traded. However, if Nasdaq initiates delisting procedures in accordance with the Rules despite the Company’s efforts to regain the compliance with the Nasdaq listing standards noted above, its units, Common Stock and rights may trade in the over-the-counter market. The Company will then continue to work to consummate a Business Combination by the Extended Date.

Required Vote

Subject to the foregoing, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, including the Founder Shares, will be required to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals. The approval of the Charter Amendment is essential to the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the Combination Period, to consummate a private placement and to regain the Nasdaq compliance. Therefore, our Board will abandon and not implement the Charter Amendment unless our stockholders approve the Charter Amendment. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Charter Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders. Our Board has fixed the close of business on [●], 2023 as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s Common Stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

Recommendation

The Company’s Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the Charter Amendment Proposals.

PROPOSAL 2: THE TARGET AMENDMENT PROPOSAL

The Target Amendment

We are proposing to remove the restriction contained in the Company’s IPO Prospectus, which proscribes the Company from consummating an initial business combination with a target business with its principal business operations or is headquartered in China (including Hong Kong and Macau). The IPO Prospectus currently provides that the Company shall not undertake an initial business combination with a target business with its principal business operations or is headquartered in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) (each, a “China-based Target”).

Reasons for the Target Amendment Proposal

The purpose of the Target Amendment Proposal is to afford the Company with flexibility for its search of a target company to undertake an initial business combination. If the Target Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will be allowed to undertake an initial business combination with a China-based Target which allows it to assess to a bigger pool of potential target candidates, so it will be more flexible for consummating an initial business combination. The Board has determined that, given the Company’s expenditure of time, efforts and money on identifying suitable target business and completion of a business combination, and the market opportunity the Company has observed in China (including Hong Kong and Macau), it is in the best interests of its stockholder to approve the Target Amendment Proposal.

Consequences If the Target Amendment Proposal is Not Approved

If the Target Amendment Proposal is not approved, and we are unable to consummate an initial business combination with a non-China-based target by the Termination Date, or the Extended Date, if the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved, 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 100% of the outstanding Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including any interest not previously released to us (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our rights, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, our sponsor, our officers and directors and our other initial stockholders will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Units.

The Founders have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Founder Shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. As a consequence of such waivers, any liquidating distribution that is made will be only with respect to the public shares. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company winds up. We will pay the costs of liquidation from our remaining assets outside of the Trust Account.

Consequences If the Target Amendment Proposal is Approved

If the Target Amendment Proposal is approved, we will then continue to work to consummate a business combination, and may decide to consummate our initial business combination with a China-based Target, so the combined company may face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties after the business combination.

Risks Related to Our Possible Business Combination with a China-based Target

If the Target Amendment Proposal is approved, there will be no restriction in the geographic location of targets that we can pursue, and we may conduct our search in China and pursue a business combination with a China-based Target. As a result, we may be subject to risks due to uncertainty of the interpretation and the application of the PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to limitation on foreign ownership of certain industries, regulatory review of overseas listing of PRC companies through a special purpose vehicle and the validity and enforcement of the VIE Agreements (as defined below), if the China-based Target requires any of these legal requirements post business combination by us. Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership in certain industries, neither the post-combination entity nor its subsidiaries may own any equity interest in the China-based Target’s operating entity in a restricted industry, which is known as variable interest entity, or a VIE. Instead, a series of contractual arrangements (the “VIE Agreements”) may be entered into between the VIEs, the VIEs’ founders and owners, on one side, and a PRC subsidiary of the post-combination entity, on the other side.

VIE Agreements normally include: (i) certain power of attorney agreements, a share pledge agreement and certain loan agreements; (ii) an exclusive business cooperation agreement which allows the post-combination entity to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from the VIE; and (iii) certain exclusive option agreements and certain spouse consent letters which provide us with an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in and/or assets of the VIE when and to the extent permitted by PRC laws (“VIE structure”). The China-based Target, through VIE Agreements, can consolidate the financial results of the VIE in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, for accounting purposes. The post-combination entity or its stockholder do not directly hold equity interests in the VIEs after the business combination under the VIE structure, and therefore, such corporate structure is subject to risks due to uncertainty of the interpretation and the application of the PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to limitation on foreign ownership of internet technology companies, regulatory review of oversea listing of PRC companies through a special purpose vehicle, and the validity and enforcement of the VIE Agreements. VIE structure is also subject to the risks of uncertainty about any future actions of the PRC government in this regard that could disallow the VIE structure, which would likely result in a material change in the post-combined company’s operation and may cause the value of our securities of post-combination entity depreciate significantly or become worthless.

VIE structure may not be as effective as equity ownership and the company may incur substantial costs to enforce the terms of the arrangements. Since the post-combination entity and its stockholders do not directly own equity interest in VIE and the shareholders of VIE still own the shares of VIE after the business combination, the VIE structure has its inherent risks that may affect your investment, including less effectiveness and certainties than equity ownership and potential substantial costs to enforce the terms of the VIE Agreements. The shareholders of VIE may not act in the best interests of the post-combined company or may not perform their obligations under the VIE Agreement. If VIE or the stockholders of the VIE breach their contractual obligations under the VIE Agreements, the post-combined company may have difficulty in enforcing any rights it may have under the VIE Agreements with the VIE, its founders and owners, in PRC because all of the VIE Agreements are governed by the PRC laws and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. The post-combination entity may have to incur substantial costs and expend significant resources to enforce such VIE Agreements in reliance on legal remedies under PRC law. In connection with litigation, arbitration or other judicial or dispute resolution proceedings, assets under the name of any of record holder of equity interest in the VIE, including such equity interest of such record holder, may be put under court custody. As a consequence, we cannot be certain that the equity interest will be disposed pursuant to the VIE Agreements or that the ownership by the record holder of such equity interest will be unchallenged. In addition, if we acquire a China-based Target through VIE Agreements, investors in our common stock following a business combination would not hold equity interests in the VIE domiciled in China and would instead hold equity interests in a holding company. You may never hold equity interests in the VIE.

All of the VIE Agreements may be governed by and interpreted in accordance with PRC law, and disputes arising from these VIE Agreements may be resolved in court or through arbitration in China in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the post-combination ability to enforce the VIE Agreements. As at the date of this proxy statement, there are very few precedents and little official guidance as to how VIE Agreements should be interpreted or enforced under PRC law. The VIE Agreements have not been widely tested in a court of law in the PRC and there remain significant uncertainties regarding the ultimate outcome of arbitration should legal action become necessary. Furthermore, VIE Agreements may not be enforceable in China if PRC government authorities or courts take a view that such VIE Agreements contravene PRC laws and regulations or are otherwise not enforceable for public policy reasons. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts in the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state. In the event that the post-combined entity is unable to enforce the VIE Agreements, the post-combined entity may not be able to consolidate the financial results of the VIE through the VIE Agreements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS as primary beneficial for accounting purposes, and the post-combination entity may be precluded from operating the business, which will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.

Although the PRC authorities do not require permission to entry of VIE Agreements, recently the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the “Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law,” or the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021, pursuant to which the PRC government will strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings of Chinese companies. The Opinions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject VIE structure to compliance requirement in the future. Given the current regulatory environment in the PRC, uncertainty of different interpretation and enforcement of the rules and regulations in the PRC may be adverse to our business combination with a China-based Target or the post-combined company, which may take place quickly with little advance notice.

The governing PRC laws and regulations are sometimes vague and uncertain and can change quickly with little advance notice, which may result in a material change in the post-combined company’s operations, cause the value of our shares after we complete our business combination to significantly decline or be worthless, or substantially limit or completely hinder the post-combined company’s ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. For instance, the PRC government recently initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using VIE structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. However, since these statements and regulatory actions are new or have not been officially implemented, it is highly uncertain how soon legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our capability to acquire or merge with a company with major operations in China, and post-combined company’s ability to conduct its business, accept foreign investments, or list on an U.S. exchange.

The Chinese government may intervene or influence the operations of the PRC operating entities at any time and may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in the operations of the PRC operating entities and/or the value of our securities. In addition, any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions, as well as possible interventions and influences of any government policies and actions; as well as uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could have a material adverse effect on our operation and the value of our securities. For instance, (i) as the date hereof, we are not required to obtain any permission from China authorities nor received any objection or restriction from Chinese authorities to list our securities in U.S. exchanges, however, we cannot guarantee that PRC authorities may initiate any change in its law, rules or regulations, or governmental policies that would require permission or scrutiny from relevant PRC authorities before our listing; or any law, regulation, rules and policies will become effective and enforceable after our listing that could substantially affect our operation and the value of our securities may depreciate quickly or even become worthless; and (ii) after consummation of the IPO and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, our operation involves searching and identifying suitable targets, conducting due diligence on targets, negotiating and consummating our initial business combination. Though we are not restricted or prohibited from such business activities in China, we are subject to risks and uncertainties about future actions of the PRC government or law enforcement to refrain our activities or operation in China, which would likely result in a material change in our operations, significantly limit or hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities, and cause the value of our securities may depreciate significantly or become worthless.

For details of risks related to our possible business combination with a China-based Target, see “Proposal 2 — The Target Amendment Proposal — Risks Related to Acquiring a China-Based Target”.

Permission Required from the PRC Authorities and PRC Limitations on Overseas Listing and Share Issuances If We Acquire a China-based Target (Post-Business Combination)

As we do not have any operations in China, given that (a) the CSRC, currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours are subject to the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (the “M&A Rules”); and (b) our company is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware rather than in China and currently our company does not own or control any equity interest in any PRC company or operate any business in China, we believe that we are not required to obtain any licenses or approvals, under applicable PRC laws and regulations, for our operation or listing on Nasdaq and while seeking a target for the initial business combination. Further, according to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which was promulgated on December 28, 2021 and became effective on February 15, 2022, online platform operators holding more than one million users/users’ individual information shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. As we are a blank check company and are not involved in the collection of personal data of at least 1 million users or implicate cybersecurity, we do not believe that we are a “network platform operator(s)”, or subject to the cybersecurity review of the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”).

If we acquire a China-based Target, we may be required to obtain approval from Chinese authorities, including the CSRC or CAC, to list on U.S. exchanges or issue securities to foreign investors post business combination with a China-based Target. If approval is required in the future and we were denied permission from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges, we will not be able to continue listing on a U.S. exchange, which would materially affect the interest of our investors. It is uncertain when and whether we will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to continue to list on U.S. exchanges in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. Our operations may be adversely affected in the future, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to the China-based Target’s business or industry and oversea listing and share issuance.

Transfers of Cash to and from Our Post-Combination Entity If We Acquire a China-based Target (Post-Business Combination)

We are a blank check company with no operations of our own and no subsidiaries except searching for a suitable target to consummate an initial business combination. As of the date hereof, no transfers, dividends, or distributions have been made by us.

If the Target Amendment Proposal is approved, there is no restriction in the geographic location of targets that we can pursue. We currently do not have any PRC subsidiaries or China operations, do not have any specific business combination under consideration and have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. However, because of our significant ties to China, we may pursue a business combination with a China-based Target which might require a VIE structure. As a result, although other means are available for the post-combination entity to obtain financing at the holding company level, the post-combination entity’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders and to service any debt it may incur may depend upon dividends paid by the China-based Target’s subsidiaries. If any of the post-combination entity’s subsidiaries incurs debt on its own in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends to the post-combination entity. In addition, the PRC subsidiaries of the post-combination entity and VIE are required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserve funds, which are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of a solvent liquidation of the companies.

In order for the post-combination entity to pay dividends to its stockholders, the post-combination entity will rely on payments made from the VIE to the PRC subsidiary of the post-combined entity, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (“WFOE”), pursuant to the VIE Agreements, and the distribution of such payments from the WFOE to the post-combination entity as dividends from the subsidiaries of the post-combined entity. Such dividends and other distributions may be subject to the PRC government’s regulations relating to the conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies and the remittance of such currencies out of the PRC, which may limit the post-combination entity’s PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute earnings to the post-combination entity or may otherwise adversely affect the post-combination entity. Furthermore, even though the post-combination entity may wish to transfer cash proceeds raised from overseas financing activities, to its PRC subsidiaries via capital contribution or shareholder loans, the PRC government’s regulations relating to foreign exchange may limit the post-combination entity’s ability to make loans to or inject capital into its PRC subsidiaries or the ability of its PRC subsidiaries to pay back such loans to the post-combination entity.

Investment in Chinese companies, which are governed by the Foreign Investment Law, and the dividends and distributions from a China-based operating company are subject to regulations and restrictions on dividends and payment to parties outside of China. Furthermore, if certain procedural requirements are satisfied, the payment in foreign currencies on current account items, including profit distributions and trade and service related foreign exchange transactions, can be made without prior approval from State Administration of Foreign Exchange (the “SAFE”) or its local branches. However, where RMB would be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies, approval from or registration with competent government authorities or its authorized banks is required. The PRC government may take measures at its discretion from time to time to restrict access to foreign currencies for current account or capital account transactions. If the foreign exchange control regulations prevent the VIE or PRC subsidiaries of the combined company from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy their foreign currency demands, the VIE or PRC subsidiaries of the combined company may not be able to pay dividends or repay loans in foreign currencies to their offshore intermediary holding companies and ultimately to the post-combination company. We cannot assure you that new regulations or policies will not be promulgated in the future, which may further restrict the remittance of RMB into or out of the PRC. We cannot assure you, in light of the restrictions in place, or any amendment to be made from time to time, that the PRC subsidiaries of the post-combination company will be able to satisfy their respective payment obligations that are denominated in foreign currencies, including the remittance of dividends outside of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our subsidiaries or the VIE, if any.

Current PRC regulations permit the indirect subsidiaries of the post-combination entity to pay dividends to the post-combination entity only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of the subsidiaries of the post-combination company in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of such entity in China is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at the discretion of its board of directors. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation.

Cash dividends, if any, on our common stock will be paid in U.S. dollars. If the post-combination entity is considered a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes, any dividends the post-combination entity pay to its overseas stockholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10.0%.

Recent PCAOB Developments

We are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware with our office located in the United States with no operations or subsidiaries in China. Our auditor, UHY LLP, headquartered in Michigan, is an independent registered public accounting firm registered with the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess UHY LLP’s compliance with applicable professional standards. The PCAOB currently has access to inspect the working papers of our auditor. Our auditor is not headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong and was not identified in any report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination.

If the Target Amendment Proposal is approved and we may pursue a business combination with a China-based target, we may be subject to Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the “HFCAA”) and related regulations if we pursue an opportunity with a foreign company. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”), which, if signed into law, would amend the HFCAA and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years. On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden. The Consolidated Appropriations Act contained, among other things, an identical provision to the AHFCAA, which reduces the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCA Act from three years to two years. If our securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our securities when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with a potential delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our securities. For instance, the HFCAA would restrict our ability to consummate a business combination with a target business unless that business met certain standards of the PCAOB and would require delisting of a company from U.S. national securities exchanges if the PCAOB is unable to inspect its public accounting firm for two consecutive years. The HFCAA also requires public companies to disclose, among other things, whether they are owned or controlled by a foreign government, specifically, those based in China. We may not be able to consummate a business combination with a favored target business due to these laws.

The documentation we may be required to submit to the SEC proving certain beneficial ownership requirements and establishing that we are not owned or controlled by a foreign government in the event that we use a foreign public accounting firm not subject to inspection by the PCAOB or where the PCAOB is unable to completely inspect or investigate our accounting practices or financial statements because of a position taken by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction could be onerous and time consuming to prepare. The HFCAA mandates the SEC to identify issuers of SEC-registered securities whose audited financial reports are prepared by an accounting firm that the PCAOB is unable to inspect due to restrictions imposed by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction where the audits are performed. If such identified issuer’s auditor cannot be inspected by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the trading of such issuer’s securities on any U.S. national securities exchanges, as well as any over-the-counter trading in the U.S., will be prohibited.

On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. An identified issuer will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies it as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC.

On November 5, 2021, the SEC approved the PCAOB’s Rule 6100, Board Determinations Under the HFCAA. Rule 6100 provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.

On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.

Future developments in respect of increased U.S. regulatory access to audit information are uncertain, as the legislative developments are subject to the legislative process and the regulatory developments are subject to the rule-making process and other administrative procedures.

Other developments in U.S. laws and regulatory environment, including but not limited to executive orders such as Executive Order (E.O.) 13959, “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments That Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies,” may further restrict our ability to complete a business combination with certain China-based businesses.

Enforceability of Civil Liability

There is uncertainty if any officers and directors of the post-combination entity will be located outside the Unites States. As a result, it may be difficult, or in some cases not possible, for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon those officers and directors (prior to or after the business combination) located outside the United States, to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties on them under United States securities laws.

In particular, the PRC does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the United States and many other countries and regions, and you may have to incur substantial costs and contribute significant time to enforce civil liabilities and criminal penalties in reliance on legal remedies under PRC laws. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in the PRC of judgement of United States courts in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible.

Risks Related to Acquiring a China-Based Target

If the Target Amendment Proposal is approved, we may consider a business combination with China-based Target, which may subject the post business combination business to the laws, regulations, and policies of the PRC. As a result, in the future we may be subject to risks related to the PRC as discussed below.

We may undertake our initial business combination with an entity or business which is based in a foreign country and the laws and regulations of such foreign countries may not afford U.S. investors or regulatory agencies access to information normally available to them with respect to U.S. based entities.

In November 2020, the SEC Staff issued guidance regarding certain risks and considerations that should be considered by investors regarding foreign entities, specifically the limited ability of U.S. investors and regulatory agencies to rely upon or obtain information from foreign based entities, specifically China based entities, under the laws and regulations of such foreign countries. As stated by the SEC Staff. “[A]lthough China-based Issuers that access the U.S. public capital markets generally have the same disclosure obligations and legal responsibilities as other non-U.S. issuers, the Commission’s ability to promote and enforce high-quality disclosure standards for China-based Issuers may be materially limited. As a result, there is substantially greater risk that their disclosures may be incomplete or misleading. In addition, in the event of investor harm, investors generally will have substantially less access to recourse, in comparison to U.S. domestic companies and foreign issuers in other jurisdictions.” Among other potential issues and risks cited by the SEC Staff, the SEC Staff identified restrictions in China which restricted the PCAOB’s ability to inspect audit work and practices of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms in China and on the PCAOB’s ability to inspect audit work with respect to China-based issuer audits by PCAOB-registered public accounting firms in Hong Kong.

Further, current laws and regulations in China as well as other potential target countries, can limit or restrict investigations and similar activities by U.S. regulatory agencies such as the SEC to gather information regarding the securities and other activities of issuers based in the foreign countries where such laws or regulations exist. According to Article 177 of the newly amended PRC Securities Law which became effective in March 2020 (the “Article 177”), the securities regulatory authority of the PRC State Council may collaborate with securities regulatory authorities of other countries or regions in order to monitor and oversee cross border securities activities. Article 177 further provides that overseas securities regulatory authorities are not allowed to carry out investigation and evidence collection directly within the territory of the PRC, and that any Chinese entities and individuals are not allowed to provide documents or materials related to securities business activities to overseas agencies without prior consent of the securities regulatory authority of the PRC State Council and the competent departments of the PRC State Council. Investors should be aware that the U.S. Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which requires that the PCAOB be permitted to inspect an issuer’s public accounting firm within three years, may result in the delisting of the operating company in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect the firm. Although we have not identified a potential target business nor any particular country in which a business combination may occur, we intend to consider potential target business in foreign jurisdictions, including China based entities and businesses, and therefore investors should be aware of risks related to the ability to obtain information and conduct investigations and be afforded protections by U.S.- based agencies such as the SEC related to any such business combination with a target business in a foreign country and consider such risks prior to investing in our securities.

If the government of the PRC finds that the VIE Agreements the China-based Target entered into to allow the post-combination entity to consolidate the financial results of the China-based Target do not comply with local governmental restrictions on foreign investment, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, the post-combination entity could be subject to significant penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations or the post-combination entity could be unbale to consolidate the financial results of the VIE, which could cause the value of our securities depreciate significantly or become worthless.

We are a Delaware corporation with no operations of our own and no subsidiaries except searching for a suitable target to consummate an initial business combination. We currently do not have any PRC subsidiaries or China operations, do not have any specific business combination under consideration and have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. However, because of our significant ties to China, we may pursue a business combination with a China-based Target which might require a VIE structure. The post-combination entity, through VIE Agreements, can consolidate the financial results of the VIE in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS as primary beneficial for accounting purposes. In that case, following the consummation of a business combination with a China-based Target, the securities of the post-combination entity would be securities of an offshore holding company instead of shares of the VIE in China. For a summary of the VIE structure and VIE Agreements, see “Proposal No. 2 — The Target Amendment Proposal — Consequences If the Trust Amendment is Approved — Risks Related to Our Possible Business Combination with a China-based Target.”

The post-combination entity will rely on WFOE’s VIE Agreements with the VIE and its shareholders to consolidate the financial results of the VIE. These VIE Agreements may not be as effective as direct ownership. Under the VIE Agreements, as a legal matter, if the VIE or any of its shareholders executing the VIE Agreements fails to perform its, his or her respective obligations under the VIE Agreements, the post-combination entity may have to incur substantial costs and resources to enforce such arrangements, and rely on legal remedies available under PRC laws, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure you will be effective. For example, if shareholders of the VIE were to refuse to transfer their equity interests in such VIE to the post-combination entity or its designated persons when the post-combination entity exercises the purchase option pursuant to the VIE Agreements, the post-combination entity may have to take a legal action to compel them to fulfill their contractual obligations.

If (i) the applicable PRC authorities invalidate the VIE Agreements for violation of PRC laws, rules and regulations, (ii) any VIE or its shareholders terminate the VIE Agreements, (iii) any VIE or its shareholders fail to perform its/his/her obligations under the VIE Agreements, or (iv) if these regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future, the China-based Target’s business operations in China would be materially and adversely affected, and the value of your securities would substantially decrease or even become worthless. Further, if the post-combination entity fails to renew the VIE Agreements upon their expiration, the post-combination entity would not be able to continue the business operations unless the then current PRC law allows it to directly operate businesses in China.

In addition, if any VIE or all or part of its assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, we may be unable to continue to consolidate the financial results of the VIE, which could materially and adversely affect the post-combination entity’s business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of the VIEs undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, its shareholders or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby materially and adversely affecting the financial results of the post-combination entity.

All of the VIE Agreements will be governed by PRC law and provided for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. Accordingly, these contracts will be interpreted in accordance with PRC laws and any disputes will be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce the VIE Agreements. In the event the post-combination entity is unable to enforce the VIE Agreements, the post-combination entity may not be able to consolidate the financial results of the VIE in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS and the post-combination entity may be precluded from operating its business, which would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations.

Although based on industry practices, VIE Agreements among WFOE, the VIE and its shareholders governed by PRC laws are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect, however, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may ultimately take a view that is contrary to the accepted industry practices with respect to the VIE Agreements. In addition, it is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to the VIE structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. PRC government authorities may deem that foreign ownership is directly or indirectly involved in the VIE’s shareholding structure. If our potential corporate structure and VIE Agreements are deemed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or MIIT, or the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, or other regulators having competent authority to be illegal, either in whole or in part, the post-combined company may lose the ability to consolidate the financial results of the VIE through the VIE Agreements and have to modify such structure to comply with regulatory requirements. However, there can be no assurance that we can achieve this without material disruption to the China-based Target’s business. Furthermore, if the post-combined company or the VIE is found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion to take action in dealing with such violations or failures, including, without limitation:

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revoking the business license and/or operating licenses of the post-combination entity or the VIE;

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discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations through any transactions under the VIE agreements;

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imposing fines, confiscating the income from the post-combination entity, the VIE or its subsidiaries, or imposing other requirements with which the post-combined company or the VIE may not be able to comply;

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placing restrictions on our right to collect revenues;

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requiring the post-combination entity to restructure its ownership structure or operations, including terminating the VIE Agreements with the VIE and deregistering the equity pledges of the VIE, which in turn would affect the post-combined company’s ability to consolidate the financial results of the VIE through the VIE Agreements; or

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taking other regulatory or enforcement actions against the post-combination entity that could be harmful to the post-combination entity business.

The imposition of any of these penalties will result in a material and adverse effect on our potential ability to conduct the business. In addition, it is unclear what impact the PRC government actions will have on the post-combined company and on the post-combination entity’s ability to consolidate the financial results of the VIE in its consolidated financial statements, if the PRC government authorities were to find our potential corporate structure and VIE Agreements to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations. If the imposition of any of these government actions causes the post-combination entity to lose the right to direct the activities of the VIE or the right to receive substantially all the economic benefits and residual returns from the VIE and the post-combination entity is not able to restructure the ownership structure and operations in a timely and satisfactory manner, the post-combination entity will no longer be able to consolidate the financial results of the VIE in its consolidated financial statements. Either of these results, or any other significant penalties that might be imposed on the post-combination entity in this event, it will have a material adverse effect on the post-combination entity’s financial condition, results of operations and our securities shares may decline in value or be worthless.

The VIE Agreements under a VIE structure may not be as effective as direct ownership in respect of the relationship of the post-combination entity with the VIE, and thus, the post-combination entity may incur substantial costs to enforce the terms of the VIE Agreements, which the post-combination entity may not be able to enforce at all.

The VIE Agreements may not be as effective as direct ownership in respect of the relationship of the post-combination entity with the VIE. For example, the VIE and its shareholders could breach the VIE Agreements by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to the interests of the post-combination entity. If the post-combination entity had direct ownership of the VIE, the post-combination entity would be able to exercise its rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of the VIE, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the VIE Agreements, the post-combination entity rely on the performance by the VIE and its shareholders of their obligations under the contracts to consolidate the financial results of the VIE as primary beneficial. The shareholders of the VIE may not act in the best interests of the post-combination entity or may not perform their obligations under these VIE Agreements. Such risks exist throughout the period in which the post-combination entity intends to consolidate the financial results of the VIE through the VIE Agreements.

If the VIE or its shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the post-combination entity, the post-combination entity may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such VIE Agreements. For example, if the shareholders of the VIE refuse to transfer their equity interest in the VIE to the post-combination entity or its designee if the post-combination entity exercises the purchase option pursuant to the VIE Agreements, or if they otherwise act in bad faith toward the post-combination entity, then the post-combination entity may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations. In addition, if any third parties claim any interest in such shareholders’ equity interests in the VIE, the post-combination entity’s ability to foreclose the share pledge according to the VIE Agreements may be impaired. If these or other disputes between the shareholders of the VIE and third parties were to impair the post-combination entity’s relationship with the VIE, the post-combination entity’s ability to consolidate the financial results of the VIE as primary beneficiary would be affected, which would in turn result in a material and adverse effect on the business, operations and financial condition.

Any failure by the VIE or its shareholders to perform their obligations under the VIE Agreements would have a material and adverse effect on the post-combination entity’s business.

The shareholders of the VIE are referred as its nominee shareholders because although they remain the holders of equity interests on record in the VIE, pursuant to the terms of the relevant power of attorney, such shareholders have irrevocably authorized the individual appointed by the WFOE to exercise their rights as a shareholder of the relevant VIE. If the VIE, or its shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the VIE Agreements, the post-combination entity may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. The post-combination entity may also have to rely on legal remedies under PRC laws, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which the post-combination entity cannot assure you will be effective under PRC laws.

All of these VIE Agreements may be governed by and interpreted in accordance with PRC law, and disputes arising from these VIE Agreements may be resolved in court or through arbitration in China. Accordingly, these contracts will be interpreted in accordance with PRC laws and any disputes will be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal system in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these VIE Agreements. See “Proposal No. 2 - The Target Amendment Proposal — Consequences If the Trust Amendment is Approved — Risks Related to Our Possible Business Combination with a China-based Target — Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.” Meanwhile, there are very few precedents and little formal guidance as to how VIE Agreements in the context of a VIE should be interpreted or enforced under PRC laws. There remain significant uncertainties regarding the ultimate outcome of such arbitration should legal action become necessary. In addition, under PRC laws, rulings by arbitrators are final and parties cannot appeal arbitration results in court unless such rulings are revoked or determined unenforceable by a competent court. If the losing parties fail to carry out the arbitration awards within a prescribed time limit, the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in PRC courts through arbitration award recognition proceedings, which would require additional expenses and delay. In the event that the post-combination entity is unable to enforce these VIE Agreements, or if the post-combination entity suffers significant delay or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these VIE Agreements, the post-combination entity may not be able to consolidate the financial results of the VIE in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS as primary beneficial for accounting purposes, and the post-combination entity’s ability to conduct its business may be negatively affected.

PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit the post-combination entity’s ability to inject capital in its Chinese subsidiaries, if any, and Chinese subsidiaries’ ability to change their registered capital or distribute profits to the post-combination entity or otherwise expose the post-combination entity or its PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC laws.

In July 2014, The State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC, or SAFE, promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purpose) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to the shareholders of post-combination entity who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future.

Under SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, will be required to register such investments with SAFE or its local branches. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV, is required to update its filed registration with the local branch of SAFE with respect to that SPV, to reflect any material change, including, among other things, any major change of a PRC resident shareholder, name or term of operation of the SPVs, or any increase or reduction of the SPVs’ registered capital, share transfer or swap, merger or division. Moreover, any subsidiary of such SPV in China is required to urge the PRC resident shareholders to update their registration with the local branch of SAFE. If any PRC shareholder of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the previously filed registration, the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiary in China. On February 13, 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE or its branches. The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.

We cannot provide assurance that the post-combination entity’s shareholders that are PRC residents comply with all of the requirements under SAFE Circular 37 or other related rules. Failure or inability of our PRC resident shareholders to comply with the registration procedures set forth in these regulations may subject us to fines and legal sanctions, restrict our cross-border investment activities, limit the ability of our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China to distribute dividends and the proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may also be prohibited from injecting additional capital into the subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various foreign exchange registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for circumventing applicable foreign exchange restrictions. As a result, the post-combination entity’s business operations and its ability to distribute profits to you could be materially and adversely affected.

Furthermore, as these foreign exchange regulations are still relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, the post-combination entity may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to the post-combination entity’s foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a China-based Target, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.

Compliance with the PRC Antitrust law may limit our ability to effect our initial business combination.

The PRC Antitrust Law became effective on August 1, 2008. The government authorities in charge of antitrust matters in China are the Antitrust Commission and other antitrust authorities under the State Council. The PRC Antitrust Law regulates (1) monopoly agreements, including decisions or actions in concert that preclude or impede competition, entered into by business operators; (2) abuse of dominant market position by business operators; and (3) concentration of business operators that may have the effect of precluding or impeding competition. To implement the Antitrust Law, in 2008, the State Council formulated the regulations that require filing of concentration of business operators, pursuant to which concentration of business operators refers to (1) merger with other business operators; (2) gaining control over other business operators through acquisition of equity interest or assets of other business operators; and (3) gaining control over other business operators through exerting influence on other business operators through contracts or other means. In 2009, the Ministry of Commerce, to which the Antitrust Commission is affiliated, promulgated the Measures for Filing of Concentration of Business Operators (amended by the Guidelines for Filing of Concentration of Business Operators in 2014), which set forth the criteria of concentration and the requirement of miscellaneous documents for the purpose of filing. The business combination we contemplate may be considered the concentration of business operators, and to the extent required by the Antitrust Law and the criteria established by the State Council, we must file with the antitrust authority under the PRC State Council prior to conducting the contemplated business combination. If the antitrust authority decides not to further investigate whether the contemplated business combination has the effect of precluding or impeding competition or fails to make a decision within 30 days from receipt of relevant materials, we may proceed to consummate the contemplated business combination. If antitrust authority decides to prohibit the contemplated business combination after further investigation, we must terminate such business combination and would then be forced to either attempt to complete a new business combination or we would be required to return any amounts which were held in the trust account to our stockholders. When we evaluate a potential business combination, we will consider the need to comply with the Antitrust Law and other relevant regulations which may limit our ability to effect an acquisition or may result in our modifying or not pursuing a particular transaction. The approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a business combination by the Combination Period.

Exchange controls that exist in the PRC may restrict or prevent us from using the proceeds of the IPO to acquire a China-based Target and limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively following our initial business combination.

SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, effective on June 1, 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, or Circular 59, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses, or Circular 45. According to Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within the PRC, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in the PRC in actual practice. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties.

As such, Circular 19 and Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer the proceeds of the IPO to a China-based Target and the use of such proceeds by a China-based Target.

In addition, following our initial business combination with a China-based Target, we will be subject to the PRC’s rules and regulations on currency conversion. In the PRC, the SAFE regulates the conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies. Currently, FIEs are required to apply to the SAFE for “Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates for FIEs.” Following our initial business combination, we will likely be an FIE as a result of our ownership structure. With such registration certificates, which need to be renewed annually, FIEs are allowed to open foreign currency accounts including a “basic account” and “capital account.” Currency conversion within the scope of the “basic account,” such as remittance of foreign currencies for payment of dividends, can be effected without requiring the approval of the SAFE. However, conversion of currency in the “capital account,” including capital items such as direct investment, loans and securities, still require approval of the SAFE.

We cannot assure you the PRC regulatory authorities will not impose further restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi. Any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use the proceeds of the IPO in an initial business combination with a China-based Target and the use of our cash flow for the distribution of dividends to our stockholders or to fund operations we may have outside of the PRC.

Our initial business combination may be subject to national security review by the PRC government and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.

On February 3, 2011, the PRC government issued a Notice Concerning the Establishment of Security Review Procedure on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or Security Review Regulations, which became effective on March 5, 2011. The Security Review Regulations cover acquisitions by foreign investors of a broad range of PRC enterprises if such acquisitions could result in de facto control by foreign investors and the enterprises are relating to military, national defense, important agriculture products, important energy and natural resources, important infrastructures, important transportation services, key technologies and important equipment manufacturing. The scope of the review includes whether the acquisition will impact the national security, economic and social stability, and the research and development capabilities on key national security related technologies. Foreign investors should submit a security review application to the Department of Commerce for its initial review for contemplated acquisition. If the acquisition is considered to be within the scope of the Security Review Regulations, the Department of Commerce will transfer the application to a joint security review committee within five business days for further review. The joint security review committee, consisting of members from various PRC government agencies, will conduct a general review and seek comments from relevant government agencies. The joint security review committee may initiate a further special review and request the termination or restructuring of the contemplated acquisition if it determines that the acquisition will result in significant national security issue.

The Security Review Regulations will potentially subject a large number of mergers and acquisitions transactions by foreign investors in China to an additional layer of regulatory review. Currently, there is significant uncertainty as to the implication of the Security Review Regulations. Neither the Department of Commerce nor other PRC government agencies have issued any detailed rules for the implementation of the Security Review Regulations. If, for example, our potential initial business combination is with a China-based Target in any of the sensitive sectors identified above, the transaction will be subject to the Security Review Regulations, and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such acquisition. There is no guarantee that we can receive such approval in a timely manner, and we may also be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities if the PRC government considers that the potential investments will result in a significant national security issue. If obtained, the approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a business combination by the Combination Date.

Our initial business combination may be subject to a variety of PRC laws and other obligations regarding cybersecurity and data protection and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.

Our initial business combination may be subject to PRC laws relating to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.

Recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severe and Lawful Crackdown on Illegal Securities Activities, which was available to the public on July 6, 2021. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies. These opinions proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, to deal with the risks and incidents facing China-based overseas-listed companies and the demand for cybersecurity and data privacy protection. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, jointly with 12 departments under the State Council, promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and data processors carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, shall conduct cyber security review. An operator, including operators of critical information infrastructure and data processors, who controls more than 1 million users’ personal information must report to the Cyber Security Review Office for a cybersecurity review if it intends to be listed in a foreign country.

If, for example, our potential initial business combination is with a China-based Target and if the Measures for Cybersecurity Review mandates clearance of cybersecurity review and other specific actions to be completed by the target business, we may face uncertainties as to whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all, and incur additional time delays to complete any such acquisition. Cybersecurity review could also result in negative publicity with respect to our initial business combination and diversion of our managerial and financial resources. There is no guarantee that we can receive such approval in a timely manner, and we may also be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities if the PRC government considers that the potential investments will result in a significant national security issue. If obtained, the approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a business combination by the Combination Date.

In light of recent events indicating greater oversight by the CAC over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, companies with more than one million users’ personal information in China, especially some internet and technology companies, may not be willing to list on a U.S. exchange or enter into a definitive business combination agreement with us.

Companies in China are subject to various risks and costs associated with the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. This data is wide ranging and relates to our investors, employees, contractors and other counterparties and third parties. If we decide to initiate a business combination with a company in China, our compliance obligations include those relating to the relevant PRC laws in this regard. These PRC laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information between a holding company and its subsidiaries. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.

Pursuant to the PRC Cybersecurity Law, which was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on November 7, 2016 and took effect on June 1, 2017, personal information and important data collected and generated by a critical information infrastructure operator in the course of its operations in China must be stored in China, and if a critical information infrastructure operator purchases internet products and services that affect or may affect national security, it should be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC. Due to the lack of further interpretations, the exact scope of “critical information infrastructure operator” remains unclear. On July 10, 2021, the CAC publicly issued the Measures for Cybersecurity Censorship (Revised Draft for Comments) aiming to, upon its enactment, replace the existing Measures for Cybersecurity Censorship. The draft measures extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews to data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, including listing in a foreign country. The draft measures require a company holding more than one million personal information to submit its initial public offering materials prepared for submission for cybersecurity review before listing on a foreign exchange. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, jointly with 12 departments under the State Council, promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and data processors carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, shall conduct cyber security review. An operator, including operators of critical information infrastructure and data processors, who controls more than 1 million users’ personal information must report to the Cyber Security Review Office for a cybersecurity review if it intends to be listed in a foreign country.

It is unclear whether the Measures for Cybersecurity Review will apply to a company planning to list on a U.S. exchange by business combination with a special purpose acquisition corporation like us. If cybersecurity review applies to our business combination with a company holding more than one million personal information in China, we cannot guarantee that we will receive such approval in a timely manner.

Furthermore, if we were found to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations in China during such review, we could be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings, fines, or service suspension. Therefore, cybersecurity review could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In addition, the PRC Data Security Law, which was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on June 10, 2021 and takes effect on September 1, 2021, requires data collection to be conducted in a legitimate and proper manner, and stipulates that, for the purpose of data protection, data processing activities must be conducted based on data classification and hierarchical protection system for data security. After the Data Security Law takes effect, if the post-combination entity’s data processing activities were found to be not in compliance with this law, our post-combination entity could be ordered to make corrections, and under certain serious circumstances, such as severe data divulgence, we and the post-combination entity could be subject to penalties, including the revocation of our business licenses or other permits. As a result, we and the post-combination entity may be required to suspend our relevant businesses, shut down our website, take down our operating applications, or face other penalties, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The PRC government may exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of the post-combination entity’s business and may intervene in or influence its operations at any time, which could result in a material change in its operations and/or the value of our securities. We are also currently not required to obtain approval from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges, however, if the China-based Target and the VIE were required to obtain approval in the future and were denied permission from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges, we will not be able to continue listing on a U.S. exchange, which would materially affect the interest of our investors.

The PRC government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our post-combination entity’s ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.

For example, the Chinese cybersecurity regulator announced on July 2, 2021, that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that the company’s app be removed from smartphone app stores. On July 24, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly released the Guidelines for Further Easing the Burden of Excessive Homework and Off-campus Tutoring for Students at the Stage of Compulsory Education, pursuant to which foreign investment in such firms via mergers and acquisitions, franchise development, and variable interest entities are banned from this sector.

As such, the post-combination entity’s business segments may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which they operate. The post-combination entity could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. We and our post-combination entity may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply, and such compliance or any associated inquiries or investigations or any other government actions may:

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delay or impede the post-combination entity’s development;

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result in negative publicity or increase the post-combination entity’s operating costs;

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require significant management time and attention; and

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subject the post-combination entity to remedies, administrative penalties and even criminal liabilities that may harm the post-combination entity’s business, including fines assessed for its current or historical operations that it modifies or even cease its business practices.

As we do not have any operations in China, given that (a) the CSRC, currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning our IPO and listing on Nasdaq are subject to the M&A Rules; and (b) our company is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware rather than in China and currently our company does not own or control any equity interest in any PRC company or operate any business in China, we believe that we are not required to obtain any licenses or approvals, under applicable PRC laws and regulations, for our operation or listing on Nasdaq and while seeking a target for the initial business combination. Further, according to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which was promulgated on December 28, 2021 and became effective on February 15, 2022, online platform operators holding more than one million users/users’ individual information shall be subject to cybersecurity review before listing abroad. As we are a blank check company and are not involved in the collection of personal data of at least 1 million users or implicate cybersecurity, we do not believe that we are a “network platform operator(s)”, or subject to the cybersecurity review of the CAC.

However, applicable PRC laws, regulations, or interpretations may change, and the relevant PRC government agencies could reach a different conclusion. There is also possibility that we may not be able to obtain or maintain such approval or that we inadvertently concluded that such approval was not required. If prior approval was required while we inadvertently concluded that such approval was not required or if applicable laws and regulations or the interpretation of such were modified to require us to obtain the approval in the future, we may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from relevant Chinese regulatory authorities. Further, the promulgation of new laws or regulations, or the new interpretation of existing laws and regulations, in each case that restrict or otherwise may unfavorably impact the ability or way the post-combination entity may conduct its business and could require it to change certain aspects of its business to ensure compliance, which could decrease demand for its products or services, reduce revenues, increase costs, require us to obtain more licenses, permits, approvals or certificates, or subject it to additional liabilities. As such, the post-combination entity’s operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future PRC laws and regulations relating to its business or industry, which could result in a material and adverse change in the value of our securities, potentially rendering it worthless. As a result, both you and us face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

PRC laws and regulations governing our post-combination entity’s business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain and any changes in such laws and regulations may impair our ability to operate profitably.

There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing our business and the enforcement and performance of our arrangements with customers in certain circumstances. The laws and regulations are sometimes vague and may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness and interpretation of newly enacted laws or regulations, including amendments to existing laws and regulations, may be delayed, and our business may be affected if we rely on laws and regulations which are subsequently adopted or interpreted in a manner different from our understanding of these laws and regulations. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our post-combination entity’s business.

The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions under the civil law system may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and the enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties.

In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past three decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights or tort claims. In addition, the regulatory uncertainties may be exploited through unmerited or frivolous legal actions or threats in attempts to extract payments or benefits from us.

Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.

From time to time, our post-combination entity may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection our post-combination entity enjoys than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have retroactive effect. As a result, we and our post-combination entity may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our post-combination entity’s ability to continue its operations.

Changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may be quick with little advance notice and could have a significant impact upon our ability to operate profitably in the PRC.

Our post-combination entity may conduct most of our operations and most of our revenue is generated in the PRC. Accordingly, economic, political and legal developments in the PRC will significantly affect our post-combination entity’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government can have significant effects on economic conditions in the PRC and the ability of businesses to operate profitably. Our post-combination entity’s ability to operate profitably in the PRC may be adversely affected by changes in policies by the PRC government, including changes in laws, regulations or their interpretation, particularly those dealing with the Internet, including censorship and other restriction on material which can be transmitted over the Internet, security, intellectual property, money laundering, taxation and other laws that affect our post-combination entity’s ability to operate its business.

The PRC government may intervene or influence the China-based Target’s business operations at any time or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China based issuers, which could result in a material change in the China-based Target’s business operations post business combination and/or the value of our securities. Additionally, the governmental and regulatory interference could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors post business combination and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

Statements by the PRC government in 2021 have indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investments in China-based issuers. The PRC has proposed new rules in 2021 that would require companies collecting or holding large amounts of data to undergo a cybersecurity review prior to listing in foreign countries, a move that would significantly tighten oversight over China based internet giants. On November 14, 2021, the CAC has publicly solicited opinion on the Regulation on Network Data Security Management (Consultation Draft), which stipulates that data processor that undertakes data processing activities using Internet networks within China shall apply for the cybersecurity review if it conducts data processing activities that will or may have an impact on the national security. The review is mandatory if the data processor controls more than 1 million users’ personal information and intends to be listed in a foreign country, or if the data processor that will or may impact the national security seeks to be listed in Hong Kong. As of the date of this proxy statement, the Draft Regulation on Network Data Security Management has not been formally adopted. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, jointly with 12 departments under the State Council, promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and data processors carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, shall conduct cyber security review. An operator, including operators of critical information infrastructure and data processors, who controls more than 1 million users’ personal information must report to the Cyber Security Review Office for a cybersecurity review if it intends to be listed in a foreign country.

We currently do not have any PRC subsidiaries or China operations, do not have any specific business combination under consideration and have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. However, if the Target Amendment Proposal is approved, we may pursue a business combination with a China-based Target. Therefore, it is uncertain whether such China-based Target will be involved in the collection of user data, implicate cybersecurity, or involve any other type of restricted industry. Based on our understanding of currently applicable PRC laws and regulations, our registered public offering in the U.S. is not subject to the review or prior approval of the CAC or the CSRC. Uncertainties still exist, however, due to the possibility that laws, regulations, or policies in the PRC could change rapidly in the future. Any future action by the PRC government expanding the categories of industries and companies whose foreign securities offerings are subject to review by the CSRC or the CAC could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

China Securities Regulatory Commission and other PRC government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers. If we seek to enter into a business combination with a China-based Target, additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with future offerings of our securities and our business combination process, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. As a result, both you and us face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued a document to crack down on illegal activities in the securities market and promote the high-quality development of the capital markets, which, among other things, requires the relevant governmental authorities to strengthen cross-border oversight of law-enforcement and judicial cooperation, to enhance supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, and to establish and improve the system of extraterritorial application of the PRC securities laws. Since this document is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to how soon legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our future business combination with a company with major operation in China. Therefore, CSRC and other PRC government agencies may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers. Additional compliance procedures may be required in connection with our listing on Nasdaq and our business combination process, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval. As a result, both you and us face uncertainty about future actions by the PRC government that could significantly affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

We believe that the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission is not required in connection with our listing on Nasdaq under relevant PRC regulations, however, if PRC governmental authorities revise the relevant PRC regulations, or take the view, now or in the future, that approval from them is required for an overseas offering by us.

As a blank check company incorporated in Delaware rather than in China and currently our company does not own or control any equity interest in any PRC company or operate any business in China, we did not generate any revenue or profit nor have any asset in China or from any operation in China as documented in our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended in December 31, 2022. As a result, we believe that we do not meet the criteria (a) of a domestic company in the PRC as set forth in New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings and accordingly are not required to file with the CSRC for the IPO and listing on Nasdaq. In addition, as we are a blank check company and are not involved in the collection of personal data of at least 1 million users or implicate cybersecurity, we do not believe that we are a “network platform operator(s)”, or subject to the cybersecurity review of the CAC, nor subject to Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions for the offering.

Notwithstanding the above, since the New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings and the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions are newly promulgated, and the interpretation and implementation thereof involves uncertainties. If it is determined in the future that the approval of the CSRC, the CAC or any other regulatory authority is required for the IPO and listing on Nasdaq we may face sanctions by the CSRC, the CAC or other PRC regulatory agencies, or these regulatory agencies may take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business as well as the trading price of our securities. In addition, if the CSRC, the CAC or other regulatory PRC agencies later promulgate new rules requiring that we obtain their approvals for the offering, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. These governmental authorities may delay a potential business combination, impose fines and penalties, limit our operations in China, or take other actions that could result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination with a China-based Target, or materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our securities or the continued listing on a U.S. exchange. Any changes in PRC law, regulations, or interpretations may severely affect our operations and searching for a target to consummate an initial business combination. The use of the term “operate” and “operations” includes the process of searching for a target business and conducting related activities. To that extent, we may not be able to conduct the process of searching of a potential target company in China.

If we decide to consummate our business combination with a China-based Target through its subsidiaries and VIEs, as applicable, we might be subject to relevant requirements to obtain applicable licenses from PRC governmental authorities under relevant PRC laws and regulations.

In the event we successfully consummated business combination with a China-based Target, we will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments following consummation of our initial business combination.

After we consummate our initial business combination, we may rely on dividends and other distributions from our operating company to provide us with cash flow and to meet our other obligations. Current regulations in China would permit our operating company in China to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the post-combination entity’s operating company in China will be required to set aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. Such cash reserve may not be distributed as cash dividends. In addition, if the post-combination entity’s operating company in China incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us.

If we make equity compensation grants to persons who are PRC citizens, they may be required to register with the SAFE. We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt equity compensation plans for our directors and employees and other parties under PRC laws.

On April 6, 2007, SAFE issued the “Operating Procedures for Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan or Stock Option Plan of An Overseas Listed Company, also known as “Circular 78.” It is not clear whether Circular 78 covers all forms of equity compensation plans or only those which provide for the granting of shares options. For any plans which are so covered and are adopted by a non-PRC listed company, such as our company, after April 6, 2007, Circular 78 requires all participants who are PRC citizens to register with and obtain approvals from SAFE prior to their participation in the plan. In addition, Circular 78 also requires PRC citizens to register with SAFE and make the necessary applications and filings if they participated in an overseas listed company’s covered equity compensation plan prior to April 6, 2007. We believe that the registration and approval requirements contemplated in Circular 78 will be burdensome and time consuming.

Upon consummation of business combination with a China-based Target, we may adopt an equity incentive plan and make shares option grants under the plan to our officers, directors and employees, whom may be PRC citizens and be required to register with SAFE. If it is determined that any of our equity compensation plans are subject to Circular 78, failure to comply with such provisions may subject us and participants of our equity incentive plan who are PRC citizens to fines and legal sanctions and prevent us from being able to grant equity compensation to our PRC employees. In that case, our ability to compensate our employees and directors through equity compensation would be hindered and our business operations may be adversely affected.

Enhanced scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursue in the future.

The PRC tax authorities have enhanced their scrutiny over the direct or indirect transfer of certain taxable assets, including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by a non-resident enterprise by promulgating and implementing SAT Circular 59 and Circular 698, which became effective in January 2008, and a Circular 7 in replacement of some of the existing rules in Circular 698, which became effective in February 2015.

Under Circular 698, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the equity interests of a PRC “resident enterprise” indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, may be subject to PRC corporate income tax, if the indirect transfer is considered to be an abusive use of company structure without reasonable commercial purposes. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of up to 10%. Circular 698 also provides that, where a non-PRC resident enterprise transfers its equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise to its related parties at a price lower than the fair market value, the relevant tax authority has the power to make a reasonable adjustment to the taxable income of the transaction.

In February 2015, the SAT issued Circular 7 to replace the rules relating to indirect transfers in Circular 698. Circular 7 has introduced a new tax regime that is significantly different from that under Circular 698. Circular 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to not only indirect transfers set forth under Circular 698 but also transactions involving transfer of other taxable assets, through the offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, Circular 7 provides clearer criteria than Circular 698 on how to assess reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. Circular 7 also brings challenges to both the foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of the taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise being the transferor, or the transferee, or the PRC entity which directly owned the taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC corporate income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise.

We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences on future private equity financing transactions, share exchange or other transactions involving the transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises. The PRC tax authorities may pursue such non-resident enterprises with respect to a filing or the transferees with respect to withholding obligation, and request our PRC subsidiaries to assist in the filing. As a result, we and non-resident enterprises in such transactions may become at risk of being subject to filing obligations or being taxed, under Circular 59 or Circular 698 and Circular 7, and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Circular 59, Circular 698 and Circular 7 or to establish that we and our non-resident enterprises should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The PRC tax authorities have the discretion under SAT Circular 59, Circular 698 and Circular 7 to make adjustments to the taxable capital gains based on the difference between the fair value of the taxable assets transferred and the cost of investment. If we are considered a non-resident enterprise under the PRC corporate income tax law and if the PRC tax authorities make adjustments to the taxable income of the transactions under SAT Circular 59 or Circular 698 and Circular 7, our income tax costs associated with such potential acquisitions will be increased, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business or business combination.

If we effect our initial business combination with a China-based Target, a substantial portion of our operations may be conducted in China, and a significant portion of our net revenues may be derived from customers where the contracting entity is located in China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and any potential business combination and certain transactions we may undertake may be subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political and legal developments in China. For example, as a result of recent proposed changes in the cybersecurity regulations in China that would require certain Chinese technology firms to undergo a cybersecurity review before being allowed to list on foreign exchanges, this may have the effect of further narrowing the list of potential businesses in China’s consumer, technology and mobility sectors that we intend to focus on for our business combination or the ability of the combined entity to list in the United States.

China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past two to three decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Demand for target services and products depends, in large part, on economic conditions in China. Any slowdown in China’s economic growth may cause our potential customers to delay or cancel their plans to purchase our services and products, which in turn could reduce our net revenues.

Although China’s economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market oriented economy since the late 1970s, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling the incurrence and payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Changes in any of these policies, laws and regulations could adversely affect the economy in China and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage foreign investment and sustainable economic growth and to guide the allocation of financial and other resources. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not repeal or alter these measures or introduce new measures that will have a negative effect on us. China’s social and political conditions may change and become unstable. Any sudden changes to China’s political system or the occurrence of widespread social unrest could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.

If we complete a business combination with a China-based Target, the PRC government may impose controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our post-combination entity’s profits, if any. If subsidiaries of our post-combination organization in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. Under the VIE structure, current PRC regulations permit a VIE to pay dividends to its holding company only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations.

Furthermore, if we complete a business combination with a China-based Target via VIE Agreements and we are unable to receive all of the revenues from our operations through the current VIE Agreements, we may be unable to pay dividends on our common stock. Cash dividends, if any, on our common stock will be paid in U.S. dollars. If we are considered a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes after the business combination, any dividends we pay to our overseas stockholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10.0%. In order for us to pay dividends to our stockholders, we will rely on payments made from our post-combination subsidiaries, either directly controlled by us or indirectly controlled by us via VIE Agreements. Under the VIE structure, a holding company will highly rely on the VIE Agreements between it and the VIE to distribute earnings and settle amounts owed under the VIE agreements, while we cannot guarantee the PRC governments will allow such arrangement.

We and our initial business combination may be subject to a variety of PRC laws and other obligations regarding cybersecurity and data protection and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.

We and our initial business combination, if with a China-based Target, may be subject to PRC laws relating to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.

For instance, various regulatory bodies in China, including CAC, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Market Regulation, have enforced data privacy and protection laws and regulations with varying and evolving standards and interpretations. In April 2020, the PRC government promulgated Cybersecurity Review Measures, which came into effect on June 1, 2020. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security. On November 14, 2021, the CAC has publicly solicited opinion on the Regulation on Network Data Security Management (Consultation Draft), which stipulates that data processor that undertakes data processing activities using Internet networks within China shall apply for the cybersecurity review if it conducts data processing activities that will or may have an impact on the national security. The review is mandatory if the data processor controls more than 1 million users’ personal information and intends to be listed in a foreign country, or if the data processor that will or may impact the national security seeks to be listed in Hong Kong. As of the date of this proxy statement, the Draft Regulation on Network Data Security Management has not been formally adopted. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, jointly with 12 departments under the State Council, promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and data processors carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, shall conduct cyber security review. An operator, including operators of critical information infrastructure and data processors, who controls more than 1 million users’ personal information must report to the Cyber Security Review Office for a cybersecurity review if it intends to be listed in a foreign country.

Certain internet platforms in China have been reportedly subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny in relation to cybersecurity matters. As of the date of this proxy statement, we have not been informed by any PRC governmental authority of any requirement that we file for a cybersecurity review. As a result, it will not affect our process of searching for a business combination target until further certainty in the interpretation and enforcement of relevant PRC cybersecurity laws and regulations. However, if we or the post-combination entity following a business combination are deemed to be a critical information infrastructure operator or a company that is engaged in data processing and holds personal information of more than one million users, we could be subject to PRC cybersecurity review.

As there remains significant uncertainty in the interpretation and enforcement of relevant PRC cybersecurity laws and regulations, we or the post-combination entity could be subject to cybersecurity review, and if so, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain such approval or complete such procedures and any such approval could be rescinded and we may not be able to pass such review in relation to our listing on Nasdaq, searching for a business combination target, or a business combination. In addition, we could become subject to enhanced cybersecurity review or investigations launched by PRC regulators in the future. Any failure or delay in the completion of the cybersecurity review procedures or any other non-compliance with the related laws and regulations may result in fines or other penalties, including suspension of business, website closure, and revocation of prerequisite licenses, as well as reputational damage or legal proceedings or actions, which may have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress, or SCNPC, promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities, and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, and the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or used. The PRC Data Security Law also provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information. On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC adopted the Personal Information Protection Law, which came into force as of November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law includes the basic rules for personal information processing, the rules for cross-border provision of personal information, the rights of individuals in personal information processing activities, the obligations of personal information processors, and the legal responsibilities for illegal collection, processing, and use of personal information.

These rules could result in us not being able to acquire a potential target in the PRC, or our using time and working capital to pursue a transaction that cannot be completed because of the actions of regulators. As uncertainties remain regarding the interpretation and implementation of these laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that we or the combined company following a business combination will comply with such regulations in all respects and we or the combined company following a business combination may be ordered to rectify or terminate any actions that are deemed illegal by regulatory authorities. We or the combined company following a business combination may also become subject to fines and/or other sanctions which may have material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.

If we become directly subject to the recent scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have to expend significant resources to investigate and resolve the matter which could harm our business operations, process of searching for a target to consummate a business combination and our reputation and could result in a loss of your investment in our securities, especially if such matter cannot be addressed and resolved favorably.

Recently, U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China, have been subject to intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity has centered around financial and accounting irregularities, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies has sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity will have on us if we target a PRC company with respect to the initial business combination. If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend the company. This situation may be a major distraction to our management. If such allegations are not proven to be groundless, we will be severely hampered and your investment in our securities could be rendered worthless.

The approval of the CSRC is not required in connection with our listing on Nasdaq, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval.

The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC, prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange.

We believe the CSRC’s approval is not required for the listing and trading of our securities on Nasdaq in the context of the IPO, given that we are a Delaware company incorporated as a blank check company for the purpose of effecting our initial business combination or our business combination.

However, we cannot assure you that relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as we do. If it is determined that CSRC approval is required for our listing on Nasdaq, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek CSRC approval for our listing on Nasdaq. These sanctions may include fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limitations on our operating privileges in the PRC, delays in or restrictions on the repatriation of the proceeds from the IPO into the PRC, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our PRC subsidiary, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our securities. Furthermore, the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our listing on Nasdaq. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to the settlement and delivery of the securities we are offering, you would be doing so at the risk that the settlement and delivery may not occur.

Trading in our securities may be prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor. In that case, Nasdaq would delist our securities. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections may deprive our investors with the benefits of such inspections.

On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB determined that it has secured complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its December 2021 determinations to the contrary. To ensure ongoing access for inspections and investigations, the PCAOB will determine annually whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong. Notwithstanding, the PCAOB has also identified numerous deficiencies at audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, as has been the case in other jurisdictions in the first year of PCAOB inspection. The PCAOB intends to release inspection reports in the first half of next year detailing findings from their inspections of these audit firms.

The auditor and its audit work in the PRC may not be inspected fully by the PCAOB. Inspections of other auditors conducted by the PCAOB outside China have at times identified deficiencies in those auditors’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating the PRC auditor’s audits and its quality control procedures.

Further, future developments in U.S. laws may restrict our ability or willingness to complete certain business combinations with companies. For instance, the recently enacted Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”) would restrict our ability to consummate a business combination with a target business unless that business met certain standards of the PCAOB and would require delisting of a company from U.S. national securities exchanges if the PCAOB is unable to inspect its public accounting firm for two consecutive years. The HFCA Act also requires public companies to disclose, among other things, whether they are owned or controlled by a foreign government, specifically, those based in China. Furthermore, the documentation we may be required to submit to the SEC proving certain beneficial ownership requirements and establishing that we are not owned or controlled by a foreign government in the event that we use a foreign public accounting firm not subject to inspection by the PCAOB or where the PCAOB is unable to completely inspect or investigate our accounting practices or financial statements because of a position taken by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction could be onerous and time consuming to prepare.

Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the AHFCAA, which, if signed into law, would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years. On December 29, 2022, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which, among other things, amended the HFCAA to reduce the number of consecutive years an issuer can be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer before the Commission must impose an initial trading prohibition on the issuer’s securities from three years to two years. Therefore, once an issuer is identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for two consecutive years, the Commission is required under the HCFAA to prohibit the trading of the issuer’s securities on a national securities exchange and in the over-the-counter market.

On November 5, 2021, the SEC approved the PCAOB’s Rule 6100, Board Determinations Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Rule 6100 provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.

Pursuant to the HFCA Act, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report on December 16, 2021 which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in (1) mainland China of the PRC because of a position taken by one or more authorities in mainland China and (2) Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in Hong Kong. In addition, the PCAOB’s report identified the specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations. Our auditor, UHY LLP, is a United States accounting firm based in New York City and is subject to regular inspection by the PCAOB. UHY LLP is not headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong and was not identified in the Determination Report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determinations. As a special purpose acquisition company, our current business activities only involve searching for targets and consummation of a business combination. UHY LLP has access to our books and records which are currently and will be maintained by our bookkeeper residing in U.S.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that we decide to consummate our initial business combination with a China-based Target, if there is any regulatory change which prohibits the independent accountants from providing audit documentations located in mainland China or Hong Kong to the PCAOB for inspection or investigation or the PCAOB expands the scope of the Determination Report so that the target company or the combined company is subject to the HFCA Act, as the same may be amended, you may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection which could result in limitation or restriction to our access to the U.S capital markets and trading of our securities on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the U.S. may be prohibited, under the HFCA Act. If our securities are delisted and prohibited from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S. due to the PCAOB not being able to conduct inspections or full investigations of our auditor, it would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our securities when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with potential delisting and prohibition would have a negative impact on the price of our securities. Also, such delisting and prohibition could significantly affect the Company’s ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and prospects.

The SEC has adopted final rules to implement the HFCA Act and may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. For example, on August 6, 2020, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, or the PWG, issued the Report on Protecting United States Investors from Significant Risks from Chinese Companies to the then President of the United States. This report recommended the SEC implement five recommendations to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfill its statutory mandate. Some of the concepts of these recommendations were implemented with the enactment of the HFCA Act. However, some of the recommendations were more stringent than the HFCA Act. For example, if a company was not subject to PCAOB inspection, the report recommended that the transition period before a company would be delisted would end on January 1, 2022.

The SEC’s final rules to implement the HFCA Act require the SEC to identify registrants having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate and require such issuers to submit documentation that, if true, it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in the public accounting firm’s foreign jurisdiction. The amendments also require foreign issuers to provide certain additional disclosures in its annual report for itself and any of its consolidated foreign operating entities and provides notice regarding the procedures the SEC has established to identify issuers and to impose trading prohibitions on the securities of such issuers as required by the HFCA Act. The SEC has also announced amendments to various annual report forms to accommodate the certification and disclosure requirements of the HFCA Act. There could be additional regulatory or legislative requirements or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. The implications of these possible regulations in addition to the requirements of the HFCA Act are uncertain, and such uncertainty could cause the market price of our securities to be materially and adversely affected. If, for whatever reason, the PCAOB is unable to conduct inspections or full investigations of our auditor, the Company could be delisted or prohibited from being traded over the counter earlier than would be required by the HFCA Act. If our securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such delisting and prohibition would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our securities when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with potential delisting and prohibition would have a negative impact on the price of our securities. Also, such delisting and prohibition could significantly affect the Company’s ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and prospects.

Inspections of audit firms that the PCAOB has conducted have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. If the PCAOB were unable to conduct inspections or full investigations of the Company’s auditor, investors in our securities would be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. In addition, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections or full investigations of auditors would may make it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our stock to lose confidence in the audit procedures of our auditor and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.

Additionally, other developments in U.S. laws and regulatory environment, including but not limited to executive orders such as Executive Order (E.O.) 13959, “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments That Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies,” may further restrict our ability to complete a business combination with certain China-based businesses.

The Chinese government may exert substantial interventions and influences on our combined company’s operations at any time. Any new policies, regulations, rules, actions or laws by the PRC government may subject our combined company to material changes in operations, may cause the value of our securities significantly decline or be worthless, and may completely hinder our ability to offer or continue securities to investors.

Though we currently do not have any RPC subsidiary or China operation and a majority of our management are located outside China, we may pursue a business combination with a company doing business in China (excluding any target company whose financial statements are audited by an accounting firm that PCAOB is unable to inspect for two consecutive years beginning in 2021 and any target company that consolidates financial results of PRC operating entities through a VIE structure in the PRC instead of direct holdings). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our combined company’s ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to securities, taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.

As such, our combined company’s business segments may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which they operate at any time. The combined company could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. Our combined company may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply. If the PRC government initiates an investigation into us at any time alleging us violation of cybersecurity laws, anti-monopoly laws, and securities offering rules in China in connection future business combination, we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to comply with the applicable rules, and our business operations will be affected materially and any such action could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

As the date of this proxy statement, there are no PRC laws and regulations (including the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, or any other government entity) in force explicitly requiring that we obtain permission from PRC authorities for business combination with an entity headquartered in China or with its principal business operation in China, or to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction or any regulatory objection from any relevant PRC authorities. However, it is uncertain when and whether our combined company will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. stock exchanges in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. Any new policies, regulations, rules, actions or laws by the PRC government may subject us or our combined company to material changes in operations, may cause the value of our securities significantly decline or be worthless, and may completely hinder our ability to offer or continue securities to investors.

Other PRC governmental authorities may take the view now or in the future that an approval from them is required for an overseas offering by a company affiliated with Chinese businesses or persons or a business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China.

The M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006, and amended in 2009, require an offshore special purpose vehicle formed for the purpose of an overseas listing of securities in a PRC company to obtain the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. The scope of the M&A Rules covers two types of transactions: (a) equity deals where the acquisition by a foreign investor, i.e., the offshore special purpose vehicle, of equity in a “PRC domestic company,” and (b) asset deals where the acquisition by an offshore special purpose vehicle of the assets of a “PRC domestic company.” Neither the equity deals or the asset deals will be involved in our business combination process with a China-based target for the reason that the offshore special purpose vehicle of such China-based target directly holds shares through the wholly foreign owned enterprise(s) or WFOE, which are established by means of direct investment rather than by equity deals or asset deals under the M&A Rules. To date, the CSRC has not issued any definitive rules or interpretations concerning whether offerings such as the indirect listing of a China-based entity as part of the business combination are subject to the CSRC approval procedures under the M&A Rules. As a result, based on our management’s understanding of the current PRC laws, rules, regulations and the local market practices, the CSRC’s approval under the M&A Rules will not be required in the context of our business combination with a China-based target. However, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the scope and applicability of the M&A Rules to offshore special purpose vehicles and the above analysis are subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementation and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules. We cannot assure you that relevant PRC governmental agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as we do. It is possible that we may need to obtain approvals or permissions from CSRC in order for us to complete a business combination with a China-based target pursuant to the M&A Rules. If we are required to obtain such approvals, we cannot assure we will be able to receive them in a timely manner, or at all.

Moreover, except for emphasizing the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies, the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021, also provides that the State Council will revise provisions regarding the overseas issuance and listing of shares by companies limited by shares and will clarify the duties of domestic regulatory authorities.

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC issued the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Administrative Measures”) and relevant supporting guidelines (collectively, the “New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings”), which came into effect since March 31, 2023. According to the New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings, among other things, a domestic company in the PRC that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC as per requirement of the Trial Administrative Measures. On February 24, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions”), which also became effective on March 31, 2023. The Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions set out rules, requirements and procedures relating to provision of documents, materials and accounting archives for securities companies, securities service providers, overseas regulators and other entities and individuals in connection with overseas offering and listing, including without limitation to, domestic companies that carry out overseas offering and listing (either in direct or indirect means) and the securities companies and securities service providers (either incorporated domestically or overseas) that undertake relevant businesses shall not leak any state secret and working secret of government agencies, or harm national security and public interest, and a domestic company shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level, if it plans to, either directly or through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies. Since the New Administrative Rules Regarding Overseas Listings and the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions are newly promulgated, and the interpretation and implementation thereof involves uncertainties, we cannot assure that we will be able to complete the relevant filings in a timely manner or fulfil all the regulatory requirements thereunder if we acquire a China-based Target, and it is highly uncertain how new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our capability to acquire or merge with a company with major operations in China, and post-combined company’s ability to conduct its business, accept foreign investments or list on an U.S. exchange or other foreign exchange.

On December 27, 2021, the NDRC and the MOFCOM promulgated Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (2021 Version), effective as of January 1, 2022 (the “Negative List”). Compared to the previous version, there are no specific industries added to the list but it for the first time declares China’s jurisdiction over (and detailed regulatory requirements on) overseas listings made by Chinese businesses in the so-called “Prohibited Industries.” According to Article 6 of the Negative List, domestic enterprises engaging in businesses in which foreign investment is prohibited shall obtain approval from the relevant authorities before offering and listing their shares on an overseas stock exchange. In addition, certain foreign investors shall not be involved in the operation or management of the relevant enterprise, and shareholding percentage restrictions under relevant domestic securities investment management regulations shall apply to such foreign investors. The intended scope of such jurisdiction was further clarified by NDRC officials on a press conference held on January 18, 2022.

In the event that we were to determine to engage in an initial business combination with a China-based or operating business we would be subject to restrictions on the use of our cash obtained from our business combination with a China-based or operating business as describe under “PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds it receives from offshore financing activities to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to any PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and its ability to fund and expand business”. However, as discussed elsewhere in this proxy statement, we do not believe we are currently subject to PRC law or regulation, including those PRC laws and regulation which affect our cash flow, including our ability to effect the redemption rights of our shareholders in connection with a business combination. We note that the funds held in trust to effect any such redemption are held outside of China and, in any event, we are not aware of any PRC law or regulation that would prevent us from making redemption payments to our shareholders.

Our company is a blank check company incorporated under the Delaware laws. We currently do not hold any equity interest in any PRC company or operate any business in China. Therefore, we are not required to obtain any permission from any PRC governmental authorities to operate our business as currently conducted. If we decide to consummate our business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, the combined company’s business operations in China through its subsidiaries, as applicable, are subject to relevant requirements to obtain applicable licenses from PRC governmental authorities under relevant PRC laws and regulations.

Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies, rules, and regulations in China, which may be quick with little advance notice, could limit the legal protection available to you and us.

The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which legal cases have limited value as precedents. In the late 1970s, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The legislation over the past three decades has significantly increased the protection afforded to various forms of foreign or private-sector investment in China. Any future PRC subsidiary and or affiliated VIEs is subject to various PRC laws and regulations generally applicable to companies in China. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, however, the interpretations of many laws, regulations, and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations, and rules involve uncertainties.

From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, however, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy in the PRC legal system than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies, internal rules, and regulations that may have retroactive effect and may change quickly with little advance notice. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainties over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property), and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.

You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments, or bringing actions in China against us or our management based on foreign laws. It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.

The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the U.S. that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the U.S.

It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with its counterparts of another country or region to monitor and oversee cross-border securities activities, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the U.S. may not be efficient in the absence of a practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to the Article 177 which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Article 177 further provides that Chinese entities and individuals are not allowed to provide documents or materials related to securities business activities to foreign agencies without prior consent from the securities regulatory authority of the PRC State Council and the competent departments of the PRC State Council. While detailed interpretation of or implementing rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.

PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds it receives from offshore financing activities to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to any PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and its ability to fund and expand business.

Following a business combination with one or more PRC based entities, any transfer of funds by us to any PRC subsidiaries, either as a shareholder loan or as an increase in registered capital, is subject to approval by or registration or filing with relevant governmental authorities in China. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises in China, capital contributions to PRC subsidiaries are subject to the approval of or filing with the Ministry of Commerce in its local branches and registration with a local bank authorized by SAFE. In addition, (i) any foreign loan procured by PRC subsidiaries is required to be registered with SAFE or its local branches or filed with SAFE in its information system; and (ii) PRC subsidiaries may not procure loans which exceed the difference between their total investment amount and registered capital or, as an alternative, only procure loans subject to the calculation approach and limitation as provided in the People’s Bank of China Notice No. 9 (“PBOC Notice No. 9”). Any medium- or long-term loan to be provided by us or our affiliated entities, if any, to our PRC subsidiary must be registered with the National Development and Reform Commission and SAFE or its local branches. We may not be able to obtain these government approvals or complete such registrations on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future capital contributions or foreign loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to receive such approvals or complete such registration or filing, our ability to capitalize on PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and ability to fund and expand our businesses.

The Circular on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, effective as of June 1, 2015, as amended by Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement under the Capital Account, or SAFE Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, allows certain entities to settle their foreign exchange capital at their discretion, but continues to prohibit them from using the Renminbi fund converted from their foreign exchange capitals for expenditure beyond their business scopes, and also prohibit such PRC based entities from using such Renminbi fund to provide loans to persons other than affiliates unless otherwise permitted under its business scope. As a result, SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our future ability to use Renminbi converted from the net proceeds from our offshore financing activities to fund the establishment of new entities in China by us or their subsidiaries, to invest in or acquire any other PRC companies through any future PRC subsidiaries in China, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

China’s economic, political, and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business or business combination.

Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.

If we consummate an initial business combination with a China-based Target, it will be governed by PRC laws and regulations. PRC companies and VIEs are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in China and, in particular, laws and regulations applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises. The PRC legal system is based on statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.

Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.

PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of the IPO to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

Any loans to PRC subsidiaries are subject to PRC regulations. For example, loans by us to subsidiaries in China, which are foreign invested entities (“FIEs”), to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with SAFE. On March 30, 2015, SAFE promulgated Hui Fa [2015] No.19, a notice regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested company of foreign currency into RMB. The foreign exchange capital, for which the monetary contribution has been confirmed by the foreign exchange authorities (or for which the monetary contribution has been registered for account entry) in the capital account of a foreign-invested enterprise may be settled at a bank as required by the enterprise’s actual management needs. Foreign-invested enterprises with investment as their main business (including foreign-oriented companies, foreign-invested venture capital enterprises and foreign-invested equity investment enterprises) are allowed to, under the premise of authenticity and compliance of their domestic investment projects, carry out based on their actual investment scales direct settlement of foreign exchange capital or transfer the RMB funds in the foreign exchange settlement account for pending payment to the invested enterprises’ accounts.

On May 10, 2013, SAFE released Circular 21, which came into effect on May 13, 2013. According to Circular 21, SAFE has simplified the foreign exchange administration procedures with respect to the registration, account openings and conversions, settlements of FDI-related foreign exchange, as well as fund remittances.

Circular 21 may significantly limit our ability to convert, transfer and use the net proceeds from the IPO and any offering of additional equity securities in China, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in the PRC.

We may also decide to finance the subsidiaries of our post-combination entity by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions must be approved by MOFCOM or its local counterpart, which usually takes no more than 30 working days to complete. We may not be able to obtain these government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future capital contributions by us to the VIE’s subsidiaries. If we fail to receive such approvals, we will not be able to capitalize our PRC operations, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

Required Vote

Approval of the Target Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least fifty percent (50%) of all then outstanding shares of Common Stock on the Record Date. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

All of the Founders are expected to vote shares of Common Stock owned by them in favor of the Target Amendment Proposal.

Recommendation

Our Board has determined that the Target Amendment Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable adoption of the Trust Amendment Proposal.

When you consider the recommendation of our Board, you should keep in mind that our directors and officers have interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. For more details, see “Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers”.

PROPOSAL NO. 3 — THE Director PROPOSAL

Nominees for Director

Our board of directors has four members, three of whom are deemed “independent” under SEC and Nasdaq rules. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Dr. Todd Milbourn and Wenhua Zhang, will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Nelson Haight, will expire at the second annual meeting. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Dr. Suying Liu, will expire at our third annual meeting of stockholders.

At the Annual Meeting, Dr. Todd Milbourn and Wenhua Zhang are up for re-election, with such directors to serve until the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors have been elected and has qualified, or until their earlier resignation, removal or death, unless the term is otherwise fixed by a resolution of members.

If for some unforeseen reason one or more of the nominees is not available as a candidate for director, the proxies may be voted for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board.

The following table sets forth the positions and offices presently held with the Company by each director, their age as of the Record Date. Proxies not marked to the contrary will be voted in favor of each such nominee’s election.

Name	Age	Position
Suying Liu	35	Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Nelson Haight	58	Director
Todd Milbourn	54	Director
Wenhua Zhang	53	Director

The following is a summary of the biographical information of our director-nominees:

Dr. Todd Milbourn has been a member of our board of directors since April 2021. He served as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: MCAC) from January 2020 to February 2021. He served as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: MCAD) from October 2020 to October 2021. And he served as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III (Nasdaq: MCAE) from March 2021 to February 2023. He has also been serving as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. IV (Nasdaq: MCAF) since March 2021. Dr. Milbourn is the Vice Dean and Hubert C. and Dorothy R. Moog Professor of Finance at Washington University Olin Business School, where he has researched and built academic programs in the areas of corporate finance, executive compensation and credit ratings since June 2000. With expertise on valuation, corporate finance, corporate governance, executive compensation and corporate risk-taking, Dr. Milbourn has been retained as an expert by private firms as well as the U.S. Department of Justice in cases related to fair rates of return, breach of contract damages and executive compensation programs, among others. Dr. Milbourn is also the Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Xanthus Fund at Oppenheimer, an asset management company with over 1,000 financial advisors and more than $90 billion assets under administration. Dr. Milbourn obtained his PhD in finance from Indiana University Kelly School of Business in December 1995 and BA in economics and mathematics from Augustana College in May 1991.

Mr. Wenhua Zhang has been a member of our board of directors since April 2021. He served as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: MCAC) from January 2020 to February 2021. He served as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: MCAD) from October 2020 to October 2021. And he served as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III (Nasdaq: MCAE) from March 2021 to February 2023. He has also been serving as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. IV (Nasdaq: MCAF) since March 2021. Mr. Zhang has been a Partner at Azia Capital Fund LP, a private investment firm, since October 2014. Mr. Zhang began his career in the financial industry as the Vice President of Equity Research in the technology, media and telecom sector with T. Rowe Price from August 2001 to May 2008, and later joined Bain Capital as Director of the Brookside Fund, a long short equity investments fund, between July 2008 and December 2010. From February 2011 to August 2012, Mr. Zhang was Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Harvard Management Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Harvard University charged with managing the university’s endowment assets, and then as Partner and Portfolio Manager at Newport Asia LLC between October 2012 and October 2014, investing in Asia’s high-growth companies on behalf of clients from institutions, endowments, and family offices. Mr. Zhang received an MBA with dual majors in finance and technology innovation from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in May 2001.

Other directors:

Dr. Suying Liu has been our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer since April 2021. He has also been serving as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. IV (Nasdaq: MCAF) since March 2021. Dr. Liu was a director of Better Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: BTTX) from the closing of its business combination with Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: MCAD) in October 2021 until April 2023. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. II from July 2020 until it closed its business combination with Better Therapeutics Inc. He was also a director of Etao International Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: ETAO) from the closing its business combination with Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III (Nasdaq: MCAE) in February 2023 until March 2023. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III from March 2021 until it closed its business combination with Etao International Co., Ltd. He has been serving as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. IV (Nasdaq: MCAF) since March 2021. Dr. Liu was a director of PLBY Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLBY) from the closing of its business combination with Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: MCAC) in February 2021 until August 2021. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp from November 2019 until it closed its business combination with PLBY Group, Inc. He served as the Head of Corporate Strategy of Hudson Capital Inc. (Nasdaq: HUSN) between May 2020 and September 2020, where he led the company’s strategic development for both general operations and specific growth areas. Between November 2018 and April 2020, Dr. Liu served as the Chief Strategist of Mansion Capital LLC, a privately-held real estate investment firm with brokerage and property management operations serving clients from both North America and Asia for their investments in the U.S. real estate market. Prior to joining Mansion Capital, Dr. Liu was an investment strategist at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. from July 2015 to October 2018, providing investment strategies to major Wall Street institutions spanning private equity, hedge funds and insurance companies, with a primary focus in commercial mortgages. Dr. Liu began his career in academia, teaching a variety of degree programs from bachelor’s to executive education at Washington University Olin Business School between January 2013 and May 2015 while completing his doctoral studies, for which he received a PhD in finance in May 2015. Dr. Liu obtained a master’s in finance in December 2012 and his BA in economics and mathematics summa cum laude in May 2010 from Washington University in St. Louis.

Mr. Nelson Haight has been a member of our board of directors since April 2021. He served as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: MCAC) from January 2020 to February 2021. He served as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: MCAD) from October 2020 to October 2021. And he served as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III (Nasdaq: MCAE) from March 2021 to February 2023. He has also been serving as a member of the board of directors of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. IV (Nasdaq: MCAF) since March 2021. A veteran in the oil and gas industry with over 30 years of professional experience, Mr. Haight currently serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for Key Energy Services, Inc., which he joined in June 2020. From September 2019 to June 2020, Mr. Haight was the interim Chief Financial Officer for Element Markets, LLC, an environmental commodities firm. From November 2018 to June 2019, Mr. Haight was the interim Chief Financial Officer for Epic Companies, LLC, a family office backed oilfield service company. Epic Companies filed for bankruptcy in August 2019. Between July 2017 and September 2018, Mr. Haight was the Chief Financial Officer of Castleton Resources, LLC, a privately held exploration and production company. From December 2011 to July 2017, Mr. Haight served in various capacities from Vice President to Chief Financial Officer at Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., an exploration and production company founded in 1993 and focused on the application of modern drilling and completion techniques to oil/liquids-prone resources in previously discovered yet underdeveloped hydrocarbon trends. In 2015, Mr. Haight led the team that raised $625 million in new capital for Midstates Petroleum. Midstates Petroleum filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2016, and Mr. Haight was instrumental in its successful reorganization and emergence from bankruptcy in October 2016. Mr. Haight received an MPA and BBA from the University of Texas at Austin in May 1988 and is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Term of Office

If elected, the director-nominees will serve for a three-year term until the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors have been elected and has qualified, or until their earlier resignation, removal or death.

Vote Required and Board of Directors’ Recommendation

Approval of the Directors Proposal requires a plurality of the eligible votes cast is required to elect director nominees, and as such, the nominee who receives the greatest number of votes cast by stockholders, entitled to vote at the meeting, will be elected. If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank, custodian, or other nominee holder cannot vote your shares on this proposal, unless you direct the holder how to vote, by marking your proxy card. For purposes of the election of directors, abstentions will not count as a vote cast at the Annual Meeting and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on any proposal.

The Board recommends a vote FOR the election of all of the above director nominees.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS, PROMOTERS AND CERTAIN CONTROL

PERSONS

Insider Shares

On April 8, 2021, the Company issued 1,437,500 shares of common stock (the “Insider Shares”) to the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. The 1,437,500 Insider Shares included an aggregate of up to 187,500 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part, so that the Sponsor would collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the IPO (assuming the Sponsor did not purchase any Public Shares in the IPO and excluding the Private Shares). In connection with the increase in the size of the IPO on November 2, 2021, the Company declared a 20% stock dividend on each Insider Share thereby increasing the number of issued and outstanding Insider Share to 1,725,000, including up to an aggregate of 225,000 shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the insiders to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option was not exercised in full or in part. The stock dividend was considered in substance a recapitalization transaction, which was recorded and presented retroactively. As a result of the underwriters’ election to fully exercise their over-allotment option on November 18, 2021, a total of 225,000 Insider Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.

Promissory Note - Related Party

On April 9, 2021, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $500,000 to cover expenses related to the IPO pursuant to a promissory note. This note was non-interest bearing and payable on the completion of the closing of the IPO. The note was paid in full on November 16, 2021. The Company can no longer borrow against this note.

Pursuant to the stockholders’ approval at the special meeting of stockholders held on December 20, 2022, the Company (1) filed an amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 20, 2022, giving the Company the right to extend the Business Combination Period from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 and (2) entered into an amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2021, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, on December 20, 2022. The trust amendment provides that the Company may extend the Business Combination Period by depositing $300,000 into the trust account. On February 15, 2023, the Company extended the Business Combination Period from February 16, 2023 to May 16, 2023 by depositing $300,000 into the trust account.

The $300,000 was loaned to the Company by the Sponsor. On February 15, 2023, the Company issued a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $300,000 to the Sponsor. Pursuant to the note, the Sponsor loaned the Company an aggregate amount of $300,000 that is due and payable upon its consummation of an initial business combination with a target business. The note will either be paid upon consummation of the Company’s initial business combination, or, at the Sponsor’s discretion, converted upon consummation of its business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. The loan will be forgiven, except to the extent of any funds held outside of the trust account, by the Sponsor or its affiliates if the Company is unable to consummate an initial business combination during the Business Combination Period.

Administrative Support Agreement

The Company agreed, commencing on November 12, 2021, to pay the Sponsor, affiliates, or advisors a total of up to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, out of pocket expenses, and secretarial and administrative support. The arrangement will terminate upon the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination or its liquidation. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company incurred and paid $120,000 in fees for these services. For the period from April 8, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, the Company incurred and paid $20,000 in fees for these services.

Underwriting Agreement

The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of the IPO to purchase up to 900,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments. On November 18, 2021, the underwriter’s elected to fully exercise the over-allotment option to purchase an additional 900,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Public Share (see Note 8).

The Company paid an underwriting fee of $0.20 per Unit, or $1,380,000, in total which includes the fee due upon the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

The underwriters are entitled to a deferred fee of $0.30 per unit, or $2,070,000 due to the option to fully exercise their overallotment on November 18, 2021, in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

Representative Shares

On November 16, 2021, the Company issued to the underwriter and/or its designees 177,900 shares of common stock (the “Representative Shares”). The Company accounted for the Representative Shares as an expense of the IPO, resulting in a charge directly to stockholder’s equity. The Company estimated the fair value of Representative Shares to be $1,383,617 based upon the offering price of the shares of $7.78 per share. The Representative Shares have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement related to the IPO pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA’s NASD Conduct Rules. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1), these securities will not be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statements related to the IPO, nor may they be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statements related to the IPO except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the IPO and their bona fide officers or partners.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our shares of Common Stock and other equity securities. These executive officers, directors, and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms filed by such reporting persons.

Based solely on our review of such forms furnished to us and written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that all filing requirements applicable to our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were filed in a timely manner.

DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Nasdaq listing standards require that within one year of the listing of our securities on the Nasdaq Global Market we have at least three independent directors and that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Board of Directors had determined that Nelson Haight, Dr. Todd Milbourn and Wenhua Zhang are “independent director” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.

We will only enter into a business combination if it is approved by a majority of our independent directors. Additionally, we will only enter into transactions with our officers and directors and their respective affiliates that are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any related-party transactions must be approved by our audit committee and a majority of disinterested directors.

Audit Committee

Our audit committee of the board of directors consists of Nelson Haight, Dr. Todd Milbourn and Wenhua Zhang, each of whom is an independent director. Dr. Todd Milbourn serves as chairman of the audit committee. The audit committee’s duties, which are specified in our Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:

●

reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Form 10-K;

●

discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements;

●

discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies;

●

monitoring the independence of the independent auditor;

●

verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law;

●

reviewing and approving all related-party transactions;

●

inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

●

pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed;

●

appointing or replacing the independent auditor;

●

determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work;

●

establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and

●

approving reimbursement of expenses incurred by our management team in identifying potential target businesses.

Financial Expert on Audit Committee

The audit committee is composed exclusively of “independent directors” who are “financially literate” as defined under the Nasdaq listing standards. The Nasdaq listing standards define “financially literate” as being able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.

In addition, we must certify to Nasdaq that the committee has, and will continue to have, at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background that results in the individual’s financial sophistication. The board of directors has determined that Dr. Todd Milbourn qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under rules and regulations of the SEC.

Compensation Committee

Our compensation committee of the board of directors consists of Nelson Haight, Dr. Todd Milbourn and Wenhua Zhang, each of whom is an independent director. Wenhua Zhang serves as chairman of the compensation committee. We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:

●

reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer’s based on such evaluation;

●

reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;

●

implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

●

assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;

●

approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers and employees;

●

producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

●

reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.

The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser and directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by NASDAQ and the SEC.

Director Nominations

We do not have a standing nominating committee, though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by law or NASDAQ rules. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of the NASDAQ rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board of directors. The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. Nelson Haight, Dr. Todd Milbourn and Wenhua Zhang will participate in the consideration and recommendation of director nominees. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of the NASDAQ rules, all such directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.

The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the Board should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws.

We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

We may not have a compensation committee in place prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Any executive compensation matters that arise prior to the time we have a compensation committee in place will be determined by our independent directors. None of our directors who currently serve as members of our compensation committee is, or has at any time in the past been, one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the compensation committee of any other entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors of any other entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our compensation committee.

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS

Shareholders who wish to communicate with the Board or with specified members of the Board should do so by sending any communication to MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V, 311 West 43rd Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036; Attention: Secretary.

Any such communication should state the number of shares beneficially owned by the shareholder making the communication. Our Secretary will forward such communication to the full Board or to any individual member or members of the Board to whom the communication is directed, unless the communication is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly inappropriate, in which case the Secretary has the authority to discard the communication or take appropriate legal action regarding the communication.

CODE OF ETHICS

We adopted a code of conduct and ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. The code of ethics codifies the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Employment Agreements

We have not entered into any employment agreements with our executive officers and have not made any agreements to provide benefits upon termination of employment.

Executive Officers and Director Compensation

No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. We currently pays our sponsor an aggregate fee of $10,000 per month for providing us with office space and certain office and secretarial services. However, this arrangement is solely for our benefit and is not intended to provide our Chief Executive Officer compensation in lieu of a salary.

Our officers and directors will also receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements made to our sponsor, officers, directors or their respective affiliates, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.

After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. However, the amount of such compensation may not be known at the time of the stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K or a periodic report, as required by the SEC.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Shareholders who wish to present proposals for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders may do so by following the procedures prescribed in Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To be eligible, the shareholder proposals must be received by us at our principal executive office on or before [●], 2024. Under SEC rules, you must have continuously held for at least one year prior to the submission of the proposal (and continue to hold through the date of the meeting) at least $2,000 in market value, or 1%, of our outstanding stock in order to submit a proposal which you seek to have included in the Company’s proxy materials. We may, subject to SEC review and guidelines, decline to include any proposal in our proxy materials.

Shareholders who wish to make a proposal at the next Annual Meeting, other than one that will be included in our proxy materials, must notify us no later than [●], 2024. If a shareholder who wishes to present a proposal fails to notify us by [●], 2024, the proxies that management solicits for the meeting will confer discretionary authority to vote on the shareholder’s proposal if it is properly brought before the meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

While the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders provides for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting, the Company has no knowledge of any matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting other than those listed as Proposals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, in the notice. However, the enclosed Proxy gives discretionary authority in the event that any other matters should be presented.

ANNUAL REPORT

Upon written request to Secretary, MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V, 311 West 43rd Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036, we will provide without charge to each person requesting a copy of our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements filed therewith. We will furnish a requesting shareholder with any exhibit not contained therein upon specific request.

PROPOSAL NO. 4 — THE Auditor PROPOSAL

Our Audit Committee has appointed the independent registered public accounting firm of UHY LLP to audit and comment on our financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2023, and to conduct whatever audit functions are deemed necessary. UHY LLP audited our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 that were included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

A representative of UHY LLP will not be present at the Annual Meeting.

Required Vote of Stockholders

Although a vote of stockholders is not required on this proposal, our Board is asking our stockholders to ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm. The ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes of the shares of our common stock, present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.

In the event that our stockholders do not ratify the appointment of UHY LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, the appointment will be reconsidered by our Audit Committee. Even if the appointment is ratified, our Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee believes that such a change would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

Our board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of UHY LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023.

PROPOSAL NO. 5: THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL

The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will authorize the Chairman of the Annual Meeting (who has agreed to act accordingly) to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies to the extent the Chairman of the Annual Meeting deems it necessary or appropriate.

Required Vote

If a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and voting on the matter at the Annual Meeting vote for the Adjournment Proposal, the chairman of the Annual Meeting will exercise his or her power to adjourn the meeting as set out above.

Recommendation

The Company’s Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

The Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that we file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

This Proxy Statement describes the material elements of relevant contracts, exhibits and other information attached as annexes to this Proxy Statement. Information and statements contained in this Proxy Statement are qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of the relevant contract or other document included as an annex to this document.

You may obtain additional copies of this Proxy Statement, at no cost, and you may ask any questions you may have about the Charter Amendment or the Adjournment by contacting us at the following address or telephone number:

Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V

311 West 43rd Street, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10036

(646) 493-6558

You may also obtain these documents at no cost by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the Company’s proxy solicitation agent at the following address and telephone number:

Advantage Proxy

P.O. Box 13581

Des Moines, WA 98198

Toll Free: 877-870-8565

Collect: 206-870-8565

In order to receive timely delivery of the documents in advance of the Annual Meeting, you must make your request for information no later than [●], 2023.

Annex A

Charter Amendment

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V

[●], 2023

Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

1. The name of the Corporation is “Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V.” The original certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 8, 2021. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”) was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on November 12, 2021. The first Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on December 20, 2022. The second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on May 12, 2023.

2. This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate amends the Amended and Restated Certificate.

3. This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

4. The text of Paragraph E of Article SIXTH is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows:

“E. The Corporation will have until November 16, 2024 to close a Business Combination, provided the Corporation extends the time to consummate a Business Combination commencing on November 17, 2023. In order to extend the time available for the Corporation to consummate a Business Combination beyond November 16, 2023, the Corporation, prior to the applicable deadline, must deposit into the Trust Fund an amount equal to $0.10 per outstanding share of common stock sold in the Corporation’s IPO for each of the following three-month extension periods: (1) November 17, 2023 to February 16, 2024, (2) February 17, 2024 to May 16, 2024, (3) May 17, 2024 to August 16, 2024 and (4) August 17, 2024 to November 16, 2024 (November 16, 2023, if not extended, or the last day of the final extension period, if extended, shall be referred to as the “Termination Date”). In the event that the Corporation does not consummate a Business Combination by the Termination Date, the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter redeem 100% of the IPO Shares for cash for a redemption price per share as described below (which redemption will completely extinguish such holders’ rights as stockholders, including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to approval of the Corporation’s then stockholders and subject to the requirements of the GCL, including the adoption of a resolution by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 275(a) of the GCL finding the dissolution of the Corporation advisable and the provision of such notices as are required by said Section 275(a) of the GCL, dissolve and liquidate the balance of the Corporation’s net assets to its remaining stockholders, as part of the Corporation’s plan of dissolution and liquidation, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to the Corporation’s obligations under the GCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. In such event, the per share redemption price shall be equal to a pro rata share of the Trust Account plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Corporation (less taxes payable and dissolution expenses) for its working capital requirements or necessary to pay its taxes divided by the total number of IPO Shares then outstanding.”

5. The text of Paragraph D of Article SIXTH is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“D. [Reserved.]”

6. The text of Paragraph G of Article SIXTH is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“G. [Reserved.]”

Annex A-1

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V 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 the date first set above.

Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V

By:
Name:	Suying Liu
Title:	Chief Executive Officer

Annex A-2

PROXY CARD

MOUNTAIN CREST ACQUISITION CORP. V

PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Suying Liu as proxy of the undersigned to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V (the “Company”), to be held via virtual meeting as described in the Proxy Statement on [●], 2023 at [●].m. Eastern time, and any postponement or adjournment thereof, and to vote as if the undersigned were then and there personally present on all matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting, dated [●], 2023 (the “Notice”), a copy of which has been received by the undersigned, as follows:

PROPOSAL 1. CHARTER AMENDMENT — APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED, TO VOTE ON THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS:

		For	Against	Abstain

1a.	to modify the terms and extend the date by which the Company has to consummate an initial business combination (the “Business Combination”) to November 16, 2024, provided that the Company deposits into the trust account an amount equal to $0.10 per outstanding share of common stock sold in the Company’s initial public offering for each three-month extension commencing on November 17, 2023;	☐	☐	☐

1b.	to eliminate the requirement to maintain $5,000,001 of net tangible book value prior to or upon consummation of a Business Combination by eliminating such requirement set forth in paragraph D of Article Sixth; and	☐	☐	☐

1c.	to permit prior to a Business Combination the issuance of common stock or securities convertible into common stock or the issuance of securities which vote as a class with the common stock on a Business Combination by eliminating the restrictions on such issuances set forth in paragraph G of Article Sixth.	☐	☐	☐

PROPOSAL 2. TARGET AMENDMENT —

	For	Against	Abstain

A proposal to remove the restriction proscribing the Company from consummating an initial business combination with a target business with its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau);	☐	☐	☐

PROPOSAL 3. DIRECTORS —

A proposal to two (2) directors to serve until 2026 annual meeting and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal or death;

FOR all nominees listed below (except as indicated). ☐

WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below. ☐

If you wish to withhold your vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through that nominee’s name set forth below:

Todd Milbourn

Wenhua Zhang

PROPOSAL 4. AUDITOR —

	For	Against	Abstain

A proposal to ratify the appointment of UHY LLP, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023; and	☐	☐	☐

PROPOSAL 5. ADJOURNMENT —

	For	Against	Abstain

A proposal to authorize the Chairman of the Annual Meeting to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates, from time to time, as the Chairman of the Annual Meeting may deem necessary or appropriate.	☐	☐	☐

NOTE: IN HIS DISCRETION, THE PROXY HOLDER IS AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER MATTER OR MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) OR POSTPONEMENT(S) THEREOF.

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFIC INDICATION ABOVE. IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH INDICATION, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” EACH PROPOSAL AND, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDER, ON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY POSTPONEMENT OR ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.

Dated:
			Signature of Stockholder


			PLEASE PRINT NAME


			Certificate Number(s)


			Total Number of Shares Owned

Sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your stock certificate(s). A corporation is requested to sign its name by its President or other authorized officer, with the office held designated. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc., are requested to so indicate when signing. If a stock certificate is registered in two names or held as joint tenants or as community property, both interested persons should sign.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

I plan to attend the Annual Meeting (Circle one): Yes No

Number of attendees:

PLEASE NOTE:

STOCKHOLDER SHOULD SIGN THE PROXY PROMPTLY AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING. PLEASE INDICATE ANY ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER CHANGES IN THE SPACE BELOW.

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