UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant ¨
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
x 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 §240.14a-12
Financial Strategies
Acquisition Corp.
(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):
x No
fee required.
¨ Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
¨ Fee
computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALS
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS OF FINANCIAL STRATEGIES
ACQUISITION CORP.
2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75204
Dear Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. Stockholder:
You are cordially
invited to attend a special meeting of Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Financial
Strategies,” or the “Company”), which will be held on , 2022, at a.m., Central Time, as a virtual
meeting, or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be postponed or adjourned (the
“Stockholder Meeting”).
Due to the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic, there may be restrictions in place in many jurisdictions relating to the ability to conduct in-person meetings. As part of
our precautions regarding COVID-19, we are planning for the Stockholder Meeting to be held virtually over the internet. You can participate
in the virtual Stockholder Meeting, vote, and submit questions via live webcast by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/finspac/2022.
Please see “Questions and Answers about the Stockholder Meeting — How do I attend the virtual Stockholder
Meeting?” in the accompanying proxy statement for more information. Even if you are planning on attending the Stockholder Meeting
online, please promptly submit your proxy vote online, or, if you received a printed form of proxy in the mail, by completing, dating,
signing and returning the enclosed proxy, so your shares will be represented at the Stockholder Meeting.
The accompanying notice of
the Stockholder Meeting and proxy statement describe the business we will conduct at the Stockholder Meeting and provide information
about the Company that you should consider when you vote your shares. As more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement, which
is dated , 2022, and is first being mailed
to stockholders on or about that date, the Stockholder Meeting will be held for the purpose of considering and voting on the following
proposals:
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1. |
Proposal
No. 1 — Extension Amendment Proposal — To amend our amended and restated certificate
of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) to extend the date (the “Termination Date”) by which
the Company has to consummate a Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Charter Extension”) from December 14,
2022 (the “Original Termination Date”) to January 14, 2023 (the “Charter Extension Date”) and to allow
us, without another stockholder vote, to elect to extend the Termination Date to consummate a Business Combination on a monthly basis
for up to eleven times by an additional one month each time after the Charter Extension Date, by resolution of our board of directors
(the “Board”), if requested by one or both of FSC Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“FSC Sponsor”),
and Celtic Sponsor VII LLC, a Delaware limited liability (“Celtic Sponsor VII,” and, together with FSC Sponsor, the “Co-Sponsors”),
and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, until December 14, 2023 (each, an “Additional
Charter Extension Date”), or a total of up to twelve months after the Original Termination Date, unless the closing of a Business
Combination shall have occurred prior thereto (the “Extension Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed amendment
is set forth in Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement; |
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2. |
Proposal
No. 2 — Trust Amendment Proposal — To amend the Company’s Investment Management Trust Agreement (the
“Trust Agreement,” and such amendment, the “Trust Amendment”), dated December 9, 2021, by and between the
Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental,” or the “Trustee”) to extend the
date (the “Liquidation Date”) on which the Trustee must liquidate the trust account (“Trust Account”) established
by the Company in connection with its initial public offering from December 14, 2022 to January 14, 2023, and to allow the
Company, without another stockholder vote, to elect to further extend the Liquidation Date on a monthly basis for up to eleven times
from January 14, 2023 to December 14, 2023 (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed amendment is
set forth in Annex B to the accompanying proxy statement; and |
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3. |
Proposal
No. 3 — Adjournment Proposal — To adjourn the Stockholder 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 Stockholder
Meeting, there are insufficient shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common
Stock”), and Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Founder Shares,” and, collectively with the
Class A Common Stock, “Common Stock”), represented either in person (including virtually) or by proxy to constitute
a quorum necessary to conduct business at the Stockholder Meeting or at the time of the Stockholder Meeting to approve the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”). |
Each of the Extension Amendment
Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement. Please
take the time to read carefully each of the proposals in the accompanying proxy statement before you vote.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Charter Extension becomes effective, prior to filing an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State to effectuate the Charter Extension and entering into the Trust Amendment
with Continental, one or both of the Co-Sponsors (or one or more of their respective affiliates, members or third-party designees) (each,
a “Lender”) shall lend the Company the lesser of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05 for each share of Public Stock (as defined
below) that is not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting, which the Company shall deposit into the Trust Account (as defined
below), upon the Company’s first drawdown under non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory notes in the aggregate amount of up
to $600,000, to be issued by the Company to the Lenders (the “Notes”). In addition, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is
approved and the Charter Extension becomes effective, in the event that we have not consummated an initial business combination (a “Business
Combination”) by January 14, 2023, without approval of our public stockholders, we may, by resolution of the Board, if requested
by one or both of the Co-Sponsors, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, extend the Termination
Date up to eleven times, each by one additional month (for a total of up to twelve additional months to complete a Business Combination),
provided that we draw down and deposit into the Trust Account, for each such monthly extension, the lesser of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05
for each share of Public Stock that is not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting under the Notes, for an aggregate deposit
of up to $550,000 (if all eleven additional monthly extensions are exercised). If we complete a Business Combination, we will, at the
option of the Lenders, repay the amounts loaned under the Notes or convert a portion or all of the amounts loaned under such Notes into
units, which units will be identical to the private placement units issued to our Co-Sponsors and certain other investors in the private
placement that closed concurrently with our initial public offering as described in the registration statement for our initial public
offering.
If we do not complete a Business
Combination by the applicable Termination Date, such Notes will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account or will be
forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven.
The purpose of the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is to allow the Company additional time to complete a Business Combination. You
are not being asked to vote on any Business Combination at this time.
The Certificate of Incorporation
provides that we have until the Original Termination Date to complete our initial Business Combination unless the deadline to complete
our initial Business Combination is extended pursuant to the provisions thereof. The Board has determined that it is in the best interests
of the Company to seek an extension of the Original Termination Date and the Liquidation Date and have our stockholders approve the Extension
Amendment Proposal to allow for a period of additional time to consummate a Business Combination. Without the Charter Extension, we believe
that we may not be able to complete a Business Combination on or before the Original Termination Date. If that were to occur, we would
be precluded from completing a Business Combination and would be forced to liquidate.
We reserve the right at any
time to cancel the Stockholder Meeting and not submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
or implement the Charter Extension or Trust Amendment. In the event the Stockholder Meeting is cancelled, and a Business Combination
is not consummated prior to the Original Termination Date, the Company will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the Certificate
of Incorporation.
If we are unable to effect
the Charter Extension, we will only be able to extend the Original Termination Date upon the contribution by the Co-Sponsors, or their
affiliates or designees, of $1,050,000 to the Trust Account for a three-month extension, for up to two extensions and a total of $2,100,000,
pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation (an “Automatic Extension”).
As contemplated by the Certificate
of Incorporation, if the Charter Extension is implemented, the holders of shares of our Class A Common Stock issued as part of the units
sold in the IPO (such shares, the “Public Stock”) may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Stock in exchange
for their pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account (the “Trust Account”) established to hold a portion
of the proceeds of the IPO as well as a portion of the proceeds of the private placement of units which closed concurrently with the
IPO (the “Redemption”), regardless of how such public stockholders vote in regard to the Extension Amendment Proposal. If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of stockholders (and not abandoned),
the holders of Public Stock remaining after the Redemption will retain their right to redeem their Public Stock for their pro rata portion
of the funds available in the Trust Account upon consummation of a Business Combination or if the Company does not complete a Business
Combination by the Charter Extension Date.
On , 2022, the most recent
practicable date prior to the date of the accompanying proxy statement, the redemption price per share was approximately $ (which
is expected to be the same approximate amount two business days prior to the Stockholder Meeting), based on the aggregate amount on deposit
in the Trust Account of approximately $ as of , 2022 (including interest not previously
released to the Company to pay its income or other tax obligations), divided by the total number of then-outstanding shares of Public
Stock. The redemption price per share may increase between , 2022 and the date that is two business days prior to the
Stockholder Meeting due to any interest that accrues on the amount on deposit in the Trust Account prior to such date (less any amounts
released to us to pay our income or other tax obligations between such dates). If the closing price of the Public Stock was to remain
the same until the date of the Stockholder Meeting, exercising redemption rights would result in a public stockholder receiving approximately
$ more per share than if the shares were sold in the open market (based on the
current per share redemption price and the closing price of our Public Stock as reported on Nasdaq on , 2022). We cannot assure you that
you will be able to sell your Public Stock in the open market, even if the market price per share is lower than the redemption price
stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in our securities when you wish to sell their shares. We believe that such redemption
right enables our public stockholders to determine whether or not to sustain their investments for an additional period if we do not
complete a Business Combination on or before the Original Termination Date.
Approval of both the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Charter Extension. In addition, we will
not proceed with the Charter Extension or the Trust Amendment if we will not have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the Redemption. We cannot predict
the amount that will remain in the Trust Account following the Redemption if the Extension Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal
are approved, and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be only a small fraction of the $ that was in the Trust Account as of
, 2022 (including interest not previously released to us to pay our income or other tax obligations).
If either the Extension Amendment
Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved, a Business Combination is not completed and we do not exercise an Automatic
Extension, in each case on or before the Original Termination 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 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Public Stock
for cash for a redemption price per share as described below (which Redemption will completely extinguish such holders’ rights
as stockholders, including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably
possible following such Redemption, subject to approval of our then-stockholders and subject to the requirements of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), including the adoption of a resolution by the Board pursuant to Section 275(a) of
the DGCL finding the dissolution of the Company advisable and the provision of such notices as are required by said Section 275(a) of
the DGCL, dissolve and liquidate the balance of the Company’s net assets to its remaining stockholders, as part of the Company’s
plan of dissolution and liquidation, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to the Company’s obligations under
the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. In such event, the per share redemption price shall
be equal to a pro rata share of the Trust Account plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously
released to the Company or necessary to pay its income or other tax obligations divided by the total number of shares of Public
Stock then outstanding. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants or rights, which will expire
worthless in the event of our winding up.
The approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single
class.
The approval of the Trust
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting
as a single class.
Approval of the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock, voting as a single class, who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder
Meeting. The Adjournment Proposal will only be put forth for a vote if there are insufficient shares of Common Stock present at the Stockholder
Meeting to constitute a quorum or there are not sufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal at the Stockholder Meeting.
The Board has fixed the
close of business on November 10, 2022 (the “Record Date”) as the date for determining the Company’s stockholders
entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Stockholder Meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of Common
Stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Stockholder Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
We believe that it is in
the best interests of our stockholders that the Company obtain the Charter Extension. After careful consideration of all relevant factors,
the Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal
are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, has declared it advisable and recommends that you vote or give instruction
to vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, “FOR” the Trust Amendment Proposal and “FOR” the
Adjournment Proposal.
Your vote is very important.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Stockholder Meeting, please vote as soon as possible by following the instructions in the accompanying
proxy statement to make sure that your shares are represented and voted at the Stockholder Meeting. If you hold your shares in “street
name” through a bank, broker or other nominee, you will need to follow the instructions provided to you by your bank, broker or
other nominee to ensure that your shares are represented and voted at the Stockholder Meeting. The approval of the Extension Amendment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single class.
Approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock, voting as a single class. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of
the votes cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock who are present in person or represented by proxy
and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Meeting, voting as a single class. Accordingly, if you fail to vote in person or by proxy
at the Stockholder Meeting, your shares will not be counted for the purposes of determining whether the Extension Amendment Proposal,
the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are approved by the requisite majorities. With respect to the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the proposal. As these
proposals are not “routine” matters, brokers will not be permitted to exercise discretionary voting on these proposal. With
respect to the Adjournment Proposal, abstentions will have no effect on the approval of the proposal. As this proposal is not a “routine”
matter, brokers will not be permitted to exercise discretionary voting on this proposal.
If you sign, date and return
your proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted FOR each of the proposals presented at the Stockholder
Meeting. If you fail to return your proxy card or fail to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote, and do not attend
the Stockholder Meeting, the effect will be that your shares will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present
at the Stockholder Meeting but will not constitute votes cast at the Stockholder Meeting and therefore will have the same effect as a
vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal and no effect on the approval of the Adjournment
Proposal. If you are a stockholder of record and you attend the Stockholder Meeting and wish to vote in person, you may withdraw your
proxy and vote in person.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION
RIGHTS, YOU MUST DEMAND IN WRITING THAT YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ARE REDEEMED FOR A PRO RATA PORTION OF THE FUNDS HELD IN THE TRUST
ACCOUNT AND TENDER YOUR SHARES TO THE COMPANY’S TRANSFER AGENT AT LEAST TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE INITIALLY SCHEDULED VOTE
AT THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING. IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHT, YOU MUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A BENEFICIAL HOLDER AND PROVIDE
YOUR LEGAL NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS IN YOUR WRITTEN DEMAND. YOU MAY TENDER YOUR SHARES BY EITHER DELIVERING YOUR SHARE CERTIFICATE
TO THE TRANSFER AGENT OR BY DELIVERING YOUR SHARES ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY’S DWAC (DEPOSIT WITHDRAWAL
AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM. IF YOU HOLD THE SHARES IN STREET NAME, YOU WILL NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BANK OR BROKER TO
WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
Enclosed is the proxy statement containing detailed
information about the Stockholder Meeting, the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Stockholder Meeting, the Company urges you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.
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By Order of the Board of Directors
of Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. |
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/s/ Timo Vainionpää |
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Timo Vainionpää |
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Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board of Directors |
FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75204
NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
OF FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
TO BE HELD ON ,
2022
To the Stockholders of Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that a special meeting of the stockholders of Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Financial
Strategies,” or the “Company”), will be held on , 2022, at a.m., Central Time, as a virtual
meeting, or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be postponed or adjourned (the
“Stockholder Meeting”).
Due to the current COVID-19
pandemic, there may be restrictions in place in many jurisdictions relating to the ability to conduct in-person meetings. As part of
our precautions regarding COVID-19, we are planning for the Stockholder Meeting to be held virtually over the internet. You can participate
in the virtual Stockholder Meeting, vote, and submit questions via live webcast by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/finspac/2022.
Please see “Questions and Answers about the Stockholder Meeting — How do I attend the virtual Stockholder
Meeting?” in the accompanying proxy statement for more information. Even if you are planning on attending the Stockholder Meeting
online, please promptly submit your proxy vote online, or, if you received a printed form of proxy in the mail, by completing, dating,
signing and returning the enclosed proxy, so your shares will be represented at the Stockholder Meeting.
You are cordially invited
to attend the Stockholder Meeting that will be held for the purpose of considering and voting on (i) an extension amendment proposal
to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) to extend
the date (the “Termination Date”) by which the Company has to consummate a Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Charter
Extension”) from December 14, 2022 (the “Original Termination Date”) to January 14, 2023 (the “Charter
Extension Date”) and to allow us, without another stockholder vote, to elect to extend the Termination Date to consummate a Business
Combination on a monthly basis for up to eleven times by an additional one month each time after the Charter Extension Date, by resolution
of our board of directors (the “Board”), if requested by one or both of FSC Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“FSC Sponsor”), and Celtic Sponsor VII LLC, a Delaware limited liability (“Celtic Sponsor VII,” and, together
with FSC Sponsor, the “Co-Sponsors”), and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date,
until December 14, 2023 (each, an “Additional Charter Extension Date”) or a total of up to twelve months after the Original
Termination Date, unless the closing of a Business Combination shall have occurred prior thereto (the “Extension Amendment Proposal”);
a copy of the proposed amendment is set forth in Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement, (ii) an extension amendment
proposal to the Company’s Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement,” and such amendment, the “Trust
Amendment”), dated December 9, 2021, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental,”
or the “Trustee”) to extend the date (the “Liquidation Date”) on which the Trustee must liquidate the trust account
(“Trust Account”) established by the Company in connection with its IPO from December 14, 2022 to January 14, 2023,
and to allow the Company, without another stockholder vote, to elect to further extend the Liquidation Date on a monthly basis for up
to eleven times from January 14, 2023 to December 14, 2023 (the “Trust Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed
amendment is set forth in Annex B to the accompanying proxy statement; and (iii) an adjournment proposal to adjourn the Stockholder
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 Stockholder Meeting, there are insufficient shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A
Common Stock”), and Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Common Stock,” or “Founder
Shares,” and, collectively with the Class A Common Stock, “Common Stock”), represented either in person (including
virtually) or by proxy to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business at the Stockholder Meeting or at the time of the Stockholder
Meeting to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”) (unless
the Company determines that it is not necessary to hold the Stockholder Meeting as described in the accompanying proxy statement),
each as more fully described below in the accompanying proxy statement, which is dated ,
2022 and is first being mailed to stockholders on or about that date.
The proposals to be voted
upon at the Stockholder Meeting are as follows:
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1. |
Proposal No. 1 — Extension
Amendment Proposal — To amend the Certificate of Incorporation to extend the Termination Date by which
the Company has to consummate an initial business combination (“Business Combination”) from the Original Termination
Date to the Charter Extension Date and to allow the Company, without another stockholder vote, to elect to extend the Termination
Date to consummate a Business Combination on a monthly basis for up to eleven times by an additional one month each time after the
Charter Extension Date, by resolution of the Board, if requested by one or both of the Co-Sponsors, and upon five days’ advance
notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, until December 14, 2023 (each, an “Additional Charter Extension Date”)
or a total of up to twelve months after the Original Termination Date, unless the closing of a Business Combination shall have occurred
prior thereto. A copy of the proposed amendment is set forth in Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement; |
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Proposal No. 2 — Trust
Amendment Proposal — To amend the Trust Agreement to extend the Liquidation Date from December 14,
2022 to January 14, 2023, and to allow us, without another stockholder vote, to elect to further extend the Liquidation Date
on a monthly basis for up to eleven times from January 14, 2023 to December 14, 2023. A copy of the proposed amendment
is set forth in Annex B to the accompanying proxy statement; and |
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Proposal No. 3 — Adjournment
Proposal — To adjourn the Stockholder 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 Stockholder Meeting, there are insufficient
shares of our Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business at the
Stockholder Meeting or at the time of the Stockholder Meeting to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. |
Each of the Extension Amendment
Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are 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
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is to allow the Company additional time to complete a Business Combination. You
are not being asked to vote on any Business Combination at this time.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Charter Extension becomes effective, prior to filing an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State to effectuate the Charter Extension and entering into the Trust Amendment
with Continental, one or both of the Co-Sponsors (or one or more of their respective affiliates, members or third-party designees) (each,
a “Lender”) shall lend the Company the lesser of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05 for each share of Public Stock (as defined
below) that is not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting, which the Company shall deposit into the Trust Account (as defined
below), upon the Company’s first drawdown under non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory notes in the aggregate amount of up
to $600,000 to be issued by the Company to the Lenders (the “Notes”). In addition, if the Extension Amendment Proposal and
the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Charter Extension becomes effective, in the event that we have not consummated a Business
Combination by January 14, 2023, without approval of our public stockholders, we may, by resolution of the Board, if requested by
one or both of the Co-Sponsors, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, extend the Termination
Date and Liquidation Date up to eleven times, each by one additional month (for a total of up to twelve additional months to complete
a Business Combination), provided that we draw down and deposit into the Trust Account for each such monthly extension, the lesser of
(a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05 for each share of Public Stock that is not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting under
the Notes, for an aggregate deposit of up to $550,000 (if all eleven additional monthly extensions are exercised). If we complete a Business
Combination, we will, at the option of the Lenders, repay the amounts loaned under the Notes or convert a portion or all of the amounts
loaned under such Notes into units, which units will be identical to the private placement units (the “Private Placement Units”)
issued to our Co-Sponsors and certain other investors (referred to herein as the “anchor investors”) in the private placement
(the “Private Placement”) that closed concurrently with our initial public offering (the “IPO”) as described
in the registration statement for our IPO. If we do not complete a Business Combination by the applicable Termination Date, such Notes
will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account or will be forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven.
Our Certificate of Incorporation
provides that we have until the Original Termination Date to complete our initial Business Combination. The Board has determined that
it is in the best interests of the Company to seek an extension of the Original Termination Date and the Liquidation Date and have the
Company’s stockholders approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal to allow for a period of additional
time to consummate a Business Combination. Without the Charter Extension, we believe that we may not be able to complete a Business Combination
on or before the Original Termination Date. If that were to occur, we would be precluded from completing a Business Combination and would
be forced to liquidate.
We reserve the right at any
time to cancel the Stockholder Meeting and not to submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal and implement the Charter Extension and the Trust Amendment. In the event the Stockholder Meeting is cancelled, and a Business
Combination is not consummated prior to the Original Termination Date, we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the Certificate
of Incorporation.
We believe that it is in
the best interests of our stockholders that we obtain the Charter Extension if needed. After careful consideration of all relevant factors,
the Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders, has declared it advisable and recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote
“FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, “FOR” the Trust Amendment Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment
Proposal.
If we are unable to effect
the Charter Extension, we will only be able to extend the Original Termination Date upon the contribution by the Co-Sponsors, or their
affiliates or designees, of $1,050,000 to the Trust Account for a three-month extension, for up to two extensions and a total of $2,100,000,
pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation (an “Automatic Extension”).
As contemplated by the Certificate
of Incorporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock issued as part of the units sold in our IPO (such shares, the “Public
Stock”) may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Stock in exchange for their pro rata portion of the funds held
in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) established to hold a portion of the proceeds of the IPO and the Private Placement
if the Charter Extension is implemented (the “Redemption”), regardless of how such public stockholders vote in regard to
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of stockholders (and not abandoned), holders of Public Stock remaining after the Redemption
will retain their right to redeem their Public Stock for their pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account upon
consummation of a Business Combination or if we do not complete a Business Combination, by the Charter Extension Date.
On , 2022, the most recent
practicable date prior to the date of the accompanying proxy statement, the redemption price per share was approximately $ (which
is expected to be the same approximate amount two business days prior to the Stockholder Meeting), based on the aggregate amount on deposit
in the Trust Account of approximately $ as of , 2022 (including interest not previously
released to the Company to pay its income or other tax obligations), divided by the total number of then outstanding Public Stock. The
redemption price per share may increase between , 2022 and the date that is two business days prior to the Stockholder Meeting due to
any interest that accrues on the amount on deposit in the Trust Account prior to such date (less any amounts released to us to pay our
income or other tax obligations between such dates). If the closing price of the Public Stock was to remain the same until the date of
the Stockholder Meeting, exercising redemption rights would result in a public stockholder receiving approximately $
more per share than if the shares were sold in the open market (based on the current per share redemption price and the closing price
of our Public Stock as reported on Nasdaq on , 2022). We cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their Public Stock
in the open market, even if the market price per share is lower than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient
liquidity in our securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares. We believe that such redemption right enables our public
stockholders to determine whether or not to sustain their investments for an additional period if we do not complete a Business Combination
on or before the Original Termination Date.
Approval of both the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Charter Extension. In addition, we will
not proceed with the Charter Extension or the Trust Amendment if we will not have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following
approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the Redemption. We cannot predict
the amount that will remain in the Trust Account following the Redemption if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal are approved, and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be only a small fraction of the $
that was in the Trust Account as of , 2022 (including interest not previously released to us to pay our income or other tax obligations).
If either the Extension Amendment
Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved, a Business Combination is not completed and we do not exercise an Automatic
Extension, in each case on or before the Original Termination 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 business days thereafter subject to lawfully available
funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Public Stock, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit
in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our income
or other tax obligations, if any (less up to $100,000 of such interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the total number of the
then-outstanding shares of Public Stock, which Redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders
(including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (iii) as promptly as
reasonably possible following such Redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, in accordance with
applicable law, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the each case to the Company’s obligations under the Delaware General Corporation
Law (the “DGCL”) 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 of our winding up.
In the event of a liquidation,
(i) the Co-Sponsors and other holders of our Founder Shares (collectively, the “Initial Stockholders”) will not receive
any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of an aggregate of 2,501,250 Founder Shares issued prior to the IPO,
(ii) our Initial Stockholders and anchor investors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership
of an aggregate of 504,950 shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Units, (iii) I-Bankers Securities, Inc.
(“I-Bankers”), will not receive any monies as a result of its ownership of 373,750 shares of Class A Common Stock issued
in connection with its services as the representative of the underwriters for the IPO and (iv) Gregory Gaylor, an affiliate of one
of our Co-Sponsors, will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of his purchase, as trustee of the William C Gaylor
and Dorothy J Gaylor Rev. Trust, of 20,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. As a consequence, a liquidating distribution will be
made only with respect to the Public Stock. In addition to our Initial Stockholders, each of our anchor investors, I-Bankers, Gregory
Gaylor, as trustee of the William C Gaylor and Dorothy J Gaylor Rev. Trust, and our directors and officers (collectively, the “Private
Investors”) has entered into a letter agreement with the Company (the “Letter Agreement”), pursuant to which each Initial
Stockholder and Private Investor has pledged to (i) vote any shares of Common Stock held by it in favor of any proposed Business
Combination, (ii) waive any redemption rights it has in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination or amendments
to our Charter prior thereto, and (iii) waive any right to any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of any liquidation of
the Company, except with respect to any Public Stock they hold.
If we liquidate, the Co-Sponsors
have agreed to indemnify us to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or any claims by
a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement
or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.10 per share of Public Stock
or (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if
less than $10.10 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will
not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held
in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable), nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters
of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We cannot assure you, however, that
the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. Based upon the current amount in the Trust Account, we anticipate that the per-share
price at which shares of Public Stock will be redeemed from cash held in the Trust Account will be approximately $ .
Nevertheless, we cannot assure you that the per share distribution from the Trust Account, if we liquidate, will not be less than $ ,
plus interest, due to unforeseen claims of creditors.
Under the DGCL, stockholders
may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution.
If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable
provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the
corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before
any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited
to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability
of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION
RIGHTS, YOU MUST DEMAND IN WRITING THAT YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ARE REDEEMED FOR A PRO RATA PORTION OF THE FUNDS HELD IN THE TRUST
ACCOUNT AND TENDER YOUR SHARES TO OUR TRANSFER AGENT AT LEAST TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE VOTE AT THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING. IN ORDER
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHT, YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A BENEFICIAL HOLDER AND PROVIDE YOUR LEGAL NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND
ADDRESS IN YOUR WRITTEN DEMAND. YOU MAY TENDER YOUR SHARES BY EITHER DELIVERING YOUR SHARE CERTIFICATE TO THE TRANSFER AGENT OR
BY DELIVERING YOUR SHARES ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY’S DWAC (DEPOSIT WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM. IF
YOU HOLD THE SHARES IN STREET NAME, YOU WILL NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BANK OR BROKER TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM
YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
The approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single
class.
The approval of the Trust
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting
as a single class.
Approval of the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Meeting, voting as a single
class. The Adjournment Proposal will only be put forth for a vote if there are insufficient shares of Common Stock present at the Stockholder
Meeting to constitute a quorum or there are not sufficient votes to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal at the Stockholder Meeting.
Record holders of Common
Stock at the close of business on November 10, 2022 (the “Record Date”)
are entitled to vote or have their votes cast at the Stockholder Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 10,005,000 issued and outstanding
Public Shares held by public stockholders, 2,501,250 issued and outstanding Founder Shares held by our Initial Stockholders, and an additional
898,700 shares of Common Stock held collectively by the Private Investors. Our warrants and rights do not have voting rights.
Pursuant to the Letter
Agreement, our Initial Stockholders and Private Investors have agreed to, among other things, waive their redemption
rights with respect to any Common Stock held by them in connection with this Stockholder Meeting. The Founder Shares will be
excluded from the pro rata calculation used to determine the per-share redemption price.
As of the date of the
accompanying proxy statement, our Initial Stockholders and Private Investors collectively hold approximately 25.4% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock. As a result, assuming our Initial Stockholders and Private Investors vote in favor of each of
the proposals to be voted upon at the Stockholder Meeting, in addition to our Initial Stockholders and Private Investors,
(i) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of at least 5,313,268 shares of Public Stock
(or approximately 53.1% of the Public Stock), (ii) approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote
of at least 3,302,526 shares of Public Stock (or approximately 33% of the Public Stock) and (iii) approval of the Adjournment
Proposal will require the affirmative vote of at least 3,302,526 shares of Public Stock (or approximately 33% of the Public Stock)
if all shares of Public Stock are represented at the Stockholder Meeting and cast votes, and the affirmative vote of no shares of
Public Stock if only such shares as are required to establish a quorum are represented at the Stockholder Meeting and cast
votes.
The accompanying proxy statement
contains important information about the Stockholder Meeting, the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the
Adjournment Proposal. Whether or not you plan to attend the Stockholder Meeting, we urge you to read this material carefully and vote
your shares.
The accompanying proxy statement is dated ,
2022 and is first being mailed to stockholders on or about that date.
|
By Order of the Board of Directors
of Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. |
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/s/ Timo Vainionpää |
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Timo Vainionpää Interim
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
, 2022 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON , 2022
CAUTIONARY
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained
in this proxy statement constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements
relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning
matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.,
a Delaware corporation (“Financial Strategies,” or the “Company”), with respect to, among other things, the Company’s
capital resources and results of operations. Likewise, the Company’s financial statements and all of its statements regarding market
conditions and results of operations are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements
by the use of terminology such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,”
“may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,”
“intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words
or other comparable words or phrases.
The forward-looking statements
contained in this proxy statement reflect the Company’s current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and
unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause its actual results to differ significantly from
those expressed in any forward-looking statement. The Company does not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen
as described (or that they will happen at all). The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to
differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements:
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our ability to complete
an initial business combination (a “Business Combination”); |
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the anticipated benefits
of a Business Combination; |
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the recent issuance by
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of proposed rules to regulate special purpose acquisition companies; |
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the risk of the Company
being deemed an “investment company” for purposes of the Investment Company Act; |
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the volatility of the market
price and liquidity of the Public Stock (as defined below) and other securities of the Company; |
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the possibility that we
may liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account (as defined below) to avoid being deemed an investment company; |
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the potential impact of
the new federal 1% excise tax; |
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the possibility that if
we were considered to be a “foreign person,” we might not be able to complete an initial business combination with a
U.S. target company if such initial business combination is subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations or review by a U.S. government
entity, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”); and |
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the use of funds not held
in the Trust Account or available to the Company from interest income on the Trust Account balance. |
While forward-looking statements
reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events
or other changes after the date of this proxy statement, except as required by applicable law. For a further discussion of these and
other factors that could cause our future results, performance or transactions to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking
statement, please see the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022 and in other reports we file with the SEC. You should not place
undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to us (or to third parties
making the forward-looking statements).
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING
The questions and answers
below highlight only selected information from this proxy statement and only briefly address some commonly asked questions about the
Stockholder Meeting (as defined below) and the proposals to be presented at the Stockholder Meeting. The following questions and answers
do not include all the information that is important to our stockholders. Stockholders are urged to read carefully this entire proxy
statement, including the other documents referred to herein, to fully understand the proposals to be presented at the Stockholder Meeting
and the voting procedures for the Stockholder Meeting, which will be held on
, 2022, at a.m., Central Time. The Stockholder Meeting will
be held as a virtual meeting, or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be postponed
or adjourned (the “Stockholder Meeting”). You can participate in the meeting, vote, and submit questions via live webcast
by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/finspac/2022.
Q: |
Why am I receiving this proxy statement? |
A: |
We are a blank check company
incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition,
stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. |
On December 14, 2021, we
consummated our initial public offering (the “IPO”) of units (“Units”), each consisting of one share of our
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock,” and the shares of Class A
Common Stock issued as part of the Units, the “Public Stock”), one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”) to
purchase one share of Class A Common Stock and one right (“Right”) to receive one-tenth of one share of
Class A Common Stock upon the consummation of a Business Combination. Following the closing of the IPO, $101,050,500 ($10.10
per Unit) from the net proceeds of (i) the sale of the Units in the IPO and (ii) the concurrent sale of 504,950 private
placement units, each consisting of consists of one private placement share, one redeemable private placement warrant to purchase
one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, and one private placement right to receive
one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination (the
“Private Placement Units”) in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) to our to our co-sponsors, FSC
Sponsor LLC and Celtic Sponsor VII LLC (together, the “Co-Sponsors”), certain anchor investors (comprised of Eagle Point
Credit Management LLC, Greentree Financial Group Inc., Sea Otter Securities Group LLC, Sixth Borough Capital Fund LP (and certain
members of its general partner) and I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (collectively the “Anchor Investors”)) was placed in
a trust account established at the consummation of the IPO (the “Trust Account”).
Like most blank check companies, our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Investment Management Trust
Agreement, dated December 9, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company (“Continental,” the “Trustee” or the “Transfer Agent”), provide for the return of the
IPO proceeds held in the Trust Account to the holders of shares of our Public Stock if there is no qualifying Business Combination(s) consummated
on or before December 14, 2022 (the “Original Termination Date”).
Without the Charter Extension (as defined
below), we believe that we might not, despite our best efforts, be able to complete a Business Combination on or before December 14,
2022. We believe that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to continue the Company’s existence until December 14,
2023 in order to allow the Company additional time to complete a Business Combination, and we are therefore holding this Stockholder
Meeting.
Q: |
When and where will
the Stockholder Meeting be held? |
A: |
The Stockholder Meeting
will be held on , 2022, at a.m., Central Time, as a virtual meeting, or at such other time, on such other date and
at such other place to which the meeting may be postponed or adjourned. |
In view of the ongoing COVID-19 global
pandemic, we are taking precautionary measures and therefore are planning for the Stockholder Meeting to be held virtually over the internet.
We encourage you to attend the Stockholder Meeting virtually. You can participate in the meeting, vote, and submit questions via live
webcast by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/finspac/2022. Please see “Questions and Answers about the Stockholder Meeting — How
do I attend the virtual Stockholder Meeting?” for more information.
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A: |
If you were a holder of
record of shares of Public Stock on the Record Date, you may vote with respect to the proposals electronically, or by completing,
signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. |
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 Stockholder Meeting in the manner you indicate. You are
encouraged to sign and return the proxy card even if you plan to attend the Stockholder Meeting so that your shares will be voted if
you are unable to attend the Stockholder Meeting. If you receive more than one proxy card, it is an indication that your shares are held
in multiple accounts. Please sign and return all proxy cards to ensure that all of your shares are voted. Votes submitted by mail must
be received by 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on , 2022.
Voting
Electronically. You may attend, vote and examine the list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Stockholder
Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/finspac/2022 and entering the control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction
form or notice included in the proxy materials.
Q: |
How do I attend the
virtual Stockholder Meeting? |
A: |
If you are a registered
stockholder, you will receive a proxy card from Continental. The form contains instructions on how to attend the virtual Stockholder
Meeting including the URL address, along with your control number. You will need your control number for access. If you do not have
your control number, contact the Transfer Agent at 917-262-2373, or email proxy@continentalstock.com. |
You can pre-register to attend the
virtual Stockholder Meeting starting , 2022, at 9:00 a.m., Central Time (two business days prior to the meeting date).
Enter the URL address https://www.cstproxy.com/finspac/2022 into your browser, enter your control number, name and email address.
Once you pre-register you can vote or enter questions in the chat box. At the start of the Stockholder Meeting you will need to log
in again using your control number and will also be prompted to enter your control number if you vote during the Stockholder
Meeting.
Stockholders who hold their investments
through a bank or broker, will need to contact the Transfer Agent to receive a control number. If you plan to vote at the Stockholder
Meeting you will need to have a legal proxy from your bank or broker or if you would like to join and not vote, the Transfer Agent will
issue you a guest control number with proof of ownership. In either case you must contact the Transfer Agent for specific instructions
on how to receive the control number. The Transfer Agent can be contacted at the number or email address above. Please allow up to 72
hours prior to the meeting for processing your control number.
If you do not have access to Internet,
you can listen only to the meeting by dialing 1 (800) 450-7155 (or 1 (857) 999-9155 if you are located outside the United States
and Canada (standard rates apply)) and when prompted enter the pin number 2195658#. Please note that you will not be able to vote or
ask questions at the Stockholder Meeting if you choose to participate telephonically.
Q: |
What are the specific
proposals on which I am being asked to vote at the Stockholder Meeting? |
A: |
Our stockholders are being
asked to consider and vote on the following proposals: |
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1. |
Proposal No. 1 — Extension
Amendment Proposal — To amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate
of Incorporation”) to extend the date (the “Termination Date”) by which we have to consummate a Business Combination
(the “Charter Extension”) from the Original Termination Date to January 14, 2023 (the “Charter Extension Date”)
and to allow us, without another stockholder vote, to extend the Termination Date to consummate a Business Combination on a monthly
basis for up to eleven times by an additional one month each time after the Charter Extension Date, by resolution of our board of
directors (the “Board”), if requested by one or both of the Co-Sponsors, and upon five days’ advance notice prior
to the applicable Termination Date, until December 14, 2023 (each, an “Additional Charter Extension Date”), or a
total of up to twelve months after the Original Termination Date, unless the closing of a Business Combination shall have occurred
prior thereto (the “Extension Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed amendment, which we refer to as the “Charter
Amendment,” is set forth in Annex A to this proxy statement; |
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2. |
Proposal No. 2 — Trust
Amendment Proposal — To amend the Trust Agreement (such amendment, the “Trust Amendment”), dated
December 9, 2021, by and between the Company and Continental, to extend the date (the “Liquidation Date”) on which
the Trustee must liquidate the Trust Account and to allow the Company, without another stockholder vote, to elect to further extend
the Liquidation Date on a monthly basis for up to eleven times from January 14, 2023 to December 14, 2023 (the “Trust
Amendment Proposal”). A copy of the proposed amendment is set forth in Annex B to the accompanying proxy statement; and |
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3. |
Proposal No. 3 — Adjournment
Proposal — To adjourn the Stockholder 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 Stockholder Meeting, there are insufficient shares of Common
Stock represented either in person (including virtually) or by proxy to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business
at the Stockholder Meeting or at the time of the Stockholder Meeting to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”). |
If the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Charter Extension becomes effective, prior to filing an amendment to the Certificate
of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State to effectuate the Charter Extension and entering into the Trust Amendment with
Continental, one or both of the Co-Sponsors (or one or more of their respective affiliates, members or third-party designees) (each,
a “Lender”) shall lend the Company the lesser of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05 for each share of Public Stock that is
not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting, which the Company shall deposit into the Trust Account upon the Company’s
first drawdown of non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory notes in the aggregate amount of up to $600,000 to be issued by the Company
to the Lenders (the “Notes”). In addition, if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved
and the Charter Extension and Trust Amendment become effective, in the event that we have not consummated a Business Combination by January 14,
2023, without approval of our public stockholders, we may, by resolution of the Board, if requested by one or both of the Co-Sponsors,
and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, extend the Termination Date and Liquidation Date up
to eleven times, each by one additional month (for a total of up to twelve additional months to complete a Business Combination), provided
that we draw down and deposit into the Trust Account for each such monthly extension, the lesser of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05
for each share of Public Stock that is not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting under the Notes, for an aggregate deposit
of up to $550,000 (if all eleven additional monthly extensions are exercised). If we complete a Business Combination, we will, at the
option of the Lenders, repay the amounts loaned under the Notes or convert a portion or all of the amounts loaned under such Notes into
units, which units will be identical to the Private Placement Units. If we do not complete a Business Combination by the applicable Termination
Date, such Notes will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account or will be forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven.
For more information, please see “Proposal No. 1 — The
Extension Amendment Proposal,” “Proposal No. 2 — The Trust Amendment Proposal”
and “Proposal No. 3 — The Adjournment Proposal”.
After careful consideration, the
Board has unanimously determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are
in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” or give instruction
to vote “FOR” each of these proposals.
The existence of financial and personal
interests of our directors and officers may result in conflicts of interest, including a conflict between what may be in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders and what may be best for a director’s personal interests when determining to recommend that
stockholders vote for the proposals. See the sections titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Amendment Proposal —
Interests of the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” for
a further discussion of these considerations.
THE VOTE OF STOCKHOLDERS IS IMPORTANT.
STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO SUBMIT THEIR PROXIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER CAREFULLY REVIEWING THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
Q: |
Am I being asked to
vote on a proposal to elect directors? |
A: |
No. Holders of Public
Stock are not being asked to vote on the election of directors at this time. |
Q: |
Are the proposals conditioned
on one another? |
A: |
Approval of both the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Charter Extension, unless we elect
to exercise an Automatic Extension. In addition, we will not proceed with the Charter Extension or the Trust Amendment if we will
not have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment
Proposal, after taking into account any redemptions of Public Stock by public stockholders in exchange for their pro rata portion
of the funds held in the Trust Account in connection with the Charter Extension (the “Redemptions”). |
The Adjournment Proposal is conditional
on the Company not obtaining the necessary votes for approving both the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
prior to the Stockholder Meeting in order to seek additional time to obtain sufficient votes in support of the Charter Extension. If
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are both approved at the Stockholder Meeting, the Adjournment Proposal
will not be presented.
Q: |
Why is the Company proposing
the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal? |
A: |
Our Certificate of Incorporation
and the Trust Agreement provide for the return of the IPO proceeds held in trust to the holders of Public Stock sold in the IPO if
there is no qualifying Business Combination consummated on or before the Original Termination Date. The purpose of the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow the Company additional
time to complete a Business Combination. |
Without the Charter Extension, we believe
that we may not be able to complete a Business Combination on or before the Original Termination Date. If that were to occur, we would
be forced to liquidate.
If either the Extension Amendment Proposal
or the Trust Amendment Proposal is not approved by our stockholders, we may put the Adjournment Proposal to a vote in order to seek additional
time to obtain sufficient votes in support of the Charter Extension. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by our stockholders,
the Board may not be able to adjourn the Stockholder Meeting to a later date or dates in the event that there are insufficient shares
of Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business at the Stockholder Meeting
or at the time of the Stockholder Meeting to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
We reserve the right at any time to
cancel the Stockholder Meeting and not to submit to our stockholders the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
and implement the Charter Extension and the Trust Amendment. In the event the Stockholder Meeting is cancelled, and a Business Combination
is not consummated prior to the Original Termination Date, we will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.
If we are unable to effect the Charter
Extension, we will only be able to extend the Original Termination Date upon the contribution, by the Co-Sponsors, or their affiliates
or designees, of $1,050,000 to the Trust Account for a three-month extension, for up to two extensions and a total of $2,100,000, pursuant
to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation (an “Automatic Extension”).
In addition, we will not proceed with
the Charter Extension or the Trust Amendment if we will not have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the
Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the Redemptions, and we may instead elect to
exercise an Automatic Extension.
Q: |
What constitutes a quorum? |
A: |
A quorum of our stockholders
is necessary to hold a valid meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders holding a majority of the Common Stock
entitled to vote at the Stockholder Meeting constitutes a quorum at the Stockholder Meeting. Abstentions will be considered present
for the purposes of establishing a quorum. Together, our Initial Stockholders (as defined below) and Private Investors (as defined
below) currently hold an aggregate of 3,399,950 shares of Common Stock, including 2,501,250 shares of Common Stock issued to our
Initial Stockholders prior to the IPO (the “Founder Shares”). These shares of Common Stock held by our Initial Stockholders
and Private Investors, which represent an aggregate of 25.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Record
Date, will count towards this quorum. As a result, as of the Record Date, in addition to the shares of Common stock held by our Initial Stockholders and the Private Investors, an additional 3,302,526
shares of Common Stock held by public stockholders would be required to be present at the Stockholder Meeting to achieve a quorum.
Because the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are “non-routine”
matters, banks, brokers and other nominees will not have authority to vote on any proposals unless instructed. Therefore, such broker
non-votes will not count towards quorum at the Stockholder Meeting. In the absence of a quorum, the chairman of the Stockholder Meeting
has the power to adjourn the Stockholder Meeting. |
Q: |
What vote is required
to approve the proposals presented at the Stockholder Meeting? |
A: |
The approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal
requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single class.
The approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal
requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single class. |
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal
requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares of Common
Stock who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Meeting, voting as a single class.
Q: |
How will the Initial
Stockholders and Private Investors vote? |
A: |
Our Initial Stockholders
and Private Investors intend to vote any Common Stock over which they have voting control in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal,
the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. |
The Initial Stockholders and Private
Investors are not entitled to redeem any Common Stock held by them in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal. On the Record
Date, the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 3,399,950 shares Common
Stock, including 2,501,250 Founder Shares, representing 25.4% of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Q: |
Who are Financial Strategies’ Initial Stockholders,
Anchor Investors and Private Investors? |
A: |
As
used herein, the term “Initial Stockholders” refers to the initial stockholders in our Company who received Founder Shares
prior to the IPO, including our Co-Sponsors, Celtic Asset & Equity Partners, Ltd., Caliente Management L.L.C., Frio
Investment, L.L.C., Sea Otter Securities Group LLC, Sixth Borough Capital Fund LP (and certain members of its general partner), certain
accounts managed by Eagle Point Credit Management LLC, Sixth Borough Capital Fund LP, Greentree Financial Group Inc., and I-Bankers
Securities, Inc. The Initial Stockholders hold, in aggregate, 2,501,250 Founder Shares.
As used herein, the term “Anchor Investors”
refers to early-stage investors in our Company who participated in the Private Placement which closed concurrently with the closing
of our IPO.
As used herein, the term “Private Investors”
refers to our Anchor Investors, I-Bankers Securities, Inc., our directors and officers and Gregory Gaylor, an affiliate
of one of our Co-Sponsors, as a result of his purchase, as trustee of the William C Gaylor and Dorothy J Gaylor Rev. Trust, of 20,000
shares of Class A Common Stock and warrants exercisable for 2,000 shares of Class A Common Stock in a private placement
which closed on August 17, 2022. In aggregate, our Private Investors hold 898, 700 shares of Common Stock. |
Q: |
Why should I vote “FOR”
the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal? |
A: |
We believe stockholders will benefit from
the Company consummating a Business Combination and are proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal
to extend the date by which the Company has to complete a Business Combination until the Charter Extension Date (or Additional Charter
Extension Date, if applicable). Without the Charter Extension, we believe that the Company may not be able to complete a Business
Combination on or before the Original Termination Date. If that were to occur, the Company would be forced to liquidate, unless it
elects to exercise an Automatic Extension.
The Trust Agreement provides that if a
business combination has not been consummated upon the date which is 12 months after the closing of the IPO, or December 14,
2022 (unless extended up to six months pursuant to an Automatic Extension), the Trust Account is to be liquidated and its proceeds
are to be distributed to the our public stockholders of record as of such date, including interest earned on the funds held in the
Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less
up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to us to pay dissolution expenses). The purpose of the Trust Amendment is to amend
the Trust Agreement to extend the Liquidation Date from December 14, 2022 to January 14, 2023, and to allow us, without
another stockholder vote, to elect to further extend the Liquidation Date on a monthly basis for up to eleven times from
January 14, 2023 to December 14, 2023 to match the Certificate of Incorporation if the Extension Amendment is approved |
Q: |
What if I do not want
to vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal? |
A: |
If you do not want the
Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal to be approved, you may expressly “ABSTAIN”,
not vote, or vote “AGAINST” such proposal. |
If you attend the Stockholder Meeting
in person or by proxy, you may vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal or the Adjournment
Proposal, and your Common Stock will be counted for the purposes of determining whether the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment
Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal (as the case may be) are approved.
However, if you fail to attend the
Stockholder Meeting in person or by proxy, or if you do attend the Stockholder Meeting in person or by proxy but you “ABSTAIN”
or otherwise fail to vote at the Stockholder Meeting, your Common Stock will not be counted for the purposes of determining whether the
Adjournment Proposal is approved, and your Common Stock which are not voted at the Stockholder Meeting will have no effect on the outcome
of such vote. If you “ABSTAIN” or otherwise fail to vote at the Stockholder Meeting, this will have the same effect as a
vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, the Adjournment Proposal will not be presented for a vote.
Q: |
Will you seek any further
extensions to liquidate the Trust Account? |
A: |
Other than as described
in this proxy statement, we do not currently anticipate seeking any further extension to consummate a Business Combination, but may
do so in the future. |
Q: |
What happens if the
Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved? |
A: |
If there are insufficient
votes to approve both the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, we may put the Adjournment Proposal to a
vote in order to seek additional time to obtain sufficient votes in support of the Charter Extension and the Trust Amendment. |
If the Extension Amendment Proposal
and the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved at the Stockholder Meeting or at any adjournment thereof, a Business Combination is
not completed and we do not exercise an Automatic Extension, in each case on or before the Original Termination Date, then as contemplated
by and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up;
(ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter redeem 100% of the Public Stock for cash
for a redemption price per share as described below (which Redemption will completely extinguish such holders’ rights as stockholders,
including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following
such Redemption, subject to approval of our then-stockholders and subject to the requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the “DGCL”), including the adoption of a resolution by the Board pursuant to Section 275(a) of the DGCL
finding the dissolution of the Company advisable and the provision of such notices as are required by said Section 275(a) of
the DGCL, dissolve and liquidate the balance of the Company’s net assets to its remaining stockholders, as part of the Company’s
plan of dissolution and liquidation, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to the Company’s obligations under
the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. In such event, the per share redemption price shall
be equal to a pro rata share of the Trust Account plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously
released to the Company or necessary to pay its taxes divided by the total number of shares of Public Stock then outstanding.
The Initial Stockholders and Private
Investors have waived their right to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the 3,399,950 shares of Common Stock
held by them. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our Warrants or Rights, which will expire worthless
in the event the Company dissolves and liquidates the Trust Account.
Q: |
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust
Amendment Proposal are approved, what happens next? |
A: |
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved, we will file the Charter Amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State,
enter into the Trust Amendment with the Trustee and continue to attempt to consummate a Business Combination until the applicable
Termination Date. |
If the Charter Extension and the Trust
Amendment are implemented and one or more of our stockholders elect to redeem their Public Stock pursuant to the Redemption, we will
remove from the Trust Account and deliver to the holders of such redeemed Public Stock an amount equal to the pro rata portion of
funds available in the Trust Account with respect to such redeemed Public Stock, and retain the remainder of the funds in the Trust Account
for our use in connection with consummating a Business Combination, subject to the redemption rights of holders of Public Stock in connection
with a Business Combination.
The removal from the Trust Account
of such amounts will reduce the amount remaining in the Trust Account and increase the percentage interest of the Company held by
the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors. In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that we cannot redeem or repurchase
Public Stock to the extent such Redemption would result in the Company’s failure to have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets.
As a result, we will not proceed with the Charter Extension or the Trust Amendment if the Company will not have at least $5,000,001 of
net tangible assets upon its implementation of the Charter Extension and the Trust Amendment, after taking into account the Redemptions.
Q: |
If I vote for or against
the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal, do I need to request that my shares be redeemed? |
A: |
Yes. Whether you vote “for”
or “against” the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal, or do not vote at all, you may elect to
redeem your shares. However, you will need to submit a redemption request for your shares if you choose to redeem. |
Q: |
What amount will holders
receive upon consummation of the Business Combination or liquidation if the Extension Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are
approved? |
A: |
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Charter Extension becomes effective, prior to filing the Charter
Extension and entering into the Trust Amendment with Continental, the Lenders shall lend the Company the lesser of (a) $50,000
or (b) $0.05 for each share of Public Stock that is not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting, which the Company
shall deposit into the Trust Account upon the Company’s first drawdown of non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory notes
to be issued by the Company to the Lenders (the “Notes”). In addition, if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust
Amendment Proposal are approved and the Charter Extension and Trust Amendment become effective, in the event that we have not consummated
a Business Combination by January 14, 2023, without approval of our public stockholders, we may, by resolution of the Board,
if requested by one or both of the Co-Sponsors, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date,
extend the Termination Date up to eleven times, each by one additional month (for a total of up to twelve additional months to complete
a Business Combination), provided that we draw down and deposit into the Trust Account for each such monthly extension, the lesser
of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05 for each share of Public Stock that is not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting
under the Notes, for an aggregate deposit of up to $550,000 (if all eleven additional monthly extensions are exercised). If we complete
a Business Combination, we will, at the option of the Lenders, repay the amounts loaned under the Notes or convert a portion or all
of the amounts loaned under such Notes into units, which units will be identical to the Private Placement Units. If we do not complete
a Business Combination by the applicable Termination Date, such Notes will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account
or will be forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven. |
Q: |
Am I being asked to
vote on a Business Combination at this Stockholder Meeting? |
A: |
No. You are not being
asked to vote on a Business Combination at this time. If the Charter Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your
public shares, provided that you are a stockholder on the Record Date for the Stockholder Meeting to consider a Business Combination,
you will be entitled to vote on a Business Combination when it is submitted to stockholders and will retain the right to redeem your
public shares for cash in connection with a Business Combination or liquidation. |
Q: |
Will how I vote affect
my ability to exercise redemption rights? |
A: |
No. You may exercise
your redemption rights whether or not you are a holder of Public Stock on the Record Date (so long as you are a holder at the time
of exercise), or whether you are a holder and vote your Public Stock on the Extension Amendment Proposal (for or against) or any
other proposal described by this proxy statement. As a result, the Charter Extension can be approved by stockholders who will redeem
their Public Stock and no longer remain stockholders, leaving stockholders who choose not to redeem their Public Stock holding shares
in a company with a potentially less liquid trading market, fewer stockholders, potentially less cash and the potential inability
to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”). |
Q: |
May I change my
vote after I have mailed my signed proxy card? |
A: |
Yes. Stockholders may send
a later-dated, signed proxy card to Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., at 2626 Cole Avenue,
Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75204, so that it is received by the Company prior to the vote at the Stockholder Meeting
(which is scheduled to take place on , 2022) or attend the virtual Stockholder
Meeting and vote electronically. Stockholders also may revoke their proxy by sending a notice of revocation to our Chief Executive
Officer, which must be received by our Chief Executive Officer prior to the vote at the Stockholder Meeting. However, if your shares
are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or another nominee, you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee
to change your vote. |
Q: |
How are votes counted? |
A: |
Votes will be counted by
the inspector of election appointed for the Stockholder Meeting, who will separately count “FOR” and “AGAINST”
votes and abstentions. The approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single class. Approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative
vote of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single class. Approval of the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares
of Common Stock who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Meeting, voting
as a single class. |
Stockholders who attend the Stockholder
Meeting, either in person or by proxy, will be counted (and the number of Common Stock held by such stockholders will be counted) for
the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Stockholder Meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders
holding a majority of the Common Stock entitled to vote at the Stockholder Meeting constitutes a quorum at the Stockholder Meeting.
With respect to the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the proposal. As these
proposals are not “routine” matters, brokers will not be permitted to exercise discretionary voting on these proposal.
With respect to the Adjournment Proposal,
abstentions will have no effect on the approval of the proposal. As this proposal is not a “routine” matter, brokers will
not be permitted to exercise discretionary voting on this proposal.
Q: |
If my shares are held
in “street name,” will my broker, bank or nominee automatically vote my shares for me? |
A: |
If your shares are held
in “street name” in a stock brokerage account or by a broker, bank or other nominee, you must provide the record holder
of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares. Please follow the voting instructions provided by your broker, bank
or other nominee. Please note that you may not vote shares held in “street name” by returning a proxy card directly to
the Company or by voting online at the Stockholder Meeting unless you provide a “legal proxy,” which you must obtain
from your broker, bank or other nominee. |
Under the rules of the New York
Stock Exchange, brokers who hold shares in “street name” for a beneficial owner of those shares typically have the authority
to vote in their discretion on “routine” proposals when they have not received instructions from beneficial owners. However,
brokers are not permitted to exercise their voting discretion with respect to the approval of matters that the New York Stock Exchange
determines to be “non-routine” without specific instructions from the beneficial owner. The Extension Amendment Proposal,
Trust Amendment Proposal and Adjournment proposal are “non-routine” matters and therefore, brokers are not permitted to exercise
their voting discretion with respect to these proposals.
If you are a Financial Strategies stockholder
holding your shares in “street name” and you do not instruct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares,
your broker, bank or other nominee will not vote your shares on the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal or the
Adjournment Proposal. Accordingly, your bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your shares on the Extension Amendment Proposal, Trust
Amendment Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal at the Stockholder Meeting only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should
instruct your broker to vote your shares as soon as possible in accordance with directions you provide.
Q: |
Does the Board recommend
voting “FOR” the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal? |
A: |
Yes. After careful consideration of the terms
and conditions of the Extension Amendment Proposal the Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal is in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board recommends that the Company’s stockholders vote “FOR”
the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Furthermore, after careful consideration
of the terms and conditions of the Trust Amendment Proposal, the Board has determined that the Trust Amendment Proposal is in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders and recommends that the Company’s stockholders vote “FOR” the
Trust Amendment Proposal. |
Additionally, the Board has determined
that the Adjournment Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and recommends that the Company’s stockholders
vote “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal, if presented.
Q: |
What interests do Financial
Strategies’ directors and officers have in the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal? |
A: |
Financial Strategies’
directors and officers have interests in the Extension Amendment Proposal that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests
as a stockholder. These interests include, among others, beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly through one of our Initial
Stockholders, Caliente Management L.L.C., of Founder Shares. See the section titled “Proposal No. 1 — The
Extension Amendment Proposal — Interests of the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors” in this
proxy statement. |
Q: |
Do I have appraisal
rights if I object to the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal? |
A: |
No. There are no appraisal
rights available to our stockholders in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
Q: |
If I am a Public Warrant
or Right holder, can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my Public Warrants or Rights? |
A: |
No. The holders of
Public Warrants and the holders of Rights have no redemption rights with respect to such Public Warrants or Rights. |
Q: |
What do I need to do
now? |
A: |
You are urged to read carefully
and consider the information contained in this proxy statement and to consider how the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment
Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal will affect you as a stockholder. You should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with
the instructions provided in this proxy statement and on the enclosed proxy card or, if you hold your shares through a brokerage
firm, bank or other nominee, on the voting instruction form provided by the broker, bank or nominee. |
Q: |
How do I exercise my
redemption rights? |
A: |
If you are a holder of
Common Stock and wish to exercise your right to redeem your Common Stock, you must: |
|
I. |
(a) hold Common Stock
or (b) hold Common Stock through Units and elect to separate your Units into the underlying Common Stock, Rights and Public
Warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the Common Stock; |
|
II. |
prior to 5:00 p.m.,
Central Time, on , 2022 (two business days prior to the initially scheduled
vote at the Stockholder Meeting) (a) submit a written request to the Transfer Agent that the Company redeem all or a portion
of your Common Stock for cash and (b) identify yourself as the beneficial holder of the Common Stock and provide your legal
name, phone number and address; and |
|
III. |
deliver your Common Stock
to the Transfer Agent, physically or electronically through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). |
The address of the Transfer Agent is
listed under the question “Who can help answer my questions?” below.
Holders of Units must elect to separate
the underlying Common Stock, Rights and Public Warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the Common Stock. If holders
hold their Units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the
Units into the underlying Common Stock, Rights and Public Warrants, or if a holder holds Units registered in its own name, the holder
must contact the Transfer Agent directly and instruct it to do so.
In
connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal and contingent upon the effectiveness of the implementation of the Charter Extension,
any holder of Common Stock will be entitled to request that their Common Stock be redeemed for a per share price, payable in cash, equal
to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the Stockholder Meeting, including
interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its income or other tax obligations,
divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of Common Stock. As of ,
2022, this would have amounted to approximately $ per share of Public Stock.
However, the proceeds deposited in
the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public
stockholders. Therefore, the per share distribution from the Trust Account in such a situation may be less than originally anticipated
due to such claims. We anticipate that the funds to be distributed to public stockholders electing to redeem their Common Stock will
be distributed promptly after the Stockholder Meeting.
Any request for redemption, once made
by a holder of Common Stock, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests, unless approved by the
Board. If you deliver your shares for redemption to the Transfer Agent and later decide prior to the deadline for exercising redemption
requests not to elect redemption, you may request that the Company instruct the Transfer Agent to return the shares (physically or electronically).
You may make such request by contacting the Transfer Agent at the phone number or address listed at the end of this section. We will
be required to honor such request only if made prior to the deadline for exercising redemption requests.
No request for redemption will be
honored unless the holder’s shares have been delivered (either physically or electronically) to the Transfer Agent by
5:00 p.m., Central Time, on , 2022 (two business days
prior to the initially scheduled date of the Stockholder Meeting).
If a holder of Common Stock properly
makes a request for redemption and the Common Stock is delivered as described above, we will redeem Common Stock for a pro rata
portion of funds deposited in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the Stockholder Meeting. If you are a holder
of Common Stock and you exercise your redemption rights, it will not result in the loss of any Public Warrants or Rights that you may
hold.
If the Stockholder Meeting is abandoned
for any reason or if we elect to exercise an Automatic Extension, then holders of Public Stock shall not have the right to redeem their
Public Stock at this time.
Q: |
What are the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of exercising my redemption rights? |
A: |
The U.S. federal income
tax consequences of exercising your redemption rights will depend on your particular facts and circumstances. Accordingly, you are
urged to consult your tax advisor to determine your tax consequences from the exercise of your redemption rights, including the applicability
and effect of U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax laws in light of your particular circumstances. For additional
discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations with respect to the exercise of these redemption rights, see
“Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Stockholders Exercising Redemption Rights.” |
Q: |
What should I do if
I receive more than one set of voting materials for the Stockholder Meeting? |
A: |
You may receive more than
one set of voting materials for the Stockholder Meeting, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards
or voting instruction cards. 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. If you are a holder of record and your shares are registered
in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting
instruction card that you receive in order to cast your vote with respect to all of your shares. |
Q: |
Who will solicit and
pay the cost of soliciting proxies for the Stockholder Meeting? |
A: |
We will pay the cost of
soliciting proxies for the Stockholder Meeting. We have engaged Morrow Sodali LLC (“Morrow Sodali”) to assist in the
solicitation of proxies for the Stockholder Meeting. We will also reimburse banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
representing beneficial owners of Common Stock for their expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to beneficial owners of Common
Stock and in obtaining voting instructions from those owners. Our directors, officers, advisory board members and employees may also
solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by mail or on the Internet. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting
proxies. |
Q: |
Who can help answer my questions? |
A: |
If you have questions about the proposals or if you
need additional copies of this proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card you should contact: |
Morrow Sodali LLC
333 Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford, CT 06902
Individuals call toll-free (800) 662-5200
Banks and brokers call (203) 658-9400
Email: FXCO.info@investor.morrowsodali.com
You also may obtain additional
information about the Company from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section titled “Where
You Can Find More Information.” If you are a holder of Common Stock and you intend to seek redemption of your shares, you
will need to deliver your Common Stock (either physically or electronically) to the Transfer Agent at the address below prior to
5:00 p.m., Central Time, on (two business days prior to the date of the
Stockholder Meeting). If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your shares, please
contact:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Mark Zimkind
E-mail: mzimkind@continentalstock.com
RISK
FACTORS
In addition to the below risk factor, you
should consider carefully all of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022,
any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and in the other reports we file with the SEC before making a decision
to invest in our securities. The risks and uncertainties described in the aforementioned filings and below are not the only ones we face.
Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors
that adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results or result in our liquidation.
There are no assurances that the Charter
Extension will enable us to complete a Business Combination.
Approving the Charter Extension
involves a number of risks. Even if the Charter Extension is approved, we can provide no assurances that a Business Combination will
be consummated prior to the Extended Date. Our ability to consummate any Business Combination is dependent on a variety of factors, many
of which are beyond our control. If the Charter Extension is approved, we expect to seek stockholder approval of the Business Combination.
We are required to offer stockholders the opportunity to redeem shares in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, and we will
be required to offer stockholders redemption rights again in connection with any stockholder vote to approve a Business Combination.
Even if the Charter Extension or a Business Combination are approved by our stockholders, it is possible that redemptions will leave
us with insufficient cash to consummate a Business Combination on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. The fact that we will have
separate redemption periods in connection with the Charter Extension vote and the Business Combination vote could exacerbate these risks.
Other than in connection with a redemption offer or liquidation, our stockholders may be unable to recover their investment except through
sales of our Public Stock on the open market. The price of our Public Stock may be volatile, and there can be no assurance that stockholders
will be able to dispose of their Public Stock at favorable prices, or at all.
The SEC has issued proposed rules to
regulate special purpose acquisition companies. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential Business Combination target, or others
may determine to undertake in connection with such proposals may increase our costs and the time needed to complete our Business Combination
and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete a Business Combination.
On March 30, 2022,
the SEC issued proposed rules (the “SPAC Rule Proposals”) relating to, among other items, disclosures in SEC filings
in connection with business combination transactions between special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) such as us and
private operating companies; the financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections
in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed
business combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), including a proposed rule that would provide SPACs
a safe harbor from treatment as an investment company if they satisfy certain conditions that limit a SPAC’s duration, asset composition,
business purpose and activities. The SPAC Rule Proposals have not yet been adopted and may be adopted in the proposed form or in
a different form that could impose additional regulatory requirements on SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential Business
Combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with the SPAC Rule Proposals, or pursuant to the SEC’s
views expressed in the SPAC Rule Proposals, may increase the costs of negotiating and completing a Business Combination and the
time required to consummate a transaction, and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete a Business Combination.
If we were deemed to be an investment company
for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we would be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities
would be severely restricted. As a result, in such circumstances, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be
deemed an investment company, we would expect to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead to liquidate
the Company.
As described further above, the SPAC Rule Proposals
relate, among other matters, to the circumstances in which SPACs such as the Company could potentially be subject to the Investment
Company Act and the regulations thereunder. The SPAC Rule Proposals would provide a safe harbor for such companies from the
definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided that a SPAC
satisfies certain criteria, including a limited time period to announce and complete a de-SPAC transaction. Specifically, to comply
with the safe harbor, the SPAC Rule Proposals would require a company to file a report on Form 8-K announcing that it has entered
into an agreement with a target company for a business combination no later than 18 months after the effective date of its registration
statement for its initial public offering (the “IPO Registration Statement”). The company would then be required to complete
its initial business combination no later than 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement.
Because the SPAC Rule Proposals have not
yet been adopted, there is currently uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC, including
a company like ours, that may not complete its business combination within 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration
Statement. As a result, it is possible that a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company.
If we were deemed to be an investment company
under the Investment Company Act, our activities would be severely restricted. In addition, we would be subject to burdensome compliance
requirements. Although we do not believe that our principal activities will subject us to regulation as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act, if we are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company
Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds. As a result, unless we were
able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we would expect to abandon our efforts to complete
an initial business combination and instead to liquidate the Company.
To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed
to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time, instruct the trustee to liquidate the
securities held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash until the earlier of the consummation
of our initial business combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the liquidation of securities in the Trust Account, we
would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount our public
stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
The funds in the Trust Account have, since our
initial public offering, been held only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market
funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment
Company Act. However, to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective
test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under the Investment Company
Act, we may, at any time, on or prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of our IPO Registration Statement, instruct Continental,
the trustee with respect to the Trust Account, to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the
Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash until the earlier of consummation of our initial business
combination or liquidation of the Company. Following such liquidation, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds
held in the Trust Account. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the Trust Account still may be released to us to
pay our taxes, if any, and certain other expenses as permitted. As a result, any decision to liquidate the securities held in the Trust
Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash could reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive
upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
In addition, even prior to the 24-month anniversary
of the effective date of our IPO Registration Statement, we may be deemed to be an investment company, in which case we may be required
to liquidate the Company. Accordingly, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account at
any time, even prior to the 24-month anniversary of our IPO Registration Statement, and instead hold all funds in the Trust Account in
cash, which would further reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
The Excise Tax included
in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 may decrease the value of our securities following our initial business combination,
hinder our ability to consummate an initial business combination, and decrease the amount of funds available for distribution in connection
with a liquidation.
On August 16, 2022,
President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on the fair market
value of stock repurchased by “covered corporations” beginning in 2023, with certain exceptions (the “Excise Tax”).
The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from which the stock is repurchased. Because we
are a Delaware corporation and our securities are trading on Nasdaq, we believe that we are a “covered corporation” for this
purpose. The amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase.
However, for purposes of calculating the Excise Tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain
new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions
apply to the Excise Tax. The U.S. Department of Treasury has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry
out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the Excise Tax; however, no guidance has been issued to date. It is uncertain whether,
and/or to what extent, the Excise Tax could apply to any Redemptions of our public shares after December 31, 2022, including any
Redemptions in connection with a Business Combination or in the event we do not consummate a Business Combination by the Charter Extension
Date.
As described under “Proposal
No. 1 — The Extension Amendment Proposal,” if the Original Termination Date (currently December 14, 2022) is
extended, our public stockholders will have the right to require us to redeem their Public Stock. Because any Redemption that occurs
as a result of the Charter Extension would occur before December 31, 2022, we would not be subject to the Excise Tax as a result
of any Redemptions in connection with the Extension. However, if our stockholders approve the Charter Extension, then any Redemption
or other repurchase that we make that occurs after December 31, 2022 may be subject to the Excise Tax. Whether and to what extent
we would be subject to the Excise Tax would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the Redemptions
and repurchases in connection with our initial business combination, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the
nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued
not in connection with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content
of regulations and other guidance from the U.S. Department of Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable
by us, and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined.
The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available for a stockholder redemption, could cause a reduction in the cash available
to complete a business combination, and could have an adverse effect on our ability to complete a business combination.
If
we were considered to be a “foreign person,” we might not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S.
target company if such initial business combination is subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations or review by a U.S. government
entity, such as CFIUS.
Our Co-Sponsors are each
controlled by or have substantial ties with non-U.S. persons domiciled in Germany. Acquisitions and investments by non-U.S. Persons in
certain U.S. business may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized
to review certain transactions involving investments by foreign persons in U.S. businesses that have a nexus to critical technologies,
critical infrastructure and/or sensitive personal data in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security
of the United States. Were we considered to be a “foreign person” under such rules and regulations, any proposed business
combination between us and a U.S. business engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security could be subject to
such foreign ownership restrictions, CFIUS review and/or mandatory filings.
If
our potential initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within the scope of foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable
to consummate an initial business combination with such business. In addition, if our potential business combination falls within CFIUS’s
jurisdiction, we may be required to make a mandatory filing or determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS , or to proceed with
the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business
combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security
concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined
company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance. The potential limitations and risks may limit the attractiveness
of a transaction with us or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise
be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business
combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which
do not have similar foreign ownership issues. Moreover, the process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be
lengthy.
Because we have only a limited
time to complete our initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time-period may
require us to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata share of amounts held in the trust
account, and our warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in a target company
and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
SPECIAL
MEETING OF FINANCIAL STRATEGIES STOCKHOLDERS
This proxy statement is being
provided to Financial Strategies stockholders as part of a solicitation of proxies by the Board for use at the special meeting of Financial
Strategies stockholders to be held on , 2022, and at any adjournment
thereof. This proxy statement contains important information regarding the Stockholder Meeting, the proposals on which you are being
asked to vote and information you may find useful in determining how to vote and voting procedures.
This proxy statement is being
first mailed on or about , 2022 to all stockholders of record of Financial Strategies
as of the Record Date for the Stockholder Meeting. Stockholders of record who owned Common Stock at the close of business on the Record
Date are entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at the Stockholder Meeting.
Date, Time and Place of Stockholder Meeting
The Stockholder Meeting will
be held on , 2022, at , Central Time,
as a virtual meeting, or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be postponed or adjourned.
In view of the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic, we are taking precautionary measures and therefore are planning for the Stockholder Meeting to be held virtually over the internet.
We encourage you to attend the Stockholder Meeting virtually. You can participate in the meeting, vote, and submit questions via live
webcast by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/finspac/2022. Please see “Questions and Answers about the Stockholder Meeting — How
do I attend the virtual Stockholder Meeting?” for more information.
You can pre-register to attend
the virtual Stockholder Meeting starting , 2022, at 9:00 a.m., Central Time
(two business days prior to the meeting date). Enter the URL address https://www.cstproxy.com/finspac/2022 into your browser, enter your
control number, name and email address. Once you pre-register you can vote or enter questions in the chat box. At the start of the Stockholder
Meeting you will need to log in again using your control number and will also be prompted to enter your control number if you vote during
the Stockholder Meeting.
Stockholders who hold their
investments through a bank or broker, will need to contact the Transfer Agent to receive a control number. If you plan to vote at the
Stockholder Meeting you will need to have a legal proxy from your bank or broker or if you would like to join and not vote, the Transfer
Agent will issue you a guest control number with proof of ownership. Either way you must contact the Transfer Agent for specific instructions
on how to receive the control number. The Transfer Agent can be contacted at 917-262-2373, or via email at proxy@continentalstock.com.
Please allow up to 72 hours prior to the meeting for processing your control number.
If you do not have access
to the Internet, you can listen only to the meeting by dialing (or
if you are located outside the United States and Canada (standard rates apply)) and when prompted enter the pin number .
Please note that you will not be able to vote or ask questions at the Stockholder Meeting if you choose to participate telephonically.
The Proposals at the Stockholder Meeting
At the Stockholder Meeting,
our stockholders will consider and vote on the following proposals:
|
1. |
Proposal No. 1 — Extension
Amendment Proposal — To amend our Certificate of Incorporation to extend the Termination Date by which we have
to consummate a Business Combination from the Original Termination Date to the Charter Extension Date. A copy of the proposed amendment
is set forth in Annex A to this proxy statement; and |
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|
|
|
2. |
Proposal No. 2 — Trust
Amendment Proposal — To amend the Trust Agreement to extend the Liquidation Date from December 14, 2022
to January 14, 2023, and to allow the Company, without another stockholder vote, to elect to further extend the Liquidation
Date on a monthly basis for up to eleven times from January 14, 2023 to December 14, 2023. A copy of the proposed amendment
is set forth in Annex B to the accompanying proxy statement; and |
|
3. |
Proposal No. 3 — Adjournment
Proposal — To adjourn the Stockholder 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 Stockholder Meeting, there are insufficient shares
of Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business at the Stockholder
Meeting or at the time of the Stockholder Meeting to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
If the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust
Amendment Proposal are approved and the Charter Extension becomes effective, prior to filing an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation
with the Delaware Secretary of State to effectuate the Charter Extension and entering into the Trust Amendment with Continental, the
Lenders shall lend the Company the lesser of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05 for each share of Public Stock that is not redeemed in
connection with the Stockholder Meeting, which the Company shall deposit into the Trust Account, upon the Company’s first drawdown
of the Notes. In addition, if the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Charter Extension
becomes effective, in the event that we have not consummated a Business Combination by January 14, 2023, without approval of our
public stockholders, we may, by resolution of the Board, if requested by one or both of the Co-Sponsors, and upon five days’ advance
notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, extend the Termination Date up to eleven times, each by one additional month (for a
total of up to twelve additional months to complete a Business Combination), provided that we draw down and deposit into the Trust Account
for each such monthly extension, the lesser of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05 for each share of Public Stock that is not redeemed
in connection with the Stockholder Meeting under the Notes, for an aggregate deposit of up to $550,000. If we complete a Business Combination,
we will, at the option of the Lenders, repay the amounts loaned under the Notes or convert a portion or all of the amounts loaned under
such Notes into units, which units will be identical to the Private Placement Units. If we do not complete a Business Combination by
the applicable Termination Date, such Notes will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account or will be forfeited, eliminated
or otherwise forgiven.
Voting Power; Record Date
As a stockholder of the Company,
you have a right to vote on certain matters affecting the Company. The proposals that will be presented at the Stockholder Meeting and
upon which you are being asked to vote are summarized above and fully set forth in this proxy statement. You will be entitled to vote
or direct votes to be cast at the Stockholder Meeting if you owned Common Stock at the close of business on November 10,
2022, which is the Record Date for the Stockholder Meeting. You are entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock that you owned
as of the close of business on the Record Date. If your shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin or similar account,
you should contact your broker, bank or other nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted.
On the Record Date, there were 13,404,950 issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, of which 10,005,000 shares are Public Stock
held by public stockholders, 2,501,250 shares are Founder Shares held by the Initial Stockholders and 898,700 are shares of Common Stock
held by our Private Investors.
Recommendation of the Board
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE PROPOSALS
Quorum
The presence, in person
or by proxy, of stockholders holding a majority of the Common Stock entitled to vote at the Stockholder Meeting constitutes a quorum
at the Stockholder Meeting. Abstentions will be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. Assuming that our
Initial Stockholders and the Private Investors, who own approximately 25.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as
of the Record Date, will count towards this quorum, an additional 3,302,526 shares of Common
Stock held by public stockholders would be required to be present at the Stockholder Meeting to achieve a quorum.
Abstentions
Abstentions will be considered
present for the purposes of establishing a quorum but will not constitute votes cast at the Stockholder Meeting and therefore will have
the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal and no effect on the
approval of the Adjournment Proposal.
Under the New York Stock
Exchange rules, if a stockholder holds their shares in “street” name through a bank, broker or other nominee and the stockholder
does not instruct their broker, bank or other nominee how to vote their shares on a proposal, the broker, bank or other nominee has the
authority to vote the shares in its discretion on certain “routine” matters. However, banks, brokers and other nominees are
not authorized to exercise their voting discretion on any “non-routine” matters. This can result in a “broker non-vote,”
which occurs on a proposal when (i) a bank, broker or other nominee has discretionary authority to vote on one or more “routine”
proposals to be voted on at a meeting of stockholders, (ii) there are one or more “non-routine” proposals to be voted
on at the meeting for which the bank, broker or other nominee does not have authority to vote without instructions from the beneficial
owner of the shares and (iii) the beneficial owner fails to provide the bank, broker or other nominee with voting instructions on
a “non-routine” matter.
The Extension Amendment Proposal,
the Trust Amendment Proposal and Adjournment proposal are “non-routine” matters and therefore, brokers are not permitted
to exercise their voting discretion with respect to these proposals. As a result, if you hold your shares in street name, your bank,
brokerage firm or other nominee cannot vote your shares on any of these proposals at the Stockholder Meeting without your instruction.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single
class.
The approval of the Trust
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting
as a single class.
Approval of the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Meeting, voting as a single
class.
As of the date of this proxy statement, the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors own, in aggregate, 25.4% of the issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock.
The following table reflects
the number of additional shares of Public Stock required to approve each proposal assuming our Initial Stockholders and Private Investors vote in favor of each of the proposals to be voted upon at the Stockholder Meeting:
| |
| |
Number of Additional Shares of Public Stock Required To Approve Proposal | |
Proposal | |
Approval Standard | |
If Only Quorum is Present and All Present Shares Cast Votes | |
If All Shares Are Present and All Present Shares Cast Votes | |
Extension Amendment Proposal | |
65% of Issued and Outstanding Shares of Common Stock | |
N/A | |
5,313,268 | |
Trust Amendment Proposal | |
Majority of Issued and Outstanding Shares of Common Stock | |
3,302,526 | |
3,302,526 | |
Adjournment Proposal | |
Majority of Voted Stock | |
0 | |
3,302,526 | |
Voting Your Shares
If you were a holder of record
of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date for the Stockholder Meeting, you may vote with respect to the proposals
electronically, or by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Your proxy
card shows the number of shares of Common Stock that you own. If your shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin
or similar account, you should contact your broker to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted.
There are two ways to vote
your Common Stock at the Stockholder Meeting:
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 Stockholder Meeting in the manner you indicate. You are
encouraged to sign and return the proxy card even if you plan to attend the Stockholder Meeting so that your shares will be voted if
you are unable to attend the Stockholder Meeting. If you receive more than one proxy card, it is an indication that your shares are held
in multiple accounts. Please sign and return all proxy cards to ensure that all of your shares are voted. Votes submitted by mail must
be received by 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on , 2022.
Voting
Electronically. You may attend, vote and examine the list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Stockholder
Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/finspac/2022 and entering the control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction
form or notice included in the proxy materials.
Revoking Your Proxy
If you give a proxy, you
may revoke it at any time before the Stockholder Meeting or at the Stockholder Meeting by doing any one of the following:
|
· |
you may send another proxy
card with a later date; |
|
· |
you may notify our Chief
Executive Officer in writing at Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., 2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75204, before
the Stockholder Meeting that you have revoked your proxy; or |
|
· |
you may attend the virtual
Stockholder Meeting, revoke your proxy, and vote electronically, as indicated above. |
No Additional Matters
The Stockholder Meeting has
been called only to consider and vote on the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Trust Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal. Under our Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), other than procedural matters incident to the conduct of the Stockholder Meeting,
no other matters may be considered at the Stockholder Meeting if they are not included in this proxy statement, which serves as the notice
of the Stockholder Meeting.
Who Can Answer Your Questions about Voting
If you are a Financial
Strategies stockholder and have any questions about how to vote or direct a vote in respect of your Common Stock, you may call
Morrow Sodali, our proxy solicitor, by calling (800) 662-5200 (toll-free), or (203) 658-9400 (for banks and brokers), or by
emailing FXCO.info@investor.morrowsodali.com.
Redemption Rights
Pursuant to the Certificate
of Incorporation, holders of Common Stock may seek to redeem their shares for cash, regardless of whether they vote for or against, or
whether they abstain from voting on, the Extension Amendment Proposal. In connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal and contingent
upon the effectiveness of the implementation of the Charter Extension, any stockholder holding Common Stock may demand that we redeem
such shares for a full pro rata portion of the Trust Account (which, for illustrative purposes, was $
per share as of , 2022), calculated as of two business days prior to the Stockholder Meeting. If a holder properly
seeks redemption as described in this section, we will redeem these shares for a pro rata portion of funds deposited in the Trust
Account and the holder will no longer own these shares following the Stockholder Meeting. However, we will not proceed with the Charter
Extension or the Trust Amendment if the Company will not have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment, after taking into account Redemptions.
As a holder of Common Stock,
you will be entitled to receive cash for any Common Stock to be redeemed only if you:
|
(i) |
(a) hold Common Stock
or (b) hold Common Stock through Units and elect to separate your Units into the underlying Common Stock, Rights and Public
Warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the Common Stock; |
|
(ii) |
submit a written request
to the Transfer Agent, in which you (a) request that the Company redeem all or a portion of your Common Stock for cash, and
(b) identify yourself as the beneficial holder of the Common Stock and provide your legal name, phone number and address; and |
|
(iii) |
deliver your Common Stock
to the Transfer Agent, physically or electronically through DTC. |
Holders must complete
the procedures for electing to redeem their Common Stock in the manner described above prior to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on ,
2022 (two business days prior to the initially scheduled Stockholder Meeting) (the “Redemption Deadline”) in order for
their shares to be redeemed.
The redemption rights include
the requirement that a holder must identify itself in writing as a beneficial holder and provide its legal name, phone number and address
to Continental in order to validly redeem its shares.
If you hold your shares in
“street name,” you will have to coordinate with your broker to have your shares certificated or delivered electronically.
Shares of Financial Strategies that have not been tendered (either physically or electronically) in accordance with these procedures
will not be redeemed for cash. There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares
or delivering them through DTC’s DWAC system. The Transfer Agent will typically charge the tendering broker a fee and it would
be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming stockholder.
Any request for redemption,
once made by a holder of Common Stock, may not be withdrawn following the Redemption Deadline, unless approved by the Board. Any corrected
or changed written exercise of redemption rights must be received by the Transfer Agent, by the Redemption Deadline.
The closing price of our
Public Stock on , 2022, the most recent practicable date prior to the date of this proxy statement, was $
per share. The cash held in the Trust Account on such date was approximately $
(including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its income or other tax obligations) ($
per share of Common Stock). Prior to exercising redemption rights, stockholders should verify the market price of Public Stock as they
may receive higher proceeds from the sale of their Public Stock in the public market than from exercising their redemption rights if
the market price per share is higher than the redemption price. We cannot assure you that you will be able to sell your Public Stock
in the open market, even if the market price per share is lower than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient
liquidity in our securities when you wish to sell your shares.
If a holder of Public Stock
exercises his, her or its redemption rights, then he, she or it will be exchanging its Public Stock for cash and will no longer own those
shares. You will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if you properly demand redemption by delivering your share certificate
(either physically or electronically) to the Transfer Agent two business days prior to the vote at the Stockholder Meeting.
For a discussion of certain
material U.S. federal income tax considerations for stockholders with respect to the exercise of these redemption rights, see “Certain
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Stockholders Exercising Redemption Rights.” The consequences of a redemption
to any particular stockholder will depend on that stockholder’s particular facts and circumstances. Accordingly, you are urged
to consult your tax advisor to determine your tax consequences from the exercise of your redemption rights, including the applicability
and effect of U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax laws in light of your particular circumstances.
Appraisal Rights
There are no appraisal rights
available to our stockholders in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal.
Proxy Solicitation Costs
We are soliciting proxies
on behalf of the Board. This proxy solicitation is being made by mail, but also may be made by telephone or in person. We have engaged
Morrow Sodali to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Stockholder Meeting. The Company and its directors, officers and advisory
board members may also solicit proxies in person. We will ask banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries to forward
this proxy statement and the related proxy materials to their principals and to obtain their authority to execute proxies and voting
instructions.
The Company will bear the
entire cost of the proxy solicitation, including the preparation, assembly, printing, mailing and distribution of this proxy statement
and the related proxy materials. We will pay Morrow Sodali a fee of $30,000, plus disbursements, reimburse Morrow Sodali for its reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses and indemnify Morrow Sodali and its affiliates against certain claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses
for its services as our proxy solicitor. We will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
for forwarding this proxy statement and the related proxy materials to our stockholders. Directors, officers and advisory board members
of the Company who solicit proxies will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1 — THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
Financial Strategies is proposing
to amend its Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which it has to consummate a Business Combination to the Charter Extension
Date so as to give it additional time to complete a Business Combination.
Without the Charter Extension,
we believe the Company may not be able to complete a Business Combination on or before the Original Termination Date. If that were to
occur, the Company would be forced to liquidate unless it elects to exercise an Automatic Extension.
As contemplated by the Certificate
of Incorporation, the holders of Public Stock may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Stock in exchange for their pro rata
portion of the funds held in the Trust Account if the Charter Extension is implemented.
On , 2022, the most recent
practicable date prior to the date of this proxy statement, the redemption price per share was approximately $ (which
is expected to be the same approximate amount two business days prior to the Stockholder Meeting), based on the aggregate amount on deposit
in the Trust Account of approximately $ as of , 2022 (including interest not previously
released to the Company to pay its income or other tax obligations), divided by the total number of then outstanding Public Stock. The
redemption price per share may increase between , 2022 and the date that is two business days prior to the Stockholder Meeting due to
any interest that accrues on the amount on deposit in the Trust Account prior to such date (less any amounts released to us to pay our
income or other tax obligations between such dates). The closing price of the Public Stock as reported on Nasdaq on , 2022 was $ .
Accordingly, if the market price of the Common Stock were to remain the same until the date of the Stockholder Meeting, exercising redemption
rights would result in a public stockholder receiving approximately $ more per share
than if the shares were sold in the open market (based on the current per share redemption price and the closing price of our Public
Stock as reported on Nasdaq on , 2022). We cannot assure you that you will be able to sell your Common Stock in the open market, even
if the market price per share is lower than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in our securities
when you wish to sell your shares. We believe that such redemption right enables our public stockholders to determine whether or not
to sustain their investments for an additional period if we do not complete a Business Combination on or before the Original Termination
Date.
Reasons for the Extension Amendment Proposal
Our Certificate of Incorporation
provides that we have until December 14, 2022 to complete a Business Combination. The Company and its officers and directors agreed
that they would not seek to amend the Certificate of Incorporation to allow for a longer period of time to complete a Business Combination
unless the Company provided holders of its Public Stock with the right to seek redemption of their Public Stock in connection therewith.
The Board believes that it is in the best interests of our stockholders that the Charter Extension be obtained so that we will have a
limited additional amount of time to consummate a Business Combination. Without the Charter Extension, we believe that we may not be
able to complete a Business Combination on or before December 14, 2022. If that were to occur, we would be forced to liquidate unless
we elect to exercise an Automatic Extension.
The Extension Amendment Proposal
is essential to allowing the Company additional time to consummate a Business Combination. Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal
is a condition to the implementation of the Charter Extension. We will not proceed with the Charter Extension or the Trust Amendment
if the Company will not have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the
Trust Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the Redemptions.
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved and the Charter Extension becomes effective, prior to filing an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with
the Delaware Secretary of State to effectuate the Charter Extension, the Lenders shall lend the Company the lesser of (a) $50,000
or (b) $0.05 for each share of Public Stock that is not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting, which the Company shall
deposit into the Trust Account, upon the Company’s first drawdown of the Notes.
In addition, if the Extension Amendment Proposal
is approved and the Charter Extension becomes effective, in the event we have not consummated a Business Combination by January 14,
2023, without approval of our public stockholders, we may, by resolution of the Board, if requested by one or both of the Co-Sponsors,
and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, extend the Termination Date up to eleven times, each
by one additional month (for a total of up to twelve additional months to complete a Business Combination), provided that we draw down
and deposit into the Trust Account for each such monthly extension, the lesser of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05 for each share of
Public Stock that is not redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting under the Notes, for an aggregate deposit of up to $550,000.
If we complete a Business Combination, we will, at the option of the Lenders, repay the amounts loaned under the Notes or convert a portion
or all of the amounts loaned under such Notes into units, which units will be identical to the Private Placement Units. If we do not
complete a Business Combination by the applicable Termination Date, such Notes will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust
Account or will be forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven. For illustrative purposes, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved
and the Charter Extension becomes effective and we take the maximum time to complete a Business Combination, the redemption price per
share at the meeting for such Business Combination or our subsequent liquidation would be approximately $ per share of Public Stock,
based on the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account of approximately $ as of , 2022, and an aggregate of $600,000 to be drawn
down under the Notes and deposited in the Trust Account, divided by the total number of then outstanding Public Stock (assuming no Public
Stock is redeemed in connection with the Stockholder Meeting, and not giving effect to the accrual of any further interest or any interest
to be released to the Company to pay its income or other tax obligations), in comparison to the redemption price as of , 2022 of approximately
$ per share.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved, a Business Combination is not completed and we do not exercise an Automatic Extension, in each case on or before
the Original Termination Date, then, as contemplated by and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, we will (i) cease
all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days
thereafter redeem 100% of the Public Stock for cash for a redemption price per share as described below (which redemption will completely
extinguish such holders’ rights as stockholders, including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and
(iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to approval of our then-stockholders and subject to
the requirements of the DGCL, including the adoption of a resolution by the Board pursuant to Section 275(a) of the DGCL finding
the dissolution of the Company advisable and the provision of such notices as are required by said Section 275(a) of the DGCL,
dissolve and liquidate the balance of the Company’s net assets to its remaining stockholders, as part of the Company’s plan
of dissolution and liquidation, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to the Company’s obligations under the
DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. In such event, the per share redemption price shall
be equal to a pro rata share of the Trust Account plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously
released to the Company or necessary to pay its taxes divided by the total number of shares of Public Stock then outstanding. There
will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to the our Warrants or Rights, which may both expire worthless in the event
the Company dissolves and liquidates the Trust Account.
The Initial Stockholders
have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the 2,501,250 Founder Shares held by them, and
our Private Investors have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the 898,700 shares of Common
Stock held by them.
If the Extension Amendment Proposal is Approved
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is approved, assuming the Trust Amendment Proposal is also approved, the Company shall procure that all filings required to
be made with the Delaware Secretary of State in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal to extend the time it has to complete
a Business Combination until the Charter Extension Date are made. We will then continue to attempt to consummate a Business Combination
until the Charter Extension Date. Financial Strategies will remain a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”) and its Common Stock, Rights and Public Warrants will remain publicly traded during this time.
We will not proceed with
the Charter Extension if the Company will not have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the Redemptions, and we may instead elect to exercise an Automatic
Extension.
Interests of the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors
When considering the recommendation
of the Board, you should be aware that aside from their interests as direct or indirect stockholders, the Initial Stockholders (including
the Co-Sponsors) and Private Investors (including our directors and officers) have interests that are different from, or in addition
to, those of other stockholders generally. The Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in recommending
to stockholders that they approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. You should take these interests into account in deciding whether
to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal:
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the fact that the Initial
Stockholders and Private Investors have invested in the Company an aggregate of $5,274,000 comprised of the $25,000 purchase price
for 2,501,250 Founder Shares, the $5,049,500 purchase price for 504,950 Private Placement Units, and the purchase price of $200,000
for 20,000 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase up to 2,000 shares of Common Stock. Assuming a trading price of $ per share of Common Stock, $ per warrant, and $ per right (based upon the respective closing prices of the Common Stock, rights and the
warrants on Nasdaq on November 10, 2022, the Record Date for the meeting), the 2,501,250 Founder Shares, 898,700 shares of Common
Stock, 504,950 warrants underlying the Private Placement Units, 504,950 rights underlying the Private Placement Units and additional
warrants to purchase up to 2,000 shares of Common Stock would have an implied aggregate market value of $ . Even if the trading price of the shares of Common Stock were as low as $0.60 per share, the aggregate market value of the
Common Stock alone (without taking into account the value of the warrants and rights underlying the Private Placement Units) would
be approximately equal to the initial investment in the Company by the Initial Stockholders. As a result, if a Business Combination
is completed, the Initial Stockholders are likely to be able to make a substantial profit on their investment in the Company at a
time when the Common Stock has lost significant value. On the other hand, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and
the Company liquidates without completing a Business Combination before December 14, 2022, the Initial Stockholders and Private
Investors will lose their entire investment in the Company; |
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the fact that the Anchor
Investors paid $5,049,500 for 504,950 Private Placement Units, which consisted of one share of Class A Common Stock, one redeemable
warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, and one right to receive one-tenth
(1/10) of one share of Common Stock upon the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination. If the Extension Amendment
Proposal is not approved and the Company does not consummate a Business Combination by December 14, 2022 or elects to exercise
an Automatic Extension, then a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units will be part of the liquidating
distribution to the public stockholders and the warrants and rights underlying the Private Placement Units held by our Anchor Investors
will be worthless; |
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the fact that the Initial
Stockholders and Private Investors have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect
to any Founder Shares and certain other shares of Common Stock held by them if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and
we fail to complete a Business Combination or do not exercise an Automatic Extension by December 14, 2022; |
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the indemnification of
our existing officers and directors and the liability insurance maintained by the Company; |
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the fact that the Initial
Stockholders and Private Investors will lose their entire investment in the Company and will not be reimbursed for any loans extended,
fees due or out-of-pocket expenses if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and a Business Combination is not consummated
by December 14, 2022. As of the date of this proxy statement, the Company has satisfied its liquidity needs in part through
incurring loans including (i) a $200,000 unsecured promissory note from one of our Co-Sponsors, FSC Sponsor LLC, of which $200,000
has been drawn upon, (ii) a convertible loan of $250,000 from an investor in FSC Sponsor LLC under an unsecured promissory note,
of which $250,000 has been drawn upon, and (iii) a unsecured promissory note from an affiliate of our Co-Sponsors in the amount
of $200,000, of which $200,000 has been drawn; and |
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the fact that the Co-Sponsors
have agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products
sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality
or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.10
per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of
the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the Trust Account assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn
to pay taxes. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed
a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account or any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our IPO
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed
to be unenforceable against a third party, the Co-Sponsors will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third
party claims. |
Redemption Rights
Pursuant to the Certificate
of Incorporation, holders of Common Stock may seek to redeem their shares for cash, regardless of whether they vote for or against, or
whether they abstain from voting on, the Extension Amendment Proposal. In connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal and contingent
upon the effectiveness of the implementation of the Charter Extension, any stockholder holding shares of Common Stock may demand that
the Company redeem such shares for a full pro rata portion of the Trust Account (which, for illustrative purposes, was $
per share as of the Record Date for the meeting), calculated as of two business days prior to the Stockholder Meeting. If a holder properly
seeks redemption as described in this section, we will redeem these shares for a pro rata portion of funds deposited in the Trust
Account and the holder will no longer own these shares following the Stockholder Meeting. However, we will not proceed with the Charter
Extension or the Trust Amendment if the Company will not have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, after taking into account Redemptions.
As a holder of Common Stock,
you will be entitled to receive cash for any Common Stock to be redeemed only if you:
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(i) |
(a) hold Common Stock
or (b) hold Common Stock through Units and elect to separate your Units into the underlying Common Stock, Rights and Public
Warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the Common Stock; |
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(ii) |
submit a written request
to the Transfer Agent, in which you (a) request that we redeem all or a portion of your Common Stock for cash, and (b) identify
yourself as the beneficial holder of the Common Stock and provide your legal name, phone number and address; and |
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(iii) |
deliver your Common Stock
to the Transfer Agent, physically or electronically through DTC. |
Holders must complete
the procedures for electing to redeem their Common Stock in the manner described above prior to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on ,
2022 (two business days prior to the initially scheduled Stockholder Meeting) in order for their shares to be redeemed.
The redemption rights include
the requirement that a holder must identify itself in writing as a beneficial holder and provide its legal name, phone number and address
to Continental in order to validly redeem its shares.
If you hold the shares in
“street name,” you will have to coordinate with your broker to have your shares certificated or delivered electronically.
Shares of the Company that have not been tendered (either physically or electronically) in accordance with these procedures will not
be redeemed for cash. There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering
them through DTC’s DWAC system. The Transfer Agent will typically charge the tendering broker a fee and it would be up to the broker
whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming stockholder.
Any request for redemption,
once made by a holder of Common Stock, may not be withdrawn following the Redemption Deadline, unless approved by the Board. Any corrected
or changed written exercise of redemption rights must be received by the Transfer Agent by the Redemption Deadline.
The closing price of Public
Stock on , 2022, the most recent practicable date prior to the date of this proxy statement, was $
per share. The cash held in the Trust Account on such date was approximately $
(including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its income or other tax obligations) ($
per share of Common Stock). Prior to exercising redemption rights, stockholders should verify the market price of Public Stock as they
may receive higher proceeds from the sale of their Public Stock in the public market than from exercising their redemption rights if
the market price per share is higher than the redemption price. We cannot assure you that you will be able to sell your Public Stock
in the open market, even if the market price per share is lower than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient
liquidity in our securities when its stockholders wish to sell their shares.
If a holder of Public Stock
exercises his, her or its redemption rights, then he, she or it will be exchanging its Public Stock for cash and will no longer own those
shares. You will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if you properly demand redemption by delivering your share certificate
(either physically or electronically) to the Transfer Agent two business days prior to the vote at the Stockholder Meeting.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the Extension
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting as a single
class. Abstentions will be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum but will not constitute votes cast at the Stockholder
Meeting and therefore will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal.
As of the date of this proxy statement,
the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors own an aggregate of 25.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. As a
result, assuming our Initial Stockholders and Private Investors vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal, in addition to
the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors, approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of at
least 5,313,268 shares of Public Stock (or approximately 53.1% of the Public Stock).
Recommendation of the Board
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE
“FOR” THE EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.
PROPOSAL
NO. 2 — THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
We entered into the Trust
Agreement in connection with the IPO and a potential Business Combination. The Trust Amendment would amend the Trust Agreement to authorize
the Charter Extension as contemplated by the Extension Amendment Proposal.
Reasons for the Proposal
The purpose of the Trust
Amendment Proposal is to authorize the Charter Extension under the Trust Agreement, as the Charter Extension is not contemplated under
the Trust Agreement’s current terms and such an amendment to the Trust Agreement requires the approval of the holders of at least
a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock. We believe that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money
on pursuing an initial Business Combination, circumstances warrant providing our public stockholders an opportunity to consider a Business
Combination. For the Company to implement the Charter Extension, the Trust Agreement must be amended to authorize the Charter Extension.
If the Trust Amendment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Trust Amendment Proposal
is not approved, the Charter Extension cannot be effected. If the Charter Extension is not effected, a Business Combination is not completed
and we do not exercise an Automatic Extension, in each case on or before the Original Termination Date, then, as contemplated by and
in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as
promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter redeem 100% of the Public Stock for cash for a redemption
price per share as described below (which redemption will completely extinguish such holders’ rights as stockholders, including
the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,
subject to approval of our then-stockholders and subject to the requirements of the DGCL, including the adoption of a resolution by the
Board pursuant to Section 275(a) of the DGCL finding the dissolution of the Company advisable and the provision of such notices
as are required by said Section 275(a) of the DGCL, dissolve and liquidate the balance of the Company’s net assets to
its remaining stockholders, as part of the Company’s plan of dissolution and liquidation, subject (in the case of (ii) and
(iii) above) to the Company’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable
law. In such event, the per share redemption price shall be equal to a pro rata share of the Trust Account plus any pro rata interest
earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company or necessary to pay its taxes divided by
the total number of shares of Public Stock then outstanding. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our
warrants or Rights, which may both expire worthless in the event the Company dissolves and liquidates the Trust Account.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the Trust
Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, voting
as a single class. Abstentions will be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum but will not constitute votes cast
at the Stockholder Meeting and therefore will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Trust Amendment Proposal.
As of the date of this proxy statement,
the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors own an aggregate of 25.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. As a
result, assuming our Initial Stockholders and Private Investors vote in favor of the Trust Amendment Proposal, in addition to the
Initial Stockholders and Private Investors, approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of at least
3,302,526 shares of Public Stock (or approximately 33% of the Public Stock).
We will not proceed with
the Trust Amendment if the Company will not have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the Redemptions, and we may instead elect to exercise an Automatic
Extension.
Recommendation of the Board
Our Board has determined
that the Trust Amendment Proposal is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Our Board has approved and declared advisable
the adoption of the Trust Amendment Proposal.
THE BOARD
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE TRUST AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.
The existence of financial
and personal interests of our Initial Stockholders (including our Co-Sponsors) and the Private Investors (including our directors and
officers) may result in a conflict of interest on the part of one or more of the Initial Stockholders or Private Investors between what
he, she or it may believe is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and what he, she or it may believe is best for
himself, herself or itself in determining to recommend that stockholders vote for the proposals. See the section entitled Proposal
No. 1 — The Extension Amendment Proposal — Interests of the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors”
for a further discussion.
PROPOSAL
NO. 3 — THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The Adjournment Proposal
asks stockholders to approve the adjournment of the Stockholder 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 Stockholder Meeting, there are insufficient shares of Common
Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business at the Stockholder Meeting or to
approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal.
If the Adjournment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Adjournment Proposal
is not approved by our stockholders, the Board may not be able to adjourn the Stockholder Meeting to a later date in the event, that
based on the tabulated votes, there are insufficient shares of Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute
a quorum necessary to conduct business at the Stockholder Meeting or at the time of the Stockholder Meeting to approve the Extension
Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. In such events, the Charter Extension and the Trust Amendment would not be implemented.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Meeting, voting as a single
class. Abstentions will be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum but will not constitute votes cast at the Stockholder
Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the approval of the Adjournment Proposal.
As of the date of this
proxy statement, the Initial Stockholders and Private Investors own an aggregate of 25.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock. As a result, assuming our Initial Stockholders and Private Investors vote in favor of the Adjournment Proposal, in
addition to the Initial Stockholders, approval of the Adjournment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of at least 3,302,526
shares of Common Stock held by public stockholders (or approximately 33% of the Public Stock) if all shares of Public Stock are
represented at the Stockholder Meeting and cast votes, and the affirmative vote of no shares of Public Stock if only such shares as
are required to establish a quorum are represented at the Stockholder Meeting and cast votes.
Recommendation of the Board
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE
“FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
CERTAIN
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR STOCKHOLDERS EXERCISING REDEMPTION RIGHTS
The following discussion
is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations for U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (each as defined below)
of Public Stock that elect to have their Public Stock redeemed for cash if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. This section
applies only to investors that hold Public Stock as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for
investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular stockholder
in light of its particular circumstances or status, including:
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financial institutions or financial services entities; |
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taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market accounting
rules; |
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governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; |
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tax-qualified retirement plans; |
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regulated investment companies or real estate investment
trusts; |
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expatriates or former long-term residents or citizens
of the United States; |
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persons that directly, indirectly, or constructively
own five percent or more of our voting shares or five percent or more of the total value of all classes of our shares; |
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persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an
exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation; |
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persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle,
constructive sale, hedging, conversion, synthetic security or other integrated or similar transaction; |
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persons or corporations
subject to the alternative minimum tax; |
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U.S. Holders (as defined
below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
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controlled foreign corporations; |
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corporations that accumulate
earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
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“qualified foreign
pension funds” (within the meaning of Section 897(l)(2) of the Code) and entities whose interests
are held by qualified foreign pension funds; |
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accrual method taxpayers
that file applicable financial statements as described in Section 451(b) of the Code; or |
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passive foreign investment
companies or their stockholders. |
This discussion is based
on current U.S. federal income tax laws as in effect on the date hereof, which is subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis,
which may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences described herein. Furthermore, this discussion does not address any aspect
of U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift, estate or Medicare net investment income tax laws, or state, local or non-U.S. laws.
We have not sought, and we do not intend to seek, a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as to any U.S.
federal income tax considerations described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld
by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will
not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion.
This discussion does not
consider the U.S. federal income tax treatment of entities or arrangements treated as partnerships or other pass-through entities (including
branches) for U.S. federal income tax purposes (any such entity or arrangement, a “Flow-Through Entity”) or investors that
hold our Public Stock through Flow-Through Entities. If a Flow-Through Entity is the beneficial owner of our Public Stock, the U.S. federal
income tax treatment of a redemption of such Public Stock generally will depend on the status of such investor and the activities of
such investor and such Flow-Through Entity.
If you hold our Public Stock
through a Flow-Through Entity, we urge you to consult your tax advisor.
THE FOLLOWING IS FOR INFORMATIONAL
PURPOSES ONLY. EACH HOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH HOLDER OF EXERCISING
REDEMPTION RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS.
For purposes of this discussion,
because any Unit is separable at the option of the holder, we are treating each Public Share, Public Warrant and Right held by a holder
in the form of a single Unit as separate instruments and assuming that the Unit itself will not be treated as an integrated instrument.
Accordingly, the cancellation or separation of the Units in connection with the exercise of redemption rights generally should not
be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This position is not free from doubt, and no assurance can be given that the
IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a contrary position.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Stockholders
This section is addressed
to Redeeming U.S. Holders (as defined below) of Public Stock that elect to have their Public Stock redeemed for cash as described in
the section titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Amendment Proposal — Redemption
Rights.” For purposes of this discussion, a “Redeeming U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner that so redeems
its shares and is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
|
· |
an individual citizen or
resident of the United States; |
|
· |
a corporation (or other
entity that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is created or organized (or treated as created
or organized) in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
|
· |
an estate the income of
which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
|
· |
any trust if (1) a
U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more United States persons (within
the meaning of the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election
in place to be treated as a United States person. |
Tax Treatment of the Redemption — In
General
The U.S. federal income tax
consequences to a Redeeming U.S. Holder of Public Stock that exercises its redemption rights to receive cash in exchange for all or a
portion of its Public Stock will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the Public Stock redeemed under Section 302
of the Code or is treated as a distribution under Section 301 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of such Redeeming
U.S. Holder’s shares, such Redeeming U.S. Holder will generally be required to recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the
difference, if any, between the amount of cash received and the tax basis of the shares redeemed. Such gain or loss should be treated
as capital gain or loss if such shares were held as a capital asset on the date of the redemption. Any such capital gain or loss generally
will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s holding period for such shares exceeds one year at the time
of the redemption. A Redeeming U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such Redeeming U.S. Holder’s shares generally will equal the cost
of such shares.
The redemption generally
will qualify as a sale of such shares if the redemption either (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect
to the Redeeming U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete redemption” of such Redeeming U.S. Holder’s interest
in the Company or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to such Redeeming U.S. Holder. These
tests are explained more fully below.
For purposes of such tests,
a Redeeming U.S. Holder takes into account not only shares directly owned by such Redeeming U.S. Holder, but also shares that are constructively
owned by such Redeeming U.S. Holder. A Redeeming U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to Public Stock owned directly, Public
Stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which such Redeeming U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest
in such Redeeming U.S. Holder, as well as any shares such Redeeming U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which
would generally include shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Public Warrants.
The redemption generally
will be “substantially disproportionate” with respect to a Redeeming U.S. Holder if the percentage of the Company’s
outstanding voting shares that such Redeeming U.S. Holder directly or constructively owns immediately after the redemption is less than
80 percent of the percentage of the Company’s outstanding voting shares that such Redeeming U.S. Holder directly or constructively
owned immediately before the redemption, and such Redeeming U.S. Holder immediately after the redemption actually and constructively
owns less than 50 percent of the total combined voting power of the Company. There will be a complete redemption of such Redeeming
U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of the shares directly or constructively owned by such Redeeming U.S. Holder are
redeemed or (ii) all of the shares directly owned by such Redeeming U.S. Holder are redeemed and such Redeeming U.S. Holder is eligible
to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of the shares owned by certain family members and
such Redeeming U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other shares. The redemption will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend
if it results in a “meaningful reduction” of such Redeeming U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in the Company. Whether
the redemption will result in a “meaningful reduction” in such Redeeming U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest will
depend on the particular facts and circumstances applicable to it. The IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction
in the proportionate interest of a small minority Stockholder in a publicly held corporation that exercises no control over corporate
affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.”
If none of the above tests
is satisfied, the redemption will be treated as a distribution with respect to the shares under Section 302 of the Code, in which
case the Redeeming U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution as discussed below.
Redemption of Public Stock Treated as Corporate
Distribution
If the redemption is treated
as a corporate distribution, such distribution generally will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent
paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. If the redemption
is treated as a corporate distribution treated as dividend, such dividends paid to a Redeeming U.S. Holder that is a taxable corporation
generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including,
but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain
holding period requirements are met, dividends paid to a non-corporate Redeeming U.S. Holder generally will constitute “qualified
dividends” that will be subject to tax at a preferable rate. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the Public
Stock described in this proxy statement will prevent a U.S. Holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect
to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be.
Distributions in excess of
current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below
zero) the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Redeeming U.S. Holder’s Public Stock. Any remaining excess will
be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of such Redeeming U.S. Holder’s Public Stock as discussed below. After
the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the Redeeming U.S. Holder in the redeemed Public Stock will be added to the
Redeeming U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining Public Stock, or, if it has none, to the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s
adjusted tax basis in its Public Warrants or possibly in other shares constructively owned by it.
Redemption of Public Stock Treated as a Sale
or Other Disposition
If the redemption qualifies
as a sale or other disposition of Public Stock, a Redeeming U.S. Holder will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the
difference between (i) the amount of cash received in such redemption and (ii) the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax
basis in its Public Stock so redeemed. A Redeeming U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Public Stock generally will equal the
Redeeming U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, the portion of the purchase price of a Unit allocated to a share of Public Stock
or the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s initial basis for Public Stock received upon exercise of a whole warrant) less any prior distributions
treated as a return of capital. Any such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s
holding period for the Public Stock so disposed of exceeds one year. Long-term capital gain realized by a non-corporate Redeeming U.S.
Holder generally will be taxable at a reduced rate. The deduction of capital losses is subject to limitations. However, it is unclear
whether the redemption rights with respect to the Public Stock described in this proxy statement may prevent a U.S. Holder from satisfying
the applicable holding period requirements for long-term capital gain or loss.
If a Redeeming U.S. Holder
holds different blocks of Public Stock (generally, shares of Public Stock purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices),
such Redeeming U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisors to determine how the above rules apply to such Redeeming U.S. Holder.
ALL REDEEMING U.S. HOLDERS
ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF A REDEMPTION OF ALL OR A PORTION OF THEIR PUBLIC STOCK
PURSUANT TO AN EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
to Non-U.S. Stockholders
This section is addressed
to Redeeming Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of Public Stock that elect to have their shares redeemed for cash as described
in the section titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Extension Amendment Proposal — Redemption
Rights.” For purposes of this discussion, a “Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner (other than
a Flow-Through Entity) of our Public Stock that so redeems its Public Stock and is not a Redeeming U.S. Holder.
Tax Treatment of the Redemption — In
General
Except as otherwise discussed
in this section, the characterization of a redemption for a Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder who elects to have its shares redeemed will generally
be characterized in the same manner as a U.S. Stockholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See the discussion above under “Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Stockholders.”
Redeeming Non-U.S. Holders
of shares considering exercising their redemption rights are urged to consult their tax advisors as to whether the redemption of their
shares will be treated as a sale or as a distribution under the Code, and whether they will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on
any gain recognized or dividends received as a result of the redemption based upon their particular circumstances.
Redemption of Public Stock Treated as a Corporate
Distribution
If the redemption qualifies
as a corporate distribution, such distribution generally will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent
paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, and provided such
dividends are not effectively connected with the Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States,
we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder is
eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility
for such reduced rate (on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E). Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits
will constitute a return of capital to the extent of the Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Redeeming Non-U.S.
Holder’s Public Stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of such Redeeming
Non-U.S. Holder’s Public Stock as discussed below. In addition, if we determine that we are likely to be classified as a “U.S.
real property holding corporation” (see “— Redemption of Public Stock Treated as a Sale or Other Disposition”
below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
The withholding tax does
not apply to dividends paid to a Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder who provides a Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively
connected with the Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively
connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident, subject to an
applicable income tax treaty providing otherwise. A Redeeming Non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also
be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate) on its effectively connected
earnings and profits that are not reinvested in the United States.
Redemption of Public Stock Treated as a Sale or Other Disposition
If the redemption qualifies
as a sale or other disposition, a Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax in respect
of gain recognized on a sale or other disposition of Public Stock unless:
|
· |
the gain is effectively
connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder within the United States; |
|
· |
the Redeeming Non-U.S.
Holder is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other
conditions are met; or |
|
· |
we are or have been a “U.S.
real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period
ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder held Public Stock, and, in the case where the
shares of Public Stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder has owned, directly
or constructively (including through ownership of warrants) more than 5% of the shares of Public Stock at any time within the shorter
of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares of Public
Stock. |
Unless an applicable treaty
provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income
tax rates as if the Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a Redeeming
Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or
lower treaty rate) on its effectively connected earnings and profits that are not reinvested in the United States. Gain described in
the second bullet point above will be subject to a flat 30% U.S. federal income tax rate on the gain derived from the redemption, which
gain may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses for the year.
If the third bullet point
above applies to a Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder, gain recognized by such holder on the disposition of the Public Stock will be subject to
tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. We cannot determine whether we will be a U.S. real property holding corporation
in the future until we complete a Business Combination. We will be classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation if the fair
market value of our “U.S. real property interests” equals or exceeds 50 percent of the sum of the fair market value
of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal
income tax purposes.
If a Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder
holds different blocks of Public Stock (generally, shares of Public Stock purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices),
such Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisors to determine how the above rules apply to such Redeeming Non-U.S.
Holder.
Backup Withholding
In general, proceeds received
from the exercise of redemption rights will be subject to backup withholding for a non-corporate Redeeming U.S. Holder that:
|
· |
fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification
number; |
|
· |
is notified by the IRS
regarding a failure to report all interest or dividends required to be shown on his or her federal income tax returns; or |
|
· |
in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable
certification requirements. |
A Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder
generally may eliminate the requirement for information reporting and backup withholding by providing certification of its non-U.S. status,
under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
Any amount withheld under
these rules will be creditable against the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s or Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income
tax liability or refundable to the extent that it exceeds this liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished
to the IRS and other applicable requirements are met.
As previously noted above,
the foregoing discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences is included for general information purposes only and
is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice to any Stockholder. We once again urge you to consult with
your tax adviser to determine the particular tax consequences to you (including the application and effect of any U.S. federal, state,
local or foreign income or other tax laws) of the receipt of cash in exchange for shares in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal
and any redemption of your Public Stock.
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets
forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of November 10, 2022, based on information obtained
from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of our Common Stock, by:
|
· |
each person known by us
to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock; |
|
· |
each of our officers and
directors; and |
|
· |
all of our executive officers
and directors as a group. |
Beneficial ownership is determined
according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if such person possesses
sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable
within sixty days.
The following table is based
on 13,404,950 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 10, 2022, including 10,903,700 shares of Class A common stock
and 2,501,250 shares of Class B common stock. Common stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all
matters to be voted on by stockholders. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and
investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or
beneficial ownership of our warrants or rights, as these warrants and rights are not exercisable within 60 days of November 10,
2022.
Name and address of beneficial owner(1) | |
Number
of shares of common stock
beneficially owned | |
Approximate
percentage of outstanding
common stock | |
Directors and Named Executive Officers: | |
| |
| |
Timo Vainionpää | |
0 | |
* | |
Horst Rzepka | |
0 | |
* | |
Jamie Khurshid | |
0 | |
* | |
Stefan Nolte | |
0 | |
* | |
Daniel Minkowitz | |
0 | |
* | |
All current directors and executive officers as a group (five individuals) | |
0 | |
* | |
Certain Stockholders: | |
| |
| |
Alexander V. Schinzing(2) | |
2,101,250 | |
15.7 | % |
FSC Sponsor LLC(3) | |
1,350,000 | |
10.1 | % |
Feis Equities LLC(4) | |
810,076 | |
6.0 | % |
Lighthouse Investment Partners, LLC(5) | |
688,011 | |
5.1 | % |
Space Summit Capital LLC(6) | |
674,000 | |
5.0 | % |
|
(1) |
Unless otherwise noted,
the business address of each of our stockholders listed is C/O Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., 2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300,
Dallas, Texas 75204. |
|
(2) |
Based on a Schedule 13D
jointly filed on December 17, 2021 by Alexander V. Schinzing and FSC Sponsor LLC. Represents (i) 775,000 shares of Class B
common stock and 200,000 shares of Class A common stock held by FSC Sponsor LLC (“FSC Sponsor”), (ii) 375,000
shares of Class B common stock held by Caliente Management L.L.C. (“Caliente”), (iii) 200,000 shares of Class B
common stock and 50,000 shares of Class A common stock held by Celtic Sponsor VII LLC (“Celtic Sponsor VII”), (iv) 416,212
shares of Class B common stock held by Celtic Asset & Equity Partners, Ltd. (“Celtic A&E”) and
(v) 85,038 shares of Class B common stock held by Frio Investments L.L.C. (“Frio”). FSC Sponsor is the managing
member of, and may be deemed to beneficially own shares owned by, Caliente. Mr. Schinzing is the managing member of FSC Sponsor
and Celtic A&E and the manager of Celtic Sponsor VII and Frio. Therefore, Mr. Schinzing may be deemed to beneficially own
shares owned by FSC Sponsor, Celtic Sponsor VII, Celtic A&E, Caliente and Frio. Mr. Schinzing disclaims any beneficial ownership
of such shares other than to the extent of any pecuniary interest he may have therein, directly or indirectly. |
|
(3) |
Based on a Schedule 13D
jointly filed on December 17, 2021 by Alexander V. Schinzing and FSC Sponsor LLC. Represents (i) 775,000 shares of Class B
common stock and 200,000 shares of Class A common stock held by FSC Sponsor and (ii) 375,000 shares of Class B common
stock held by Caliente. FSC Sponsor is the managing member of, and may be deemed to beneficially own shares owned by, Caliente. Mr. Schinzing
is the managing member of FSC Sponsor. Therefore, Mr. Schinzing may be deemed to beneficially own shares owned by FSC Sponsor
and Caliente. Mr. Schinzing disclaims any beneficial ownership of such shares other than to the extent of any pecuniary interest
he may have therein, directly or indirectly. |
|
(4) |
Based on a Schedule 13G
jointly filed on January 12, 2022 by Feis Equities LLC (“Feis Equities”) and Lawrence M. Feis. Represents 810,076
shares of Class A common stock. Each of Feis Equities and Mr. Feis holds share voting and dispositive power over 810,076
shares of Class A common stock, and thus may be deemed to beneficially own these shares. The business address of both Mr. Feis
and Feis Equities is 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2115, Chicago, Illinois 60606. |
|
|
|
|
(5) |
Based on a Schedule 13G
jointly filed on February 14, 2022 by Lighthouse Investment Partners, LLC (“Lighthouse”), MAP 136 Segregated Portfolio,
a segregated portfolio of LMA SPC, (“MAP 136”), MAP 204 Segregated Portfolio, a segregated portfolio of LMA SPC (“MAP
204”), and MAP 214 Segregated Portfolio, a segregated portfolio of LMA SPC (“MAP 214,” and collectively with Lighthouse,
MAP 136 and MAP 204, the “Lighthouse Parties”). Represents 688,011 shares of Class A common stock directly held
by MAP 136, MAP 204, and MAP 214. Lighthouse serves as the investment manager of MAP 136, MAP 204, and MAP 214. Because Lighthouse
may be deemed to control MAP 136, MAP 204, and MAP 214, as applicable, Lighthouse may be deemed to beneficially own, and to have
the power to vote or direct the vote of, and the power to direct the disposition of these shares. The business address of each of
the Lighthouse Parties is 3801 PGA Boulevard, Suite 500, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
Based on a Schedule 13G
filed on February 3, 2022 by Space Summit Capital LLC (“Space Summit Capital”). Represents 674,000 shares of Class A
common stock beneficially owned by Space Summit Capital. The business address of Space Summit Capital is 15455 Albright Street, Pacific
Palisades, CA 90272. |
FUTURE
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
If the Extension Amendment
Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal are approved and the Charter Amendment is filed, our first annual meeting of stockholders will
be held no later than December 31, 2023. If either the Extension Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal are not approved
and a Business Combination is not consummated, there will be no further annual meetings of the Company. You should direct any proposals
to our Chief Executive Officer at Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., 2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75204.
HOUSEHOLDING
INFORMATION
Unless we have received contrary
instructions, we may send a single copy of this proxy statement to any household at which two or more stockholders reside if we believe
the stockholders are members of the same family. This process, known as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information
received at any one household and helps to reduce our expenses. However, if stockholders prefer to receive multiple sets of our disclosure
documents at the same address this year or in future years, the stockholders should follow the instructions described below. Similarly,
if an address is shared with another stockholder and together both of the stockholders would like to receive only a single set of our
disclosure documents, the stockholders should follow these instructions:
|
· |
If the shares are registered
in the name of the stockholder, the stockholder should contact us at our offices at Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., 2626
Cole Avenue, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75204, to inform us of his or her request; or |
|
· |
If a bank, broker or other
nominee holds the shares, the stockholder should contact the bank, broker or other nominee directly. |
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act. You may access information on the Company at the SEC web site, which
contains reports, proxy statements and other information, at: http://www.sec.gov.
This proxy statement is available
without charge to our stockholders upon written or oral request. If you would like additional copies of this proxy statement or if you
have questions about the proposals to be presented at the Stockholder Meeting, you should contact the Company in writing at Financial
Strategies Acquisition Corp., 2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75204 or by telephone at (972) 560-4815.
If you have questions about
the proposals or this proxy statement, would like additional copies of this proxy statement, or need to obtain proxy cards or other information
related to the proxy solicitation, please contact Morrow Sodali, our proxy solicitor, by calling (800) 662-5200 (toll-free), or collect
at (203) 658-9400 (for banks and brokers, or by emailing FXCO.info@investor.morrowsodali.com. You will not be charged for any of the
documents that you request.
To obtain timely delivery
of the documents, you must request them no later than five business days before the date of the Stockholder Meeting, or no later than
November 30, 2022.
ANNEX
A
PROPOSED
AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
Pursuant to Section 242 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law
FINANCIAL
STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP., a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”),
by its Chief Executive Officer, hereby certifies as follows:
|
1. |
The name of the Corporation is “Financial Strategies
Acquisition Corp.” |
|
2. |
The Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation
was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 1, 2020 (the “Original Certificate”). |
|
3. |
An Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 9, 2021 (the “Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”). |
|
4. |
This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation amends the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation. |
|
5. |
This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation was duly adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock entitled to vote at a meeting
of stockholders in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
“DGCL”). |
|
|
|
|
6. |
The text of Section 9.1 of Article Ninth
is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows: |
Section 9.1 General.
(a) The provisions of
this Article IX shall apply during the period commencing upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate
and terminating upon the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination and no amendment to this Article IX shall
be effective prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination unless approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of
at least sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock.
(b) Immediately after
the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any
exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration
statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 22,
2021, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”),
established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration
Statement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes (less up to $100,000 interest to pay dissolution expenses), none of the
funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust
Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100%
of the Offering Shares (as defined below) if the Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within 13 months
from the closing of the Offering (or, if the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall not be open for business (including
filing of corporate documents) on such date the next date upon which the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall be open),
or up to 24 months, if such date is extended pursuant to Section 9.1(c) (the “Deadline Date”)
and (iii) the redemption of shares in connection with a vote seeking to amend any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate
(A) to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial Business
Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation does not complete its initial Business Combination by the Deadline
Date or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination
activity (as described in Section 9.7) and, for purposes of this clause (iii), only with respect to the redemption of
those Offering Shares that a stockholder properly elects to redeem. Holders of shares of Common Stock included as part of the units sold
in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary
market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are the Co-Sponsors or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates
of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as “Public Stockholders.”
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing or any other provisions of the Articles of this Amended and Restated Certificate, in the event that the Corporation has
not consummated a Business Combination upon the date which is 13 months from the consummation of the Offering, the Board of Directors
may, without another stockholder vote, extend the Deadline Date on a monthly basis up to eleven times, each by an additional one
(1) month, for an aggregate of eleven additional months. Such extension may be exercised by resolution of the Board, if requested
by one or both of the Co-Sponsors, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Deadline Date, until 24 months from
the consummation of the Offering, provided that one or both of the Co-Sponsors (or one or more of their respective affiliates, members
or third-party designees) (each, a “Lender”) will lend to the Company for deposit into the Trust Account: for each
such monthly extension, the lesser of (i) $50,000 or (ii) $0.05 for each then-outstanding Offering Share, for an aggregate
deposit of up to the lesser of (x) $550,000 or (y) $0.55 for each then-outstanding Offering Share (if all eleven additional
monthly extensions are exercised), upon the Company’s drawdown of non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory notes issued by the
Corporation to the Lenders. If the Corporation completes an initial Business Combination, it will, at the option of the Lenders, repay
the amounts loaned under such promissory notes or convert a portion or all of the amounts loaned under such promissory notes into units,
which units will be identical to the private placement units issued to the Co-Sponsors at the time of the Offering. If the Corporation
does not complete an initial Business Combination by the deadline to consummate the initial Business Combination, such promissory notes
will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account or will be forfeited, eliminated or otherwise forgiven.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused
this Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by its Chief Executive Officer this day of ,
2022.
FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP. |
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By: |
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Name: Timo Vainionpää |
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Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer |
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ANNEX
B
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
TO THE
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
OF
FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
This Amendment No. 1
(this “Amendment”), dated as of [●], 2022, to the Investment Management Trust Agreement (as defined below),
is made by and between Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as trustee (the “Trustee”). All terms used but not
defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Trust Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company and
the Trustee entered into an Investment Management Trust Agreement dated as of December 9, 2021 (as amended, the “Trust
Agreement”);
WHEREAS, $101,050,500 was
placed in the Trust Account from the IPO and sale of Private Units;
WHEREAS, Section 1(i) of
the Trust Agreement sets forth the terms that govern the liquidation of the Trust Account under the circumstances described therein;
WHEREAS, Section 1(j) of
the Trust Agreement provides for the extension of the Applicable Deadline upon receipt of an Extension Letter in a form substantially
similar to that attached thereto as Exhibit D;
WHEREAS, Section 7(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 at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock;
WHEREAS, at a special meeting
of stockholders held on [●], 2022, the Company obtained the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock to effect this Amendment; and
WHEREAS, each of the Company
and Trustee 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:
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1. |
Amendment to Trust Agreement. |
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1.1 |
Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement is hereby
amended and restated in its entirety as follows: |
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(i) |
Commence liquidation of
the Trust Account only after and promptly after (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 its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
Secretary or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) or other authorized officer
of the Company, and, in the case of a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A,
acknowledged and agreed to by the Representative, complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the
Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest that may
be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred
to therein; or (y) January 14, 2023 (the “Applicable Deadline”) (provided that the Board, in
its discretion, upon written notice to the Trustee, may extend the Applicable Deadline by one month each on up to eleven occasions,
for up to an additional eleven months, but in no event to a date later than December 14, 2023 (or, if the Office of the Delaware
Division of Corporations shall not be open for business (including filing of corporate documents) on such date, the next date upon
which the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall be open)) 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 its taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to
the Company to pay dissolution expenses) shall be distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date; |
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1.2 |
Exhibit D of the Trust Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: |
EXHIBIT D
[Date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attention: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
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Re: |
Trust Account – Extension Letter |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of
the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of December 9, 2021, as amended (“Trust Agreement”), this is
to advise you that the Company is extending the time available in order to consummate a Business Combination with the Target Businesses
for an additional one (1) month, from _______________ to _______________ (the “Extension”).
This Extension Letter shall serve as the notice
required with respect to the Extension prior to the Applicable Deadline. Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement,
we hereby authorize you to deposit the lesser of (a) $50,000 or (b) $0.05 for each share of Class A Common Stock issued
as part of the units sold in the IPO and currently outstanding, which will be wired to you, into the Trust Account investments upon
receipt.
This is the _____ of up to eleven Extension Letters.
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Very truly yours, |
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FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP. |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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cc: I-Bankers Securities, Inc.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
PROXY CARD
PRELIMINARY PROXY CARD
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.
2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75204
SPECIAL MEETING
OF STOCKHOLDERS OF FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON , 2022.
The undersigned, revoking any previous
proxies relating to these shares, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice and Proxy Statement, dated
,
2022, in connection with the special meeting of Stockholders (the “Stockholder Meeting”) of Financial Strategies
Acquisition Corp. (“Financial Strategies”) to be held at a.m., Central Time, on ,
2022, via a virtual meeting, and hereby appoints Timo Vainionpää and Horst Rzepka, and each of them (with full power to
act alone), the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with power of substitution to each, to vote all stock of Financial
Strategies registered in the name provided, which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Stockholder Meeting, and at any
adjournments thereof, with all the powers the undersigned would have if personally present. Without limiting the general
authorization hereby given, said proxies are, and each of them is, instructed to vote or act as follows on the proposals set forth
in the accompanying proxy statement.
THIS PROXY, WHEN EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3.
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(Continued
and to be marked, dated and signed on reverse side) |
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Please
mark vote as indicated in this example |
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THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3. |
Proposal
No. 1 — The Extension Amendment Proposal — To amend Financial Strategies’
amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (a) extend the date by which Financial Strategies has to consummate a business
combination from December 14, 2022 to January 14, 2023; and (b) allow the Company, without another stockholder vote,
to elect to extend the date to consummate a business combination on a monthly basis for up to eleven times by an additional one month
each time after January 14, 2023, by resolution of the board of directors, if requested by one or both of FSC Sponsor LLC and
Celtic Sponsor VII LLC, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable deadlines, until December 14, 2023,
or a total of up to twelve months after December 14, 2022, unless the closing of Financial Strategies’ initial business
combination shall have occurred. A copy of the proposed amendments is set forth in Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement. |
FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
¨ |
Proposal
No. 2 — The Trust Amendment Proposal — To amend the Company’s Investment
Management Trust Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust
Company (the “Trustee”) to extend the date (the “Liquidation Date”) on which the Trustee must liquidate the
trust account (“Trust Account”) established by the Company in connection with its initial public offering from December 14,
2022 to January 14, 2023, and to allow the Company, without another stockholder vote, to elect to further extend the Liquidation
Date on a monthly basis for up to eleven times from January 14, 2023 to December 14, 2023. A copy of the proposed amendment
is set forth in Annex B to the accompanying proxy statement. |
FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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Proposal
No. 3 — The Adjournment Proposal — To adjourn the Stockholder 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 Stockholder Meeting, there are insufficient shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Financial Strategies
represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business at the Stockholder Meeting or at
the time of the Stockholder Meeting to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal. |
FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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Dated: , 2022
(Signature)
(Signature if held jointly)
Signature should agree with name printed hereon. If shares 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. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN
BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE PROPOSAL 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
MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF. THIS PROXY WILL REVOKE ALL PRIOR PROXIES SIGNED BY YOU.
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