UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
| ☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| ☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
| ☐ | Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12 |
Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| ☒ | No fee required. |
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
METAL SKY STAR ACQUISITION CORPORATION
132 West 31st31st Street, First9th Floor
New York, NY 10001
New York, New York 10001
Tel: (332) 237-6141
NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JANUARY 26,ON OCTOBER 30, 2023
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF METAL SKY STAR ACQUISITION CORPORATION:
You are cordially invited to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders of Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation (“Metal Sky Star,” “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) to be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on January 26,October 30, 2023 (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”).
The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held in the offices of the Company’s counsel, Becker & Poliakoff LLP,P.A., at 45 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10006.
As an extraordinary general meeting of the Company’s shareholders, the Extraordinary General Meeting is being held for the purpose of considering and voting upon the following proposals:
| 1. |
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| 2. | a proposal to amend the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated March 30, 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust, N.A., as trustee, and Vstock Transfer LLC, to reflect the Extension Proposal (the “Proposal 2” or “Trust Amendment Proposal”); and |
| 3. | a proposal to direct the chairman of the Extraordinary General Meeting to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve any of the foregoing proposals (the “Proposal |
The Company’s IPO prospectus dated March 31, 2022 provides thatIf the shareholders approve the Extension Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, the Company initially hadwill have until JanuaryAugust 5, 2024 (after twelve (12) monthly extensions)to consummate an initial business combination, and, without another shareholder vote, may elect to extend the time period within which the Company must consummate its initial business combination for up to six (6) additional one-month periods, to August 5, 2024, by depositing the Monthly Extension Fee (as defined below) into the Company’s trust account (the “Trust Account”). To effectuate each Monthly Extension, the Sponsor and/or its designee will deposit the lesser of (i) $30,000 for all remaining public shares and (ii) $0.033 for each remaining public share into the Trust Account (the “Monthly Extension Fee”). The first Monthly Extension Fee after the approval of the Extension Proposal must be made by November 5, 2023, while the subsequent Monthly Extension Fees must be deposited into the Trust Account by the 5th of each succeeding month until August 5, 2024.
Each of the Extension Proposals and the Trust Amendment Proposal is cross-conditioned on the approval of the other. Each of the Extension Proposals, Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement. Please take the time to read carefully each of the proposals in the accompanying proxy statement before you vote.
The purpose of the Extension Proposal is to allow Metal Sky Star more time to complete itsan initial business combination. Currently, our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that Metal Sky Star has 22 months from the consummation of the IPO to complete a business combination. The Company’s charter was most recently amended and restated on March 30, 2022 withJanuary 26, 2023 to extend the Current Termination Date of January 5, 2023,time period within which can be extendedthe Company must consummate its initial business combination to JanuaryFebruary 5, 2024 after twelve (12)thirteen (13) monthly extension. The only way to extend the Combination Period from January 5, 2023 without the need for a separate shareholder vote under the current Charter is for our insiders or their affiliates or designees, upon five (5) days’ advance notice prior to the applicable deadline, to deposit into the Trust Account $383,333 (i.e., $0.033 per issued Public Share), for each monthly extension, on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline.extensions. The purpose of the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal is to allow the Company anthe option to further extend the time to complete a business combination. Our board of directors has determined that it is in the best interests of our shareholders to allow the Company to extend the time to complete a business combination a total of twelve (12) times for an additional one (1) month each timesix (6) one-month periods, beginning on February 5, 2023,2024 to August 5, 2024 (the “Extended Date”) and provide that the date for cessation of operations of the Company if the Company has not completed a business combination would similarly be extended to the Extended Termination Date.
The purposeHolders (“public shareholders”) of Metal Sky Star’s ordinary shares (“Public Shares”) sold in its initial public offering (“IPO”) may elect to redeem their Public Shares for their pro rata portion of the Charter Amendmentfunds available in the trust account in connection with the Extension Proposal (the “Election”) regardless of how such public shareholders vote in regard to those amendments, or whether they were holders of Metal Sky Star’s ordinary shares on the record date or acquired such shares after such date. This right of redemption is provided for and is required by Metal Sky Star’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and Metal Sky Star also believes that such redemption right protects Metal Sky Star’s public shareholders from having to allowsustain their investments for twelve (12) monthly extensions, each withan unreasonably long period if Metal Sky Star fails to find a requiredsuitable acquisition in the timeframe initially contemplated by its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. If the Extension PaymentProposal is approved by the requisite vote of $0.033 each monthshareholders (and not abandoned), the remaining holders of Public Shares will retain their right to redeem their Public Shares for each Public Share that has not been redeemed. Our insiders or their affiliates or designees will elect to exercise each extension onpro rata portion of the funds available in the trust account upon consummation of a month-to-month and as-needed basis only.business combination.
To exercise your redemption rights, you must tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two (2) business days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting. You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificates to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.
The per-share pro rata portion of the trust account was approximately $10.28 as of September 28, 2023. The closing price of Metal Sky Star’s shares on September 27, 2023 was $10.69. Metal Sky Star cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their shares of Metal Sky Star in the open market, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when shareholders wish to sell their shares.
If the Extension Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate a business combination by February 5, 2024, in accordance with our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, or if the Extension Proposal is approved and we do not consummate a business combination by the Extended Date, we will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares with the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account.
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Company’s ordinary shares entitled to vote which are present (in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting and which vote on the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal will be required to approve the CharterExtension Proposal. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal.Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s ordinary shares entitled to vote which are present (in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting and which vote on the Adjournment Proposal will be required to approve such proposal.
Our Board has fixed the close of business on December 22, 2022October 2, 2023 (the “Record Date”) as the record date for determining Metal Sky Star shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of Metal Sky Star’s ordinary shares on that date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
After careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the CharterExtension Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are fair to and in the best interests of Metal Sky Star and its shareholders, has declared them advisable and recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” all the foregoing proposals.
Enclosed is the proxy statement containing detailed information concerning the proposals and Extraordinary General Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, we urge you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.
We look forward to seeing you at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Dated: January 4, 2022October 10, 2023
| By Order of the Board of Directors | |
| /s/ Wenxi He | |
| Chief Executive Officer |
Your vote is important. Please sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible to make sure that your shares are represented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record, you may also cast your vote in person at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank how to vote your shares, or you may cast your vote online at the Extraordinary General Meeting by obtaining a proxy from your brokerage firm or bank.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on October 30, 2023: This Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting and the accompanying proxy statement are available at the website of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
METAL SKY STAR ACQUISITION CORPORATION
132 West 31st 31st Street, First9th Floor
New York, New YorkNY 10001
Tel: (332) 237-6141
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 26,OCTOBER 30, 2023
PROXY STATEMENT
The Extraordinary General Meeting (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) of shareholders of Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation (“Metal Sky Star,” “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on January 26,October 30, 2023. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held in the offices of the Company’s counsel, Becker & Poliakoff LLP,P.A., at 45 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10006.
The Extraordinary General Meeting is being held for the sole purpose of considering and voting upon the following proposals:
| 1. |
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| 2. | A proposal to amend the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated March 30, 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust, N.A., as trustee, and Vstock Transfer LLC, to reflect the Extension Proposal (the “Proposal 2” or “Trust Amendment Proposal”); and |
| 3. | a proposal to direct the chairman of the Extraordinary General Meeting to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve any of the foregoing proposals (the “Proposal |
The Extension Proposal is essential to the overall implementation of the Board’s plan to extend the date by which Metal Sky Star must complete an initial business combination. The purpose of the Extension Proposal is to allow Metal Sky Star more time to complete an initial business combination and to enable the Company to reduce the amount of the Monthly Extension Fee (as described below). The purpose of the Trust Amendment Proposal is to amend the Trust Agreement to be consistent with the amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.
A quorum of shareholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present for the Extraordinary General Meeting if there are present in person or by proxy not less than a majority of the Company’s ordinary shares present at the Meeting in person or by proxy. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Company’s ordinary shares entitled to vote which are present (in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting and which vote on the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal will be required to approve the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal.
If Pursuant to the CharterTrust Agreement, approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal is approved, our sponsor,requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s ordinary shares entitled to vote which are present (in person or its designees, has agreed to contribute to us as a loan (i) $0.033 for each public share that is not redeemed (the “Initial Contribution”) in connection withby proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting plusand which vote on the Adjournment Proposal will be required to approve such proposal.
To effectuate each Monthly Extension (as defined herein), the Sponsor and/or its designee will deposit the lesser of (i) $30,000 for all remaining public shares and (ii) $0.033 for each remaining public share that is not redeemed in connection withinto the Extraordinary General Meeting for eachTrust Account (the “Monthly Extension Fee”). The first Monthly Extension Fee after the approval of the Extension Proposal must be made by November 5, 2023, while the subsequent calendar month onMonthly Extension Fee must be deposited into the Trust Account by the 5thday of each subsequentsucceeding month or portion thereof, that is needed by the Company to complete an initial business combination until the Extended DateAugust 5, 2024 (the “Additional Contributions” and, collectively with the Initial Contribution, the “Contributions”). Assuming the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved, the Initial Contribution will be deposited in the trust account promptly following the Extraordinary General Meeting. Each Additional Contribution will be deposited in the trust account within thirty calendar days thereafter (or portion thereof). The Contributions are conditioned upon the implementation of the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal. The Contributions will not occur if the Extension Proposal is not approved or the Extension is abandoned. The amount of the Contributions will not bear interest and will be repayable by us to our sponsor or its designees upon consummation of an initial business combination. If our sponsor or its designees advises us that it does not intend to make the Contributions, then the Extension Proposal, will not be put before the shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting and, unless we can complete an initial business combination by February 5, 2024, we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. Our sponsor or its designees will have the sole discretion whether to continue extending for additional calendar months until the Extended Date and if our sponsor determines not to continue extending for additional calendar months, its obligation to make Additionaladditional Contributions will terminate.
The Holders (“public shareholders (the “Holders”shareholders”) of the Company’sMetal Sky Star’s ordinary shares sold in its IPO (the “Public(“Public Shares”) may elect to redeem their Public Shares for their pro rata portion of the funds available in the trust account in connection with the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal (the “Election”) regardless of how such public shareholder votes in regard to the CharterExtension Proposal or Trust Amendment Proposal, or whether they were holders of Metal Sky Star ordinary shares on the record date or acquired such shares after such date. The CompanyMetal Sky Star believes that such redemption right protects the Company’sMetal Sky Star’s public shareholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if the CompanyMetal Sky Star fails to find a suitable acquisition target in the timeframe initially contemplated by its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. If the CharterExtension Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal is approved and implemented, the remaining public shareholders will retain their right to redeem their Public Shares for their pro rata portion of the funds available in the trust account upon consummation of a business combination.
However, the Company will not proceed with the Extension Proposal if the redemption of public shares in connection therewith would cause the Company to have net tangible assets of less than $5,000,001. In the event that the redemption of public shares causes the net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 and the Extension Proposal is not implemented, the Company will be required to dissolve and liquidate its Trust Account by returning the then remaining funds in such Trust Account to the public stockholders. If the Extension Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of shareholders (and not abandoned), the remaining holders of public shares will retain their right to redeem their public shares for their pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account upon consummation of an initial business combination when it is submitted to the shareholders, subject to any limitations set forth in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the limitations contained in related agreements.
If the CharterExtension Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal isare 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 in connection with the shareholder vote on the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal multiplied by the per-share price equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two (2) business days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting, including interest earned on the trust account deposits (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares; and (ii) deliver to the holders of such redeemed Public Shares their portion of the Withdrawal Amount. The remainder of such funds shall remain in the trust account and be available for use by the Company to complete a business combination on or before the Extended Date. Holders of Public Shares who do not redeem their Public Shares now will retain their redemption rights and their ability to vote on a business combination through the Extended Date if the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal is approved.
To exercise your redemption rights, you must tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two (2) business days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting. You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificates to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.
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 redemption, and the amount remaining in the trust account may be significantly reduced. In such event, the Company may need 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 Proposal or Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved and we are unable to consummate our initial business combination by February 5, 2024, we will distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (less up to $100,000 of the net interest earned thereon to pay dissolution expenses), pro rata to our public shareholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs. Any redemption of public shareholders from the trust account shall be effected automatically by function of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prior to any voluntary winding up. If we are required to windup, liquidate the trust account and distribute such amount therein, pro rata, to our public shareholders, as part of any liquidation process, such winding up, liquidation and distribution must comply with the applicable provisions of the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands. In that case, investors may be forced to wait beyond February 5, 2024 before the redemption proceeds of our trust account become available to them and they receive the return of their pro rata portion of the proceeds from our trust account. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to the date of our redemption or liquidation unless we consummate our initial business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to redeem their ordinary shares. Only upon our redemption or any liquidation will public shareholders be entitled to distributions if we are unable to complete our initial business combination.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private placement shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination prior to February 5, 2024 or the Extended Date if our shareholders approve the Extension Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our rights and warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination prior to February 5, 2024 or the Extended Date if our shareholders approve the Extension Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal.
You are also being asked to direct the chairman of the Extraordinary General Meeting to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve the proposals.
The Record Date for the Extraordinary General Meeting is December 22, 2022.October 2, 2023. Record holders of Metal Sky Star ordinary shares of the Company at the close of business on the record date are entitled to vote or have their votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 14,675,0008,819,676 outstanding ordinary shares of the Company,Metal Sky Star, including 11,500,0005,614,676 outstanding Public Shares. The Company’sMetal Sky Star’s rights and warrants do not have voting rights.
This proxy statement contains important information about the Extraordinary General Meeting and the proposals. Please read it carefully and vote your shares.
This proxy statement is dated January 4, 2022October 10, 2023 and is first being mailed to shareholders on or about that date.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 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 this entire proxy statement.
| Q. Why am I receiving this proxy statement? | A. | This proxy statement and the accompanying materials are being sent to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board, for use at the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on | ||||
| Q. What is being voted on? | A. | You are being asked to consider and vote on the following proposals: | ||||
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| ● | a proposal to amend the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated March 30, 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust, N.A., as trustee, and Vstock Transfer LLC, to reflect the Extension Proposal (the “Proposal 2” or “Trust Amendment Proposal”); and | |||||
| ● | a proposal to direct the chairman of the Extraordinary General Meeting to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve the | |||||
| Q. How does the Board of Directors recommend I vote? | A. | After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” the | ||||
Q. Why is the Company proposing the | A. |
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Because If the Extension Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account in connection with the redemption will reduce the amount held in the Trust Account thereafter. We cannot predict the amount that will remain in the Trust Account if the Extension is approved and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be substantially less than that was in the Trust Account as of September 29, 2023, which could impact our ability to consummate a business combination. Each of the Extension Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is cross-conditioned on the approval of each other. You are not being asked to vote on any proposed business combination at this time. If the Extension Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and you do not elect to redeem your public shares in connection with such votes, you will retain the right to vote on any proposed business combination when and if one is submitted to shareholders and the right to redeem your public shares for a pro rata portion from 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. |
| Q. Why should I vote for the | A. | The Board believes that given
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| Q. How do the Metal Sky Star insiders intend to vote their shares? | A. | All of
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| Q. What amount will holders receive upon consummation of a subsequent business combination or liquidation if the | A. | If the If our sponsor or its designees advises us that it does not intend to make the Contributions, then the Extension Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal will not be put before the shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. Our sponsor or its designees will have the sole discretion whether to continue extending for additional calendar months until the Extended Date and if our sponsor determines not to continue extending for additional calendar months, its obligation to make additional Contributions will terminate. | |
| Q. Will you seek any further extensions to liquidate the trust account? | A. | Other than the extension until the Extended Date as described in this proxy statement, | |
| Q. What happens if the | A. | If the
Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private placement shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination by February 5, |
| Q. If the | A. | If the
If the
If the |
However, the Company will not proceed with the Extension Proposal if the redemption of public shares in connection therewith would cause the Company to have net tangible assets of less than $5,000,001. In the event that the redemption of public shares causes the net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 and the Extension Proposal is not implemented, the Company will be required to dissolve and liquidate its Trust Account by returning the then remaining funds in such Trust Account to the public shareholders. If the Extension Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of shareholders (and not abandoned), the remaining holders of public shares will retain their right to redeem their public shares for their pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account upon consummation of an initial business combination when it is submitted to the shareholders, subject to any limitations set forth in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the limitations contained in related agreements.
The Company will remain a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and its units, ordinary shares, rights and warrants will remain publicly traded.
If the | |||
| Q. Who bears the cost of soliciting proxies? | A. | The Company will bear the cost of soliciting proxies and will reimburse brokerage firms and others for expenses involved in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners or soliciting their execution. In addition to solicitations by mail, the Company, through their respective directors and officers, may solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by electronic means. Such directors and officers will not receive any Extraordinary General remuneration for these efforts. We have retained Advantage Proxy, Inc. (“Advantage Proxy”) to assist us in soliciting proxies. If you have questions about how to vote or direct a vote in respect of your shares, you may contact Advantage Proxy at (877) 870-8565 (toll free) or by email at ksmith@advantageproxy.com. The Company has agreed to pay Advantage Proxy a fee and expenses, for its services in connection with the Extraordinary General Meeting. | |
| Q. How do I change my vote? | A. | 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 to |
| A. | No. If you do not give instructions to your broker, your broker can vote your shares with respect to “discretionary” items, but not with respect to “non-discretionary” items. We believe that
Your broker can vote your shares with respect to “non-discretionary items” only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares. Your broker can tell you how to provide these instructions. If you do not give your broker instructions, your shares will be treated as broker non-votes and will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the |
| A. | A quorum of shareholders is necessary to hold a valid Meeting. A quorum will be present for the Extraordinary General Meeting if there are present in person or by proxy not less than a majority of the Company’s ordinary shares present at the Meeting in person or by proxy.
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), vote online, or if you attend the Extraordinary General | ||
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Company’s ordinary shares entitled to vote which are present (in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting and which vote on the Extension Proposal will be required to approve the Extension Proposal. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s ordinary shares entitled to vote which are present (in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting and which vote on the Adjournment Proposal will be required to approve such proposal. The Adjournment Proposal will only be put forth for a vote if there are not sufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the other proposals at the special meeting. For purposes of the Extension Proposal and Adjournment Proposal, abstentions (but not broker non-votes), while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as a vote cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and will have no effect on the outcome of any vote on such proposals. With respect to the Trust Amendment Proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as “AGAINST” votes. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established. | |||
Q. Who can vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting? | A. | Only holders of record of
Shareholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the Record Date your shares were registered directly in your name with |
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank. If on the Record Date your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Extraordinary General |
| A. | Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of these proposals, the Board has determined that the Proposals 1, 2 and |
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| A. | If the
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| A. | If the | ||
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| A. | If you are a holder of record of Metal Sky Star Public Shares, you may vote online at the Extraordinary General Meeting or by submitting a proxy for the Extraordinary General Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope. You may still attend the Extraordinary General Meeting and vote online if you have already voted by proxy.
Voting by Mail. By signing the proxy card and returning it in the enclosed prepaid and addressed envelope, you are authorizing the individuals named on the proxy card to vote your shares at the Extraordinary General Meeting in the manner you indicate. You are encouraged to sign and return the proxy card even if you plan to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting so that your shares will be voted if you are unable to attend. |
Voting by Internet. Shareholders who have received a copy of the proxy card by mail may be able to vote over the Internet by visiting the web address on the proxy card and entering the voter control number included on your proxy card. Voting by email or fax. If available, you may vote by email or fax by following the instructions provided on the proxy card. If your shares of |
| A. | If the |
To demand redemption of your Public Shares, you must ensure your bank or broker complies with the requirements identified elsewhere herein.
In connection with tendering your shares for redemption, you must elect either to physically tender your share certificates to Vstock Transfer LLC, the Company’s transfer agent, at 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598, at least two business days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting or to deliver your shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, which election would likely be determined based on the manner in which you hold your shares. | |||
Certificates that have not been tendered in accordance with these procedures at least two (2) business days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting will not be redeemed for cash. In the event that a public shareholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting that it does not want to redeem its shares, the shareholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting not to redeem your shares, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the address listed above. | |||
| A. | 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 Metal Sky Star shares. | ||
| A. | 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:
Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation 132 West New York,
Advantage Proxy, Inc. P.O. Box 13581 Des Moines, WA 98198 Toll Free: (877) 870-8565 Collect: (206) 870-8565
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.” |
We believe that some of the information in this proxy statement constitutes forward-looking statements. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intends,” and “continue” or similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they:
| ● | discuss future expectations; |
| ● | contain projections of future results of operations or financial condition; or |
| ● | state other “forward-looking” information. |
We believe it is important to communicate our expectations to our shareholders. However, there may be events in the future that we are not able to predict accurately or over which we have no control. The cautionary language discussed in this proxy statement provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations described by us in such forward-looking statements, including, among other things, claims by third parties against the trust account, unanticipated delays in the distribution of the funds from the trust account and The Company’sMetal Sky Star’s ability to finance and consummate any proposed business combination. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this proxy statement.
All forward-looking statements included herein attributable to The CompanyMetal Sky Star or any person acting on The Company’sMetal Sky Star’s behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Except to the extent required by applicable laws and regulations, The CompanyMetal Sky Star undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this proxy statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
PROPOSAL 1 THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSALBACKGROUND
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company and incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
On April 5, 2022, the Company consummated the IPO of 11,500,000 units which includes an additional 1,500,000 units as a result of the underwriter’s full exercise of the over-allotment, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $115,000,000,
On April 5, 2022, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 11,500,000 units (each, a “Unit” and collectively, the “Units”). Each Unit consists of one ordinary share, one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination and one redeemable warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share for $11.50 per share. The proposed Charter Amendment wouldunits were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $115,000,000.
On July 5, 2021, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 1,437,500 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.02 per share. On September 26, 2021, the Company purchased back all the 1,437,500 founder shares for $25,000 and reissued 2,875,000 shares to our sponsor for $25,000, or approximately $0.01 per shares. Our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 330,000 private placement units at a price of $10.00 per unit in a private placement that was completed simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering. Each unit consists of one private placement share, one private placement warrant and one private placement right. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder upon exercise to purchase one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Each private placement right will be converted to one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary shares upon the completion of its initial business combination. The private placement units (including the underlying securities) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by it until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
On April 1, 2022, our units commenced trading on the NASDAQ Global Market, or NASDAQ, under the symbol “MSSAU”. Commencing May 31, 2022, the ordinary shares, rights and warrants are separately traded on NASDAQ under the symbols “MSSA,” “MSSAR” and “MSSAW,” respectively.
The net proceeds of the IPO plus the proceeds of the sale of the private placement units were deposited in the trust account.
On January 26, 2023, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders and approved a proposal to amend our existingthe Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination (the “Extension”) twelve (12) times for an additional one (1) month each time from February 5, 2023 to February 5, 2024 (the termination date as so extended,2024. In connection with this vote on the “Extended Termination Date”). Initially, the Company had until February 5, 2023proposal to complete its initial business combination after election of one monthly extension, before giving effect to the eleven (11) monthly extensions (the “Current Termination Date”). Pursuant to the terms of the proposed Charter Amendment, in order to extend the time available for us to consummateamend our initial business combination, our insiders or their affiliates or designees must deposit $0.033 for each public ordinary share that has not been redeemed into the trust account for each one (1) month extension in accordance with the terms as set out in the Trust Agreement (as revised by the Trust Amendment). The first extension payment after the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal must be made prior to the Current Termination Date, while the second extension payment must be deposited into the trust account no fewer than five (5) calendar days prior to the then existing termination date. The insiders will receive a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note equal to the amount of any such deposit that will not be repaid in the event that we are unable to close a business combination unless there are funds available outside the trust account to do so. Such notes would be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination. The full proposed Amended article 36.2 of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, are attachedholders of our public shares were entitled to this proxy statement as Annex A. Allexercise their redemption rights and public shareholders are encouraged to readtendered an aggregate of 5,885,324 public shares for redemption. As a result of the proposed amendment in its entirety for a more complete descriptionexercise of its terms. However, the Company will not proceed with the Charter Amendment if the redemption ofright, 5,614,676 public shares in connection therewith would cause the Company to have net tangible assets of less than $5,000,001, and in such event, we will not affect the Charter Amendment.
Reasons for the Proposed Charter Amendmentremain unredeemed.
The Companymailing address of Metal Sky Star’s principal executive office is proposing to amend132 West 31st Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10001, and its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to allow the Company to extend its life twelve (12) times for an additional one (1) month each time from February 5, 2023 to February 5, 2024.telephone number is (332) 237-6141.
The Company’s IPO prospectus provides
As previously reported, on April 12, 2023, Metal Sky Star entered into merger agreement with Future Dao for a business combination that would qualify as an initial business combination under its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. However, on October 6, 2023, Metal Sky Star and Future Dao terminated the Company initially had until January 5, 2024 (after twelve monthly extensions)merger agreement by mutual consent. As a result, Metal Sky Star is in the process of searching for a new target with which to complete its initial business combination. Our board of directors has determined that it is in the best interests of our shareholders
You are not being asked to allow the Company to extend the time to completevote on a business combination twelve (12) timesat this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your Public Shares, you will retain the right to vote on any proposed business combination if and when it is submitted to shareholders and the right to redeem your Public Shares for an additional one (1) month each time and provide that the date for cessation of operationsa pro rata portion of the Company iftrust account in the event such business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not completed a business combination would similarly be extended to the Extended Termination Date.
After consultation with the Sponsor, Company management has reasons to believe that, if the Charter Amendment proposal is approved, the Sponsor or its affiliates will, in connection with each monthly extension, contribute $0.033 per public share issued at the Company’s IPO that has not been redeemed to the Company as a loan (each loan being referred to herein as a “contribution”) for the Company to deposit the funds into the Trust Account as the Extension Payment, upon five (5) days’ advance notice prior to the applicable deadlines. The Company plans to made the extension payments one time to extend the time to complete a business combination from January 5, 2023 to February 5, 2023, and further extension payment has to be made by February 5, 2023 in order to further extend the time to complete a business combination. The contribution(s) will bear no interest and will be repayable by the Company to the Sponsor upon consummation of an initial business combination. The loans will be forgiven by the Sponsor or its affiliate if the Company is unable to consummate an initial business combination except to the extent of any funds held outside of the Trust Account.
If the Charter Amendment proposal is not approved and we have not consummated a business combination or our trust account has not received the $383,333 extension fee payment by the Current Termination Date, we will (a) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (b) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest income, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (c) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under the laws of the Cayman Islands to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants or rights which will expire worthless in the event we wind up.Extended Date.
If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved, we retain the right to extend the Combination Period by eleven (11) times for an additional one (1) month each time from February 5, 2023 to January 5, 2024, by depositing $383,333, or $0.033 for each public share, to the Trust Account.
If the Charter Amendment is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by January 5, 2024 (assuming eleven (11) monthly extensions), we will be required to dissolve and liquidate our trust account by returning the then remaining funds in such account to the public shareholders and our warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares will expire worthless.RISK FACTORS
We may notShareholders should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with other risk factors disclosed in Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2023 and all of the other information included in this proxy statement before they decide whether to vote or instruct their vote to be ablecast to approve the Proposals described in this proxy statement. These risks could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial conditioning and results of operations of the Company.
The fact that our sponsor is, is controlled by, and has substantial ties with a non-U.S. person could impact our ability to complete anour initial business combination.
Our sponsor, M-Star Management Corporation, is controlled by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Wenxi He, who is a UK citizen. Our sponsor owns approximately 36.33% of the outstanding shares of the Company. Certain federally licensed businesses in the United States, such as broadcasters and airlines, may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. As a result, this may limit the pool of acquisition candidates we may acquire in the United States, in particular, relative to other special purpose acquisition companies that are not subject to such restrictions, which could make it more difficult and costly for us to consummate a business combination with a U.S. target company since such initial business combination may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign Investmentoperating in the United States (CFIUS), or ultimately prohibited.relative to such other companies.
Our Sponsor, M-Star Management Corp.,In addition, CFIUS is controlledan interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by a non-U.S. person. We are therefore likelyforeign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. Because we may be considered a “foreign person” under thesuch rules and regulations, administered by CFIUS and will continue to be considered as such in the future for so long as our Sponsor has the ability to exercise control over us for purposes of CFIUS’s regulations. As such, an initialany proposed business combination withbetween us and a U.S. business engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security, we could be subject to such foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review, thereview. The scope of whichCFIUS review 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 subjectssubject certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential initial business combination with any potential target company falls within the scope of foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate a U.S. business combination with such business. In addition, if our business combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we arebe required to make a mandatory filing or that we willdetermine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance, 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.clearance.
Moreover, the process of government review, whether by the CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy andlengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination. If we cannot complete ourits initial business combination, by February 5, 2023 (or January 5, 2024 if extended eleven (11) times by our Sponsor) becausefailure to obtain any required approvals within 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, werequisite time period may be requiredrequire us to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public shareholders may only receive $10.14 per share,the cash held in the trust account, and our warrants and rights will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose theany potential investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
A company that, among other things, is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, trading or holding certain types of securities would be deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Since we currently invest the proceeds held in the trust account, it is possible the SEC could deem the Company to currently be an inadvertent investment company.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
| ● | restrictions on the nature of our investments; and | |
| ● | restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. |
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
| ● | registration as an investment company; | |
| ● | adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and | |
| ● | reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations. |
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business is to identify and complete an initial business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we have intended from completion of our initial public offering and continue to intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Our initial public offering was not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account set up in connection with the closing of our initial public offering was and is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 9 months (or if extended, 22 months) from the closing of our initial public offering, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within 22 months from the closing of our initial public offering, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public shareholders as part of our redemption of the public shares. We are now requesting our shareholders to approve the extension of time from February 5, 2024 to August 5, 2024. Shareholders who do not exercise their redemption rights in connection with an amendment to our amended and restated Memorandum and Articles of Association would still be able to exercise their redemption rights in connection with a subsequent business combination. If we do not invest the proceeds as discussed above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete an initial business combination or may result in our liquidation. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.64 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our rights and warrants will expire worthless. There can be, however, no assurance that the foregoing redemption price per share will be paid and as a result of expenses related to compliance with the Investment Company Act, such redemption price may be lower.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, on March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules relating to, among other items, the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The SEC’s proposed rules would provide a safe harbor for companies from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided that they satisfy certain conditions that limit a company’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities. The duration component of the proposed safe harbor rule would require company to file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC announcing that it has entered into an agreement with the target company (or companies) to engage in an initial business combination no later than 18 months after the effective date of the Company’s registration statement for its initial public offering. A company would then be required to complete its initial business combination no later than 24 months after the effective date of its registration statement for its initial public offering. These rules, if adopted, whether in the form proposed or in revised form, may materially adversely affect our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination and may increase the costs and time related thereto. Unfortunately, our Company may not qualify for the safe harbor because an initial business combination will not be completed within the foregoing 18-months and 24-month time requirements and will require additional months to complete. Accordingly, our company may already be deemed an unregistered investment company and subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act as well as further expenses and possible penalties.
To the extent it takes our company the longer to complete its initial business combination the greater will be the risk to our company and its shareholders that Metal Sky Star may be deemed to be an unregistered investment company. The risk of our company being determined to be an unregistered investment company may be mitigated if our company shifts the assets in its trust account from securities into cash only.
PROPOSAL 1 — THE EXTENSION PROPOSAL
Metal Sky Star is proposing to amend its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to extend the date by which Metal Sky Star must consummate an initial business combination from February 5, 2024 to August 5, 2024 and to enable the Company to reduce the amount of the Monthly Extension Fee.
The Extension Proposal is essential to the overall implementation of the Board’s plan to allow Metal Sky Star more time to complete its initial business combination. Approval of the Extension Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.
If the Extension Proposal is not approved and we have not consummated an initial business combination by February 5, 2024, or if the Extension Proposal is approved and we have not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (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 shareholders and our Board of Directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our rights and warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination by February 5, 2024 or the Extended Date if the Extension Proposal is approved.
A copy of the proposed amendment to the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Metal Sky Star is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.
Reasons for the Extension Proposal
The Company’s IPO prospectus and Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that the Company has until February 5, 2024 to effect a business combination under its terms. As we are still in the process of searching for a target for our initial business combination, our Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before February 5, 2024 to complete an initial business combination. The Company’s IPO prospectus and Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Company’s ordinary shares entitled to vote which are present (in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting and which vote on the Extension Proposal is required to extend our corporate existence for an additional six (6) months to August 5, 2024, except in connection with, and effective upon, consummation of a business combination. Additionally, our IPO prospectus and Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide for all public shareholders to have an opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in the case our corporate existence is extended as described above. Because we continue to believe that a business combination would be in the best interests of our shareholders, and because we will not be able to conclude a business combination within the permitted time period, the Board has determined to seek shareholder approval to extend the date by which we must complete a business combination beyond February 5, 2024 to the Extended Date. In addition, we are also seeking to reduce the monthly amount that the Sponsor (or its designees) would be required to deposit into the Trust Account as a condition to exercising its ability to extend the date by which we must consummate a business combination in order to facilitate our ability to successfully consummate an initial business combination. We intend to hold another shareholder meeting prior to the Extended Date in order to seek shareholder approval of a proposed initial business combination.
We believe that the foregoing Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provision was included to protect the Company’s public shareholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to complete the initial business combination in the timeframe contemplated by the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. We also believe, however, that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on finding an initial business combination thus far, circumstances warrant providing public shareholders an opportunity to consider an initial business combination.
The Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders to approve the Extension Proposal, pursuant to which, once approved, the Company will have until August 5, 2024 to consummate its initial business combination, and the Company may, but is not obligated to, extend the period of time to consummate a business combination six times by an additional one month each time, for a total of up to six additional months until August 5, 2024 to complete a business combination, provided that the Sponsor or its designee must deposit into the Trust Account the Monthly Extension Fee in the amount of the lesser of (i) $30,000 for all remaining public shares and (ii) $0.033 for each remaining public share for each Monthly Extension.
If the Extension Proposal is Not Approved
If the Extension Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by February 5, 2024 in accordance with our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, we will automatically wind up, dissolve and liquidate starting on February 5, 2024.
The holders of the founder shares have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to such founder shares. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to Metal Sky Star’s rights and warrants, which will expire worthless in the event we wind up.
If the Extension Proposal is Approved
If the Extension Proposal is approved, Metal Sky Star will file an amended and restated Memorandum and Articles of Association in accordance with the Cayman Island law, incorporating the amendment set forth in Annex A hereto. Metal Sky Star will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act and its Units, issued and outstanding Public Shares, rights and warrants will remain publicly traded. Metal Sky Star will then continue to work to execute a definitive agreement for an initial business combination and complete such a business combination by the Extended Date.
If the Extension Proposal is approved, but Metal Sky Star does not consummate an initial business combination by the Extended Date (August 5, 2024), we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (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 shareholders and our Board of Directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our rights and warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination by the Extended Date.
Approval of the Extension Proposal will constitute consent for the Company to (i) remove from the trust account the Withdrawal Amount; 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 an initial 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 Proposal is approved.
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, you will retain the right to vote on any proposed business combination when it is submitted to shareholders and the right to redeem your Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the trust account in the event such business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
If the Extension Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account will reduce the amount held in the trust account and Metal Sky Star’s net asset value based on the number of shares that seek redemption. Metal Sky Star cannot predict the amount that will remain in the trust account if the Extension Proposal is approved.
Redemption Rights
If the Extension Proposal is approved, the Company will provide the public shareholders making the Election, the opportunity to receive, at the time the Extension Proposal becomes effective, and in exchange for the surrender of their shares, a pro rata portion of the funds available in the trust account, less any income taxes owed on such funds but not yet paid. Metal Sky Star has provided that all holders of Public Shares, whether they vote for or against the Extension Proposal, or whether they were holders of Metal Sky Star ordinary shares on the record date or acquired such shares after such date, may elect to redeem their Public Shares into their pro rata portion of the trust account and should receive the funds shortly after the Extraordinary General Meeting. You will also be able to redeem your Public Shares in connection with any shareholder vote to approve a proposed business combination, or if the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.
TO DEMAND REDEMPTION, YOU MUST ENSURE YOUR BANK OR BROKER COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED ELSEWHERE HEREIN, INCLUDING DELIVERING YOUR SHARES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON THE EXTENSION PROPOSAL.
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 Proposal.
In connection with tendering your shares for redemption, you must elect either to physically tender your share certificates to Vstock Transfer LLC, the Company’s transfer agent, at 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598, at least two (2) business days prior to the vote for the Extension Proposal or to deliver your shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, which election would likely be determined based on the manner in which you hold your shares. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election is irrevocable once the Extension Proposal are approved. In furtherance of such irrevocable election, shareholders making the Election will not be able to tender their shares after the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Through the DWAC system, this electronic delivery process can be accomplished by the shareholder, whether or not it is a record holder or its shares are held in “street name,” by contacting the transfer agent or its broker and requesting delivery of its shares through the DWAC system. Delivering shares physically may take significantly longer. In order to obtain a physical share certificate, a shareholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC, and the Company’s transfer agent will need to act together to facilitate this request. There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and the broker would determine whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. It is the Company’s understanding that shareholders should generally allot at least two (2) 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 (2) weeks to obtain a physical share certificate. Such shareholders will have less time to make their investment decision than those shareholders that deliver their shares through the DWAC system. Shareholders who request physical share 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 for the Extension Proposal will not be redeemed for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account. In the event that a public shareholder tenders such holder’s shares and decides prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting that it does not want to redeem its shares, the shareholder may withdraw the tender. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting not to redeem your shares, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the address listed above. In the event that a public shareholder tenders shares and the Extension Proposal is not approved or are abandoned, these shares will not be redeemed and the physical certificates representing these shares will be returned to the shareholder promptly following the determination that the Extension Proposal will not be approved or will be abandoned. The Company anticipates that a public shareholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Extension Proposal would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension Proposal. The transfer agent will hold the certificates of public shareholders that make the election until such shares are redeemed for cash or returned to such shareholders.
If properly demanded, the Company will redeem each public share for a pro rata portion of the funds available in the trust account, less any income taxes owed on such funds but not yet paid, calculated as of two (2) business days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting. The closing price of Metal Sky Star’s shares on the September 27, 2023 was $10.89.
If you exercise your redemption rights, you will be exchanging your Public Shares for cash and will no longer own such shares. You will be entitled to receive cash for such shares only if you properly demand redemption and tender your share certificate(s) to the Company’s transfer agent at least two (2) business days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting. If the Extension Proposal is not approved or if they are abandoned, such shares will be returned promptly following the Extraordinary General Meeting as described above.
However, the Company will not proceed with the Extension Proposal if the redemption of public shares in connection therewith would cause the Company to have net tangible assets of less than $5,000,001. In the event that the redemption of public shares causes the net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 and the Extension Proposal is not implemented, the Company will be required to dissolve and liquidate its Trust Account by returning the then remaining funds in such Trust Account to the public stockholders.
The Board’s Reasons for the Extension Proposal
If the Extension Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, after the Withdrawal Amount has been removed from the trust account, the remaining holders of Public Shares will retain their right to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the funds available in the trust account upon consummation of the Company’s initial business combination. In addition, public shareholders who vote for the Extension Proposal and do not elect to exercise their redemption rights will have the opportunity to participate in any liquidation distribution if the Company has not completed such business combination by the Extended Date.
As discussed above, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, our Board has determined that the Extension Proposal is fair to, and in the best interests of, Metal Sky Star and its shareholders. The Board has approved and declared advisable adoption of the Extension Proposal and recommends that you vote “FOR” such adoption. The Board expresses no opinion as to whether you should redeem your Public Shares.
Interests of Metal Sky Star’s Sponsor, Directors and Officers
When you consider the recommendation of our Board, you should keep in mind that our sponsor, executive officers and members of our Board have interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder. These interests include, among other things:
| ● | the fact that our sponsor holds 2,875,000 founder shares and 330,000 private placement units that would expire worthless if a business combination is not consummated; | |
| ● | In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Such loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. Such promissory notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into additional private units at a price of $10.00 per unit (which, for example, would result in the holders being issued 150,000 ordinary shares if $1,500,000 of such notes were so converted, as well as 150,000 warrants to purchase 150,000 shares). | |
| ● | the fact that, if the trust account is liquidated, including in the event we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period, the sponsor has agreed to indemnify us to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.00 per public share, by the claims of prospective target businesses with which we have entered into an acquisition agreement or claims of any third party for services rendered or products sold to us, but only if such a third party or target business has not executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account; and |
All of the current members of our Board are expected to continue to serve as directors of the Company at least through the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting to vote on a proposed business combination and may even continue to serve following any potential business combination and receive compensation thereafter.
Required Vote Required
Approval of the Charter Amendment to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of associationExtension Proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of at least 2/3two-thirds (2/3) of the Company’s ordinary shares issued and outstanding shares present. If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank, custodian, or other nominee holder cannot vote your shares on this proposal, unless you direct the holder howand entitled to vote and which are present (in person or by marking your proxy card. Broker non-votes, abstentions or the failure to vote on the Charter Amendment will not count as a vote castproxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting and which voted on the Extension Proposal. Abstentions, which are not votes cast, will have no effect on the outcomewith respect to approval of this Proposal.
All of Metal Sky Star’s directors, executive officers and their affiliates are expected to vote any shares owned by them in favor of the Extension Proposal. On the record date, directors and executive officers of Metal Sky Star and their affiliates beneficially owned and were entitled to vote 3,205,000 ordinary shares of Metal Sky Star representing approximately 36.33% of Metal Sky Star’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares.
In addition, Metal Sky Star’s directors, executive officers and their affiliates may choose to buy Units or ordinary shares of Metal Sky Star in the open market and/or through negotiated private purchases. In the event that purchases do occur, the purchasers may seek to purchase shares from shareholders who would otherwise have voted against the Extension Proposal and elected to redeem their shares for a portion of the trust account. Any shares of Metal Sky Star held by affiliates will be voted in favor of the Extension Proposal. As the Extension Proposal is not a “routine” matter, brokers will not be permitted to exercise discretionary voting on anythis proposal.
BoardRecommendation of Directors’ Recommendationthe Board
The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal. The Board expresses no opinion as to whether you should elect to redeem your Public Shares.
PROPOSAL 2 — THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
On April 5, 2022, we consummated the IPO of 11,500,000 Public Units to our public shareholders and the Private Placement of 330,000 Private Units to the Sponsor. As a result, an aggregate amount of gross proceeds of $115,000,000 was placed in the Trust Account established by Vstock Transfer LLC, our transfer agent and maintained at Wilmington Trust, National Association acting as trustee.
On January 26, 2023, we held an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders and our shareholders approved a proposal to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which we have to consummate a business combination twelve (12) times for an additional one (1) month each time to February 5, 2024. In connection with this vote on the proposal to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, holders of our public shares were entitled to exercise their redemption rights and public shareholders tendered an aggregate of 5,885,324 public shares for redemption. As a result of the exercise of the redemption right, 5,614,676 public shares remain unredeemed. As of the Record Date, the balance of the Trust Account is $60,530,261.75.
The Trust Agreement currently provides that Wilmington Trust, as trustee, shall commence liquidation of the Trust Account only and promptly after its receipt of the applicable termination letter delivered by the Company in connection with either a closing of an initial business combination or the Company’s inability to effect an initial business combination within the prescribed timeline specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. The Trust Agreement further provides that the provision described in the preceding sentence may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the then outstanding ordinary shares voting together as a single class. Further, pursuant to such amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, under the Trust Agreement, the Company may extend the time period for it to complete its initial business combination in one month extensions provided that the Sponsor, or its designee, deposits $0.033 per outstanding public share (or approximately $187,000 in the aggregate) into the Trust Account for each monthly extension.
Reasons for the Trust Amendment Proposal
We propose to amend the Trust Agreement in the form set forth in Annex B to this proxy statement to allow the Company more time to complete an initial business combination as the Board does not believe that there is sufficient time before the current termination date to consummate a business combination and the Board wishes to have the flexibility to extend the Company’s time to complete a business combination. Further, the Trust Amendment Proposal is necessary to enable the Trust Agreement to match the Extended Date if the Extension Proposal is approved. In addition, Metal Sky Star also is seeking to reduce the monthly mount that the Sponsor (or its designees) would be required to deposit into the Trust Account as a condition to exercising the ability to extend the date by which it must consummate a business combination in order to facilitate its ability to successfully consummate an initial business combination.
The purpose of the Trust Amendment Proposal is to amend the Trust Agreement to extend the liquidation of the Trust Account to match the Extended Date if the Extension Proposal is approved. The Trust Amendment Proposal is necessary in conjunction with the Extension Proposal because, otherwise, the Trust Agreement would terminate and the result would be the same as if the Extension Proposal was not approved.
Based on the foregoing, the Trust Amendment Proposal would enable the Company to extend the time period to complete an initial business combination for six (6) additional one-month extension periods, for a total of up to six additional months to August 5, 2024, provided that the Sponsor or its designee must deposit into the Trust Account the Monthly Extension Fee in the amount equal to the lesser of (i) $30,000 for all remaining public shares and (ii) $0.033 for each remaining public share for each Monthly Extension. Accordingly, our Board believes that in order to successfully complete a business combination, it is appropriate to amend the Trust Agreement.
After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that the Trust Amendment Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. A copy of the proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement is attached to this proxy statement as Annex B.
Consequences If the Trust Amendment Proposal Is Not Approved
Each of the Extension Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is cross-conditioned on the approval of the other. The Board will not implement the amendment of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Trust Agreement unless our shareholders approve each of the Extension Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
If, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting, there are insufficient votes from the holders of Ordinary Shares to approve the Trust Amendment Proposal, Metal Sky may put the Adjournment Proposal to a vote in order to seek additional time to obtain sufficient votes in support of the Trust Amendment Proposal. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by the Company’s shareholders, the Board may not be able to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates in the event that there are insufficient votes from the holders of Ordinary Shares at the time of the Shareholder Meeting to approve the Trust Amendment Proposal.
If the Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved at the Extraordinary General Meeting or at any adjournment thereof or is not implemented, and a business combination is not completed with the prescribed timeline, then as contemplated by and in accordance with the Trust Agreement, the trustee shall commence liquidation of the Trust Account only and promptly after its receipt of the applicable termination letter delivered by the Company in connection with either a closing of an initial business combination or the Company’s inability to effect an initial business combination within the time frame specified in the current memorandum and articles of association.
Consequences If the Trust Amendment is Approved
If the Extension Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the amendment to the Trust Agreement in the form of Annex B hereto will be executed and the Trust Account will not be disbursed except to the extent any redemptions are made in connection with this extraordinary general meeting, in connection with our completion of a business combination or in connection with our liquidation if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Extended Date. We will then continue to work to consummate a business combination by Extended Date.
Vote Required for Approval
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the then issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company. The Trust Amendment Proposal is conditioned on the approval of the Extension Proposal. With respect to the Trust Amendment Proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as “AGAINST” votes.
The Board has unanimously approved the Trust Amendment Proposal. All of the initial shareholders are expected to vote any Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Trust Amendment Proposal.
In addition, the Board considered the conflicts, as described in “Interests of the Metal Sky Star’s Sponsor Directors and Officers”, between their respective personal pecuniary interests in successfully completing a business combination and the interests of public shareholders. The Board determined that their respective personal pecuniary interests, in the form of the contingent and hypothetical value of Company shares if a business combination is ultimately completed, was substantially less than the additional time, effort and potential liability they might incur if they failed to discharge their fiduciary duties to the Company’s shareholders to the best of their ability, which they, as Company shareholders as well, share.
After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board determined that the Trust Amendment Proposal is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its shareholders, and has declared them advisable.
Recommendation of the Board
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.
When you consider the recommendation of our Board, you should keep in mind that the insiders have interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder. For more details, see “Proposal 1 — Extension Proposal — Interests of Metal Sky’s Sponsor Directors and Officers.”
PROPOSAL 3 — THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will request the chairman of the Extraordinary General Meeting (who has agreed to act accordingly) to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our shareholders in the event, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Proposal 1.Proposals 1 and 2. If the adjournment proposal is not approved by our shareholders, it is agreed that the chairman of the Extraordinary General Meeting shall not adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date in the event, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Proposal 1.Proposals 1 and 2.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s ordinary shares present (in person or by proxy) and voting on the Adjournment Proposal at the Extraordinary General Meeting will be required to direct the chairman of the Extraordinary General Meeting to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve the Proposal 1.1 and 2. Abstentions will have no effect with respect to approval of this Adjournment Proposal. As this proposal is not a “routine” matter, brokers will not be permitted to exercise discretionary voting on this proposal.
Recommendation
The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.
THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
Date, Time and Place. The Extraordinary General Meeting of Metal Sky Star’s shareholders will be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time on January 26,October 30, 2023 in the offices of the Company’s counsel, Becker & Poliakoff LLP,P.A., at 45 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10006.
Voting Power; Record Date. You will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, if you owned Metal Sky Star ordinary shares at the close of business on December 22, 2022,October 2, 2023, the Record Date for the Extraordinary General Meeting. You will have one (1) vote per proposal for each Metal Sky Star share you owned at that time. The Company’sMetal Sky Star rights and warrants do not carry voting rights.
Votes Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Company’s ordinary shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote which are present (in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting and which vote on the Extension Proposal 1(Proposal 1) will be required to approve the Proposal 1. Abstentions, which are not votes cast, will have no effect with respect to approval of this proposal.
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Trust Amendment Proposal (Proposal 2).
The affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s ordinary shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote which are present (in person or by proxy) at the Extraordinary General Meeting and are voted will be required to approve the Adjournment Proposal 2.(Proposal 3). The Adjournment Proposal will only be put forth for a vote if there are not sufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the other proposals at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Abstentions, which are not votes cast, will have no effect with respect to approval of these proposals. this proposal.
As none of the proposals 1 and 2 are not “routine” matters, brokers will not be permitted to exercise discretionary voting on Proposals 1, 2 and 2.3.
At the close of business on the record date, there were 14,675,0008,819,676 issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the CompanyMetal Sky Star each of which entitles its holder to cast one (1) vote per proposal.
If you do not want the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal approved, you should vote against such Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. If you want to obtain your pro rata portion of the trust account in the event the Extension is implemented, which will be paid within ten (10) business days after the shareholderExtraordinary General Meeting, which is scheduled for January 26,October 30, 2023, you must vote for or against the Charter Amendment Proposal and demand redemption of your shares.
Voting Your Shares — Shareholders of Record
If you are shareholder of record, you may vote by mail, Internet, email or fax. Your one or more proxy cards show the number of Ordinary Shares that you own.
Voting by Mail. You can vote your shares by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. By signing the proxy card and returning it in the enclosed prepaid and addressed envelope, you are authorizing the individuals named on the proxy card to vote your shares at the Extraordinary General Meeting in the manner you indicate. If you sign and return the proxy card but do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your Ordinary Shares will be voted as recommended by the Board. The Board recommends voting “FOR” the Extension Proposal, “FOR” the Trust Amendment Proposal, and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.
Voting by Internet. Shareholders who have received a copy of the proxy card by mail may be able to vote over the Internet by visiting the web address on the proxy card and entering the voter control number included on your proxy card.
Voting by email or fax. If available, you may vote by email or fax by following the instructions provided on the proxy card.
Voting Your Shares — Beneficial Owners
If your shares are registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, you are the “beneficial owner” of those shares and those shares are considered as held in “street name.” If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, you should have received a proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy materials from that organization rather than directly from Metal Sky Star. Simply complete and mail the proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted. You also may be eligible to vote your shares electronically over the Internet or by telephone. A large number of banks and brokerage firms offer Internet and telephone voting. If your bank or brokerage firm does not offer Internet or telephone voting information, please complete and return your proxy card in the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided. To vote yourself at the Extraordinary General Meeting, you must first obtain a valid legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent and then register in advance to attend. Follow the instructions from your broker or bank included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker or bank to request a legal proxy form.
Proxies; Board Solicitation. Your proxy is being solicited by the Board on the proposal to approve the proposals being presented to shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting. No recommendation is being made as to whether you should elect to redeem your shares. Proxies may be solicited in person or by telephone. If you grant a proxy, you may still revoke your proxy and vote your shares online at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
We have retained Advantage Proxy, Inc. (the “Advantage(“Advantage Proxy”) to assist us in soliciting proxies. If you have questions about how to vote or direct a vote in respect of your shares, you may contact Advantage Proxy at (877) 870-8565 (toll free). The Company has agreed to pay Advantage Proxy a fee of $7500$7,500 and expenses, for its services in connection with the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Directors and Executive Officers
Our current directors, officers and director nomineenominees are listed below.
| Name | Age | Title | ||
| Wenxi He | Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director | |||
| Konstantin A. Sokolov | Director | |||
| Zhuo Wang | Independent Director | |||
| Zining Jiang | Independent Director | |||
| Xinghua Fan | Independent Director |
Man Chak Leung has served as our Chief Executive Officer since June 2021. Mr. Leung has been the President and a director of Verity Acquisition Corp. since May 2021. Since August 2019, he has been serving as the General Manager of China Seven Star Holdings Limited, an investment holding company focusing on consumer and healthcare sectors in China. Mr. Leung served as consultant to Silk Road Finance Corporation from May to December 2020. Mr. Leung served as Co-Head of Risk and Portfolio Management at China Minsheng Financial Holding Corporation Limited (“CM Financial”) from 2017 to May 2019, a Hong Kong mainboard listed financial holding platform. He was responsible for all portfolio including primary and secondary, fixed income and other special situations including SPACs. Mr. Leung joined CM Financial in December 2016 from TPG Growth, a global mid-market private equity firm with over US$ 15 billion AUM, where he spent 10 years as an investment professional specializing in Healthcare, Financial Services, TMT, Consumer and Education in Greater China and South East Asia. Prior to that, he was with the Hong Kong office of the Cathay Capital Group between 2001 to 2006. He has accumulated extensive transaction experience including investments into eToro, Masan Group, FPT, ShangPharma, NT Pharma, Ivy Education Group, Vinda Paper and Rayli Magazine. He has also served on the board of the Ivy Education Group, a K12 Education Group in China between September 2015 to February 2017, CM SPC and CM Asset Management (Hongkong) Company Limited between July 2018 to May 2019 and CM International Financial Leasing Investment Holding Company Limited between January 2018 to November 2019. Mr. Leung holds a Bachelor of Business and Administration (Finance) from City University of Hong Kong.
Konstantin A. Sokolov has served as a director since October 2022. Mr. Sokolov has been the independent director of Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation since July 19, 2021. Mr. Sokolov is the founder and Chairman of Gotthard Investment AG, which is a private equity firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, focusing on financial services, asset management and global real estate. Since 2011, Gotthard Investment AG advised and managed multiple investment funds, and partnered with leading Swiss and Lichtenstein banks to invest globally in energy and real estate assets. Prior to that, Mr. Sokolov served as Managing Director of Centrica plc (British Gas and Direct Energy). Between 1997 to 2005, Mr. Sokolov served in senior leadership positions at Qwest Communication, Inc., a pioneer in fiber optics. Mr. Sokolov holds an Executive MBA degree from University of Chicago in 2005 and a Master’s of Mathematics and Computer Science degree from St. Petersburg State University in 1997.
Ms. Wenxi He has served as our Chief Financial Officer since June 2021.2021 and our Chief Executive Officer and director since September 2023. She serves as Chief Investment Officer at Still Waters Green Technology Limited, an asset management company based in London, specializing in the development and management of renewable energy and power generation assets, since February 2019. Ms. He has over 15 years of experience in the investment banking industry. Prior to joining Still Waters Green Technology Limited, she served as the Managing Director and Global Head of Commodity Exchange Traded Products at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London. She was responsible for initiating and executing strategic solutions and issuance, trading physical and synthetic commodity products, and managing portfolio assets in energy, metals and agriculture, with a wide variety of commodity, currency and interest-rate risk. Prior to that, Ms. He traded and structured commodity derivative products at Citigroup, fixed income security products with a focus on structured credit and rates at UBS and RBC Capital Markets. Ms. He holds master’s degrees in both Mathematical Finance and Engineering from University of Toronto, and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Tongji University.
Mr. Konstantin A. Sokolov has served as a director since October 14, 2022. Mr. Sokolov is the founder and Chairman of Gotthard Investment AG, which is a private equity firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, focusing on financial services, asset management and global real estate. Since 2011, Gotthard Investment AG advised and managed multiple investment funds, and partnered with leading Swiss and Lichtenstein banks to invest globally in energy and real estate assets. Prior to that, Mr. Sokolov served as Managing Director of Centrica plc (British Gas and Direct Energy). Between 1997 to 2005, Mr. Sokolov served in senior leadership positions at Qwest Communication, Inc., a pioneer in fiber optics. Mr. Sokolov holds an Executive MBA degree from University of Chicago in 2005 and a Master’s of Mathematics and Computer Science degree from St. Petersburg State University in 1997.
Mr. Zhuo Wang serveshas served as an independent director since March 31, 2022. Mr. Wang serves as the director of Mingzhu Logistics Holdings Limited, a NASDAQ-listed company (YGMZ:US)(Nasdaq:YGMZ), since April 2018. Mr. Wang has over ten years of experience in investment and management. He has also been the marketing manager of Singapore construction design and supply company Springview Enterprises Private Limited since June 2018. Mr. Wang started to work as the director of an investment holding company, Exquisite Elite Limited since November 2017. Since May 2017, Mr. Wang has been the managing director of China International Holdings, and its Hong Kong based subsidiaries, China International Securities Limited, a securities firm, overseeing the firm’s brokerage services, business operations and performance, and China International Corporate Management Limited since June 2016, a consulting firm that provides a range of business solutions to small and medium sized companies in Asia. Since April 2016, Mr. Wang has also been the head of finance and operations at a Singaporean education consulting company Shines International Limited and a director of Total Best Investments Limited, an investment holding company since March 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Wang has been the head of finance and marketing of Singapore construction services provider GGL Enterprises Pte Ltd since 2012. Mr. Wang also served as a director on the board of various companies, including Belvedere Ventures Pte Ltd. between June 2011 to October 2016, a real estate development and construction company, Sandhurst Global Pte Ltd., and between September 2013 to August 2014, a security personnel staffing and systems company, Acquired Time (HK) Limited. Mr. Wang holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management from Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Zining Jiang serveshas served as an independent director since March 31, 2022. Mr. Jiang nowcurrently serves as the general manager of Guangzhou Shanxin Trading Co. Ltd., which mainly engages in industrial raw material trade and import and export business since July 2018. Prior to that, since July 2015, Mr. Jiang served as the CEO of Guangzhou Yidao Investment Holding Co., Ltd. and an operational director at Guangdong Grape Wine Magazine Co., Ltd. In 2007, he joined Yangcheng Evening News Group as the deputy chief editor. He then joined China Southern Airlines as assistant to the general manager in April 2011, and was promoted as the operation director of China Southern Airlines Media Group. He joined PACOM Media Co. Ltd. in July 2001 and successively served as the chief editor of China Golf, Golf Digest and Golf Travel. Prior to that, Mr. Jiang joined Guangdong Cable TV station in 1996 as an editor upon graduation from Jinan University.
Mr. Xinghua Fan serveshas served as an independent director since March 31, 2022. Mr. Fan currently serves as the Vice General Manager and is responsible for the financing and listing of SINO SIC Technology Development Co., Ltd.’s silicon carbide project. Mr. Fan has served as the Senior Partner and Vice President of Beijing New Board Capital Investment Holdings Co. since 2014. At the same time, he is also the executive director of the World Union Fortune Entrepreneur Club and a member of the investment committee. Mr. Fan was the COO of Sino-American Holding Group from 2011 to 2013. From 2008 to 2011, he worked as the vice president of Zhongshuo Investment Guarantee Group. From 2005 to 2007, he has worked in Xinyuan Guarantee (China) Co., Ltd. as an operation center manager. Mr. Fan received a Master’s Degree in College of Economics and Management (SEM) from Beihang University.
Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Each of our directors holds office for a one-year term. Subject to any other special rights applicable to the shareholders, any vacancies on our Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present and voting at the meeting of our board or by a majority of the holders of our founder shares.
Shareholder Communications
Shareholders who wish to communicate directly with our board of directors, or any individual director, should direct questions in writing to our Corporate Secretary, Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation, 132 West 31st Street, First Floor, New York, New York 10001. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is a “Board Communication” or “Director Communication.” All such letters must identify the author and clearly state whether the intended recipients are all members of the board of directors or just certain specified individual directors. The Corporate Secretary will make copies of all such letters and circulate them to the appropriate director or directors.
Director Independence
The NASDAQ listing standards require that a majority of our Board of Directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person who has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). We currently have three “independent directors” as defined in the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our board has determined that each of Messrs. Zhuo Wang, Zining Jiang, Xinghua Fan and Konstantin A. Sokolov are independent directors under applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Executive Compensation.
No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us during the year ended December 31, 2022.
No compensation or fees of any kind, including finder’s, consulting fees and other similar fees, will be paid to our founders, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to, or in order to effectuate the consummation of, our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). Directors, officers and founders will receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us.
After completion of our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid employment, consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. The amount of such compensation may not be known at the time of a shareholder Meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in an Exchange Act filing such as Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by the SEC.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership based on 14,675,000 shares of ourMetal Sky Star’s ordinary shares outstanding as of December 22, 2022, based on information obtained from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary sharesrecord date by:
| ● | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares; |
| ● | each of our current officers and directors; and |
| ● | all |
As of the record date, of December 22, 2022, there were a total of 14,675,000 of our8,819,676 ordinary shares issued and outstanding (including 11,500,000 public shares).shares. Unless otherwise indicated, all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares of the Company beneficially owned by them.
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(3) | Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Shares(3) | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(3) | Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Shares(3) | ||||||||||||
| M-Star Management Corporation(2) | 3,205,000 | 21.88 | % | 3,205,000 | 36.33 | % | ||||||||||
| Man Chak Leung(2) | 3,205,000 | 21.88 | % | |||||||||||||
| Wenxi He(4) | - | - | ||||||||||||||
| Wenxi He(2) | 3,205,000 | 36.33 | % | |||||||||||||
| Konstantin A. Sokolov(4) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Zhuo Wang(4) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Zining Jiang(4) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Xinghua Fan(4) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| All directors and officers as a group (6 individuals) | 3,205,000 | 21.88 | % | |||||||||||||
| All directors and officers as a group (5 individuals) | 3,205,000 | 36.33 | % | |||||||||||||
| 5% or greater beneficial owners | ||||||||||||||||
| Atlas Diversified Master Fund, Ltd.(5) | 700,000 | 6.09 | % | |||||||||||||
| Saba Capital Management, L.P.(6) | 600,000 | 5.20 | % | |||||||||||||
| Feis Equities LLC(7) | 995,000 | 8.65 | % | |||||||||||||
| Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.(5) | 1,027,250 | 7.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| Shaolin Capital Management LLC(6) | 644,346 | 5.62 | % | |||||||||||||
| Atlas Diversified Master Fund, Ltd.(7) | 700,000 | 6.09 | % | |||||||||||||
| * | Less than one percent. |
| (1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is 132 West |
| (2) | Represents 2,875,000 founder ordinary shares and 330,000 private placement ordinary shares held by M-Star Management Corporation, our sponsor. |
| (3) | Based upon |
| (4) | Such individual does not beneficially own any of our ordinary shares. However, such individual has a pecuniary interest in our ordinary shares through his ownership of shares of our sponsor. |
| (5) | Based on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed on |
| (6) | Based on information contained in the Schedule 13G filed on |
| (7) | Based on information contained in the Schedule 13G filed on April |
Our founders beneficially own approximately 21.88% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares. Because of the ownership block held by our founders, officers and directors, such individuals may be able to effectively exercise influence over all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions other than approval of our initial business combination.
Our sponsor, officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
September 26,On July 5, 2021, our sponsor purchased 2,875,000an aggregate of 1,437,500 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.01$0.02 per share. On September 26, 2021, the Company purchased back all the 1,437,500 founder shares for $25,000 and reissued 2,875,000 shares to our sponsor for $25,000. Our sponsor owns approximately 21.88% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares as of December 31, 2022.
Our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 330,000 private placement units at a price of $10.00 per unit in a private placement that was completed simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering. Each unit consists of one private placement share, one private placement warrant and one private placement right. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder upon exercise to purchase one-half of one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Each private placement right will be converted to one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary shares upon the completion of its initial business combination. The private placement units (including the underlying securities) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by it until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
In connection with the completion of our initial public offering, we entered into an Administrative Services Agreement with our sponsor pursuant to which we will pay a total of $10,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services to such affiliate. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. Accordingly, in the event the consummation of our initial business combination takes the maximum 2128 months, our sponsor will be paid a total of $210,000$280,000 ($10,000 per month) for office space, administrative and support services and will be entitled to be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses.
Our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
Our sponsor has agreed
On June 15, 2021, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to loan usthe Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $300,000an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. On December 15, 2021, Company amended the promissory note to be used for a portionextend the due date. The promissory note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) March 31, 2022 or (ii) the consummation of the expenses of our initial public offering.IPO. As of June 30, 2023, the date of closing our initial public offering, we had borrowed $300,000principal amount due and owing under the promissory note with our sponsor. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and were originally due and payablewas nil, which was paid off as of April 5, 2022. On January 3, 2023, the Company issued a promissory note in connection with our public offering (April 5, 2022). Thethe principal amount of up to $1,000,000 (the “Promissory Note”) to M-Star Management Corp. Pursuant to which the Sponsor shall loan repaid as $300,000 allotted to the paymentCompany up to $1,000,000 to pay the extension fee and transaction cost. On January 4, 2023, the Company requested to draw the funds of offering expense. Related party loan balance as$383,333 and deposited it into the trust account to extend the period of time the Company has to consummate a business combination by one month to February 5, 2023. The $383,333 extension fee represents approximately $0.033 per public share. The Notes bear no interest and are repayable in full upon the earlier of (a) December 31, 20212023 or (b) the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination. The issuance of the Note was nil.made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Starting on February 2023, the extension fee changed to $187,155 due to the redemption of 5,885,324 public shares. On April 18, 2023, the Company amended and restated the Promissory Note (the Amended Promissory Note”) in order to increase the available principal amount from $1,000,000 to $2,500,000. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the loans under the promissory notes were $1,373,812 and nil, respectively.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit (which, for example, would result in the holders being issued 150,000 ordinary shares, 150,000 rights and 150,000 warrants to purchase 150,000 shares if $1,500,000 of notes were so converted) at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the placement units issued to the initial holder. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
The holders of the founder shares, private placement units, the shares underlying the warrants underlying the unit purchase option issued to the underwriters of our initial public offering, and units that may be issued on conversion of working capital loans (and any securities underlying the private placement units and the working capital loans) are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed on the effective date of our initial public offering requiring us to register such securities for resale. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
On June 15, 2021, the Company issued a promissory note (the “Note”) in the principal amount of up to $300,000 to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor shall loan to the Company up to $300,000 to pay the extension fee and transaction cost. On December 15, 2021, the Company issued another promissory note (the “Note”) in the principal amount of up to $300,000 to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor shall loan to the Company up to $300,000 to pay the extension fee and transaction cost. The Notes bear no interest and are repayable in full upon the earlier of (a) March 31, 2022 or (b) the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination. The Note have no conversion feature, and no collateral. The issuance of the Note was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Sponsor waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distribution of or from the trust account, and agrees not to seek resources, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any claim against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.
No date for the Company’s Extraordinaryannual meeting of shareholders of 2023 has been set.
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, Metal Sky Star and its agents that deliver communications to its shareholders are permitted to deliver to two or more shareholders sharing the same address a single copy of Metal Sky Star’s proxy statement. Upon written or oral request, Metal Sky Star will deliver a separate copy of the proxy statement to any shareholder at a shared address who wishes to receive separate copies of such documents in the future. Shareholders receiving multiple copies of such documents may likewise request that Metal Sky Star deliver single copies of such documents in the future. Shareholders may notify Metal Sky Star of their requests by calling or writing Metal Sky Star at Metal Sky Star’s principal executive offices at 132 West 31st31st Street, First9th Floor, New York, New York 10001.NY 10001, (332) 237-6141.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Metal Sky Star files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act. Metal Sky Star files its reports, proxy statements and other information electronically with the SEC. You may access information on Metal Sky Star at the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.
This Proxy Statement describes the material elements of relevant contracts, exhibits and other information attached as annexes to this Proxy Statement. Information and statements contained in this Proxy Statement are qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of the relevant contract or other document included as an annex to this document.
You may obtain this additional information, or additional copies of this Proxy Statement, at no cost, and you may ask any questions you may have about the Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal by contacting us at the following address, telephone number or facsimile number:
Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation
132 West 31st31st Street, First9th Floor,
New York, New YorkNY 10001,
Tel: (332) 237-6141
In order to receive timely delivery of the documents in advance of the Extraordinary General Meeting, you must make your request for information no later than October 13, 2023.
METAL SKY STAR ACQUISITION CORPORATION (the “Company”)
RESOLUTIONS OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY
Proposal 1 – Charter Amendment- Extension Proposal
The Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation shall be amended by deleting Section 36.2 in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
“36.2 In the event that the Company does not consummate its initial Business Combination by February 5, 2023 (the “Deadline”), the Company may, but is not obliged to, extend the period of time to consummate the Business Combination forup to six (6) additional times, each by a further twelve (12) monthsperiod of one month (the “Extension”“Extension”), to FebruaryAugust 5, 2024 (the “Extended Date”), provided that if the Company exercises the Extension.Extension, the Sponsor, or its designee or assignee, shall deposit additional funds into the Trust Account in accordance with terms as set out in the trust agreement governing the Trust Account. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination by the Extended Date, such failure shall trigger an automatic redemption of the Public Shares (an Automatic Redemption Event) and the directors of the Company shall take all such action necessary (i) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten (10) Business Days thereafter to redeem the Public Shares or distribute the Trust Account to the holders of Public Shares, on a pro rata basis, in cash at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price; and (ii) as promptly as practicable, to cease all operations except for the purpose of making such distribution and any subsequent winding up of the Company’s affairs. In the event of an Automatic Redemption Event, only the holders of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive pro rata redeeming distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Public Shares.”
Annex A-1
PROPOSED TRUST AMENDMENT
[●], 2023
THIS AMENDMENT TO THE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made as of [●], 2023, by and between Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands corporation (the “Company”), Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association (the “Trustee”), and Vstock Transfer LLC, as transfer agent for the Company’s securities (“Vstock”). Capitalized terms contained in this Amendment, but not specifically defined in this Amendment, shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated March 30, 2022, by and between the parties hereto (the “Trust Agreement”).
WHEREAS, as of the business day immediately prior to the date first specified above, a total of $_________ is on deposit in the Trust Account;
WHEREAS, the fifth recital of the Trust Agreement provides that the time period within which the Company may complete a business combination may be extended in additional increments of one-month up to a total of 12 additional months from the closing date of the Offering, subject to the payment into the Trust Account by the Sponsor (or its designees or affiliates) of the sum of $333,333 per month (or $383,332 in the event that the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) (the “Extension Payment”), representing the sum of $0.033 per Ordinary Share sold to Public Stockholders;
WHEREAS, Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement provides that the Trustee is to liquidate the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, a Termination Letter; or (y) upon the date which is the later of (1) 12 months after the closing of the Offering or (2) such later date up to 21 months after closing of the Offering as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date;
WHEREAS, Section 6(c) of the Trust Agreement provides that Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement may only be amended with the approval of the holders of the affirmative vote of sixty-five percent (65%) of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company voting together as a single class (the “Consent of the Stockholders”);
WHEREAS, the Company obtained the Consent of the Stockholders to approve this Amendment; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Trust Agreement as provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
| 1. | Amendments to Trust Agreement. |
| (a) | The fifth recital to the Trust Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows: |
WHEREAS, the Company’s ability to complete a business combination may be extended by up to six (6) additional increments of one-month each until August ___, 2024, subject to the payment into the Trust Account by the Sponsor (or its designees or affiliates) of an amount for each one-month extension equal to the lesser of (i) $30,000 for all remaining public shares and (ii) $0.033 per public share for each remaining Ordinary Share held by a Public Stockholder (the “Monthly Extension Payment”), and which Monthly Extension Payments, if any, shall be added to the Trust Account.
Annex A-1B-1
| (b) | The following new recital to the Trust Agreement is hereby inserted as the sixth recital on page 1 of the Trust Agreement |
WHEREAS, on [●], 2023, the Company’s stockholders approved an extension of the deadline to consummate an initial Business Combination from February 5, 2024 to August 5, 2024; and
| (c) | Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: |
(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and within two business days following (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with the terms of, a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by an Authorized Representative (as such term is defined below), in coordination with the Company and Vstock and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay any taxes (net of any taxes payable and less up to $50,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is the later of (1) August [ ], 2024 and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay any taxes (net of any taxes payable and less up to $50,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses) shall be distributed to the Public Stockholders of record as of such date as reflected in the records of Vstock; provided, however, that in the event the Trustee receives a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to Exhibit B hereto, or if the Trustee begins to liquidate the Property because it has received no such Termination Letter by the date specified in clause (y) of this Section 1(i), the Trustee shall keep the Trust Account open until twelve (12) months following the date the Property has been distributed to the Public Stockholders;
| 2. | Miscellaneous Provisions. |
2.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Amendment by or for the benefit of the Company or the Trustee shall bind and inure to the benefit of their permitted respective successors and assigns.
2.2. Severability. This Amendment shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Amendment or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Amendment a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
2.3. Applicable Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
2.4. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
2.5. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Amendment and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
2.6. Entire Agreement. The Trust Agreement, as modified by this Amendment, constitutes the entire understanding of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, arrangements, promises and commitments, whether written or oral, express or implied, relating to the subject matter hereof, and all such prior agreements, understandings, arrangements, promises and commitments are hereby canceled and terminated.
[Signature Page to Follow]
Annex B-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Amendment as of the date first set forth above.
| METAL SKY STAR ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Wenxi He | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | David B. Young | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
| Vstock, LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Annex B-3
PROXY
METAL SKY STAR ACQUISITION CORPORATION
132 West 31st31st Street, First9th Floor
New York, New YorkNY 10001
Tel: (332) 237-6141
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JANUARY 26,OCTOBER 30, 2023
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 26,OCTOBER 30, 2023
The undersigned, revoking any previous proxies relating to these shares, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice and Proxy Statement, dated October 10, 2023, in connection with the Extraordinary General Meeting and at any adjournments thereof (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) to be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2023 in the office of Company’s counsel, Becker & Poliakoff P.A., at 45 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10006 and hereby appoints Man Chak LeungWenxi He as proxy of the undersigned, with full power to appoint hisher substitute, and hereby authorizes him to represent and to vote all the ordinary shares of Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) registered in the name provided, which the undersigned is entitled to vote as specified below on this card, at the Extraordinary General Meeting with all the powers the undersigned would have if personally present. Without limiting the general authorization hereby given, said proxies are, and each of Shareholders of Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation,them is, instructed to vote or act as follows on January 26, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. local time, at the offices of the Company’s counsel, Becker & Poliakoff LLP, 45 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10006.proposals set forth in this Proxy Statement.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER.HEREIN. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF “FOR” PROPOSAL 1, 2 AND 3.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS. This proxy authorizes the above designated proxy to vote in his discretion on such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof to the extent authorized by Rule 14a-4(c) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 1, 2 AND 3.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”
FOR PROPOSAL 1 AND PROPOSAL 2 SET FORTH BELOW.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK
PROPOSAL 1: Charter AmendmentExtension Proposal.
Amend Metal Sky Star’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to extend the date by which Metal Sky Star must consummate its initial business combination to FebruaryAugust 5, 2024, by amending the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to delete the existing Section 36.2 thereof and replacing it with the new Section 36.2 in the form set forth in Annex A of the accompanying proxy statement.
| For | Against | Abstain | ||
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
PROPOSAL 2: Trust Amendment Proposal.
Amend the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated March 30, 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and between the Metal Sky Star, Wilmington Trust, N.A., as trustee, and Vstock Transfer LLC, to reflect the Extension Proposal.
| For | Against | Abstain | ||
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
PROPOSAL 2:3: Adjournment Proposal
To direct the chairman of the Extraordinary General Meeting to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Extraordinary General Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve the Proposals 1.1 and 2.
| For | Against | Abstain | ||
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
Please indicate if you intend to attend this Meeting ☐ YES ☐ NO
| Signature of Shareholder: | ||
| Date: |
| Name shares held in (Please print): | Account Number (if any): | |
| No. of Shares Entitled to Vote: | Stock Certificate Number(s): | |
| Note: | Please sign exactly as your name or names appear in the Company’s stock transfer books. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. |
| If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. | |
| If the signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. | |
| Please provide any change of address information in the spaces below in order that we may update our records: |
| Address: | |||
Shareholder’s Signature
Shareholder’s Signature
Signature should agree with name printed hereon. If stock isshares are held in the name of more than one person, EACH joint owner should sign. Executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, and attorneys should indicate the capacity in which they sign. Attorneys should submit powers of attorney.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE ENCLOSED TO CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY.VSTOCK TRANSER LLC. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSALS SET FORTH IN PROPOSALS 1, 2, AND 3 AND WILL GRANT DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF. THIS PROXY WILL REVOKE ALL PRIOR PROXIES SIGNED BY YOU.
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.