UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT - SUBJECT
TO COMPLETION DATED NOVEMBER 4, 2024
EVEREST CONSOLIDATOR ACQUISITION CORPORATION
4041 MacArthur Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 22, 2024
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF EVEREST CONSOLIDATOR ACQUISITION CORPORATION:
You are cordially invited to attend the special meeting (the “special meeting”) of stockholders of Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), to be held at 4:30 PM, Eastern Time, on November 22, 2024, via a virtual meeting which you will be able to attend by visiting , or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be adjourned. At the special meeting, the stockholders will consider and vote upon the following proposals:
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A proposal to amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Charter”) to provide the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) with the right to extend (the “Extension”) the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination (the “Combination Period”) up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025 (as extended, the “Extended Date”) (i.e., for a period of time ending 42 months after the consummation of its initial public offering (the “IPO”)) (the “Extension Amendment Proposal”). |
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A proposal to approve the adoption of an amendment (the “Trust Amendment”) to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2021, by and between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (as amended, the “Trust Agreement”), to allow the Company to extend the Combination Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time from November 23, 2024 to March 23, 2025, the Extended Date, by depositing into the Trust Account, for each one-month extension, a payment (the “Extension Payment”) of $10,000 (the “Trust Amendment Proposal” and together with the Extension Amendment Proposal, the “Charter Amendment Proposals”). |
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A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension (the “Adjournment Proposal”). |
Each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement. Please see “Questions and Answers about the Special Meeting - How do I attend the special meeting?” for more information.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL, THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL AND, IF PRESENTED, THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “business combination”). Following the Company’s October 1, 2024 termination of a previously entered into Business Combination Agreement, the Company is not currently a party to any Business Combination Agreement. Although the Company is currently in negotiations with other entities to enter into a new Business Combination Agreement, there can be no assurances that we will be able to enter into a new Business Combination Agreement or complete a business combination prior to the Extended Date. Accordingly, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able to consummate a business combination. Therefore, our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination to the Extended Date in order to provide our stockholders with the opportunity to participate in the prospective investment.
The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates if we determine that additional time is necessary to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
The affirmative vote of 65% of the Company’s outstanding Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A common stock” or the “public shares”), and Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B common stock” or the “founder shares” and, together with the public shares, the “common stock”), voting together as a single class, will be required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the special meeting.
Our
Board has fixed the close of business on November 7, 2024 as the record date for determining the Company’s stockholders
entitled to receive notice of and vote at the special meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of the
Company’s common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the special meeting or any adjournment
thereof. A complete list of stockholders of record entitled to vote at the special meeting will be available for ten days before the
special meeting at the Company’s principal executive offices for inspection by stockholders during ordinary business hours for
any purpose germane to the special meeting.
In connection with the Charter Amendment Proposals, holders of public shares (“public stockholders”) may elect to redeem their public shares for a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account established by the Company in connection with its IPO (the “trust account”) as of two business days prior to such approval, including any interest earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares (the “Election”), regardless of whether such public stockholders vote on the Charter Amendment Proposals. If the Charter Amendment Proposals are approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, holders of public shares that do not make the Election will retain the opportunity to have their public shares redeemed in conjunction with the consummation of a business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter, as amended. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled to have their public shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a business combination by the Extended Date.
The Company estimates that the per share price at which the public shares may be redeemed from cash held in the trust account will be approximately $ at the time of the special meeting. The closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on November , 2024, the record date of the special meeting, was $ . The Company cannot assure public stockholders that they will be able to sell their public shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) imposes a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded domestic corporations and certain domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from which shares are repurchased. Generally, the amount of the Excise Tax is 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. For the purposes of calculating the Excise Tax, the repurchasing corporation is permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of the stock repurchases that occur in the same taxable year. Any redemption of the shares of the Class A common stock of the Company may be subject to the Excise Tax. The proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon will not be used to pay for the Excise Tax that may be levied on the Company in connection with such redemptions. The Company further confirms that it will not utilize any funds from the trust account to pay any such Excise Tax.
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will be presented to our stockholders only in the event that there are insufficient for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company does not consummate a business combination within the Combination Period, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus and in accordance with our charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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, in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, including the warrants included in the units sold in the IPO (the “public warrants”), which will expire worthless in the event the Company winds up.
You are not being asked to vote on a business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to vote on a business combination when it is submitted to the public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider a business combination) and the right to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the trust account in the event a business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
After careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal are all advisable and recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal.
Enclosed is the proxy statement containing detailed information concerning the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal, Adjournment Proposal and the special meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, the Company urges you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Adam Dooley |
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Chief Executive Officer |
Your vote is important. If you are a stockholder of record, please sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible to make sure that your shares are represented at the special meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may also cast your vote in person or virtually at the special meeting. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank how to vote your shares, or you may cast your vote in person or virtually at the special meeting by obtaining a proxy from your brokerage firm or bank. Your failure to vote or instruct your broker or bank how to vote will have the same effect as voting against the Charter Amendment Proposals, and an abstention will have the same effect as voting against the Charter Amendment Proposals. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST (1) IF YOU HOLD PUBLIC SHARES THROUGH UNITS, ELECT TO SEPARATE YOUR UNITS INTO THE UNDERLYING PUBLIC SHARES AND PUBLIC WARRANTS PRIOR TO EXERCISING YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC SHARES, (2) SUBMIT A WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER AGENT BY 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON NOVEMBER 20, 2024, THE DATE THAT IS TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED VOTE AT THE SPECIAL MEETING, THAT YOUR PUBLIC SHARES BE REDEEMED FOR CASH, INCLUDING THE LEGAL NAME, PHONE NUMBER, AND ADDRESS OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE SHARES FOR WHICH REDEMPTION IS REQUESTED, AND (3) DELIVER YOUR SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK TO THE TRANSFER AGENT, PHYSICALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY’S DWAC (DEPOSIT WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT. IF YOU HOLD THE SHARES IN STREET NAME, YOU WILL NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BANK OR BROKER TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
EVEREST CONSOLIDATOR ACQUISITION CORPORATION
4041 MacArthur Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 22, 2024
The special meeting of stockholders (the “special meeting”) of Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), a Delaware corporation, will be held at 4:30 PM, Eastern Time, on November 22, 2024, via a virtual meeting which you will be able to attend by visiting , or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be adjourned. At the special meeting, the stockholders will consider and vote upon the following proposals:
A proposal to amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Charter”) to provide the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) with the right to extend (the “Extension”) the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination (the “Combination Period”) up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025 ((as extended, the “Extended Date”) (i.e., for a period of time ending 42 months after the consummation of its initial public offering (the “IPO”)) (the “Extension Amendment Proposal”).
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A proposal to approve the adoption of an amendment (the “Trust Amendment”) to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2021, by and between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (as amended, the “Trust Agreement”), to allow the Company to extend the Combination Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025, the Extended Date, by depositing into the Trust Account, for each one-month extension, a payment (the “Extension Payment”) of $10,000 (the “Trust Amendment Proposal” and together with Extension Amendment Proposal, the “Charter Amendment Proposals”). |
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A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension (the “Adjournment Proposal”). |
Each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described herein. Please see “Questions and Answers about the Special Meeting - How do I attend the special meeting?” for more information.
The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “business combination”). Following the Company’s October 1, 2024 termination of a previously entered into Business Combination Agreement, the Company is not currently a party to any Business Combination Agreement. Although the Company is currently in negotiations with other entities to enter into a new Business Combination Agreement, there can be no assurances that we will be able to enter into a new Business Combination Agreement or complete a business combination prior to the Extended Date. Accordingly, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able to consummate a business combination. Therefore, our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination to the Extended Date in order to provide our stockholders with the opportunity to participate in the prospective investment.
The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates if we determine that additional time is necessary to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
The affirmative vote of 65% of the Company’s outstanding Class A common stock (“Class A common stock” or the “public shares”) and Class B common stock (“Class B common stock” or the “founder shares” and, together with the public shares, the “common stock”), voting together as a single class, will be required to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals. Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the special meeting.
Our
Board has fixed the close of business on November 7, 2024 as the record date for determining the Company’s stockholders
entitled to receive notice of and vote at the special meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of the
Company’s common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the special meeting or any adjournment
thereof. A complete list of stockholders of record entitled to vote at the special meeting will be available for ten days before the
special meeting at the Company’s principal executive offices for inspection by stockholders during ordinary business hours for
any purpose germane to the special meeting.
In connection with the Charter Amendment Proposals, holders of public shares (“public stockholders”) may elect to redeem their public shares for a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account established by the Company in connection with its IPO (the “trust account”) as of two business days prior to such approval, including any interest earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares (the “Election”), regardless of whether such public stockholders vote on the Charter Amendment Proposals. If the Charter Amendment Proposals is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the holders of public shares that do not make the Election will retain the opportunity to have their public shares redeemed in conjunction with the consummation of a business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter, as amended. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled to have their public shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a business combination by the Extended Date.
The withdrawal of funds from the trust account in connection with the Election will reduce the amount held in the trust account following the Election, and the amount remaining in the trust account after such withdrawal may be only a fraction of the $ (including interest, but less the funds used to pay taxes) that was in the trust account as of the record date. In such event, the Company may still seek to obtain additional funds to complete a business combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all.
The Company estimates that the per share price at which the public shares may be redeemed from cash held in the trust account will be approximately $ at the time of the special meeting. The closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on November , 2024, the record date of the special meeting, was $ . The Company cannot assure public stockholders that they will be able to sell their public shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) imposes a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded domestic corporations and certain domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from which shares are repurchased. Generally, the amount of the Excise Tax is 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. For the purposes of calculating the Excise Tax, the repurchasing corporation is permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of the stock repurchases that occur in the same taxable year. Any redemption of the shares of the Class A common stock of the Company may be subject to the Excise Tax. The proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon will not be used to pay for the Excise Tax that may be levied on the Company in connection with such redemptions. The Company further confirms that it will not utilize any funds from the trust account to pay any such Excise Tax.
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will be presented to our stockholders only in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company does not consummate a business combination within the Combination Period, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus and in accordance with charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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 in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event the Company winds up.
Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (our “Sponsor”), officers and directors (altogether the “initial stockholders”) have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s charter.
Our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.20 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.20 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. However, we have not asked our Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company. Therefore, we cannot assure that its Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
However, because the Company will not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires the Company to adopt a plan, based on facts known to the Company at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against the Company within the subsequent ten years following our dissolution. However, because the Company is a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations have been limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, such approval will constitute consent for the Company to (i) remove from the trust account an amount (the “Withdrawal Amount”) equal to the number of public shares properly redeemed multiplied by the per share price, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to such approval, including any interest earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares and (ii) deliver to the holders of such redeemed public shares their portion of the Withdrawal Amount. The remainder of such funds shall remain in the trust account and be available for use by the Company to complete a business combination on or before the Extended Date. Holders of public shares who do not redeem their public shares now will retain their redemption rights and their ability to vote on a business combination through the Extended Date if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved.
Our
Board has fixed the close of business on November 7, 2024 as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive
notice of and vote at the special meeting. Only record holders of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on the
record date are entitled to vote or have their votes cast at the special meeting. On the record date, there were 2,845,754
outstanding shares of the Company’s Class A common stock and 4,312,500 outstanding shares of the Company’s Class B
common stock, which vote together as a single class with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposals. The Company’s warrants do
not have voting rights in connection with either the Charter Amendment Proposals or, if presented, the Adjournment
Proposal.
This proxy statement contains important information about the special meeting and the proposals to be voted on at the special meeting. Please read it carefully and vote your shares.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in this proxy statement that are not purely historical are “forward-looking statements.” Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this proxy statement may include, without limitation, statements about:
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our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses; |
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our ability to complete a business combination; |
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our ability to consummate a business combination due to economic uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, including as a result of the military conflict in Ukraine; |
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our expectations around the performance of the prospective target business or businesses; |
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our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following a business combination; |
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our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving a business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements; |
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our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete a business combination; |
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our pool of prospective target businesses; |
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failure to maintain the listing on, or the delisting of our securities from, the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or an inability to have our securities listed on the NYSE or another national securities exchange following a business combination; |
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the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential acquisition opportunities; |
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our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; |
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the lack of a market for our securities; |
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the use of proceeds not held in the trust account (the “trust account”) or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance; |
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the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties; or |
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our financial performance. |
The forward-looking statements contained in this proxy statement are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 16, 2024, the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, the preliminary prospectus/proxy statement included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 originally filed by Unifund Financial Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“New PubCo”) (a party to a Business Combination Agreement that was terminated by the Company on October 1, 2024) with the SEC on July 21, 2023, as amended from time to time, and elsewhere in our filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING
These Questions and Answers are only summaries of the matters they discuss. They do not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read carefully the entire document, including the annexes to this proxy statement.
Why am I receiving this proxy statement?
This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card are being sent to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board for use at the special meeting, or at any adjournments thereof. This proxy statement summarizes the information that you need to make an informed decision on the proposals to be considered at the special meeting.
The Company is a blank check company incorporated on March 8, 2021 for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. On November 29, 2021, the Company consummated its IPO of 17,250,000 units (the “initial units”) (including 2,250,000 units sold pursuant the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional unites to cover over-allotments). Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock (the “public shares”) and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “public warrants”). The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $172,500,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of an aggregate of 6,333,333 private placement warrants (the “initial private placement warrants”) at a price of $1.50 per warrant in a private placement to our Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $9,500,000.
Following the closing of the IPO, an amount of $175,950,000 from the net proceeds of the sale of the units in the IPO and the sale of the initial private placement warrants was placed in the trust account. The trust account was invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, until the earlier of: (a) the completion of the Company’s business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s charter, and (c) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if the Company is unable to complete a business combination within the Combination Period (as defined below). Like most blank check companies, our charter provides for the return of the IPO proceeds held in the trust account to the holders of shares of common stock sold in the IPO if there is no qualifying business combination(s) consummated on or before a certain date (the “Combination Period”). In our case such certain date is November 23, 2024, provided that the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved. Our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to amend the Company’s charter to extend the date we have to consummate a business combination up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025, in order to allow the Company more time to complete a business combination. Therefore, our Board is submitting the proposals described in this proxy statement for the stockholders to vote upon.
What is being voted on?
You are being asked to vote on each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal. Each of the proposals are listed below:
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The Extension Amendment Proposal: A proposal to amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Charter”) to provide the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) with the right to extend (the “Extension”) the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination (the “Combination Period”) up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025 (as extended, the “Extended Date”) (i.e., for a period of time ending 42 months after the consummation of its initial public offering (the “IPO”)). |
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The Trust Amendment Proposal: A proposal to approve the adoption of an amendment (the “Trust Amendment”) to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2021, by and between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (as amended, the “Trust Agreement”), to allow the Company to extend the Combination Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025, the Extended Date, by depositing into the Trust Account, for each one- month extension, a payment (the “Extension Payment”) of $10,000. |
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The Adjournment Proposal: A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension. |
What are the purposes of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal?
The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a business combination. The Board currently believes that there will likely not be sufficient time within the Combination Period to complete a business combination. Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able to consummate a business combination. Therefore, our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination to the Extended Date in order to provide our stockholders with the opportunity to participate in the prospective investment.
The purpose of the Trust Amendment Proposal is to allow the Company to extend the Combination Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025, the Extended Date, by depositing into the Trust Account, for each one-month extension, the Extension Payment.
The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates if we determine that additional time is necessary to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.
If the Extension is implemented, such approval will constitute consent for the Company to remove the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account, deliver to the holders of redeemed public shares their portion of the Withdrawal Amount and retain the remainder of the funds in the trust account for the Company’s use in connection with consummating a business combination on or before the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account in connection with the Election will reduce the amount held in the trust account following the Election. The Company cannot predict the amount that will remain in the trust account after such withdrawal if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the amount remaining in the trust account may be only a fraction of the $ (including interest but less the funds used to pay taxes) that was in the trust account as of the record date. In such event, the Company may still seek to obtain additional funds to complete a business combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company has not consummated a business combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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, in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete a business combination within the Combination Period.
The Adjournment Proposal will be presented at the special meeting only if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals.
The initial stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the charter.
Why is the Company proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal?
The Company’s charter provides for the return of the IPO proceeds held in trust to the holders of shares of common stock sold in the IPO if there is no qualifying business combination(s) consummated within the Combination Period. The Board currently believes that there will likely not be sufficient time within the Combination Period to complete a business combination. Accordingly, the Company has determined to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which the Company has to complete a business combination.
The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a business combination, which our Board believes is in the best interest of our stockholders. The Company believes that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on searching for potential business combination opportunities, including the fact that we are in active discussions regarding a business combination, circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider a business combination.
The purpose of the Trust Amendment Proposal is to allow the Company to extend the Combination Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025, the Extended Date, by depositing into the Trust Account, for each one-month extension, the Extension Payment.
The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to allow the Company to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates if we determine that additional time is necessary to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension. Accordingly, our Board is proposing the Charter Amendment Proposals and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal to extend the Company’s corporate existence until the Extended Date.
You are not being asked to vote on any proposed business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares now, you will retain the right to vote on any proposed business combination when and if one is submitted to the public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider a business combination) and the right to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the trust account in the event a proposed business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
Why should I vote for the Extension Amendment Proposal?
Our Board believes stockholders will benefit from the Company consummating a business combination and is proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal to extend the date by which the Company must complete a business combination until the Extended Date. The Extension would give the Company the opportunity to complete a business combination, which our Board believes is in the best interests of the stockholders.
Our charter provides that if the our stockholders approve an amendment to our charter that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if the Company does not complete a business combination within the Combination Period, the Company will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon such approval at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to such approval, including any interest earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. This charter provision was included to protect the Company’s stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to find a suitable business combination in the timeframe contemplated by the charter. The Company also believes, however, that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on pursuing a business combination, including the fact that we are in active discussions regarding a business combination, circumstances warrant providing those who believe they might find a business combination to be an attractive investment with an opportunity to consider such transaction.
Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal, but expresses no opinion as to whether you should redeem your public shares.
Why should I vote for the Trust Amendment Proposal?
Our Board believes stockholders will benefit from the Company consummating a business combination and is proposing the Trust Amendment Proposal to extend the date by which the Company must complete a business combination until the Extended Date. The Extension would give the Company the opportunity to complete a business combination, which our Board believes is in the best interests of the stockholders.
Why should I vote for the Adjournment Proposal?
If the Adjournment Proposal is presented and not approved by our stockholders, our Board may not be able to adjourn the special meeting to a later date in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals.
Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Adjournment Proposal, if presented.
How are the funds in the Trust Account currently being held?
The funds in the Trust Account have, since our IPO, been invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act.
To potentially mitigate the risk of being viewed as operating as an unregistered investment company (including pursuant to the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act), we may, at our discretion and subject to the approval of the Extension Proposal, instruct the trustee to liquidate the U.S. government securities or money market funds held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash (i.e., in one or more bank accounts) until the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination or liquidation, which could reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
The longer that the funds in the Trust Account are held in short-term U.S. government securities or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, the greater the risk is that the Company may be considered an unregistered investment company, in which case it may be required to liquidate. For more information, see the section entitled “Risk Factors - If the Company is deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, it may be forced to abandon its efforts to consummate an initial business combination and instead be required to liquidate the Company. To avoid that result, the Company will, if necessary, instruct Equiniti Trust Company, LLC to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account and instead hold all funds in the Trust Account in an interest-bearing demand deposit account. Interest on such demand deposit accounts is variable, and the Company cannot assure you that such rate will not decrease or increase significantly. As a result, following such liquidation, the Company may receive less interest on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount the public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.”
When would the Board abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal?
Our Board will abandon the Extension Amendment if our stockholders do not approve the Extension Amendment Proposal.
In addition, notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders.
How do the Company insiders intend to vote their shares?
The initial stockholders and their respective affiliates are expected to vote any common stock over which they have voting control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of both of the proposals.
The initial stockholders are not entitled to redeem the founder shares or any public shares held by them. On the record date, the initial stockholders beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 4,312,500 founder shares, which represents 37% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock.
Does the Board recommend voting for the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal?
Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of the proposals, the Board has determined that the Charter Amendment Proposals and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal.
What vote is required to adopt the Extension Amendment Proposal?
Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of 65% of the Company’s outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, on the record date.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, any holder of public shares may redeem all or a portion of their public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to such approval, including any interest earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
What vote is required to adopt the Trust Amendment Proposal?
Approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of 65% of the Company’s outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, on the record date.
What vote is required to adopt the Adjournment Proposal?
If presented, the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the special meeting.
What happens if I sell my public shares or units before the special meeting?
The November , 2024 record date is earlier than the date of the special meeting. If you transfer your public shares, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, after the record date, but before the special meeting, unless the transferee obtains from you a proxy to vote those shares, you will retain your right to vote at the special meeting. If you transfer your public shares prior to the record date, you will have no right to vote those shares at the special meeting. If you acquired your public shares after the record date, you will still have an opportunity to redeem them if you so decide.
What if I don’t want to vote for the Charter Amendment Proposals and/or the Adjournment Proposal?
If you do not want the Charter Amendment Proposals to be approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote against the proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, then the Withdrawal Amount will be withdrawn from the trust account and paid to the redeeming holders. You will still be entitled to make the Election if you vote against, abstain or do not vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If you do not want the Adjournment Proposal to be approved, you must vote against the proposal, if presented. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal.
Will you seek any further extensions to liquidate the trust account?
Other than the extension until the Extended Date as described in this proxy statement, the Company does not currently anticipate seeking any further extension to consummate a business combination, although it may determine to do so in the future.
What happens if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved?
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company has not consummated a business combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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, in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete a business combination within the Combination Period.
The initial stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the charter. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event we wind up.
What happens if the Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved?
If the Trust Amendment is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by November 23, 2024, 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, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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, in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, including the public warrants, which will expire worthless in the event the Company winds up.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, what happens next?
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Company will continue to attempt to consummate a business combination until the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will file an amendment to the charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided by first, fourth and seventh resolutions in the form set forth in Annex A hereto. If the Trust Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will enter into the proposed Trust Amendment in the form set forth in Annex B hereto. The Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units, public shares, and public warrants will remain publicly traded.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account will reduce the amount remaining in the trust account and increase the percentage interest of the Company’s common stock held by our initial stockholders through the founder shares.
If I do not redeem my shares now, would I still be able to vote on a business combination and exercise my redemption rights with respect to a business combination?
Yes. If you do not redeem your shares in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, then, assuming you are a stockholder as of the record date for voting on a business combination, you will be able to vote on the business combination when it is submitted to stockholders. You will also retain your right to redeem your public shares upon consummation of a business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in the charter, as amended.
When and where is the special meeting?
The special meeting will be held at 4:30 PM Eastern Time, on November 22, 2024, via a virtual meeting, or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be adjourned. The Company’s stockholders may virtually attend, vote and examine the list of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting by visiting and entering the control number found on their proxy card, voting instruction form or notice included in their proxy materials.
How do I attend the virtual special meeting, and will I be able to ask questions?
If you are a registered stockholder, you received a proxy card from the Company’s transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (“transfer agent”). The form contains instructions on how to attend the virtual annual meeting including the URL address, along with your control number. You will need your control number for access. If you do not have your control number, contact the transfer agent at the phone number or e-mail address below. The transfer agent support contact information is as follows:
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
55 Challenger Road
Ridgefield Park, NJ, 07660
E-mail: SPACSUPPORT@astfinancial.com
You can pre-register to attend the virtual meeting starting November 15, 2024 at Eastern Time (five business days prior to the special meeting date). Enter the URL address into your browser , enter your control number, name and email address. Once you pre-register you can vote or enter questions in the chat box. At the start of the special meeting you will need to re-log in using your control number and will also be prompted to enter your control number if you vote during the special meeting.
Beneficial holders, who own their investments through a bank or broker, will need to contact the transfer agent to receive a control number. If you plan to vote at the special meeting you will need to have a legal proxy from your bank or broker or if you would like to join and not vote, the transfer agent will issue you a guest control number with proof of ownership. Either way you must contact the transfer agent for specific instructions on how to receive the control number. We can be contacted at the number or email address above. Please allow up to 72 hours prior to the special meeting for processing your control number.
How do I vote?
If you are a holder of record of Company common stock, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, you may vote in person or virtually at the special meeting or by submitting a proxy for the special meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting in person or virtually, the Company urges you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope. You may still attend the special meeting and vote in person or virtually if you have already voted by proxy.
If your shares of Company common stock, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, are held in “street name” by a broker or other agent, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the special meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person or virtually at the special meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.
How do I change my vote?
If you have submitted a proxy to vote your shares and wish to change your vote, you may do so by delivering a later-dated, signed proxy card prior to the date of the special meeting or by voting in person or virtually at the special meeting. Attendance at the special meeting alone will not change your vote. You also may revoke your proxy by sending a notice of revocation to the Company at 4041 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
How are votes counted?
Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the special meeting, who will separately count “FOR” and “AGAINST” votes, abstentions and broker non-votes for the Charter Amendment Proposals. Because approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals requires the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least 65% of the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding on the record date, voting together as a single class, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as votes against the Charter Amendment Proposals.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the special meeting. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal. Since the Adjournment Proposal is considered a routine matter, brokers shall be entitled to vote on the Adjournment Proposal absent voting instructions, and thus there should be no broker non-votes with respect to the Adjournment Proposal.
If my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker automatically vote them for me?
No. Under the rules governing banks and brokers who submit a proxy card with respect to shares held in street name, such banks and brokers have the discretion to vote on routine matters, but not on non- routine matters. The approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals is a non-routine matter, while the Adjournment Proposal, if presented, will be considered a routine matter.
For non-routine matters such as the Charter Amendment Proposals, your broker can vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares. Your broker can tell you how to provide these instructions. If you do not give your broker instructions, your shares will be treated as broker non-votes with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposals. Broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the Charter Amendment Proposals; however, since the Adjournment Proposal is considered a routine matter, brokers shall be entitled to vote on the Adjournment Proposal absent voting instructions, and thus there should be no broker non-votes with respect to the Adjournment Proposal.
What is a quorum requirement?
A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if at least a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company on the record date, including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, are represented in person or virtually or by proxy at the special meeting.
Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote in person or virtually at the special meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the presiding officer of the special meeting may adjourn the special meeting to another date.
Who can vote at the special meeting?
Only holders of record of the Company’s Class A common stock and of the Company’s Class B common stock, at the close of business on November , 2024, are entitled to have their vote counted at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. As of the record date, there were 2,845,754 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock and 4,312,500 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.
Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the record date your shares or units were registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person or virtually at the special meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting in person or virtually, the Company urges you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card to ensure your vote is counted.
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank. If on the record date your shares or units were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the special meeting in person or virtually. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person or virtually at the special meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.
What interests do the Company’s directors and executive officers have in the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals?
The Company’s directors and executive officers have interests in the Charter Amendment Proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include ownership by them or their affiliates of founder shares, and warrants that may become exercisable in the future, loans by them that will not be repaid in the event of our winding up and the possibility of future compensatory arrangements. See the section entitled “The Special Meeting - Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers.”
What if I object to the Charter Amendment Proposals and/or the Adjournment Proposal? Do I have appraisal rights?
Stockholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with either the Charter Amendment Proposals or, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal under the DGCL.
What happens to the Company’s warrants if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved?
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company has not consummated a business combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 income earned on the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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, in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case 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 warrants, which will expire worthless in the event the Company winds up.
What happens to the Company warrants if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved?
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will continue its efforts to consummate a business combination until the Extended Date and will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to it. The warrants will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.
How do I redeem my public shares?
If the Extension is implemented, each public stockholder may seek to redeem all or a portion of his or her public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the approval of the Extension, including any interest earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. You will also be able to redeem your public shares in connection with any stockholder vote to approve a business combination, or if the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
Pursuant to our charter, a public stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public stockholder’s public shares for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only if you:
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(a) hold public shares or (b) hold public shares through units and you elect to separate your units into the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the public shares; and |
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(ii) |
prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on November 20, 2024 (two business days prior to the scheduled vote at the special meeting), (a) submit a written request, including the name, phone number, and address of the beneficial owner of the shares for which redemption is requested, to Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, the Company’s transfer agent, at Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, 55 Challenger Road Ridgefield Park, NJ, 07660, that the Company redeem your public shares for cash and (b) deliver your public shares to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). |
Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares regardless of whether they vote for or against the Charter Amendment Proposals and regardless of whether they hold public shares on the record date.
If you hold your shares through a bank or broker, you must ensure your bank or broker complies with the requirements identified herein, including submitting a written request that your shares be redeemed for cash to the transfer agent and delivering your shares to the transfer agent prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 20, 2024 (two business days before the scheduled vote at the special meeting). You will only be entitled to receive cash in connection with a redemption of these shares if you continue to hold them until the effective date of the amendment prescribed by the Charter Amendment Proposals and Election.
Through DTC’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian) System, this electronic delivery process can be accomplished by the stockholder, whether or not it is a record holder or its shares are held in “street name,” by contacting the transfer agent or its broker and requesting delivery of its shares through the DWAC system. Delivering shares physically may take significantly longer. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a stockholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC, and the Company’s transfer agent will need to act together to facilitate this request. There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $100 and the broker would determine whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. It is the Company’s understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. The Company does not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, and it may take longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. Such stockholders will have less time to make their investment decision than those stockholders that deliver their shares through the DWAC system. Stockholders who request physical stock certificates and wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for tendering their shares before exercising their redemption rights and thus will be unable to redeem their shares.
Certificates that have not been tendered in accordance with these procedures prior to the vote on the Charter Amendment Proposals will not be redeemed for cash held in the trust account. In the event that a public stockholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the vote at the special meeting that it does not want to redeem its shares, the stockholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide prior to the vote at the special meeting not to redeem your public shares, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the address listed above. In the event that a public stockholder tenders shares and the Charter Amendment Proposals is not approved, these shares will not be redeemed and the physical certificates representing these shares will be returned to the stockholder promptly following the determination that the Charter Amendment Proposals will not be approved. The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Extension would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension Amendment. The transfer agent will hold the certificates of public stockholders that make the election until such shares are redeemed for cash or returned to such stockholders.
If I am a unit holder, can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my units?
No. Holders of outstanding units must separate the underlying public shares and public warrants (as defined below) prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares.
If you hold units registered in your own name, you must deliver the certificate for such units to Equiniti Trust Company, LLC our transfer agent, with written instructions to separate such units into public shares, and public warrants. This must be completed far enough in advance to permit the mailing of the public share certificates back to you so that you may then exercise your redemption rights upon the separation of the public shares from the units. See “How do I redeem my public shares?” above.
What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?
You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards, if your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all of your shares of common stock.
Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?
The Company will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. The Company has engaged D.F. King & Co., Inc. (“D.F. King”) to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the special meeting. The Company has agreed to pay D.F. King a fee of $15,000. The Company will also reimburse D.F. King for reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and executive officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. The Company may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
Where do I find the voting results of the special meeting?
We will announce preliminary voting results at the special meeting. The final voting results will be tallied by the inspector of election and published in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company is required to file with the SEC within four business days following the special meeting.
Who can help answer my questions?
If you have questions about the proposals or if you need additional copies of the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card you should contact:
Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation
4041 MacArthur Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 610-0835
Email: investor@everestconsolidator.com
You may also contact the Company’s proxy solicitor at:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Bank and Brokers Call Collect: (212) 269-5550
All Others, Please Call Toll-Free: (800) 488-8075
Email: MNTN@dfking.com
You may also obtain additional information about the Company from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
RISK FACTORS
You should consider carefully all of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2023, any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and in the other reports we file with the SEC, including the registration statement filed by New PubCo, before making a decision to invest in our securities. Furthermore, if any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected or we could face liquidation. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties described in the aforementioned filings and below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results or result in our liquidation.
There are no assurances that the Extension will enable us to complete a business combination.
Approving the Extension involves a number of risks. Even if the Extension is approved and implemented, the Company can provide no assurances that a business combination will be consummated prior to the Extended Date. Our ability to consummate any initial business combination is dependent on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. If the Extension is approved and implemented, the Company expects to continue its efforts to complete a business combination, including seeking stockholder approval of the business combination. There can be no assurances that we will be able to complete a business combination prior to the Extended Date.
We are required to offer stockholders the opportunity to redeem public shares in connection with the Extension Proposal, and we will be required to offer stockholders redemption rights again in connection with any stockholder vote to approve a business combination. Even if the Extension or a business combination is approved by our stockholders, it is possible that redemptions will leave us with insufficient cash or public float to consummate a business combination on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. The fact that we will have separate redemption periods in connection with the Extension and a business combination vote could exacerbate these risks. Other than in connection with a redemption offer or liquidation, our stockholders may be unable to recover their investment except through sales of our shares on the open market. The price of our shares may be volatile, and there can be no assurance that stockholders will be able to dispose of our shares at favorable prices, or at all.
If the Company is deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, it may be forced to abandon its efforts to consummate an initial business combination and instead be required to liquidate the Company. To avoid that result, the Company will, if necessary, instruct Equiniti Trust Company, LLC to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account and instead hold all funds in the Trust Account in an interest- bearing demand deposit account. Interest on such demand deposit accounts is variable, and the Company cannot assure you that such rate will not decrease or increase significantly. As a result, following such liquidation, the Company may receive less interest on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount the public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
There is currently uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC. It is possible that a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company, including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, based on the current views of the SEC. If we were deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we might be forced to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead 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 or rights following such a transaction, and our warrants or rights would expire worthless.
The funds in the Trust Account have, since the IPO, been held only in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. If necessary, to mitigate the risk of the Company being deemed to have been operating as an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act), the Company will instruct its transfer agent, the trustee with respect to the Trust Account, to liquidate the U.S. government securities or money market funds held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in an interest-bearing demand deposit account until the earlier of consummation of an initial business combination or liquidation. Interest on such demand deposit accounts is variable, and the Company cannot assure you that such rate will not decrease or increase significantly. As a result, following such liquidation, the Company may receive less interest on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount the public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
The Company’s ability to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company may be impacted if such initial business combination is subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), and ultimately prohibited.
The Sponsor, Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company. The Company does not believe the Sponsor would be considered a foreign person because it is organized in a U.S. jurisdiction, is controlled and majority-owned by U.S. nationals and does not have substantial ties with a non-U.S. person.
In the event the Sponsor is considered a foreign person, however, the Company could also be considered a foreign person and would continue to be considered as such in the future for so long as the Sponsor has the ability to exercise control over the Company for purposes of CFIUS’s regulations. The Company could likewise be considered a foreign person if a foreign investor acquires a significant interest in the Company and is viewed as having the ability to exercise control over the Company. As such, an initial business combination with a U.S. business may be subject to CFIUS review, the scope of which includes controlling investments as well as certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. If the Company’s potential initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, the Company may determine that it is required to make a mandatory filing or that it will submit a voluntary filing to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. CFIUS may decide to delay the initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or recommend that the U.S. president block the initial business combination or order the Company to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company, which may limit the attractiveness of or prevent the Company from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that it believes would otherwise be beneficial to the Company and its stockholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which the Company could complete an initial business combination may be impacted, and it may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues.
Moreover, the process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy and the Company has limited time to complete its initial business combination. If the Company cannot complete its initial business combination by November 23, 2024 or by the Extended Date, if the Extension is approved, or such later date that may be approved by the Company’s stockholders, because the review process extends beyond such timeframe or because the initial business combination is ultimately prohibited by CFIUS or another U.S. government entity, the Company may be required to liquidate. If the Company liquidates, its public stockholders may only receive approximately $ per share (based on the amount held in the trust account as of the record date, including interest but less the funds used to pay taxes), and the Company’s warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose the investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights if the Extension Proposal is approved with respect to a large number of our public shares may adversely affect the liquidity and trading of our securities and may impact our ability to complete the Business Combination.
Pursuant to our charter, a public stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public stockholder’s public shares for cash if the Extension Proposal is approved. The ability of our public stockholders to exercise such redemption rights with respect to a large number of our public shares may adversely affect the liquidity of our Common Stock. As a result, you may be unable to sell your Common Stock even if the per-share market price is higher than the per-share redemption price paid to public stockholders that elect to redeem their public shares if the Extension Proposal is approved.
In addition, after the special meeting we may be required to demonstrate compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing requirements in order to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE. Such continued listing requirements for our securities include, among other things, having at least 400 stockholders and a market value of our listed publicly held securities of $50 million. We cannot assure you that any of our public shares, units or public warrants will be able to meet any of the NYSE’s continued listing requirements following any redemptions in connection with the special meeting. If our securities do not meet the NYSE’s continued listing requirements, the NYSE may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
If the NYSE delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another approved national securities exchange, we expect that such securities would be quoted on a marketplace run by the OTC Markets Group Inc. (“OTC Markets”). If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including: (i) a limited availability of market quotations for our securities, (ii) reduced liquidity for our securities, (iii) a determination that our public shares are “penny stocks” which will require brokers trading in our public shares to adhere to more stringent rules, including being subject to the depository requirements of Rule 419 of the Securities Act, and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities, (iv) a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future, and (v) a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business in connection with an initial business Combination. The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Our public shares, units and warrants qualify as covered securities under such statute. If we were no longer listed on the NYSE, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
The Extension Proposal will amend the Charter to extend our termination date to a date that is in violation of current applicable listing standards of the NYSE, which may result in the Company’s delisting.
If the Extension Proposal passes, our termination date will be extended from November 23, 2024 to the Extended Date, however, if we have not completed a qualifying business combination transaction by November 23, 2024, we will be in violation of current NYSE listing standards.
Section 102.06(e) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual requires that any acquisition company, such as the Company, must within 36 months of the effectiveness of its IPO registration statement, or such shorter period that the company specifies in its constitutive documents, must complete one or more business combinations.
The date that is 36 months following the effectiveness of our registration statement is November 23, 2024. If the Extension Proposal is approved, the termination date may be extended until May 23, 2025. Any violation of current NYSE listing rules would likely result in the suspension or delisting of our securities from NYSE, which would have a material adverse effect on the market prices of our securities and on shareholder liquidity.
The Company will have a right to a review of a delisting determination by a Committee of the Board of Directors of the NYSE. They Company may avail itself of this right. If the Company’s shareholders approve the Extension Proposal, following any suspension and the commencement of trading on marketplace run by the OTC Markets, the Company will continue to file the same types of periodic reports and other information it currently files with the SEC. Although the Company is currently in negotiations to enter into a new Business Combination Agreement (with parties unrelated to New PubCo) despite the possibility of a suspension and delisting from the NYSE with the goal of eventually listing the securities of the combined entity on a national securities exchange, there can be no assurances that we will be able to enter into a new Business Combination Agreement, that the combined entity will be approved to list its securities on a national securities exchange, nor that we will be able to complete a business combination prior to the Extended Date.
A 1% U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with redemptions by us of the public shares.
The IRA imposes the Excise Tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded domestic corporations and certain domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations. The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from which shares are repurchased. Generally, the amount of the Excise Tax is 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. For the purposes of calculating the Excise Tax, the repurchasing corporation is permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of the stock repurchases that occur in the same taxable year.
THE SPECIAL MEETING
Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Special Meeting
The special meeting will be held at 4:30 PM Eastern Time, on November 22, 2024, via a virtual meeting which you will be able to attend by visiting , or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be adjourned. At the special meeting, the stockholders will consider and vote upon the following proposals.
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The Extension Amendment Proposal: A proposal to amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Charter”) to provide the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) with the right to extend (the “Extension”) the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination (the “Combination Period”) up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025 (as extended, the “Extended Date”) (i.e., for a period of time ending 42 months after the consummation of its initial public offering (the “IPO”)). |
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The Trust Amendment Proposal: A proposal to approve the adoption of an amendment (the “Trust Amendment”) to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2021, by and between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (as amended, the “Trust Agreement”), to allow the Company to extend the Combination Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025, the Extended Date, by depositing into the Trust Account, for each one- month extension, a payment (the “Extension Payment”) of $10,000. |
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The Adjournment Proposal: A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension. |
Voting Power; Record Date
You will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the special meeting if you owned our common stock, including as a constituent part of a unit, at the close of business on November , 2024, the record date for the special meeting. You will have one vote per share for each share of common stock you owned at that time. Our warrants do not carry voting rights.
At the close of business on the record date, there were there were 2,845,754 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock and 4,312,500 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock outstanding, each of which entitles its holder to cast one vote per share. The warrants do not carry voting rights.
Votes Required
Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals will require the affirmative vote of holders of 65% of the Company’s Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, outstanding on the record date.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the special meeting.
If you do not vote (i.e., you “abstain” from voting), your action will have the same effect as an “AGAINST” vote with regards to the Charter Amendment Proposals. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal. Broker non-votes will have the same effect as “AGAINST” votes with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposals; however, since the Adjournment Proposal is considered a routine matter, brokers shall be entitled to vote on the Adjournment Proposal absent voting instructions, and thus there should be no broker non-votes with respect to the Adjournment Proposal.
If you do not want the Charter Amendment Proposals to be approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote against the proposal. The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension Amendment.
If you do not want the Adjournment Proposal to be approved, you must vote against the proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal. Since the Adjournment Proposal is considered a routine matter, brokers shall be entitled to vote on the Adjournment Proposal absent voting instructions, and thus there should be no broker non-votes with respect to the Adjournment Proposal.
Voting
You can vote your shares at the special meeting by proxy, in person or virtually.
You can vote by proxy by having one or more individuals who will be at the special meeting vote your shares for you. These individuals are called “proxies” and using them to cast your vote at the special meeting is called voting “by proxy.”
If you wish to vote by proxy, you must (i) complete the enclosed form, called a “proxy card,” and mail it in the envelope provided or (ii) submit your proxy by telephone or over the Internet (if those options are available to you) in accordance with the instructions on the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card.
If you complete the proxy card and mail it in the envelope provided or submit your proxy by telephone or over the Internet as described above, you will designate Adam Dooley and Saurabh Shah to act as your proxy at the special meeting. They will then vote your shares at the special meeting in accordance with the instructions you have given them in the proxy card or voting instructions, as applicable, with respect to the proposals presented in this proxy statement. Proxies will extend to, and be voted at, any adjournment(s) of the special meeting.
Alternatively, you can vote your shares in person by attending the special meeting in person or virtually.
A special note for those who plan to attend the special meeting and vote in person or virtually: if your shares or units are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions you receive from your broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares. You will not be able to vote at the special meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from the record holder of your shares.
Our Board is asking for your proxy. Giving our Board your proxy means you authorize it to vote your shares at the special meeting in the manner you direct. You may vote for or against any proposal or you may abstain from voting. All valid proxies received prior to the special meeting will be voted. All shares represented by a proxy will be voted, and where a stockholder specifies by means of the proxy a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with the specification so made. If no choice is indicated on the proxy, the shares will be voted “FOR” each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal, and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters that may properly come before the special meeting.
Stockholders who have questions or need assistance in completing or submitting their proxy cards should contact our proxy solicitor, D.F. King, at (800) 488-8075, or by sending an email to MNTN@dfking.com.
Stockholders who hold their shares in “street name,” meaning the name of a broker or other nominee who is the record holder, must either direct the record holder of their shares to vote their shares or obtain a legal proxy from the record holder to vote their shares at the special meeting.
Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers
When you consider the recommendation of the Board in favor of approval of the proposals, you should keep in mind that our Sponsor, the Company’s directors and executive officers have interests in such proposal that are different from, or in addition to, those of the stockholders and warrant holders generally. These interests include that our Sponsor as well as the Company’s executive officers and directors will lose their entire investment in the Company if a business combination is not completed (other than with respect to Class A common stock they may have acquired or may acquire in the future), and that our Sponsor will benefit from the completion of a business combination and may be incentivized to complete the business combination, even if it is with a less favorable target company or on less favorable terms to stockholders, rather than liquidate the Company. Additionally, among other things, these interests include the following:
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the fact that our Sponsor and the Company’s directors have agreed not to redeem any common stock held by them in connection with the stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination, including the business combination; |
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the fact that our Sponsor paid an aggregate of $18,750 for the 4,312,500 founder shares currently owned by our Sponsor, in which certain of the Company’s officers and directors hold a direct and indirect interest, and the independent directors. The founder shares would be worthless if a business combination is not consummated by November 23, 2024 because the holders are not entitled to participate in any redemption or distribution with respect to such shares. Such securities may have a significantly higher value at the time of the business combination and, if unrestricted and freely tradable, would be valued at approximately $ million, based upon the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on the NYSE on November , 2024; |
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the fact that if a business combination is not consummated by November 23, 2024, the 8,633,333 Private Placement Warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, held by our Sponsor, in which certain of the Company’s officers and directors hold a direct and indirect interest, of which 6,333,333 were acquired for an aggregate purchase price of $9,500,000 in a private placement that took place simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, 1,150,000 were acquired in exchange for our Sponsor’s deposit of $1,725,000 into the trust account in connection with the Initial Extension 1,150,000 were acquired in exchange for our Sponsor’s deposit of $1,725,000 into the trust account in connection with the Second Extension, would become worthless. Such securities may have a higher value at the time of the business combination and, if unrestricted and freely tradable, would be valued at approximately $ million, based upon the closing price of the Class A common stock on the NYSE on November , 2024; |
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the fact that if a business combination is not consummated by November 23, 2024, the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, redeeming 100% of the outstanding Class A common stock for cash and, subject to the approval of its remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolving and liquidating; |
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the fact that our Sponsor, officers or directors, or their affiliates may be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred on the Company’s behalf related to identifying, investigating, negotiating, and completing a business combination. As of the date of this proxy statement, no out-of-pocket expenses have been incurred by the Company’s officers and directors and there are no outstanding out-of-pocket expenses for which the Company’s officers or directors are awaiting reimbursement; |
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the fact that our Sponsor and the Company’s current officers and directors have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if the Company fails to complete a business combination by November 23, 2024; |
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the fact that our 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 stockholders rather than liquidate; |
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the fact that our Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors will lose their investment in the Company and will not be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them on the Company’s behalf incident to identifying, investigating and consummating an initial business combination if an initial business combination is not consummated by November 23, 2024; and |
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the fact that if the trust account is liquidated, including in the event the Company is unable to complete a business combination within the required time period, our Sponsor has agreed to indemnify the Company to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.20 per share of Class A common stock, or such lesser per share of Class A common stock amount as is in the trust account on the liquidation date, by the claims of prospective target businesses with which the Company has entered into an acquisition agreement or claims of any third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, but only if such a vendor or target business has not executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account. |
Additionally, if the Charter Amendment Proposals is approved and we consummate a business combination, our Sponsor, officers and directors may have additional interests as will be described in the proxy statement for the business combination.
Revocability of Proxies
Any proxy may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before the polls close at the special meeting. A proxy may be revoked by sending Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation, 4041 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660, either a written notice of revocation bearing a date later than the date of such proxy or a subsequent proxy relating to the same shares, which must be received prior to the vote at the special meeting, or by attending the special meeting and voting in person or virtually.
Simply attending the special meeting will not constitute a revocation of your proxy. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee who is the record holder, you must follow the instructions of your broker or other nominee to revoke a previously given proxy.
Attendance at the Special Meeting
Only holders of common stock, their proxy holders and guests the Company may invite may attend the special meeting. If you wish to attend the special meeting in person or virtually but you hold your shares or units through someone else, such as a broker, please follow the instructions you receive from your broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares. You must bring a legal proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares, confirming your beneficial ownership of the shares and giving you the right to vote your shares.
Solicitation of Proxies
Your proxy is being solicited by our Board on the proposals being presented to the stockholders at the special meeting. The Company has agreed to pay D.F. King a fee of $15,000. The Company will also reimburse D.F. King for reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and executive officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. The Company may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. You may contact D.F. King at:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Bank and Brokers Call Collect: (212) 269-5550
All Others, Please Call Toll-Free: (800) 488-8075
Email: MNTN@dfking.com
The cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy, and the cost of soliciting proxies relating to the special meeting, will be borne by the Company.
Some banks and brokers have customers who beneficially own common stock listed of record in the names of nominees. The Company intends to request banks and brokers to solicit such customers and will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for such solicitations. If any additional solicitation of the holders of our outstanding common stock is deemed necessary, the Company (through our directors and executive officers) anticipates making such solicitation directly.
No Right of Appraisal
The Company’s stockholders do not have appraisal rights under the DGCL in connection with the proposals to be voted on at the special meeting. Accordingly, our stockholders have no right to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.
Other Business
The Company is not currently aware of any business to be acted upon at the special meeting other than the matters discussed in this proxy statement. The form of proxy accompanying this proxy statement confers discretionary authority upon the named proxy holders with respect to amendments or variations to the matters identified in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting and with respect to any other matters which may properly come before the special meeting. If other matters do properly come before the special meeting, or at any adjournment(s) of the special meeting, the Company expects that the shares of common stock represented by properly submitted proxies will be voted by the proxy holders in accordance with the recommendations of our Board.
Principal Executive Offices
Our principal executive offices are located 4041 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Our telephone number at such address is (949) 610-0835.
THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Background
We are a blank check company incorporated on March 8, 2021 as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. In connection with our formation, we issued an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares to our Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, and on September 24, 2021, the Company repurchased 1,437,500 shares of Class B common stock from our Sponsor for $6,250, so as of December 31, 2021, there were 4,312,500 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding.
On November 29, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering (our “IPO”) of 17,250,000 units (including 2,250,000 units sold pursuant to the full exercise of the IPO underwriters’ option to purchase additional units to cover over-allotments). Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”), with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one whole share of Class A common stock for $11.50 per share. The units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $172,500,000.
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we completed the private sale of 6,333,333 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant (the “Private Placement”), to our Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to us of $9,500,000. The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants sold as part of the units in the IPO, except that our Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Private Placement Warrants (except to certain permitted transferees) until 30 days after the completion of a business combination. The Private Placement Warrants will not be redeemable for cash by the Company and will be exercisable on a cashless basis.
Following the consummation of the IPO, total of $175,950,000 of the net proceeds from the IPO and the Private Placement were placed in a U.S.-based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. maintained by Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, acting as trustee.
On February 28, 2023, we consummated the initial extension of the period we have to consummate a business combination (the “Initial Extension”). To effect the Initial Extension, our Sponsor deposited $1,725,000, representing $0.10 per share of Class A common stock held by the stockholders, into the trust account, in exchange for our issuance to our Sponsor of 1,150,000 Extension Private Placement Warrants, at a rate of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant, on the same terms as the Private Placement Warrants issued to our Sponsor in connection with the closing of the IPO. On May 26, 2023, we further extended the period we have to consummate a business combination by a period of three months from May 28, 2023 to August 28, 2023 (the “Second Extension”). To effect the Second Extension, our Sponsor deposited $1,725,000, representing $0.10 per share of Class A common stock held by stockholders, into the trust account, in exchange for our issuance to our Sponsor of 1,150,000 private placement warrants, at a rate of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant, having the same terms as the Private Placement Warrants issued to our Sponsor in connection with the closing of the IPO and the Initial Extension.
The Extension Amendment
The Company is proposing to amend its charter to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination to the Extended Date.
The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a business combination. Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.
Following the Company’s October 1, 2024 termination of a previously entered into Business Combination Agreement, the Company is not currently a party to any Business Combination Agreement. Although the Company is currently in negotiations with other entities to enter into a new Business Combination Agreement, there can be no assurances that we will be able to enter into a new Business Combination Agreement or complete a business combination prior to the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company has not consummated a business combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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, in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete a business combination within the Combination Period.
The proposed amendment to the Charter are set forth in the first, fourth and seventh resolutions attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.
Reasons for the Extension Amendment Proposal
The Company’s IPO prospectus and charter provide that the Company has until the last day of the Combination Period to complete a business combination. The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a business combination, which our Board believes is in the best interest of our stockholders. The Company believes that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on searching for potential business combination opportunities, including the fact that we are in active discussions regarding a business combination, circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider a business combination. Accordingly, since the Company will likely not be able to complete a business combination within the Combination Period, the Company has determined to seek stockholder approval to extend the time for closing a business combination beyond the last day of the Combination Period to the Extended Date. The Company and its officers and directors agreed that they would not seek to amend the Company’s charter to allow for a longer period of time to complete a business combination unless the Company provided holders of public shares with the right to seek conversion of their public shares in connection therewith.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is Not Approved
Stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal is required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date by which we must consummate a business combination. Therefore, our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment unless our stockholders approve the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company does not consummate a business combination within the Combination Period, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus and in accordance with our charter, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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, in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event the Company winds up.
The holders of the founder shares have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to such shares. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless in the event the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved. The Company will pay the costs of liquidation from its remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, our Sponsor has agreed to advance it the funds necessary to complete such liquidation and has agreed not to seek repayment of such expenses.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is Approved
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will file an amendment to the charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided by first, fourth and seventh resolutions in the form set forth in Annex A hereto to extend the time it has to complete a business combination until the Extended Date. The Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units, common stock and public warrants will remain publicly traded. The Company will then continue to work to consummate a business combination by the Extended Date.
You are not being asked to vote on a business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to vote on a business combination when it is submitted to the public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider a business combination) and the right to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion of the trust account in the event a business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account in connection with the Election will reduce the amount held in the trust account following the Election. The Company cannot predict the amount that will remain in the trust account after such withdrawal if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the amount remaining in the trust account may be only a fraction of the $ (including interest but less the funds used to pay taxes) that was in the trust account as of the record date. In such event, the Company may still seek to obtain additional funds to complete a business combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all.
Redemption Rights
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, 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 as of two business days prior to such approval, including any interest earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain the opportunity to have their public shares redeemed in conjunction with the consummation of a business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter, as amended. In addition, public stockholders who vote for the Extension Amendment Proposal and 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.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST ENSURE YOUR BANK OR BROKER COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED HEREIN, INCLUDING SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST THAT YOUR SHARES BE REDEEMED FOR CASH TO THE TRANSFER AGENT AND DELIVERING YOUR SHARES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON NOVEMBER 20, 2024 (TWO BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED VOTE AT THE SPECIAL MEETING). YOU WILL ONLY BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE CASH IN CONNECTION WITH A REDEMPTION OF THESE SHARES IF YOU CONTINUE TO HOLD THEM UNTIL THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL AND ELECTION.
Pursuant to our charter, a public stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public stockholder’s public shares for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only if you:
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(a) hold public shares or (b) hold public shares through units and you elect to separate your units into the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the public shares; and |
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prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on November 20, 2024 (two business days prior to the scheduled vote at the special meeting), (a) submit a written request, including the name, phone number, and address of the beneficial owner of the shares for which redemption is requested, to Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, the Company’s transfer agent, at Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, 55 Challenger Road Ridgefield Park, NJ, 07660, that the Company redeem your public shares for cash and (b) deliver your public shares to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through DTC. |
Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares regardless of whether they vote for or against the Extension Amendment Proposal and regardless of whether they hold public shares on the record date.
Through DTC’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian) System, this electronic delivery process can be accomplished by the stockholder, whether or not it is a record holder or its shares are held in “street name,” by contacting the transfer agent or its broker and requesting delivery of its shares through the DWAC system. Delivering shares physically may take significantly longer. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a stockholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC, and the Company’s transfer agent will need to act together to facilitate this request. There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $100 and the broker would determine whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. It is the Company’s understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. The Company does not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, and it may take longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. Such stockholders will have less time to make their investment decision than those stockholders that deliver their shares through the DWAC system. Stockholders who request physical stock certificates and wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for tendering their shares before exercising their redemption rights and thus will be unable to redeem their shares. Certificates that have not been tendered in accordance with these procedures prior to the vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal will not be redeemed for cash held in the trust account on the redemption date. In the event that a public stockholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the vote at the special meeting that it does not want to redeem its shares, the stockholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide prior to the vote at the special meeting not to redeem your public shares, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the address listed above. In the event that a public stockholder tenders shares and the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved, these shares will not be redeemed and the physical certificates representing these shares will be returned to the stockholder promptly following the determination that the Extension Amendment Proposal will not be approved. The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Extension would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension Amendment. The transfer agent will hold the certificates of public stockholders that make the election until such shares are redeemed for cash or returned to such stockholders.
If properly demanded, the Company will redeem each public share for a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Based on the amount in the trust account as of the record date, this would amount to approximately $ per share. The closing price of the public shares on the NYSE on November , 2024, the record date, was $ . The Company cannot assure public stockholders that they will be able to sell their public shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.
If you exercise your redemption rights, you will be exchanging your shares of the Company’s common stock for cash and will no longer own the shares. You will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if you properly demand redemption and tender your stock certificate(s) to the Company’s transfer agent prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 20, 2024 (two business days before the scheduled vote at the special meeting). The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Charter Amendment Proposals would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension Amendment.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations for U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (each as defined below, and together, “Holders”) of public shares (i) of the Extension Amendment Proposal and (ii) that elect to have their public shares redeemed for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect the tax consequences discussed below. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by the Extension Amendment (including any redemption of the public shares in connection therewith) with respect to any public shares held through the units (including alternative characterizations of the units).
This discussion is limited to Holders that hold their public shares as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the alternative minimum tax or the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:
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certain financial institutions; |
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regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts; |
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brokers, dealers or traders in securities; |
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traders in securities that elect mark to market; |
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tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations; |
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U.S. expatriates or former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
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persons that hold their public shares as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedge, wash sale, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction; |
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persons that actually or constructively own five percent (5%) or more (by vote or value) of the Company’s shares (except as specifically provided below); |
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“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
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S corporations, partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein); |
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persons deemed to sell the Company’s public shares under the constructive sale provisions of the Code; |
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persons who acquired their public shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; |
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tax-qualified retirement plans; and |
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“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds. |
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds public shares, the tax treatment of an owner of such an entity or arrangement will depend on the status of the owner, the activities of the entity or arrangement and certain determinations made at the owner level. Accordingly, entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes holding public shares and the owners in such entities or arrangements should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the exercise of their redemption rights with respect to their public shares in connection therewith.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL AND THE EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. EACH HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH HOLDER OF THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL AND THE EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECTS OF U.S. FEDERAL NON-INCOME, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.
Tax Treatment of Non-Redeeming Stockholders
A Holder who does not elect to redeem their public shares (including any Holder who votes in favor of the Extension Amendment) will continue to own its public shares, and will not recognize any income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes solely as a result of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Tax Treatment of Redeeming Stockholders
U.S. Holders
As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of a public share who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
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a corporation organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
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a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Generally
The U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder of public shares that exercises its redemption rights with respect to its public shares to receive cash in exchange for all or a portion of its public shares will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of public shares under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of public shares by a U.S. Holder, the tax consequences to such U.S. Holder are as described below under the section entitled “- Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale of Public Shares.” If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of public shares, a U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences to such U.S. Holder as described below under the section entitled “- Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Distribution.”
Whether a redemption of public shares qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of the Company’s stock treated as held by the redeemed U.S. Holder before and after the redemption (including any stock of the Company treated as constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning public warrants) relative to all of the stock of the Company outstanding both before and after the redemption. The redemption of public shares generally will be treated as a sale of public shares (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption (1) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (2) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. Holder’s interest in the Company or (3) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests result in a redemption qualifying for sale treatment, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only shares of the Company’s stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also shares of the Company’s stock that are constructively owned by it under certain attribution rules set forth in the Code. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any stock that the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include public shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of public warrants.
In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of the Company’s outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption of public shares must, among other requirements, be less than eighty percent (80%) of the percentage of the Company’s outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption (taking into account redemptions by other Holders of public shares). There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (1) all of the public shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (2) all of the public shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other public shares (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning public warrants). The redemption of public shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if the redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in the Company. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in the Company will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation where such stockholder exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” The application of these tests generally also takes into account related transactions that occur contemporaneously with the redemption, including any contemporaneous purchase of common stock by the relevant holder (or persons whose ownership is attributed to such holder) and issuances of common stock. A U.S. Holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the consequences of a redemption.
If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, then the redemption of public shares will be treated as a corporate distribution to the redeemed U.S. Holder and the tax effects to such a U.S. Holder will be as described below under the section entitled “- Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Distribution.” After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the redeemed public shares will be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining shares of the Company’s stock or, if it has none, to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its public warrants or possibly in other shares of the Company’s stock constructively owned by it.
Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Distribution
If the redemption of a U.S. Holder’s public shares is treated as a corporate distribution, as discussed above under the section entitled “- Generally,” the amount of cash received in the redemption generally will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles.
Distributions in excess of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its public shares. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale of public shares and will be treated as described below under the section entitled “- Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale of Public Shares.”
Any dividends received by corporate U.S. Holders will be taxable at regular corporate tax rates and will generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders and with certain exceptions, dividends may be “qualified dividend income,” which is taxed at the lower applicable long-term capital gain rate provided that the U.S. Holder satisfies certain holding period requirements and the U.S. Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the Company’s public shares may prevent a U.S. Holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be. If the holding period requirements are not satisfied, then non-corporate U.S. Holders may be subject to tax on such dividends at regular ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential rate that applies to qualified dividend income.
Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale of Public Shares
If the redemption of a U.S. Holder’s public shares is treated as a sale, as discussed above under the section entitled “- Generally,” a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received in the redemption and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the public shares redeemed. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the public shares so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether the redemption rights with respect to the Company’s public shares may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. If the running of the holding period is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. Holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of the shares or warrants would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders generally will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
U.S. Holders who hold different blocks of public shares (including as a result of holding different blocks of public shares purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices) should consult their tax advisors to determine how the above rules apply to them.
Non-U.S. Holders
As used herein, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of a public share who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
|
● |
a non-resident alien individual; |
|
● |
a foreign corporation; or |
|
● |
a foreign estate or trust. |
Generally
The U.S. federal income tax consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder of public shares that exercises its redemption rights to receive cash from the trust account in exchange for all or a portion of its public shares will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the public shares redeemed, as described above under “Tax Treatment of Redeeming Stockholders - U.S. Holders - Generally.” If such a redemption qualifies as a sale of public shares, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Non-U.S. Holder will be as described below under “- Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale of Public Shares.” If such a redemption does not qualify as a sale of public shares, the Non-U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of which are described below under “- Taxation of Redemption as a Distribution.”
Because it may not be certain at the time a Non-U.S. Holder is redeemed whether such Non-U.S. Holder’s redemption will be treated as a sale of shares or a corporate distribution, and because such determination will depend in part on a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, the applicable withholding agent may not be able to determine whether (or to what extent) a Non-U.S. Holder is treated as receiving a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, the applicable withholding agent may withhold tax at a rate of thirty percent (30%) (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on the gross amount of any consideration paid to a Non-U.S. Holder in redemption of such Non-U.S. Holder’s public shares, unless (a) the applicable withholding agent has established special procedures allowing Non-U.S. Holders to certify that they are exempt from such withholding tax and (b) such Non-U.S. Holders are able to certify that they meet the requirements of such exemption (e.g., because such Non-U.S. Holders are not treated as receiving a dividend under the Section 302 tests described above under the section entitled “Tax Treatment of Redeeming Stockholders - U.S. Holders - Generally”). However, there can be no assurance that any applicable withholding agent will establish such special certification procedures. If an applicable withholding agent withholds excess amounts from the amount payable to a Non-U.S. Holder, such Non-U.S. Holder generally may obtain a refund of any such excess amounts by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the foregoing rules in light of their particular facts and circumstances and any applicable procedures or certification requirements.
Taxation of Redemption as a Distribution
In general, any distributions made to a Non-U.S. Holder of public shares, to the extent paid out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, the Company will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of thirty percent (30%) of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.
If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Any distribution not constituting a dividend, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its public shares, but not below zero. To the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis, the excess amount will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “Non-U.S. Holders - Taxation of Redemption as a Sale of Public Shares.”
Taxation of Redemption as a Sale of Public Shares
A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a redemption of public shares that is treated as a sale as described above under “- Generally,” unless:
|
(i) |
the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. Holder within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable); |
|
(ii) |
the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or |
|
(iii) |
the Company’s public shares constitute U.S. real property interests by reason of the Company’s status as a U.S. real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and certain other conditions are met. |
Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates applicable to a U.S. Holder, unless an applicable tax treaty provides otherwise. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.
Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.
With respect to the third bullet point, the Company believes that it is not and has not been at any time since its formation, and does not expect to become, a USRPHC. Such a determination is factual in nature, and no assurance can be provided that the Company is not and has not been, and will not become a USRPHC. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Proceeds received in connection with a redemption of the public shares and distributions paid on the public shares may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and U.S. backup withholding. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes other required certifications, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and establishes such exempt status. A Non-U.S. Holder generally will eliminate the requirement for information reporting and backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the any backup withholding rule may be allowed as a refund or credit against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or “FATCA”) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on, or (subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our public shares paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.
Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our public shares. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition public shares on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.
Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effects of FATCA on their redemption of public shares.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote by holders of 65% of the Company’s outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, is required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved, the Extension Amendment will not be implemented and the Company will be required by its charter to (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, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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 in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
All of the Company’s directors, executive officers and their affiliates are expected to vote any common stock owned by them in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal. On the record date, the initial stockholders beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 4,312,500 founder shares, representing 60.3% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock.
Recommendation
As discussed above, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable adoption of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL. OUR BOARD EXPRESSES NO OPINION AS TO WHETHER YOU SHOULD REDEEM YOUR PUBLIC SHARES.
The existence of financial and personal interests of our directors and officers may result in a conflict of interest on the part of one or more of the directors or officers between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that stockholders vote for the proposals. See the section entitled “The Special Meeting - Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers” for a further discussion.
THE TRUST AMENDMENT
The proposed Trust Amendment would amend our existing Trust Agreement, allowing the Company to extend the time available for us to consummate our initial business combination six (6) times for an additional one (1) month each time from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025 (the “Trust Amendment”) by depositing into the Trust Account the sum of $ for each public Ordinary Share that has not been redeemed for each one-month extension and make other conforming amendments. A copy of the proposed Trust Amendment is attached to this proxy statement as Annex B. All stockholders are encouraged to read the proposed amendment in its entirety for a more complete description of its terms. The first extension payment after the approval of the Extension Proposal must be made by November 23, 2024, while subsequent extension payments must be deposited into the trust account no fewer than five (5) calendar days prior to the then existing termination date. The complete text of the proposed amendment is attached to this proxy statement as Annex B. All stockholders are encouraged to read the Trust Amendment in its entirety for a more complete description of its terms.
Reasons for the Proposed Trust Amendment
The Company is proposing to amend its Trust Agreement allow the Company to extend its life six (6) times for an additional one (1) month each time from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025.
The purpose of the Trust Amendment is to allow the Company an option to further extend the time to complete a business combination. Our board of directors has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to allow the Company to extend the time to complete a business combination a total of six (6) times for an additional one (1) month each time beginning on November 23, 2024, and provide that the date for cessation of operations of the Company if the Company has not completed a business combination would similarly be extended to the Extended Date.
If the Trust Amendment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Trust Amendment is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by November 23, 2024, 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, and subject to having lawfully available funds therefor, 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 earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and after setting aside up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further 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, in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, including the public warrants, which will expire worthless in the event the Company winds up.
If the Trust Amendment Proposal is Approved
If the Extension Amendment and Trust Amendment proposals are approved, the Company or its affiliates will, in connection with each monthly extension, contribute a payment (the “Extension Payment”) of $10,000, upon five (5) days’ advance notice prior to the applicable deadlines. The first extension payment after the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal must be made by November 23, 2024, while subsequent extension payments must be deposited into the trust account no fewer than five (5) calendar days prior to the then existing termination date.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote by holders of 65% of the Company’s outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, is required to approve the Trust Amendment Proposal.
All of the Company’s directors, executive officers and their affiliates are expected to vote any common stock owned by them in favor of the Trust Amendment Proposal. On the record date, the initial stockholders beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 4,312,500 founder shares, representing 60.3% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock.
Recommendation
As discussed above, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Trust Amendment Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable adoption of the Trust Amendment Proposal.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.
THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the Charter Amendment Proposals. The Adjournment Proposal will be presented to our stockholders only in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals.
Consequences if the Adjournment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by our stockholders, our Board may not be able to adjourn the special meeting to a later date in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposals.
Required Vote
The approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the Company’s stockholders represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is otherwise established, a stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or online at the special meeting will have no effect on the outcome of any vote on the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal.
Recommendation
As discussed above, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Adjournment Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable the adoption of the Adjournment Proposal.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
The existence of financial and personal interests of our directors and officers may result in a conflict of interest on the part of one or more of the directors or officers between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that stockholders vote for the proposals. See the section entitled “The Special Meeting - Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers” for a further discussion.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of , 2024, the record date of the special meeting, by:
|
● |
each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock; |
|
● |
each of our executive officers and directors that beneficially owns our common stock; and |
|
● |
all our executive officers and directors as a group. |
In the table below, percentage ownership is based on 7,158,254 shares of our common stock, issued and outstanding as of , 2024 (consisting of 2,845,754 shares of the Class A common stock and 4,312,500 shares of the Class B common stock). Voting power represents the voting power of shares of common stock owned beneficially by such person. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all common stock beneficially owned by them.
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
|
Number of
Shares of
Beneficially
Owned |
|
|
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common
Stock |
|
| Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC (our sponsor)(2)(3) |
|
|
4,312,500 |
|
|
|
60.3 |
% |
| Adam Dooley(2)(3) |
|
|
4,312,500 |
|
|
|
60.3 |
% |
| Jacqueline S. Shoback |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
* |
|
| Elizabeth Mora |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
* |
|
| Peter K. Scaturro |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
* |
|
| Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
* |
|
| All officers, directors and director nominees as a group(2) |
|
|
4,312,500 |
|
|
|
60.3 |
% |
| Other 5% Stockholders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Saba Capital Management, L.P.(4) |
|
|
668,580 |
|
|
|
9.3 |
% |
| Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund, a series of Calamos Investment Trust(5) |
|
|
1,250,000 |
|
|
|
17.5 |
% |
| Cowen and Company LLC(6) |
|
|
698,401 |
|
|
|
9.8 |
% |
| Wolverine Asset Management, LLC(7) |
|
|
500,605 |
|
|
|
7.0 |
% |
| Meteora Capital, LLC(8) |
|
|
1,290,124 |
|
|
|
18.0 |
% |
| First Trust Capital Management L.P.(9) |
|
|
1,146,713 |
|
|
|
16.0 |
% |
| Fir Tree Capital Management LP(10) |
|
|
1,082,094 |
|
|
|
15.1 |
% |
| (1) |
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of our stockholders is 4041 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, California 92660. |
| (2) |
Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, classified as Class B common stock. Such shares will automatically convert into Class A common stock at the time of a business combination. |
| (3) |
The shares reported are held in the name of our sponsor. Certain of our directors, officers and their affiliates hold membership interests in our sponsor. Our sponsor is controlled by Belay Associates, LLC. Adam Dooley is the manager of Belay Associates, LLC. As such, Adam Dooley may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the Class B common stock held directly by our sponsor. |
| (4) |
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 8, 2024 by Saba Capital Management, L.P. (“Saba Capital”), Saba Capital Management GP, LLC (“Saba GP”) and Boaz R. Weinstein. Each of Saba Capital, Saba GP and Mr. Weinstein share voting and dispositive power with respect to 668,580 shares of Everest Class A common stock. The address of the business office of each of Saba Capital, Saba GP and Mr. Weinstein is 405 Lexington Avenue, 58 Floor, New York, New York 10174. |
| (5) |
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed on October 7, 2024 by Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund, a series of Calamos Investment Trust. The address of the business office of the reporting persons is 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Illinois 60563. |
| (6) |
Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed on February 5, 2024 by Cowen and Company, LLC. The address of the business office of Cowen and Company, LLC is 599 Lexington Ave. New York, NY 10022. |
| (7) |
Based solely a Schedule 13G/A filed on September 5, 2024 by Wolverine Asset Management, LLC (“WAM”). WAM is an investment manager and has voting and dispositive power over 500,605 shares of Class A common stock. The sole member and manager of WAM is Wolverine Holdings, L.P. (“Wolverine Holdings”). Robert R. Bellick and Christopher L. Gust may be deemed to control Wolverine Trading Partners, Inc. (“WTP”), the general partner of Wolverine Holdings. Each of Wolverine Holdings, Mr. Bellick, Mr. Gust, and WTP have voting and disposition power over 500,605 shares of Class A common stock of the Issuer. The address of the business office of the reporting persons is 175 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 340, Chicago, IL 60604. |
| (8) |
Based solely a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2024 by Meteora Capital, LLC (“Meteora Capital”), certain funds and managed accounts to which Meteora Capital serves as investment manager (collectively, the “Meteora Funds”) and Vik Mittal, who serves as the Managing Member of Meteora Capital. Each of Meteora Capital, the Meteora Funds and Mr. Mittal share voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,290,124 shares of Everest Class A common stock. The address of the business office of each of Meteora Capital, the Meteora Funds and Mr. Mittal is 1200 N Federal Hwy, #200, Boca Raton FL 33432. |
| (9) |
Based solely a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2024 by First Trust Merger Arbitrage Fund (“VARBX”), First Trust Capital Management L.P. (“FTCM”), First Trust Capital Solutions L.P. (“FTCS”) and FTCS Sub GP LLC (“Sub GP”). Each of VARBX. FTCM, FTCS and Sub GP share voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,146,713 shares of Everest Class A common stock. The principal business address of FTCM, FTCS and Sub GP is 225 W. Wacker Drive, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60606. The principal business address of VARBX is 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212. |
| (10) |
Based solely a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2024 by Fir Tree Capital Management LP. The address of the business office of the reporting persons is 500 5th Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10110. |
Sculptor and Sculptor-II serve as the principal investment managers to a number of private funds and discretionary accounts and thus may be deemed beneficial owners of the Everest Class A common stock in such accounts managed by Sculptor and Sculptor-II. SCHC-II serves as the sole general partner of Sculptor-II and is wholly owned by Sculptor. SCHC serves as the sole general partner of Sculptor, and as such, SCHC and SCHC-II may be deemed to control Sculptor as well as Sculptor-II and, therefore, may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of the Everest Class A common stock reported in the Schedule 13G/A. SCU is the sole shareholder of SCHC, and, for purposes of the Schedule 13G/A, may be deemed a beneficial owner of the Everest Class A common stock reported in the Schedule 13G/A. The business address of each of Sculptor, Sculptor-II, SCHC, SCHC-II, and SCU is 9 West 57 Street, 39 Floor, New York, NY 10019. The business address of SCMF is c/o State Street (Cayman) Trust, Limited, 1 Nexus Way - Suite #5203, PO Box 896, Helicona Courtyard,Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-1103, Cayman. The principal business address of NRMD is c/o Maples FS Limited, P.O. Box 1093, Queensgate House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1102, Cayman Islands. The principal business address of NJGC is c/o The Corporation Trust Company 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington DE 19801.
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS
Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, the Company and its agents that deliver communications to its stockholders are permitted to deliver to two or more stockholders sharing the same address a single copy of the Company’s proxy statement. Upon written or oral request, the Company will deliver a separate copy of the proxy statement to any stockholder at a shared address who wishes to receive separate copies of such documents in the future. Stockholders receiving multiple copies of such documents may likewise request that the Company deliver single copies of such documents in the future. Stockholders may notify the Company of their requests by writing the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices at 4041 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660, or by email at investor@everestconsolidator.com.
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 http://www.sec.gov.
You may obtain additional copies of this proxy statement, at no cost, and you may ask any questions you may have about the Charter Amendment Proposals or the Adjournment Proposal by contacting us at the following address or email:
Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation
4041 MacArthur Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 488-8075
Email: investor@everestconsolidator.com
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:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Bank and Brokers Call Collect: (212) 269-5550
All Others, Please Call Toll-Free: (800) 901-0068
Email: MNTN@dfking.com
In order to receive timely delivery of the documents in advance of the special meeting, you must make your request for information no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 15, 2024 (at least five business days prior to the date of the special meeting).
ANNEX A
PROPOSED CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
EVEREST CONSOLIDATOR ACQUISITION CORPORATION
Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), does hereby certify:
1. The name of the corporation is Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation. The corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the DGCL on March 8, 2021, under the name of Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation.
2. The date of filing of the corporation’s original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware was March 8, 2021, and the date of filing the corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware was November 23, 2021.
3. The Board of Directors of the corporation has duly adopted resolutions setting forth proposed amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation (as amended and restated prior to the date hereof), declaring said amendment to be advisable and in the best interests of the corporation and its stockholders and authorizing the appropriate officers of the corporation to solicit the consent of the stockholders therefor, which resolutions setting forth the proposed amendment are substantially as follows:
RESOLVED, that Section 9.1(b) of Article IX of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
“Immediately after the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration statement on Form S-1, initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 18, 2021, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay franchise and income taxes, as well as expenses relating to the administration of the trust account, none of the funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of a Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below) if the Corporation is unable to complete a Business Combination on or before the Termination Date (as defined below), subject to applicable law and (iii) the redemption of Offering Shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate (A) that would modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation has not completed a Business Combination on or before the Termination Date or (B) with respect to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 9.7). Holders of shares of the common stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are Everest Consolidator Sponsor, LLC (the “Sponsor”) or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as “Public Stockholders.”
RESOLVED, that Section 9.2(a) of Article IX of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
“Prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity to have their Offering Shares redeemed, out of the funds legally available therefor, upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, Section 9.2(b) and Section 9.2(c) (such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed pursuant to such Sections, the “Redemption Rights”) for cash equal to the applicable redemption price per share determined in accordance with Section 9.2(b) (the “Redemption Price”).”
RESOLVED, that Section 9.2(b) of Article IX of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
“If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares other than in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (or any successor rules or regulations) and filing proxy materials with the SEC, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Tender Offer Rules”), which it shall commence prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination and shall file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination that contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the Redemption Rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Proxy Solicitation Rules”), even if such information is not required under the Tender Offer Rules; provided, however, that if a stockholder vote is required by law to approve the proposed initial Business Combination, or the Corporation decides to submit the proposed initial Business Combination to the stockholders for their approval for business or other legal reasons, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the Proxy Solicitation Rules (and not the Tender Offer Rules) at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Section 9.2(b). In the event that the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer Rules, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares tendering their Offering Shares pursuant to such tender offer shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing: (i) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the Trust Account, by (ii) the number of then outstanding Offering Shares. If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the proposed initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares exercising their Redemption Rights shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Corporation to pay its taxes, by (B) the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.”
RESOLVED, that Section 9.2(d) of Article IX of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
“In the event that the Corporation has not completed an initial Business Combination by November 23, 2024, the Board may extend the period of time to consummate an initial Business Combination by six (6) additional one month periods, up to May 23, 2025 (the latest such date being referred to as the “Termination Date”); provided that, in each case, the Corporation (or its affiliates or designees), after providing five business days advance notice prior to the date that the period of time would otherwise expire, has deposited into the Trust Account $10,000 (the “Extension Payment”). The gross proceeds from such Extension Payments will be added to the proceeds from the Offering held in the Trust Account and shall be used to fund the redemption of the Offering Shares in accordance with this clause (d). In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination by or before the Termination Date, the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares, at a per- share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Corporation to pay its taxes, if any, and expenses related to the administration of the Trust Account (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.”
RESOLVED, that Section 9.2(e) of Article IX of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
“If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if such initial Business Combination is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider such initial Business Combination.”
RESOLVED, that Section 9.2(f) of Article IX of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
“Reserved.”
RESOLVED, that Section 9.7 of Article IX of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
“If, in accordance with Section 9.1(a), any amendment is made to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Corporation’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation does not complete an initial Business Combination on or before the Termination Date, or (b) with respect to any other provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Corporation to pay its taxes and expenses related to the administration of the Trust Account, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.”
4. That thereafter, said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the DGCL by written consent of stockholders holding the requisite number of shares required by statute given in accordance with and pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be signed this day of , 2024.
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Adam Dooley
Chief Executive Officer |
ANNEX B
AMENDMENT TO THE
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 3 (this “Amendment”), dated as of [•], 2024, to the Investment Management Trust Agreement (as defined below) is made by and between Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (“Trustee”). All terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Trust Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee entered into an Investment Management Trust Agreement dated as of November 23, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”);
WHEREAS, Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement sets forth the terms that govern the liquidation of the Trust Account under the circumstances described therein;
WHEREAS, at a Special Meeting of stockholders of the Company held on August 24, 2023, the Company stockholders approved a proposal to amend (the “First Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide the Company’s Board of Directors with the right to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from August 28, 2023 to February 28, 2024;
WHEREAS, at a Special Meeting of stockholders of the Company held on February 26, 2024, the Company stockholders approved a proposal to amend (the “Second Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide the Company’s Board of Directors with the right to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from February 28, 2024 to August 28, 2024;
WHEREAS, at a Special Meeting of stockholders of the Company held on August 28, 2024, the Company stockholders approved a proposal to amend (the “Third Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide the Company’s Board of Directors with the right to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination up to an additional three (3) times for one (1) month each time, from August 28, 2024 to November 23, 2024;
WHEREAS, at a Special Meeting of stockholders of the Company held on November 22, 2024, the Company stockholders approved a proposal to amend (the “Fourth Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide the Company’s Board of Directors with the right to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025 and
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Company is filing the Fourth Extension Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
The Trust Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
1. Preamble. The text below is hereby added as the fifth WHEREAS clause in the preamble of the Trust Agreement:
“WHEREAS, if a Business Combination (as defined below) is not consummated by November 23, 2024, 36 months following the closing of the Offering, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) may extend such period by six (6) one-month periods, up to a maximum of 42 months in the aggregate following the closing of the Offering, by depositing $ per share issued at the Offering that have not been redeemed into the Trust Account no later than November 23, 2024 (the 36-month anniversary of the Offering), and each succeeding one-month anniversary through and up to May 23, 2025 (each, an “Applicable Deadline”); and”
2. Section 1(i). Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows:
“(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter (“Termination Letter”), in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, signed on behalf of the Company by its President, Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company or other authorized officer of the Company and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; provided, however, that in the event that a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee by the 36-month anniversary of the closing of the Offering or, in the event that the Company extended the time to complete the Business Combination for up to 42-months from the closing of the Offering but has not completed the Business Combination within the applicable monthly anniversary of the Closing, (“Last Date”), the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B hereto and distributed to the Public Stockholders as of the Last Date.”
3. Section 1(m). Section 1(m) is hereby added to the Trust Agreement as follows:
(m) Upon receipt of an extension letter (“Extension Letter”) substantially similar to Exhibit E hereto at least five business days prior to the Applicable Deadline, signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer, and receipt of the dollar amount specified in the Extension Letter on or prior to the Applicable Deadline, to follow the instructions set forth in the Extension Letter.
4. Exhibit E. Exhibit E is hereby added to the Trust Agreement as follows:
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
55 Challenger Road
Ridgefield Park, NJ, 07660
Attn: Relationship Management
Re: Trust Account - Extension Letter
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to paragraph 1(m) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation (“Company”) and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (“Trustee”), dated as of November 23, 2021, (as amended, the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company is extending the time available in order to consummate a Business Combination with a target business for an additional one (1) month, from to (the “Extension”). Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.
This Extension Letter shall serve as the notice required with respect to Extension prior to the Applicable Deadline.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to deposit $ or $ per public share, which will be wired to you, into the Trust Account investments upon receipt.
This is the of up to Extension Letters.
Very truly yours,
Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation
Everest Consolidator Acquisition Corporation
3. All other provisions of the Trust Agreement shall remain unaffected by the terms hereof.
4. This Amendment may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. A facsimile signature shall be deemed to be an original signature for purposes of this Amendment.
5. This Amendment is intended to be in full compliance with the requirements for an Amendment to the Trust Agreement as required by Section 6(d) of the Trust Agreement, and every defect in fulfilling such requirements for an effective amendment to the Trust Agreement is hereby ratified, intentionally waived and relinquished by all parties hereto.
6. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Amendment to the Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
| EQUINITI TRUST COMPANY, LLC, AS TRUSTEE |
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Name: |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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| EVEREST CONSOLIDATOR ACQUISITION CORPORATION |
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| By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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EVEREST CONSOLIDATOR ACQUISITION CORPORATION
— THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 1, PROPOSAL 2 AND PROPOSAL 3.
| 1. | A proposal to amend (the “Extension Amendment”)
the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Charter”) to provide the Company’s
Board of Directors with the right to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination up to an additional
six (6) times for one (1) month each time, from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025. |
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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| 2. | A proposal to approve the adoption
of an amendment (the “Trust Amendment”) to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2021,
by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee, to allow the Company to extend the Combination
Period up to an additional six (6) times for one (1) month each time from November 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025, the Extended Date, by depositing
into the Trust Account, for each one-month extension, a payment of $10,000t. |
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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| 3. | A proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting to a later date or
dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes to approve the
Extension Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension. |
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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| Dated: | , 2024 |
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| | Signature |
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| | (Signature if held Jointly) |
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| | When Shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please
give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by the president or another authorized officer. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by an authorized person. |
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| | The Shares represented by the proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder(s).
If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1, Proposal 2 and Proposal 3. If any other matters properly come before
the meeting, unless such authority is withheld on this proxy card, the Proxies will vote on such matters in their discretion. |
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