NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 21, 2022
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF EDIFY ACQUISITION CORP.:
You are cordially invited to attend the special meeting (the “special
meeting”) of stockholders of Edify Acquisition Corp. (the “Company,” “we,”
“us” or “our”), to be held at 12:00 p.m. EST, on December 21, 2022. The special
meeting will be held virtually, at https://www.cstproxy.com/edifyacq/2022 . At the special meeting, the stockholders will consider
and vote upon the following proposals:
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To amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation (our “charter”) to allow the Company to extend the date by which
the Company must consummate a business combination (as defined below) (the “Extension”) from January 20,
2023 (the date that is 24 months from the closing date of the Company’s initial public offering of units (the “IPO”))
to April 20, 2023 (the date that is 27 months from the closing date of the IPO) (the “Amended Date”) and
on a monthly basis up to three times from the Amended Date to July 20, 2023 (the date that is 30 months from the closing date of
the IPO) (the “Extended Date”) (the “Extension Amendment Proposal”). |
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To amend (the “Trust Amendment”) the Investment Management Trust Agreement,
dated January 14, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company (the “Trustee”), to allow the Company to extend the date on which the Trustee must
liquidate the trust account established by the Company in connection with the IPO (the “trust account”)
if the Company has not completed its initial business combination, from January 20, 2023 (the date that is 24 months from the closing
date of the IPO) to April 20, 2023 (the date that is 27 months from the closing date of the IPO) and on a monthly basis up to three
times from the Amended Date to July 20, 2023 (the date that is 30 months from the closing date of the IPO) (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”). |
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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 Extension Amendment
Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension (the “Adjournment
Proposal”). The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the special meeting if there are not sufficient votes
for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
Each of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal
and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement. The special meeting will be a virtual meeting.
You will be able to attend and participate in the special meeting online by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/edifyacq/2022. 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 and the Trust Amendment
is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “business combination”).
While we are currently in discussions with respect to a business combination, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”)
currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before January 20, 2023 to complete an initial business combination (the “Combination
Period”). Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able to consummate an initial
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. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination
prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission announcing the proposed business combination. 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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
The Company will have the sole discretion whether to continue extending
the time to complete a business combination until the Extended Date. If the Company determines not to continue extending for an additional
period, or if the Company’s board of directors otherwise determines that the Company will not be able to consummate
an initial business combination by the Extended Date and does not wish to seek an additional Extension, the Company would wind up the
Company’s affairs and redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares in accordance with the same procedures set forth below that
would be applicable if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved.
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 and the Trust
Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. In addition, the Company will not proceed with the Extension
if the number of redemptions of our public shares causes the Company to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval
of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. 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.
Subject
to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), Colbeck Edify Holdings, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), our directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates
may (i) purchase public shares from institutional and other investors (including those who vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against
any of the proposals presented at the special meeting, or elect to redeem, or indicate an intention to redeem, public shares), (ii) enter
into transactions with such investors and others to provide them with incentives to not redeem their public shares, or (iii) execute
agreements to purchase such public shares from such investors or enter into non-redemption agreements in the future. In the
event that the Sponsor, our directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates purchase public shares in situations
in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would apply, they (a) would purchase the public shares at a price no higher
than the price offered through the Company’s redemption process; (b) would represent in writing that such public shares will not
be voted in favor of approving the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal; and (c) would waive in writing any
redemption rights with respect to the public shares so purchased.
To the extent any such purchases by the Sponsor, our directors,
officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates are made in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases
apply, we will disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to the Special Meeting the following: (i) the number of public
shares purchased outside of the redemption offer, along with the purchase price(s) for such public shares; (ii) the purpose of any such
purchases; (iii) the impact, if any, of the purchases on the likelihood that the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal will be approved; (iv) the identities of the securityholders who sold to the Sponsor, our directors, officers, advisors or any
of their respective affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of the securityholders (e.g., 5% security holders)
who sold such public shares; and (v) the number of shares of Class A common stock for which the Company has received redemption requests
pursuant to its redemption offer.
The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would
be to increase the likelihood of otherwise limiting the number of public shares electing to redeem.
If such transactions are effected, the consequence could be to
cause the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal to be effectuated in circumstances where such effectuation could
not otherwise occur. Consistent with SEC guidance, purchases of shares by the persons described above would not be permitted to be voted
for Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal at the Special Meeting and could decrease the chances that the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal would be approved. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float”
of our securities and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or
obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
The Company hereby represents that any Company securities purchased
by the Sponsor, our directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates in situations in which the tender offer rules
restrictions on purchases would apply would not be voted in favor of approving the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal.
Our Board has fixed the close of business on December 6, 2022 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 Extension Amendment Proposal, 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 as of two business days prior to such approval, including interest
earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s
working capital requirements, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares (the “Election”), regardless
of whether such public stockholders vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. However, the Company may
not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001. If the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal 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 $10.11 at the time of the special meeting (based on the
trust account balance as of December 1, 2022). The closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on The Nasdaq Capital
Market on December 1, 2022 was $10.04. Accordingly, if the market price were to remain the same until the date of the special meeting,
exercising redemption rights would result in a public stockholder receiving approximately $0.07 more per share than if such stockholder
sold the public shares in the open market. 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 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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal
is not approved and the Company does not consummate an initial business combination within the Combination Period, as contemplated by
the 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 interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the
Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements (less up to $100,000 of such interest 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, dissolve
and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and 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 advisable
and recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” 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 and the 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.
December 5, 2022 |
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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/s/ Ronald H. Schlosser |
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Ronald H. Schlosser |
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Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board |
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 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 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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, and an abstention will have
the same effect as voting against the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment 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.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on December 21, 2022:
This notice of meeting and the accompanying proxy statement are available at https://www.cstproxy.com/edifyacq/2022.
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 DECEMBER
19, 2022, 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.
PROXY STATEMENT — DATED DECEMBER 2, 2022
EDIFY ACQUISITION CORP.
888 7th Avenue, Floor 29
New York, NY 10106
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 21, 2022
The special meeting of stockholders (the “special meeting”)
of Edify Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us”
or “our”), will be held at 12:00 p.m. EST, on December 21, 2022. The special meeting will be held virtually,
at https://www.cstproxy.com/edifyacq/2022 . At the special meeting, the stockholders will consider and vote upon the following
proposals:
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1. |
To amend (the “Extension Amendment”) the Company’s Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation (our “charter”) to allow the Company to extend the date by which
the Company must consummate a business combination (as defined below) (the “Extension”) from January 20,
2023 (the date that is 24 months from the closing date of the Company’s initial public offering of units (the “IPO”))
to April 20, 2023 (the date that is 27 months from the closing date of the IPO) (the “Amended Date”) and
on a monthly basis up to three times from the Amended Date to July 20, 2023 (the date that is 30 months from the closing date of
the IPO) (the “Extended Date”) (the “Extension Amendment Proposal”). |
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To amend (the “Trust Amendment”) the Investment Management Trust Agreement,
dated January 14, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company (the “Trustee”), to allow the Company to extend the date on which the Trustee must liquidate
the trust account established by the Company in connection with the IPO (the “trust account”) if the Company
has not completed its initial business combination, from January 20, 2023 (the date that is 24 months from the closing date of the
IPO) to April 20, 2023 (the date that is 27 months from the closing date of the IPO) and on a monthly basis up to three times from
the Amended Date to July 20, 2023 (the date that is 30 months from the closing date of the IPO) (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”). |
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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 Extension Amendment
Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension (the “Adjournment
Proposal”). The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the special meeting if there are not sufficient votes
for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
The purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment
Proposal, and, if necessary the Adjournment Proposal, is more fully described herein. The special meeting will be a virtual meeting. You
will be able to attend and participate in the special meeting online by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/edifyacq/2022. 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 and the Trust Amendment
is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “business combination”).
While we are currently in discussions with respect to a business combination, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”)
currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before January 20, 2023 to complete an initial business combination (the “Combination
Period”). Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able to consummate an initial
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. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination
prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announcing the proposed business combination. 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 Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
The Company will have the sole discretion whether to continue extending
the time to complete a business combination until the Extended Date. If the Company determines not to continue extending for an additional
period, or if the Company’s board of directors otherwise determines that the Company will not be able to consummate an initial
business combination by the Extended Date and does not wish to seek an additional Extension, the Company would wind up the Company’s
affairs and redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares in accordance with the same procedures set forth below that would be applicable
if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved.
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 Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal. Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the
implementation of the Extension. In addition, the Company will not proceed with the Extension if the number of redemptions of our public
shares causes the Company to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
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 December 6, 2022 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 Extension Amendment Proposal, 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 the IPO (the “trust
account”) as of two business days prior to such approval, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account
and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements, divided by the number
of then outstanding public shares (the “Election”), regardless of whether such public stockholders vote on
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. However, the Company may not redeem our public shares in an amount
that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
are 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 approximately $10.11 (based on the trust account balance as of December 1, 2022)
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 $10.11 at the time of the special meeting (based on the
Trust Account balance as of December 1, 2022). The closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on The Nasdaq Capital
Market (the “NASDAQ”) on December 1, 2022 was $10.04. Accordingly, if the market price were to remain the same
until the date of the special meeting, exercising redemption rights would result in a public stockholder receiving approximately $0.07
more per share than if such stockholder sold the public shares in the open market. 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 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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal
is not approved and the Company does not consummate an initial business combination within the Combination Period, as contemplated by
the 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 interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the
Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements (less up to $100,000 of such interest 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, dissolve
and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and 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.
Colbeck Edify Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(the “Sponsor”), has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third
party (other than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company,
or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds
in the trust account to below (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account
as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest
which may be withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements, except as to any
claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as 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 the Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently
verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that the Sponsor’s only assets
are securities of the Company. Therefore, we cannot assure that the 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 and the Trust Amendment Proposal
are 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 interest earned on the funds held
in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements,
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
and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved.
Our Board has fixed the close of business on December 6, 2022 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 27,600,000 outstanding shares of the Company’s Class A common stock and
6,900,000 outstanding shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, which vote together as a single class with respect to the
Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. The Company’s warrants do not have voting rights in connection
with the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal 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
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement contains statements that are forward-looking
and as such are not historical facts. This includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s financial position,
business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including as they relate to a business combination.
These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. They involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements
of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements.
Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this proxy
statement, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,”
“expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,”
“predict,” “project,” “should,” “strive,” “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. When the
Company discusses its strategies or plans, including as they relate to a business combination, it is making projections, forecasts or
forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the beliefs of, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available
to, the Company’s management. Actual results and stockholders’ value will be affected by a variety of risks and factors,
including, without limitation, international, national and local economic conditions, merger, acquisition and business combination risks,
financing risks, geo-political risks, acts of terror or war, and those risk factors described under “Item 1A. Risk Factors”
of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022 and Form 10-Q filed with the SEC
on August 15, 2022, in this proxy statement and in other reports the Company files with the SEC. Many of the risks and factors that will
determine these results and stockholders’ value are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict.
All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
proxy statement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions
or circumstances on which any such statement is based. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or
persons acting on the Company’s behalf are qualified in their entirety by this “Forward-Looking Statements” section.
RISK FACTORS
You should consider carefully all of the risks described in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August
15, 2022 and in the other reports we file with the SEC 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 our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q 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.
If we were deemed to be an investment company for purposes of
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), we may be forced to abandon our efforts to
complete an initial business combination and instead be required to liquidate the Company. To avoid that result, on or shortly prior
to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement relating to our initial public offering, we will liquidate
the securities held in the trust account and instead hold all funds in the trust account in cash. As a result, following such liquidation,
we will likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the trust account, which would reduce the dollar amount that our
public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules (the “SPAC
Rule Proposals”), relating to, among other things, circumstances in which special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”)
such as us could potentially be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. The SPAC Rule Proposals would provide
a safe harbor for such companies from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment
Company Act, provided that a SPAC satisfies certain criteria. To comply with the duration limitation of the proposed safe harbor, a SPAC
would have a limited time period to announce and complete a de-SPAC transaction. Specifically, to comply with the safe harbor, the SPAC
Rule Proposals would require a SPAC to file a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing that it has entered into an agreement with a target
company for an initial business combination no later than 18 months after the effective date of the registration statement relating to
the SPAC’s initial public offering. Such SPAC would then be required to complete its initial business combination no later than
24 months after the effective date of the registration statement relating to its initial public offering.
There is currently uncertainty concerning the applicability of the
Investment Company Act to a SPAC, including a company like ours, that has not entered into a definitive agreement within 18 months after
the effective date of the registration statement relating to its initial public offering or that does not complete its initial business
combination within 24 months after such date. We have not entered into a definitive business combination agreement within 18 months after
the effective date of the registration statement relating to our initial public offering, and do not expect to complete our initial business
combination within 24 months of such date. As a result, it is possible that a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered
investment company. 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. If we are required to liquidate, our investors
would not be able to realize the benefits of owning stock in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in
the value of our stock and warrants following such a transaction, and our warrants would expire worthless.
The funds in the trust account have, since our 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 investing solely in United States Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7
under the Investment Company Act. However, to mitigate the risk of us 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), we will, on or shortly prior
to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement relating to our initial public offering, instruct Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 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 cash until the earlier of consummation
of our initial business combination or liquidation. As a result, following such liquidation, we will likely receive minimal interest,
if any, on the funds held in the trust account, which would reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption
or liquidation of the Company.
In addition, even prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective
date of the registration statement relating to our initial public offering, we may be deemed to be an investment company. The longer
that the funds in the trust account are held in short-term U.S. government securities or in money market funds invested exclusively in
such securities, even prior to the 24-month anniversary, there is a greater risk that we may be considered an unregistered investment
company, in which case we may be required to liquidate. Accordingly, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities
held in the trust account at any time, even prior to the 24-month anniversary, and instead hold all funds in the trust account in cash,
which would further reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation.
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 as a Delaware corporation
on September 30, 2020 formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization,
or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On January 20, 2021, the Company consummated the IPO of 27,600,000 units
(the “units”), including the underwriters’ over-allotment option of 3,600,000 units that was exercised
in full. Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock at a par value $0.0001 per share (the “public shares”)
and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant (the “public warrants”) is exercisable to purchase
one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating
gross proceeds of $276,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the sale of an aggregate of 5,640,000
warrants (the “private placement warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per warrant in a private placement to the Sponsor,
generating gross proceeds to the Company of $5,640,000.
Following the closing of the IPO on January 20, 2021, an amount of
$276,000,000 ($10.00 per unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the units in the IPO and the sale of the 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
under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, until the earliest of: (a) the
completion of the Company’s initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection
with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s charter (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation
to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if the Company does not
complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO or (ii) with respect to any other provision
relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of the Company’s
public shares if the Company is unable to complete the initial 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 consummated on or before a certain date (the “Combination
Period”). In our case such certain date is January 20, 2023. Our Board has determined that it is in the best interests
of the Company to amend the Company’s charter to allow the Company to extend the date to consummate a business combination from
January 20, 2023 to April 20, 2023 and on a monthly basis up to three times from the Amended Date to July 20, 2023 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. The proposals are listed below:
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1. |
Extension Amendment Proposal: To amend our charter to allow the
Company to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a business combination from January 20, 2023 (the date that is 24
months from the closing date of the IPO) to April 20, 2023 (the date that is 27 months from the closing date of the IPO) and on a
monthly basis up to three times from the Amended Date to July 20, 2023 (the date that is 30 months from the closing date of the IPO). |
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2. |
Trust Amendment Proposal: To amend the Trust Agreement to extend the liquidation date from
January 20, 2023 to April 20, 2023 and on a monthly basis up to three times from the Amended Date to July 20, 2023. |
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3. |
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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary
to effectuate the Extension. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the special meeting if there are not sufficient votes
for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
What are the purposes of the Extension Amendment and the Trust
Amendment?
The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment
is to provide the Company with sufficient time to complete a business combination. While we are currently in discussions with respect
to a business combination, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time within the Combination Period to complete
an initial business combination. Accordingly, our Board believes that the Extension is necessary in order to be able to consummate an
initial 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. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination
prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC announcing the proposed
business combination.
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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal 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. The Company will not proceed with the Extension if redemptions of our
public shares cause the Company to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
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 and the Trust Amendment Proposal
are 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 and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the amount remaining
in the trust account may be only a fraction of the $279,046,397.86 that was in the trust account as of December 1, 2022. 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 or the Trust Amendment Proposal
is not approved and the Company has not consummated an initial 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 interest earned on the funds held in the
trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements (less
up to $100,000 of such interest 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, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide
for claims of creditors and 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 an initial 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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine
that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension.
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 consummated within
the Combination Period. While we are currently in discussions with respect to a business combination, the Board currently believes that
there will not be sufficient time within the Combination Period to complete an initial business combination. Accordingly, the Company
has determined to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which the Company has to complete the business combination.
The sole purpose of the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment
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 an initial business combination. In the event that we enter into a definitive
agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on
Form 8-K with the SEC announcing the proposed business combination. 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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary to effectuate the Extension. Accordingly, our Board is proposing the Extension
Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal 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 and the
Trust Amendment Proposal?
Our Board believes stockholders will benefit from the Company consummating
a business combination and is proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal and 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 in the best interests of the stockholders.
Our charter provides that if 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 interest
earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s
working capital requirements, 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.
The Trust Agreement provides that if a business combination has not
been consummated, upon the date which is 24 months after the closing of the IPO, or January 20, 2023, the trust account is to be liquidated
and its proceeds are to be distributed to the Company’s public stockholders of record as of such date, including interest earned
on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes or to fund the Company’s working
capital requirements (less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses). The purpose of
the Trust Amendment is to amend the Trust Agreement to extend the liquidation date of the trust account from February 1, 2023 to May
1, 2023 and on a monthly basis up to three times from the Amended Date to July 20, 2023 to match the Company’s charter if the Extension
Amendment is approved.
Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal but expresses no opinion as to whether you should redeem your public shares.
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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Adjournment Proposal.
When would the Board abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal?
Our Board will abandon the Extension Amendment and the Trust Amendment
Proposal if our stockholders do not approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust 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 Company’s initial stockholders (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 all 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 6,900,000
founder shares, which represents 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock.
Subject
to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), Colbeck Edify Holdings, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), our directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates
may (i) purchase public shares from institutional and other investors (including those who vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against
any of the proposals presented at the special meeting, or elect to redeem, or indicate an intention to redeem, public shares), (ii) enter
into transactions with such investors and others to provide them with incentives to not redeem their public shares, or (iii) execute
agreements to purchase such public shares from such investors or enter into non-redemption agreements in the future. In the
event that the Sponsor, our directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates purchase public shares in situations
in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would apply, they (a) would purchase the public shares at a price no higher
than the price offered through the Company’s redemption process; (b) would represent in writing that such public shares will not
be voted in favor of approving the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal; and (c) would waive in writing any
redemption rights with respect to the public shares so purchased.
To the extent any such purchases by the Sponsor, our directors,
officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates are made in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases
apply, we will disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to the Special Meeting the following: (i) the number of public
shares purchased outside of the redemption offer, along with the purchase price(s) for such public shares; (ii) the purpose of any such
purchases; (iii) the impact, if any, of the purchases on the likelihood that the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal will be approved; (iv) the identities of the securityholders who sold to the Sponsor, our directors, officers, advisors or any
of their respective affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of the securityholders (e.g., 5% security holders)
who sold such public shares; and (v) the number of shares of Class A common stock for which the Company has received redemption requests
pursuant to its redemption offer.
The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would
be to increase the likelihood of otherwise limiting the number of public shares electing to redeem.
If such transactions are effected, the consequence could be to
cause the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal to be effectuated in circumstances where such effectuation could
not otherwise occur. Consistent with SEC guidance, purchases of shares by the persons described above would not be permitted to be voted
for Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal at the Special Meeting and could decrease the chances that the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal would be approved. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float”
of our securities and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or
obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange. The Company hereby represents that any
Company securities purchased by the Sponsor, our directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates in situations in
which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would apply would not be voted in favor of approving the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Does the Board recommend voting for the approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal?
Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of the
proposals, the Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal 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”
the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal.
What vote is required to adopt the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal?
Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and 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.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are
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 interest earned
on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working
capital requirements, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. However, the Company may not redeem our public shares
in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001.
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 December 6, 2022 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 Extension Amendment
Proposal and/or the Trust Amendment Proposal?
If you do not want the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment
Proposal to be approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote against the proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust
Amendment Proposal are approved, and the Extension is implemented, then the Withdrawal Amount will be withdrawn from the trust account
and paid to the redeeming holders.
What if I don’t want to vote for the Adjournment Proposal?
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 vote on 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 its initial business combination,
although it may determine to do so in the future.
What happens if the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust
Amendment Proposal is not approved?
If the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal
is not approved and the Company has not consummated an initial 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 interest earned on the funds held in the
trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements (less
up to $100,000 of such interest 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, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide
for claims of creditors and 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 an initial business combination within the Combination Period.
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 an initial 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 in the form of Annex A hereto. The Company
will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units, public shares, and public warrants will remain publicly traded.
The Company will also execute an amendment to the Trust Agreement in the form of Annex B hereto.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
are 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 an initial business combination and exercise my redemption rights with respect to an initial 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 12:00 p.m. EST, on December 21,
2022, in virtual format. The Company’s stockholders may attend, vote and examine the list of stockholders entitled to vote at the
special meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/edifyacq/2022 and entering the control number found on their proxy card, voting instruction
form or notice included in their proxy materials. You may also attend the special meeting telephonically by dialing 1 800-450-7155 (toll-free
within the United States and Canada) or +1 857-999-9155 (outside of the United States and Canada, standard rates apply). The pin number
for telephone access is 0693163#, but please note that you will not be able to vote or ask questions if you choose to participate telephonically.
The special meeting will be held in virtual meeting format only. You will not be able to attend the special meeting physically.
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, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“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: 917 -262-2373, or email proxy@continentalstock.com.
You can pre-register to attend the virtual meeting starting December
17, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. Enter the following URL address into your browser: https://www.cstproxy.com/edifyacq/2022, 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.
If you do not have internet capabilities, you can listen only to the
special meeting by dialing 1 800-450-7155, within the U.S. and Canada, or +1 857-999-9155 (standard rates apply) outside the U.S. and
Canada; when prompted enter the pin number 0693163#. This is listen only, you will not be able to vote or enter questions during the special
meeting.
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 virtually at the special meeting or by submitting a proxy for the special
meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting 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 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 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 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 888 7th Avenue, Floor 29, New York, NY 10106, Attn: Corporate Secretary.
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. Because
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal 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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust
Amendment Proposal.
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. 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.
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. It is expected that all proposals to be voted on at the special meeting will be treated as “non-routine” matters
and therefore, we do not expect there to be any broker non-votes at the special meeting.
Your bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your shares only if you
provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares in accordance with directions you provide. If
your shares are held by your broker as your nominee, which we refer to as being held in “street name”, you may need to obtain
a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct
your broker to vote your shares.
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 outstanding shares of common stock on the record date, including those shares held as a
constituent part of our units, are represented 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 virtually at the special meeting.
Because all of the proposals to be voted on at the special meeting are expected to be treated as “non-routine” matters, banks,
brokers and other nominees will not have authority to vote on any proposals unless instructed, so we do not expect there to be any broker
non-votes at the special meeting. 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 common stock,
including those shares held as a constituent part of our units, at the close of business on December 6, 2022, are entitled to have
their vote counted at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. As of the record date, 27,600,000 public
shares and 6,900,000 shares of Class B common stock were 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, Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote virtually at the special
meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting 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 virtually. However, since you are not the
stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares 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 Extension Amendment Proposal?
The Company’s directors and executive officers have interests
in the Extension Amendment Proposal 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
Extension Amendment — Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers.”
What if I object to the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust
Amendment Proposal and/or the Adjournment Proposal? Do I have appraisal rights?
Stockholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with either
the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal or, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal under the DGCL.
What happens to the Company’s warrants if the Extension
Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved?
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
are not approved and the Company has not consummated an initial 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 interest earned on the
funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital
requirements (less up to $100,000 of such interest 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, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to
our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and 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 and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved?
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
are 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 are the funds in the trust account currently being held?
With respect to the regulation of special purpose acquisition companies
like the Company, on March 30, 2022, the SEC issued the SPAC Rule Proposals relating to, among other items, disclosures in business
combination transactions involving SPACs and private operating companies; the condensed financial statement requirements applicable to
transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination
transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and the extent to which
SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, including a proposed rule that would provide
SPACs a safe harbor from treatment as an investment company if they satisfy certain conditions that limit a SPAC’s duration, asset
composition, business purpose and activities.
With regard to the SEC’s investment company proposals
included in the SPAC Rule Proposals, while the funds in the trust account have, since the Company’s initial public offering,
been held only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in
U.S. Treasuries, to mitigate the risk of being viewed as operating an unregistered investment company (including pursuant to the
subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act of 1940), the Company will instruct Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, the trustee managing the trust account, by January 20, 2023, to hold all funds in
the trust account in cash until the earlier of consummation of the business combination and liquidation of the Company.
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 interest earned on the funds held in the
trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements, 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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(i) |
(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 December 19, 2022 (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 Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s
transfer agent, at Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, Attn: Mark
Zimkind, 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 Extension Amendment Proposal 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 December 19, 2022 (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 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 Extension Amendment Proposal 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 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 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 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 Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 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 Morrow Sodali LLC (“Morrow Sodali”) to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the special
meeting. The Company has agreed to pay Morrow Sodali its customary fees. The Company will also reimburse Morrow Sodali 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:
Edify Acquisition Corp.
888 7th Avenue, Floor 29
New York, NY 10106
Attn: Corporate Secretary
You may also contact the Company’s proxy solicitor at:
Morrow Sodali LLC
333 Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford, CT 06902
Tel: (800) 662-5200 (toll-free) or
(203) 658-9400 (banks and brokers can call collect)
Email: EAC.info@investor.morrowsodali.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.”
THE SPECIAL MEETING
Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Special
Meeting
The special meeting will be held at 12:00 p.m. EST, on December 21,
2022. The special meeting will be held virtually, at https://www.cstproxy.com/edifyacq/2022 . At the special meeting, the stockholders
will consider and vote upon the following proposals.
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1. |
Extension Amendment Proposal: To amend our charter to allow the Company to extend the date
by which the Company must consummate a business combination from January 20, 2023 (the date that is 24 months from the closing date
of the IPO) to April 20, 2023 (the date that is 27 months from the closing date of the IPO) and on a monthly basis up to three times
from the Amended Date to July 20, 2023 (the date that is 30 months from the closing date of the IPO). |
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2. |
Trust Amendment Proposal: To amend the Trust Agreement to extend the liquidation date from
January 20, 2023 (the date that is 24 months from the closing date of the IPO) to April 20, 2023 (the date that is 27 months from
the closing date of the IPO) and on a monthly basis up to three times from the Amended Date to July 20, 2023 (the date that is 30
months from the closing date of the IPO) . |
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3. |
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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal or if we determine that additional time is necessary
to effectuate the Extension. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the special meeting if there are not sufficient votes
for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
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 December 6,
2022, 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 27,600,000
shares of Class A common stock and 6,900,000 shares of 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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal 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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust
Amendment 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.
If you do not want the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment
Proposal 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 Extension Amendment Proposal 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.
Voting
You can vote your shares at the special meeting by proxy 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 Ronald H. Schlosser to act as your proxy
at the special meeting. One of them 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 virtually.
A special note for those who plan to attend the special meeting
and vote 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”
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, Morrow Sodali, at (203) 658-9400 (call collect), (800) 662-5200 (call
toll-free), or by sending an email to : EAC.info@investor.morrowsodali.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.
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 filing with the Corporate Secretary at Edify Acquisition Corp., 888
7th Avenue, Floor 29, New York, NY 10106, 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 or by attending the special meeting and voting 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 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 Morrow Sodali its customary fees. The Company will also reimburse
Morrow Sodali 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 Morrow Sodali at:
Morrow Sodali LLC
333 Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford, CT 06902
Tel: (800) 662-5200 (toll-free) or
(203) 658-9400 (banks and brokers can call collect)
Email: EAC.info@investor.morrowsodali.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 at 888 7th Avenue, Floor
29, New York, NY 10106. Our telephone number at such address is (212) 603-2800.
THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT
PROPOSAL
Background
We are a blank check company whose business purpose is to effect a
merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
We were incorporated in Delaware on September 30, 2020. In October 2020, we issued an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares to the Sponsor
in exchange for an aggregate capital contribution of $25,000. On January 14, 2021, the Company effected a stock dividend of 0.2 of a
share of Class B common stock for each outstanding share of Class B common stock, resulting in an aggregate of 6,900,000 shares of Class
B common stock outstanding.
On January 20, 2021, we consummated the IPO of 27,600,000 units, including
the underwriters’ over-allotment option of 3,600,000 units that was exercised in full. Each unit consists of one share of Class A
common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one 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 of $276,000,000. Simultaneously
with the closing of the IPO, we consummated the sale of an aggregate of 5,640,000 private placement warrants at a price of $1.00 per
warrant in a private placement to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $5,640,000.
A total of $276,000,000 of the net proceeds from our initial public
offering and the private placement were deposited in a trust account established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders.
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 is to provide the Company
with sufficient time to complete an initial business combination. Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal is a condition to the
implementation of the Extension.
We are currently in discussions with respect to a business combination.
In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue
a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC announcing a proposed business combination.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company
has not consummated an initial 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 interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not
previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements (less up to $100,000 of such
interest 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, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims
of creditors and 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 an initial business combination within the Combination Period.
A copy of the proposed amendment to the Company’s charter is
attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.
Reasons for the 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 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 an initial business combination. Accordingly, since the Company will not be
able to complete an initial 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 an initial business combination. Therefore,
our Board will abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment unless our stockholders approve the Extension Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company
does not consummate an initial business combination within the Combination Period, as contemplated by the 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 interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the
Company’s working capital requirements (less up to $100,000 of such interest 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, dissolve and liquidate, subject
in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and 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, the 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 in the form of 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 $279,046,397.86 that was in the trust account as of December 1, 2022. 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. We will not proceed with the Extension if redemptions or repurchases of our public shares cause
us to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.
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 interest earned on the funds held in the
trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital requirements, divided
by the number of then outstanding public shares. However, the Company may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause
our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001. 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 DECEMBER 19, 2022 (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 December 19, 2022 (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 Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s
transfer agent, at Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, Attn:
Mark Zimkind, 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 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 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 interest earned on the
funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s working capital
requirements, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Based on the amount in the trust account as of December 1, 2022,
this would amount to approximately $10.11 per share. The closing price of the public shares on the NASDAQ on December 1, 2022, was $10.04.
Accordingly, if the market price were to remain the same until the date of the special meeting, exercising redemption rights would result
in a public stockholder receiving approximately $0.07 more per share than if such stockholder sold the public shares in the open market.
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 December 19, 2022 (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 Extension Amendment would receive payment
of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension Amendment.
Interests of the Company’s Directors and
Executive Officers
When you consider the recommendation of our Board, you should keep
in mind that the Company’s executive officers and directors, and their affiliates, have interests that may be different from, or
in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include, among other things:
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If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company
does not consummate an initial business combination within the Combination Period, in accordance with our charter, the 6,900,000 founder
shares that we issued to the Sponsor in exchange for an aggregate capital contribution of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share,
will be worthless (as the initial stockholders have waived liquidation rights with respect to such shares). The founder shares had an
aggregate market value of approximately $69,276,000 based on the last sale price for the Company’s public shares of $10.04 on the
NASDAQ on December 1, 2022; |
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If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company
does not consummate an initial business combination within the Combination Period, in accordance with our charter, the 5,640,000 private
placement warrants purchased by the Sponsor for an aggregate investment of $5,640,000, or $1.00 per warrant, will be worthless, as they
will expire. The private placement warrants had an aggregate market value (assuming they have the same value per warrant as the public
warrants) of $113,364 based on the last sale price for the public warrants of $0.0201 on the NASDAQ on December 2, 2022; |
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Even if the trading price of the Class A common
stock were as low as $0.82 per share, the aggregate market value of the Sponsor’s founder shares alone (without taking
into account the value of the private placement warrants) would be approximately equal to the initial investment in the Company by
the Sponsor. As a result, if an initial business combination is completed, the initial stockholders are likely to be able to make
a substantial profit on their investment in us even at a time when the Class A common stock has lost significant value. On the
other hand, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Company liquidates without completing its initial business
combination before January 20, 2023, the initial stockholders will lose their entire investment in us; |
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The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to
us, if and to the extent any claims by a third-party (other than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm)
for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into
a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below: (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such
lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions
in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes or to
fund the Company’s working capital requirements, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and
all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as 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; |
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All rights specified in the charter relating to the
right of officers and directors to be indemnified by the Company, and of the Company’s executive officers and directors to
be exculpated from monetary liability with respect to prior acts or omissions, will continue after a business combination. If a business
combination is not approved and the Company liquidates, the Company will not be able to perform its obligations to its officers and
directors under those provisions; |
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All of the current members of our Board are expected
to continue to serve as directors at least through the date of the special meeting to approve a business combination and some may
continue to serve following a business combination and receive compensation thereafter; and |
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The Company’s executive officers and directors,
and their affiliates are entitled to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on
the Company’s behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations. However, if the
Company fails to obtain the Extension and consummate a business combination, they will not have any claim against the trust account for
reimbursement. Accordingly, the Company will most likely not be able to reimburse these expenses if a business combination is not completed.
As of the date of this proxy statement, there are no outstanding out-of-pocket expenses for which the Company’s executive officers
or directors, or their respective affiliates are awaiting reimbursement. |
Additionally, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and
we consummate an initial business combination, the Sponsor, officers and directors may have additional interests as will be described
in the proxy statement for the business combination.
We may not be able to complete an initial business
combination with a U.S. target company if such initial business combination is subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review
by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), or ultimately prohibited.
The Sponsor is not controlled by and it does not
have substantial ties with a non-U.S. person. Jason Beckman and Jason Colodne, the managers of the Sponsor, are both U.S. citizens. We
do not expect the Company to be considered a “foreign person” under the regulations administered by CFIUS. However, if our
initial business combination with a U.S. business is subject to CFIUS review, the scope of which was expanded by the Foreign
Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”), to include certain non-passive, non-controlling investments
in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business, FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing
regulations that are now in force, also subjects certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential initial business
combination with a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing
or that we will submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and
risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay
our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination
or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company without first obtaining CFIUS clearance,
which may limit the attractiveness of or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe
would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an
initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition
companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues.
Moreover, the process of government review, whether
by the CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy and we have limited time to complete our initial business combination. If we cannot
complete our initial business combination by January 20, 2023 (or up to the Extended Date if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved)
because the review process drags on beyond such timeframe or because our initial business combination is ultimately prohibited by CFIUS or
another U.S. government entity, we may be required to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public stockholders may only receive an amount
per share that will be determined by when we liquidate and whether the Extension Amendment Proposal has been approved, and our warrants
will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose the investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future
gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
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.
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 interest
earned on the funds held in the trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes or to fund the Company’s
working capital requirements (less up to $100,000 of such interest 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, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to
our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and requirements of other applicable law.
All of the Company’s initial stockholders are expected to vote
any common stock owned by them in favor of the Extension Amendment. On the record date, the initial stockholders beneficially owned and
were entitled to vote 6,900,000 founder shares, representing 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock.
Subject
to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), Colbeck Edify Holdings, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), our directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates
may (i) purchase public shares from institutional and other investors (including those who vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against
any of the proposals presented at the special meeting, or elect to redeem, or indicate an intention to redeem, public shares), (ii) enter
into transactions with such investors and others to provide them with incentives to not redeem their public shares, or (iii) execute
agreements to purchase such public shares from such investors or enter into non-redemption agreements in the future. In the
event that the Sponsor, our directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates purchase public shares in situations
in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would apply, they (a) would purchase the public shares at a price no higher
than the price offered through the Company’s redemption process; (b) would represent in writing that such public shares will not
be voted in favor of approving the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal; and (c) would waive in writing any
redemption rights with respect to the public shares so purchased.
To the extent any such purchases by the Sponsor, our directors,
officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates are made in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases
apply, we will disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to the Special Meeting the following: (i) the number of public
shares purchased outside of the redemption offer, along with the purchase price(s) for such public shares; (ii) the purpose of any such
purchases; (iii) the impact, if any, of the purchases on the likelihood that the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal will be approved; (iv) the identities of the securityholders who sold to the Sponsor, our directors, officers, advisors or any
of their respective affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of the securityholders (e.g., 5% security holders)
who sold such public shares; and (v) the number of shares of Class A common stock for which the Company has received redemption requests
pursuant to its redemption offer.
The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would
be to increase the likelihood of otherwise limiting the number of public shares electing to redeem.
If such transactions are effected, the consequence could be to
cause the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal to be effectuated in circumstances where such effectuation could
not otherwise occur. Consistent with SEC guidance, purchases of shares by the persons described above would not be permitted to be voted
for Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal at the Special Meeting and could decrease the chances that the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal would be approved. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float”
of our securities and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or
obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange. The Company hereby represents that any
Company securities purchased by the Sponsor, our directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates in situations in
which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would apply would not be voted in favor of approving the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
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
Extension Amendment — Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers” for a further discussion.
THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The Company entered into the Trust Agreement in connection with the
IPO and a potential business combination.
The Trust Amendment would amend the Trust Agreement to authorize the
Extension as contemplated by the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Reasons for the Proposal
The purpose of the Trust Amendment Proposal is to authorize the Extension
under the Trust Agreement, as the Extension is not contemplated under the Trust Agreement’s current terms.
We believe that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort
and money on pursuing an initial business combination, circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider
a business combination. For the Company to implement the Extension, the Trust Agreement must be amended to authorize the Extension.
Vote Required for Approval
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.
If you do not vote, you abstain from voting or you fail to instruct
your broker or other nominee as to the voting of shares you beneficially own, your action will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST”
the Trust Amendment Proposal. If you do not want the Trust Amendment Proposal approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote “AGAINST”
the Trust Amendment Proposal.
The Company’s 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 the
Trust Amendment Proposal.
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 6,900,000
founder shares, which represents 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock.
Recommendation
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 RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”
THE TRUST AMENDMENT 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 Extension
Amendment — Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers” for a further discussion.
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 Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal.
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 Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
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 Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal.
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 at the
special meeting. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is otherwise established, a stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or in person
(including virtually) at the special meeting or an abstention will have no effect on the outcome of the 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 Extension
Amendment — Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers” for a further discussion.