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 x
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 |
Cartica Acquisition Corp
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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| ¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
| ¨ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS OF CARTICA ACQUISITION CORP
c/o Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY10105
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 26, 2024
Dear Shareholders of Cartica Acquisition Corp:
You are cordially invited to attend an extraordinary general meeting (the “Special Meeting”) of shareholders of Cartica Acquisition Corp, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“we,” “Cartica” or the “Company”), which will be held on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, at the office of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105 or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the Meeting may be adjourned. You will be permitted to attend the Special Meeting in person at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. If you would like to attend in person you are requested to confirm your attendance at least two business days in advance of the Special Meeting by contacting Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, c/o C. Brian Coad, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105.
The accompanying Notice of the Special Meeting and proxy statement describe the business Cartica will conduct at the Special Meeting (unless Cartica determines that it is not necessary to hold the Special Meeting as described in the accompanying proxy statement) and provide information about Cartica that you should consider when you vote your shares. As set forth in the accompanying proxy statement, the Special Meeting will be held for the purpose of considering and voting on the following proposals:
| 1. | Proposal No. 1 - Third Extension Amendment Proposal - To approve, by way of special resolution, that the date by which Cartica has to consummate a business combination be extended (the “Third Charter Extension”) from January 7, 2025 to July 7, 2025 (or such earlier date as determined by the board of directors (the “Board”)) (such date, the “Third Charter Extension Date”) (the “Third Extension Amendment Proposal”) and that the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of Cartica, as amended (the “Charter”) be amended as set out in Annex A to the proxy statement; |
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| 2. | Proposal No. 2 - Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal - To eliminate, by way of special resolution, from the Charter the limitation that Cartica may not redeem Public Shares (as defined below) to the extent that such redemption would result in Cartica having net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of less than US$5,000,001 (the “Redemption Limitation”) in order to allow Cartica to redeem Public Shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation (the “Redemption Limitation Amendment,” and such proposal, the “Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal”) and that the Charter be amended as set out in Annex B to the proxy statement; and |
| 3. | Proposal No. 3 - Adjournment Proposal - To adjourn, by way of ordinary resolution, the Special 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 Special Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve the other proposals (the “Adjournment Proposal”). |
Each of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation 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 Charter initially provided that Cartica had until July 7, 2023 to complete its initial business combination, subject to up to two three-month extensions (each, a “Paid Extension”) (for a total of up to 24 months to complete a business combination), upon the request of Cartica’s sponsor, Cartica Acquisition Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”) and subject to the Sponsor depositing additional funds into the Company’s Trust Account (as defined herein).
On June 30, 2023, Cartica held an extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual meeting and approved, among other things, extending the date by which Cartica must consummate a business combination from July 7, 2023 (which was 18 months from the closing of the initial public offering) to April 7, 2024 (the “First Extension”).
On April 3, 2024, Cartica held another extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual general meeting of shareholders at which our shareholders approved the proposal to amend its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended, to extend the date by which we had to consummate a business combination from April 7, 2024 to January 7, 2025 (the “Second Extension”).
On June 24, 2024, Cartica entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among Cartica, Nidar Infrastructure Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Nidar”), and Yotta Data and Cloud Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nidar (“Merger Sub”) (the “Nidar Business Combination”). Nidar is a data center provider for artificial intelligence and high-performance compute in India. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into Cartica (the “First Merger”), with Cartica surviving the First Merger as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Nidar (Cartica as the surviving entity of the First Merger, the “Surviving Entity”) and the shareholders of Cartica becoming shareholders of Nidar; and (b) Surviving Entity will merge with and into Nidar (such merger, the “Second Merger”), with Nidar as the surviving entity of the Second Merger. As a result of the Nidar Business Combination, Nidar will continue as the parent/public company. For more information about the Nidar Business Combination, see Cartica’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 24, 2024, as well as the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nidar with the SEC on November 13, 2024 in connection with the Nidar Business Combination.
While Cartica is using its best efforts to complete the Nidar Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before January 7, 2025 to consummate the Nidar Business Combination. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of Cartica’s shareholders to extend the date by which Cartica has to consummate an initial business combination to the Third Charter Extension Date in order that Cartica will have more time to complete the Nidar Business Combination or an alternative business combination, as well as to provide additional flexibility to wind up its operations prior to the Third Charter Extension Date. Additionally, without the Redemption Limitation Amendment, Cartica may not be able to implement the Third Charter Extension if following redemptions in connection with the Third Charter Extension Cartica would not have at least $5,000,001 in tangible net assets as currently required by its Charter. If that were to occur, Cartica would be forced to liquidate on January 7, 2025. Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension unless (i) the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved or (ii) if Caritca will have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the redemptions. Cartica cannot predict the amount that will remain in the Trust Account following the redemptions if the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be significantly less than the approximately $[ ] million that was in the Trust Account as of [the date of this proxy statement].
Cartica intends to hold another shareholders’ meeting prior to the expiration of the Extension Period in order to seek shareholder approval of the Nidar Business Combination (or an alternative business combination if it is unable to complete the Nidar Business Combination).
As contemplated by the Charter, the holders of Cartica’s Class A ordinary shares, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”), issued as part of the units sold in Cartica’s initial public offering (the “Public Shares”) may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares 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 initial public offering (the “initial public offering”) and the concurrent sale of the private placement warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”), if the Third Charter Extension or the Redemption Limitation Amendment is approved (the “Redemption”), regardless of how such public shareholders vote in regard to the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment. If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment is approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, the holders of Public Shares remaining after the Redemption will retain their right to redeem their Public Shares for their pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account upon consummation of an initial business combination.
As of ____, 2024, the redemption price per share was approximately $[ ] (which is expected to be the same approximate amount two business days prior to the Special Meeting), based on the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account of approximately $[ ] as of ____, 2024 (including interest not previously released to Cartica to pay its taxes), divided by the total number of then outstanding Public Shares. The closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on November 27, 2024, the record date, was $11.65. Accordingly, if the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares were to remain the same until the date of the Special Meeting, exercising redemption rights would result in a public shareholder receiving approximately $[ ] more per share than if the shares were sold in the open market. Cartica cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their Class A Ordinary Shares 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 its securities when such shareholders wish to sell their shares. Cartica believes that such redemption right enables its public shareholders to determine whether or not to sustain their investments for an additional period if Cartica does not complete the Nidar Business Combination on or before January 7, 2025.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Sponsor and/or its designees will contribute to the Company as a loan (the “Contributions”) $0.03 per Public Share each month (commencing on January 7, 2025 and on the 7th day of each subsequent month) until July 7, 2025, or portion thereof (the “Extension Period”), that is needed to complete an initial business combination which amount will be deposited into the Trust Account. Accordingly, the amount deposited per share will depend on the number of Public Shares that remain outstanding after redemptions in connection with the Third Charter Extension and the length of the Extension Period that will be needed to complete the initial business combination. For example, if Cartica takes until July 7, 2025 to complete its initial business combination, the Sponsor and/or its designees would make aggregate Contributions of approximately $0.18 for each Public Share that is not redeemed.
Any Contribution is conditioned upon the approval of the Third Charter Extension. No Contribution will occur if the Third Charter Extension is not approved. The amount of each Contribution will not bear interest and will be repayable by Cartica to the Sponsor or its designees upon consummation of its initial business combination. Cartica will have the sole discretion whether to continue extending for additional months until July 7, 2025. If Cartica opts not to utilize any remaining portion of the Extension Period, then Cartica will liquidate and dissolve promptly in accordance with its Charter, and its Sponsor’s obligation to make additional Contributions will terminate.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by Cartica’s shareholders, Cartica has agreed to waive its right to withdraw up to $100,000 of interest accrued on the Trust Account to pay dissolution expenses, should Cartica ultimately liquidate before consummating a business combination. As a result, Cartica will not withdraw up to $100,000 of interest, as permitted by its Charter, for such dissolution expenses upon liquidation, and up to $100,000 of any interest accrued will be held in the Trust Account and will, subject to applicable law, be released to public shareholders upon the redemption of 100% of the Public Shares if the Company is unable to complete its initial business combination by July 7, 2025 or such earlier date as determined by Cartica’s board of directors.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Nidar Business Combination is not completed on or before January 7, 2025, Cartica 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 Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to Cartica to pay its taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of the then-outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the holders of Public Shares (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of Cartica’s remaining shareholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to Cartica’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved, even if redemptions of the Public Shares would cause the Company to exceed the Redemption Limitation, Cartica will be able to proceed with such redemptions.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are approved, Cartica shall procure that all filings required to be made with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands in connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are made and redeem Public Shares as necessary, irrespective of whether such redemptions exceed the Redemption Limitation. If Cartica redeems its Public Shares in an amount in excess of the the Redemption Limitation and Cartica’s securities do not meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, Nasdaq may delist Cartica’s securities from trading on its exchange. If Nasdaq delists any of its securities and Cartica is not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, Cartica expects that such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, Cartica could face significant material adverse consequences. For more information about such, see those described under “Risk Factors” in this proxy statement entitled “Our securities will be suspended from trading on Nasdaq and delisted if we do not consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by January 4, 2025. Any trading suspension or delisting could have a material adverse effect on the trading of our securities and may adversely affect our ability to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination.”
If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Redemption Limitation is exceeded, either because Cartica does not take action to increase its net tangible assets or because its attempt to do so is not successful, then Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension and Cartica will not redeem any Public Shares. In such case, Public Shares which a public shareholder elects to redeem but which are not redeemed shall be returned to such public shareholder or such public shareholder’s account and such public shareholder will retain the right to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if Cartica has not completed the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by January 7, 2025.
Approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal requires a special resolution of the Company, being the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes cast by the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Ordinary Shares,” collectively with Class A Ordinary Shares, the “Ordinary Shares”), voting as a single class, who, being present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, vote at the Special Meeting. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the Ordinary Shares present themselves or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Adjournment Proposal will only be put forth for a vote if there are not sufficient tabulated votes to approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and/or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal at the Special Meeting.
The Board has fixed the close of business on November 27, 2024 (the “Record Date”) as the date for determining Cartica’s shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Special Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of Ordinary Shares on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Special Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.
In June 2023, the Sponsor converted on a one-for-one basis 4,750,000 Class B Ordinary Shares that were issued prior to our initial public offering into 4,750,000 Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Founder Conversion”), and following the Founder Conversion, the Sponsor owns 700,000 Class B Ordinary Shares and the former directors of Cartica own an aggregate of 300,000 Class B Ordinary Shares. The 4,750,000 Class A Ordinary Shares that were issued to the Sponsor in connection with the Founder Conversion and the 1,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares owned by the Sponsor and former directors of Cartica are collectively referred to herein as the “Founder Shares”. The Founder Shares following the Founder Conversion are subject to the same restrictions as the Class B Ordinary Shares before the Founder Conversion, including, among others, certain transfer restrictions, waiver of redemption rights and the obligation to vote in favor of an initial business combination as described in the prospectus for our initial public offering. The Founder Shares are entitled to registration rights.
You are not being asked to vote on the Nidar Business Combination at this time. If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, the remaining holders of Public Shares who do not elect to redeem their Public Shares will retain their right to redeem their Public Shares if and when the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination is submitted to shareholders for approval, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter. In addition, public shareholders who do not redeem their Public Shares in connection with the Third Charter Extension will be entitled to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination before the Third Charter Extension Date or upon the Company’s earlier liquidation, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter.
Cartica reserves the right at any time to postpone or cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to its shareholders the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. In the event the Special Meeting is cancelled and Cartica does not complete the Nidar Business Combination on or prior to January 7, 2025, Cartica will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with its Charter.
After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal are in the best interests of Cartica and its shareholders, has declared it advisable and recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” such proposals.
Enclosed is the proxy statement containing detailed information about the Special Meeting, the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting, Cartica urges you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.
| By Order of the Board of Directors of |
| Cartica Acquisition Corp |
| Suresh Guduru |
| Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
| ____,2024 |
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special 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 Special Meeting. The approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal require a special resolution of the Company, being the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes which are cast by those holders of Ordinary Shares, who, being present and entitled to do so, vote at the Special Meeting. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Accordingly, if you fail to vote in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting, your shares will not be counted for the purposes of determining whether the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal are approved by the requisite majorities. 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 Special Meeting.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on December 26, 2024: The notice of meeting and the proxy statement are available at https://www.cstproxy.com/carticaspac/egm2024.
NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
CARTICA ACQUISITION CORP
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 26, 2024
To the Shareholders of Cartica Acquisition Corp:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) of CARTICA Acquisition Corp, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Cartica”), will be held on Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, at the office of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105 or at such other time, on such other date and at such other place to which the Meeting may be adjourned. You will be permitted to attend the Special Meeting in person at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. If you would like to attend in person you are requested to confirm your attendance at least two business days in advance of the Special Meeting by contacting Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, c/o C. Brian Coad, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105. You are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting for the purpose of considering and voting on the following proposals (unless Cartica determines that it is not necessary to hold the Special Meeting as described in the accompanying proxy statement), more fully described below in the accompanying proxy statement, which is dated [ ], 2024 and is first being mailed to shareholders on or about that date:
| 1. | Proposal No. 1 - Third Extension Amendment Proposal - To approve, by way of special resolution, that the date by which Cartica has to consummate a business combination be extended (the “Third Charter Extension”) from January 7, 2025 to July 7, 2025 (or such earlier date as determined by the board of directors (the “Board”)) (such date, the “Third Charter Extension Date”) (the “Third Extension Amendment Proposal”) and that the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of Cartica, as amended (the “Charter”) be amended as set out in Annex A to the proxy statement; |
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| 2. | Proposal No. 2 - Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal - To eliminate, by way of special resolution, from the Charter the limitation that Cartica may not redeem Public Shares (as defined below) to the extent that such redemption would result in Cartica having net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of less than US$5,000,001 (the “Redemption Limitation”) in order to allow Cartica to redeem Public Shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation (the “Redemption Limitation Amendment,” and such proposal, the “Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal”) and that the Charter be amended as set out in Annex B to the proxy statement; and |
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| 3. | Proposal No. 3 - Adjournment Proposal - To approve, by way of ordinary resolution, the adjournment of the Special 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 Special Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”). |
Each of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation 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 Charter initially provided that Cartica had until July 7, 2023 to complete its initial business combination, subject to up to two three-month extensions (each, a “Paid Extension”) (for a total of up to 24 months to complete a business combination), upon the request of Cartica’s sponsor, Cartica Acquisition Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”) and subject to the Sponsor depositing additional funds into the Company’s Trust Account (as defined herein).
On June 30, 2023, Cartica held an extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual meeting and approved, among other things, extending the date by which we must consummate a business combination from July 7, 2023 (which was 18 months from the closing of the initial public offering) to April 7, 2024 (the “First Extension”).
On April 3, 2024, Cartica held another extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual general meeting of shareholders at which our shareholders approved the proposal to amend its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended to extend the date by which we had to consummate a business combination from April 7, 2024 to January 7, 2025 (the “Second Extension”).
On June 24, 2024, Cartica entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among Cartica, Nidar Infrastructure Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Nidar”), and Yotta Data and Cloud Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nidar (“Merger Sub”) (the “Nidar Business Combination”). Nidar is a data center provider for artificial intelligence and high-performance compute in India. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into Cartica (the “First Merger”), with Cartica surviving the First Merger as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Nidar (Cartica as the surviving entity of the First Merger, the “Surviving Entity”) and the shareholders of Cartica becoming shareholders of Nidar; and (b) Surviving Entity will merge with and into Nidar (such merger, the “Second Merger”), with Nidar as the surviving entity of the Second Merger. As a result of the Nidar Business Combination, Nidar will continue as the parent/public company. For more information about the Nidar Business Combination, see Cartica’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 24, 2024, as well as the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nidar with the SEC on November 13, 2024 in connection with the Nidar Business Combination.
While Cartica is using its best efforts to complete the Nidar Business Combination as soon as practicable, the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before January 7, 2025 to consummate the Nidar Business Combination. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of Cartica’s shareholders to extend the date by which Cartica has to consummate an initial business combination to the Third Charter Extension Date in order that Cartica will have more time to complete the Nidar Business Combination or an alternative business combination, as well as to provide additional flexibility to wind up its operations prior to the Third Charter Extension Date. Additionally, without the Redemption Limitation Amendment, Cartica may not be able to implement the Third Charter Extension if following redemptions in connection with the Third Charter Extension Cartica would not have at least $5,000,001 in tangible net assets as currently required by its Charter. If that were to occur, Cartica would be forced to liquidate on January 7, 2025. Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension unless (i) the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved or (ii) if Caritca will have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the redemptions. Cartica cannot predict the amount that will remain in the Trust Account following the redemptions if the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be significantly less than the approximately $[ ] million that was in the Trust Account as of [the date of this proxy statement].
Cartica intends to hold another shareholders’ meeting prior to the expiration of the Extension Period in order to seek shareholder approval of the Nidar Business Combination (or an alternative business combination if it is unable to complete the Nidar Business Combination).
As contemplated by the Charter, the holders of Cartica’s Class A ordinary shares, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”), issued as part of the units sold in Cartica’s initial public offering (the “Public Shares”) may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares 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 initial public offering (the “initial public offering”) and the concurrent sale of the private placement warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”), if the Third Charter Extension or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved (the “Redemption”), regardless of how such public shareholders vote in regard to the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, the holders of Public Shares remaining after the Redemption will retain their right to redeem their Public Shares for their pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account upon consummation of an initial business combination.
As of ____, 2024, the redemption price per share was approximately $[ ] (which is expected to be the same approximate amount two business days prior to the Special Meeting), based on the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account of approximately $[ ] as of ____, 2024 (including interest not previously released to Cartica to pay its taxes), divided by the total number of then outstanding Public Shares. The closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on November 27, 2024, the record date, was $11.65. Accordingly, if the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares were to remain the same until the date of the Special Meeting, exercising redemption rights would result in a public shareholder receiving approximately $[ ] more per share than if the shares were sold in the open market. Cartica cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their Class A Ordinary Shares 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 its securities when such shareholders wish to sell their shares. Cartica believes that such redemption right enables its public shareholders to determine whether or not to sustain their investments for an additional period if Cartica does not complete the Nidar Business Combination on or before January 7, 2025.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Sponsor and/or its designees will contribute to the Company as a loan (the “Contributions”) $0.03 per Public Share each month (commencing on January 7, 2025 and on the 7th day of each subsequent month) until July 7, 2025, or portion thereof (the “Extension Period”), that is needed to complete an initial business combination which amount will be deposited into the Trust Account. Accordingly, the amount deposited per share will depend on the number of Public Shares that remain outstanding after redemptions in connection with the Third Charter Extension and the length of the Extension Period that will be needed to complete the initial business combination. For example, if Cartica takes until July 7, 2025 to complete its initial business combination, the Sponsor and/or its designees would make aggregate Contributions of approximately $0.18 for each Public Share that is not redeemed.
Any Contribution is conditioned upon the approval of the Third Charter Extension. No Contribution will occur if the Third Charter Extension is not approved. The amount of each Contribution will not bear interest and will be repayable by Cartica to the Sponsor or its designees upon consummation of its initial business combination. Cartica will have the sole discretion whether to continue extending for additional months until July 7, 2025. If Cartica opts not to utilize any remaining portion of the Extension Period, then Cartica will liquidate and dissolve promptly in accordance with its Charter, and its Sponsor’s obligation to make additional Contributions will terminate.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by Cartica’s shareholders, Cartica has agreed to waive its right to withdraw up to $100,000 of interest accrued on the Trust Account to pay dissolution expenses, should Cartica ultimately liquidate before consummating an initial business combination. As a result, Cartica will not withdraw up to $100,000 of interest, as permitted by its Charter, for such dissolution expenses upon liquidation, and up to $100,000 of any interest accrued will be held in the Trust Account and will, subject to applicable law, be released to public shareholders upon the redemption of 100% of the Public Shares if Cartica is unable to complete its initial business combination by July 7, 2025 or such earlier date as determined by Cartica’s board of directors.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Nidar Business Combination is not completed on or before January 7, 2025, Cartica 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 Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to Cartica to pay its taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of the then-outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the holders of Public Shares (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of Cartica’s remaining shareholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to Cartica’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved, even if redemptions of the Public Shares would cause the Company to exceed the Redemption Limitation, Cartica will be able to proceed with such redemptions.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are approved, Cartica shall procure that all filings required to be made with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands in connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are made and redeem Public Shares as necessary, irrespective of whether such redemptions exceed the Redemption Limitation. If Cartica redeems its Public Shares in an amount in excess of the current Redemption Limitation and Cartica’s securities do not meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, Nasdaq may delist Cartica’s securities from trading on its exchange. If Nasdaq delists any of its securities and Cartica is not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, Cartica expects that such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, Cartica could face significant material adverse consequences. For more information about such, see those described under “Risk Factors” in this proxy statement entitled “Our securities will be suspended from trading on Nasdaq and delisted if we do not consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by January 4, 2025. Any trading suspension or delisting could have a material adverse effect on the trading of our securities and may adversely affect our ability to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination.”
If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Redemption Limitation is exceeded, either because Cartica does not take action to increase its net tangible assets or because its attempt to do so is not successful, then Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension and Cartica will not redeem any Public Shares. In such case, Public Shares which a public shareholder elects to redeem but which are not redeemed shall be returned to such public shareholder or such public shareholder’s account and such public shareholder will retain the right to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if Cartica has not completed the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by January 7, 2025.
Approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal requires a special resolution of the Company, being the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes cast by the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Ordinary Shares,” collectively with Class A Ordinary Shares, the “Ordinary Shares”), voting as a single class, who, being present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, vote at the Special Meeting. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the Ordinary Shares present themselves or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Adjournment Proposal will only be put forth for a vote if there are not sufficient tabulated votes to approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and/or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal at the Special Meeting.
The Board has fixed the close of business on November 27, 2024 (the “Record Date”) as the date for determining Cartica’s shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Special Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of Ordinary Shares on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Special Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.
In June 2023, the Sponsor converted on a one-for-one basis 4,750,000 Class B Ordinary Shares that were issued prior to our initial public offering into 4,750,000 Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Founder Conversion”), and following the Founder Conversion, the Sponsor owns 700,000 Class B Ordinary Shares and the former directors of Cartica own an aggregate of 300,000 Class B Ordinary Shares. The 4,750,000 Class A Ordinary Shares that were issued to the Sponsor in connection with the Founder Conversion and the 1,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares owned by the Sponsor and former directors of Cartica are collectively referred to herein as the “Founder Shares”. The Founder Shares following the Founder Conversion are subject to the same restrictions as the Class B Ordinary Shares before the Founder Conversion, including, among others, certain transfer restrictions, waiver of redemption rights and the obligation to vote in favor of an initial business combination as described in the prospectus for our initial public offering. The Founder Shares are entitled to registration rights.
You are not being asked to vote on the Nidar Business Combination at this time. If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, the remaining holders of Public Shares who do not elect to redeem their Public Shares will retain their right to redeem their Public Shares if and when the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination is submitted to shareholders for approval, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter. In addition, public shareholders who do not redeem their Public Shares in connection with the Third Charter Extension will be entitled to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination before the Third Charter Extension Date or upon the Company’s earlier liquidation, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter.
Cartica reserves the right at any time to postpone or cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to its shareholders the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. In the event the Special Meeting is cancelled and Cartica does not complete the Nidar Business Combination on or prior to January 7, 2025, Cartica will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with its Charter.
To exercise your redemption rights, you must tender your Public Shares to Cartica’s transfer agent at least two business days prior to the Special Meeting. You may tender your Public Shares by either delivering your share certificate to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s (“DTC”) Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian (“DWAC”) system. If you hold your Public Shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the Public Shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.
Record holders of Ordinary Shares at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to vote or have their votes cast at the Special Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 6,999,422 issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares and 1,000,000 issued and outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares. Cartica’s warrants do not have voting rights.
The accompanying proxy statement contains important information about the Special Meeting, the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting, Cartica urges you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.
This proxy statement is dated [ ], 2024 and is first being mailed to shareholders of Cartica on or about that date.
| By Order of the Board of Directors of |
| Cartica Acquisition Corp |
| |
| Suresh Guduru |
| Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
| [],2024 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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 Cartica’s current views with respect to, among other things, Cartica’s capital resources and results of operations. Likewise, Cartica’s financial statements and all of Cartica’s 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 Cartica’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. Cartica 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:
| · | Cartica’s ability to complete an initial business combination, including the Nidar Business Combination; |
| · | Cartica’s ability to maintain a listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market following the Redemption and prior to completing an initial business combination; |
| · | the anticipated benefits of an initial business combination; |
| · | the volatility of the market price and liquidity of the Class A Ordinary Shares and other securities of Cartica; and |
| · | the use of funds not held in the Trust Account or available to Cartica from interest income on the Trust Account balance. |
While forward-looking statements reflect Cartica’s good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. Cartica disclaims 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 Cartica’s future results, performance or transactions to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, please see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Cartica’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 1, 2024 and in other reports Cartica files with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to Cartica (or to third parties making the forward-looking statements).
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING
The questions and answers below highlight only selected information from this proxy statement and only briefly address some commonly asked questions about the Special Meeting and the proposals to be presented at the Special Meeting. The following questions and answers do not include all the information that is important to Cartica shareholders. Shareholders are urged to read carefully this entire proxy statement, including Annex A and Annex B and the other documents referred to herein, to fully understand the proposals to be presented at the Special Meeting and the voting procedures for the Special Meeting, which will be held on December 26, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time or at such other time and on such other date to which the Meeting may be adjourned. You will be permitted to attend the Special Meeting in person at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. If you would like to attend in person you are requested to confirm your attendance at least two business days in advance of the Special Meeting by contacting Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, c/o C. Brian Coad, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105.
| Q: | Why am I receiving this proxy statement? |
| | |
A: | Cartica is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on February 3, 2021 for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. On January 7, 2022, Cartica consummated its initial public offering of 23,000,000 units, each consisting of one Class A Ordinary Share and one redeemable warrant to purchase one-half (1/2) of one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, generating an aggregate amount of gross proceeds of $230,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the initial public offering, Cartica consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 15,900,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds of $15,900,000. The initial public offering and the private placement generated an aggregate amount of gross proceeds of $245,900,000 to Cartica. |
Like most blank check companies, Cartica’s Charter provides for the return of the initial public offering proceeds held in trust to the holders of Public Shares if there is no qualifying business combination(s) consummated originally on or before July 7, 2023.
On June 30, 2023, Cartica held an extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual meeting at which its shareholders approved, among other things, the First Extension.
On April 3, 2024, Cartica held another extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual general meeting of shareholders at which its shareholders approved, among other things, the Second Extension.
On June 24, 2024, Cartica entered into the Business Combination Agreement, by and among Cartica, Nidar, and the Merger Sub. Nidar is a data center provider for artificial intelligence and high-performance compute in India Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Cartica, with Cartica continuing as the Surviving Entity, followed by the merger of the Surviving Entity with and into Nidar, with Nidar continuing as the surviving company. As a result of the Nidar Business Combination, Nidar will continue as the parent/public company. For more information about the Nidar Business Combination, see Cartica’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 24, 2024, as well as the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nidar with the SEC on November 13, 2024 in connection with the Nidar Business Combination.
While Cartica is using its best efforts to complete the Nidar Business Combination as soon as practicable, Cartica’s Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before January 7, 2025 to consummate the Nidar Business Combination. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of Cartica’s shareholders to extend the date by which Cartica has to consummate an initial business combination to the Third Charter Extension Date to provide Cartica more time to complete the Nidar Business Combination, as well as to provide additional flexibility to wind up our operations prior to the Third Charter Extension Date.
Q: | When and where is the Special Meeting? |
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A: | The Special Meeting will be held at the office of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105. You will be permitted to attend the Special Meeting in person at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. If you would like to attend in person you are requested to confirm your attendance at least two business days in advance of the Special Meeting by contacting Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, c/o C. Brian Coad, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105. The Special Meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on December 26, 2024. |
Q: | What are the specific proposals on which I am being asked to vote at the Special Meeting? |
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A: | Cartica shareholders are being asked to consider and vote on the following proposals: |
| 1. | Proposal No. 1 - Third Extension Amendment Proposal - To approve, by way of special resolution, the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and that the Charter be amended as set out in Annex A attached to this proxy statement; |
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| 2. | Proposal No. 2 - Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal - To eliminate, by way of special resolution, from the Charter the limitation that Cartica may not redeem Public Shares (as defined below) to the extent that such redemption would result in Cartica having net tangible assets of less than US$5,000,001 in order to allow Cartica to redeem Public Shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation and that the Charter be amended as set out in Annex B to the proxy statement; and |
| | |
| 3. | Proposal No. 3 - Adjournment Proposal - To adjourn, by way of ordinary resolution, the Special 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 Special Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve the other proposals. |
Q: | Why is Cartica proposing the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal? |
A: | Cartica’s Charter provides for the return of the initial public offering proceeds held in trust to the holders of Public Shares if there is no qualifying business combination consummated on or before January 7, 2025. The purpose of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow Cartica additional time to complete the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination. |
Without the Third Charter Extension, Cartica believes that it will not be able to complete the Nidar Business Combination on or before January 7, 2025. If that were to occur, Cartica would be forced to liquidate.
Cartica’s Charter provides that that Cartica may not redeem Public Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in Cartica having net tangible assets of less than $5,000,001. Without the Redemption Limitation Amendment, Cartica may not be able to implement the Third Charter Extension or complete the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination if following redemptions in connection with the Third Charter Extension or upon the consummation of the Nidar Business Combination Cartica has net tangible assets of less than $5,000,001 even if shareholders approve the Third Charter Extension and the Nidar Business Combination or if all contractual conditions to closing the Nidar Business Combination are met.
In addition, Cartica’s securities are listed on Nasdaq and have been since the consummation of its initial public offering. Cartica believes that Nasdaq has initial listing standards that meet the criteria identified in the Exchange Rule and that it can therefore rely on this rule to avoid being treated as a penny stock. Therefore, the inclusion of the Redemption Limitation in the Charter is unnecessary.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and/or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal would not be approved based on tabulated votes, Cartica may put the Adjournment Proposal to a vote in order to seek additional time to obtain sufficient votes in support of the Third Charter Extension and/or the Redemption Limitation Amendment. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by Cartica’s shareholders, the Board may not be able to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and/or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal.
Cartica reserves the right at any time to postpone or cancel the Special Meeting and not to submit to its shareholders any of the proposals. In the event the Special Meeting is cancelled, and Cartica does not complete the Nidar Business Combination on or prior to January 7, 2025, Cartica will dissolve and liquidate in accordance with its Charter.
| Q: | What vote is required to approve the proposals presented at the Special Meeting? |
| A: | The approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal require a special resolution of the Company, being the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes which are cast by of those holders of the Ordinary Shares who, being present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, vote at the Special Meeting. |
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the Ordinary Shares present themselves or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
A Cartica shareholder who attends the Special Meeting, either in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by sending its duly authorized representative or proxy), will be counted (and the number of Ordinary Shares held by such Cartica shareholder will be counted) for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Special Meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy or by duly authorized representative, at the Special Meeting of the holders of a majority of all issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote at the Special Meeting shall constitute a quorum for the Special Meeting.
At the Special Meeting, only those votes which are actually cast, either “FOR” or “AGAINST”, the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal, will be counted for the purposes of determining whether the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal (as the case may be) is approved, and any Ordinary Shares which are not voted at the Special Meeting will have no effect on the outcome of such votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal.
| Q: | Why should I vote “FOR” the Third Extension Amendment Proposal? |
| A: | Cartica believes shareholders will benefit from Cartica consummating the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination and is proposing the Third Extension Amendment Proposal to extend the date by which Cartica has to complete a business combination until the Third Charter Extension Date. Without the Third Charter Extension, Cartica believes that it will not be able to complete the Nidar Business Combination on or before January 7, 2025. If that were to occur, Cartica would be forced to liquidate. |
Q: | Why should I vote “FOR” the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal? |
| A: | Cartica believes shareholders will benefit from Cartica implementing the Third Charter Extension and is proposing the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal to delete the Redemption Limitation. If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved and there are significant requests for redemption (including as a result of the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal or in connection with the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination) such that Cartica’s net tangible assets would be less than $5,000,001 following the redemptions, it would be unable to implement the Third Charter Extension or complete the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination. |
| Q: | Why should I vote “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal? |
| A: | If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by Cartica’s shareholders, the Board may not be able to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal. |
If presented, the Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Adjournment Proposal.
Q: | Are the proposals conditioned on one another? |
| A: | Approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is a condition to the approval of the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. In addition, the Company will not proceed with the Charter Extension unless (i) the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved or (ii) if Cartica will have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the redemptions. |
| Q: | How will the Sponsor and Cartica’s directors and officers vote? |
| A: | The Sponsor and Cartica’s directors and officers have advised Cartica that they intend to vote any Ordinary Shares over which they have voting control in favor of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal. |
The Sponsor may enter into arrangements with a limited number of shareholders pursuant to which such shareholders would agree not to redeem the Public Shares beneficially owned by them in connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. The Sponsor may provide such shareholders either Founder Shares or membership interests in the Sponsor pursuant to such arrangements.
Holders of Founder Shares, including the Sponsor and Cartica’s directors and officers and their respective affiliates, are not entitled to redeem any Founder Shares held by them in connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. On the Record Date, the Sponsor beneficially owned and was entitled to vote an aggregate of 700,000 Class B ordinary shares and 4,750,000 Class A ordinary shares, representing approximately 68.1% of Cartica’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.
| Q: | What if I do not want to vote “FOR” the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal? |
| A: | If you do not want the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal to be approved, you may “ABSTAIN”, not vote, or vote “AGAINST” such proposal. |
If you attend the Special Meeting in person or by proxy, you may vote “AGAINST” the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal, and your Ordinary Shares will be counted for the purposes of determining whether the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal (as the case may be) are approved.
However, if you fail to attend the Special Meeting in person or by proxy, or if you do attend the Special Meeting in person or by proxy but you “ABSTAIN” or otherwise fail to vote at the Special Meeting, your Ordinary Shares will not be counted for the purposes of determining whether the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal (as the case may be) are approved, and your Ordinary Shares which are not voted at the Special Meeting will have no effect on the outcome of such votes.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation 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, Cartica does not currently anticipate seeking any further extension to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination beyond the Third Charter Extension Date. |
| Q: | What happens if the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved? |
| A: | If there are insufficient votes to approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, Cartica may put the Adjournment Proposal to a vote in order to seek additional time to obtain sufficient votes in support of the Third Charter Extension. |
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved at the Special Meeting or at any postponement or adjournment thereof, the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination is not completed on or before January 7, 2025, Cartica 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 Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to Cartica to pay its taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of the then-outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the holders of Public Shares (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of Cartica’s remaining shareholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to Cartica’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
Holders of Founder Shares, including the Sponsor and the officers and directors of Cartica, waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the Founder Shares held by them. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to Cartica’s warrants, which will expire worthless in the event Cartica dissolves and liquidates the Trust Account.
Q: | If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, what happens next? |
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| A: | If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, Cartica will continue to attempt to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination until the Third Charter Extension Date. Cartica will file the special resolution approving the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the amendment to the Charter as set out in Annex A hereto with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands and will continue its efforts to obtain approval of the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination at an extraordinary general meeting and consummate the closing of the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination on or before the Third Charter Extension Date. |
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Sponsor and/or its designees will make the Contribution to Cartica, $0.03 per Public Share each month (on the 7th day of each subsequent month) during the Extension Period, that is needed to complete an initial business combination which amount will be deposited into the Trust Account. Accordingly, the amount deposited per share will depend on the number of Public Shares that remain outstanding after redemptions in connection with the Third Charter Extension and the length of the Extension Period that will be needed to complete the initial business combination. For example, if Cartica takes until July 7, 2025 to complete its initial business combination, the Sponsor and/or its designees would make aggregate Contributions of approximately $0.18 for each Public Share that is not redeemed.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, Cartica has agreed to waive its right to withdraw up to $100,000 of interest accrued on the Trust Account to pay dissolution expenses, should Cartica ultimately liquidate without consummuating an initial business combination. As a result, Cartica will not withdraw up to $100,000 of interest, as permitted by its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, for such dissolution expenses upon liquidation, and up to $100,000 of any interest accrued will be held in the Trust Account and will, subject to applicable law, be released to public shareholders upon the redemption of 100% of the Public Shares if the Company is unable to complete its initial business combination by July 7, 2025 or such earlier date as determined by Cartica’s board of directors.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the removal from the Trust Account of the amount equal to the pro rata portion of funds available in the Trust Account with respect to such redeemed Public Shares will reduce the amount remaining in the Trust Account and increase the percentage interest of Cartica held by Cartica’s officers, directors, the Sponsor and its affiliates. In addition, Cartica’s Charter provides that Cartica cannot redeem or repurchase Public Shares to the extent such redemption would result in Cartica’s failure to have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets. As a result, Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension unless the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved or if Cartica will have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the redemptions.
Q: | What happens if the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved? |
| A: | If there are insufficient votes to approve the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, Cartica may put the Adjournment Proposal to a vote in order to seek additional time to obtain sufficient votes in support of the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved at the Special Meeting or at any adjournment thereof and following Redemptions in connection with the Third Charter Extension Cartica doesn’t meet the Redemption Limitation, then the Third Charter Extension will not be implemented and if the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination is not completed on or before January 7, 2025, then as contemplated by and in accordance with the Charter, Cartica 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 Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to Cartica to pay its taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of the then-outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the holders of Public Shares (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of Cartica’s remaining shareholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to Cartica’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Additionally, if the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Redemption Limitation is exceeded, either because Cartica does not take action to increase its net tangible assets or because its attempt to do so is not successful, then Cartica will not proceed with the the Third Charter Extension and Cartica will not redeem any Public Shares. In such case, Public Shares which a public shareholder elects to redeem but which are not redeemed shall be returned to such public shareholder or such public shareholder’s account and such public shareholder will retain the right to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if Cartica has not completed the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by January 7, 2025. Holders of Founder Shares, including the Sponsor and the officers and directors of Cartica, waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the Founder Shares held by them. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to Cartica’s warrants, which will expire worthless in the event Cartica dissolves and liquidates the Trust Account. |
| Q: | If I vote for or against the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, do I need to request that my shares be redeemed? |
| A: | Yes. Whether you vote for or against the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation 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: | 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 Shares 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 Shares of Cartica on the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal (for or against) or any other proposal described by this proxy statement. As a result, the Third Charter Extension or the Redemption Limitation Amendment can be approved by shareholders who will redeem their Public Shares and no longer remain shareholders, leaving shareholders who choose not to redeem their Public Shares holding shares in a company with a potentially less liquid trading market, fewer shareholders, potentially less cash and the potential inability to meet the listing standards of Nasdaq. |
| Q: | May I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy card? |
| A: | Yes. You may change your vote by: |
| | · | entering a new vote by Internet or telephone; |
| | · | sending a later-dated, c/o Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY10105, Attn: Chief Executive Officer, so that it is received by Cartica’s Chief Executive Officer on or before the Special Meeting; or |
| | · | attending and voting during the Special Meeting. |
| | · | You also may revoke your proxy by sending a notice of revocation to Cartica’s Chief Executive Officer, which must be received by Cartica’s Chief Executive Officer on or before the Special Meeting. Attending the Special Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request. |
| A: | Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the Special Meeting, who will separately count “FOR” and “AGAINST” votes, “ABSTAIN” and broker non-votes. The approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal require a special resolution of the Company, being the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes which are cast by of those holders of Ordinary Shares, who, being present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, vote at the Special Meeting. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the Ordinary Shares present themselves or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. |
| | Shareholders who attend the Special Meeting, either in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by sending their duly authorized representative or proxy), will be counted (and the number of Ordinary Shares held by such shareholders will be counted) for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Special Meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy or by duly authorized representative, at the Special Meeting of the holders of a majority of all issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote at the Special Meeting shall constitute a quorum for the Special Meeting. |
| | At the Special Meeting, only those votes which are actually cast, either “FOR” or “AGAINST”, the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal, will be counted for the purposes of determining whether the Third Extension Amendment Proposal , the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal (as the case may be) is approved, and any Ordinary Shares which are not voted at the Special Meeting will have no effect on the outcome of such votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal. |
| Q: | If my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker, bank or nominee automatically vote my shares for me? |
| A: | No. Under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares with respect to non-discretionary matters unless you provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and procedures provided to you by your broker, bank, or nominee. Cartica believes that all of the proposals presented to the shareholders at this Special Meeting will be considered non-discretionary and, therefore, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares without your instruction on any of the proposals presented at the Special Meeting. If you do not provide instructions with your proxy card, your broker, bank, or other nominee may deliver a proxy card expressly indicating that it is NOT voting your shares. This indication that a broker, bank, or nominee is not voting your shares is referred to as a “broker non-vote.” Broker non-votes will be counted for the purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. Your bank, broker or other nominee can vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares in accordance with directions you provide. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of any vote on the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal. |
| Q: | What constitutes a quorum at the Special Meeting? |
| A: | The holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote as of the Record Date at the Special Meeting must be present, in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a holder which is a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative or proxy), at the Special Meeting to constitute a quorum and in order to conduct business at the Special Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for the purpose of determining a quorum. Holders of Founder Shares, including the Sponsor, who beneficially owns approximately 68.1% of Cartica’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, will count towards this quorum. As a result, no Public Shares would be required to be present at the Special Meeting to achieve a quorum. |
| A: | If you were a holder of record of Ordinary Shares on November 27, 2024, the Record Date for the Special Meeting, you may vote with respect to the proposal yourself at the Special Meeting, 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 Special Meeting in the manner you indicate. You are encouraged to sign and return the proxy card even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting so that your shares will be voted if you are unable to attend the Special 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 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on December 24, 2024. |
| | Voting by Internet. Shareholders who have received a copy of the proxy card by mail may be able to vote over the Internet by visiting the web address on the proxy card and entering the voter control number included on your proxy card. |
| | Voting by Telephone. If available, you may dial the telephone number as provided on the proxy card and follow the instructions. |
| Q: | Does the Board recommend voting “FOR” the approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal? |
| A: | Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, the Board has determined that the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are in the best interests of Cartica and its shareholders. The Board recommends that Cartica’s shareholders vote “FOR” the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. |
| | Additionally, the Board has determined that the Adjournment Proposal is in the best interests of Cartica and its shareholders and recommends that Cartica’s shareholders vote “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal. |
| Q: | What interests do Cartica’s directors and officers have in the approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal? |
| A: | Cartica’s directors and officers have interests in the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder. These interests include, among others, ownership, directly or indirectly through the Sponsor, of the Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants. See the section entitled “Special Meeting of Cartica Shareholders - Interests of the Sponsor and Cartica’s Directors and Officers” in this proxy statement. |
| Q: | Do I have appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights if I object to the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal? |
| A: | No. There are no appraisal rights available to Cartica’s shareholders in connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. |
| Q: | If I am a holder of Public Warrants (defined below), can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my Public Warrants? |
| A: | No. The holders of warrants issued in connection with Cartica’s initial public offering which are exercisable for one-half (1/2) of one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Class A Ordinary Share (the “Public Warrants”) have no redemption rights with respect to such Public Warrants. |
| Q: | What do I need to do now? |
| A: | You are urged to read carefully and consider the information contained in this proxy statement, including Annex A and Annex B, and to consider how the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal will affect you as a shareholder. 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: | In connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal and contingent upon the approval of the Third Charter Extension and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, Cartica’s shareholders may seek to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the Special Meeting, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to Cartica to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, subject to the limitations described in the final prospectus dated January 6, 2022, filed in connection with Cartica’s initial public offering. |
| | In order to exercise your redemption rights, you must, on or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 23, 2024 (two business days before the Special Meeting), tender your shares physically or electronically and submit a request in writing that Cartica redeem your Public Shares for cash to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, Cartica’s transfer agent, at the following address: |
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: SPAC Redemption Team
Email: Spacredemptions@continentalstock.com
Cartica shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights and opting to deliver physical certificates should allot sufficient time to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent and time to effect delivery. It is Cartica’s understanding that Cartica shareholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, Cartica does not have any control over this process and it may take longer than two weeks. Cartica shareholders who hold their shares in street name will have to coordinate with their bank, broker or other nominee to have the shares certificated or delivered electronically.
Cartica shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name” are required to either tender their certificates to the transfer agent prior to the date set forth in this proxy statement, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal at the Special Meeting, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the DTC’s DWAC system, at such shareholder’s option. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the Special Meeting ensures that a redeeming shareholder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are approved.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge a tendering broker a fee and it is in the broker’s discretion whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming shareholder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not shareholders seeking to exercise redemption rights are required to tender their shares, as the need to deliver shares is a requirement to exercising redemption rights, regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
Any demand for redemption, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and, thereafter, with our consent. Furthermore, if a holder of Public Shares delivers the certificate representing such holder’s shares in connection with the Redemption and subsequently decides prior to the deadline for exercising redemption requests not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the email address or mailing address listed herein.
| Q: | What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials for the Special Meeting? |
| A: | You may receive more than one set of voting materials for the Special 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 Special Meeting? |
| A: | Cartica will pay the cost of soliciting proxies for the Special Meeting. Cartica has engaged Advantage Proxy, Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. Cartica will also reimburse banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries representing beneficial owners of Class A Ordinary Shares for their expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to beneficial owners of Class A |
| | Ordinary Shares and in obtaining voting instructions from those owners. The directors, officers and employees of Cartica 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: |
Cartica Acquisition Corp
c/o Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY10105
Attention: Suresh Guduru
Tel: (202) 741-3677
Email: sguduru@carticaspac.com
| | You may also contact the proxy solicitor for Cartica at: |
Karen Smith
President & CEO
Advantage Proxy, Inc.
PO Box 10904
Yakima, WA 98909
Toll Free: (877) 870-8565
Collect: (206) 870-8565
(banks and brokers can call collect at (206) 870-8565)
Email: ksmith@advantageproxy.com
| | In order to receive timely delivery of the documents in advance of the Special Meeting, Cartica shareholders must make your request for information no later than December 19, 2024. You may also obtain additional information about Cartica from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” |
| | If you intend to seek redemption of your Public Shares, you will need to send a letter demanding redemption and deliver your Public Shares (either physically or electronically) to the transfer agent on or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 23, 2024 (two business days before the Special Meeting) in accordance with the procedures detailed under the question “How do I exercise my redemption rights?” If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your Public Shares, please contact the transfer agent: |
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: SPAC Redemption Team
Email: Spacredemptions@continentalstock.com
RISK FACTORS
You should consider carefully all of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 21, 2024, May 15, 2024, and November 14, 2024 and in the other reports we file with the SEC before making a decision to invest in our securities. Furthermore, if any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected or we could face liquidation. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties described in 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.
Market conditions, economic uncertainty or downturns could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and our ability to consummate a business combination.
In recent years, the United States and other markets have experienced cyclical or episodic downturns, and worldwide economic conditions remain uncertain, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, instability in the U.S. and global banking systems, rising fuel prices, increasing interest rates or foreign exchange rates and high inflation and the possibility of a recession. A significant downturn in economic conditions may make it more difficult for us to consummate a business combination.
We cannot predict the timing, strength, or duration of any future economic slowdown or any subsequent recovery generally, or in any industry. If the conditions in the general economy and the markets in which we operate worsen from present levels, our business, financial condition, operating results and our ability to consummate a business combination could be adversely affected. For example, in January 2023, the outstanding national debt of the U.S. government reached its statutory limit. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury Department”) has announced that, since then, it has been using extraordinary measures to prevent the U.S. government’s default on its payment obligations, and to extend the time that the U.S. government has to raise its statutory debt limit or otherwise resolve its funding situation. The failure by Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling could have severe repercussions within the U.S. and to global credit and financial markets. If Congress does not raise the debt ceiling, the U.S. government could default on its payment obligations, or experience delays in making payments when due. A payment default or delay by the U.S. government, or continued uncertainty surrounding the U.S. debt ceiling, could result in a variety of adverse effects for financial markets, market participants and U.S. and global economic conditions. In addition, U.S. debt ceiling and budget deficit concerns have increased the possibility a downgrade in the credit rating of the U.S. government and could result in economic slowdowns or a recession in the U.S. Although U.S. lawmakers have passed legislation to raise the federal debt ceiling on multiple occasions, ratings agencies have lowered or threatened to lower the long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States as a result of disputes over the debt ceiling. The impact of a potential downgrade to the U.S. government’s sovereign credit rating or its perceived creditworthiness could adversely affect economic conditions, as well as our business, financial condition, operating results and our ability to consummate a business combination.
Our Sponsor, directors and officers own a substantial number of shares of our Ordinary Shares and can approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal without the vote of other shareholders.
Our Sponsor currently owns approximately 68.1% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote at the Special Meeting and plans to vote all of Ordinary Shares it owns in favor of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. Assuming that our Sponsor votes all its Ordinary Shares at the Special Meeting, the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal can be approved at the Special Meeting even if none of our public shareholders approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal.
There are no assurances that the Third Charter Extension will enable us to complete a business combination.
Approving the Third Charter Extension involves a number of risks. Even if the Third Charter Extension is approved, the Company can provide no assurances that a business combination will be consummated prior to the Third Charter Extension Date. Our ability to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or an alternative business combination is dependent on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control.
We are required to offer shareholders the opportunity to redeem shares in connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and we will be required to offer shareholders redemption rights again in connection with any shareholder vote to approve the Nidar Business Combination. Even if the Third Charter Extension or the Nidar Business Combination is approved by our shareholders, it is possible that redemptions will leave us with insufficient cash to consummate the Nidar Business Combination on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. The fact that we will have separate redemption periods in connection with the Third Charter Extension and the Nidar Business Combination vote could exacerbate these risks. Other than in connection with a redemption offer or liquidation, our shareholders may be unable to recover their investment except through sales of our shares on the open market. The price of our shares may be volatile, and there can be no assurance that shareholders will be able to dispose of our shares at favorable prices, or at all.
Our securities will be suspended from trading on Nasdaq and delisted if we do not consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by January 4, 2025. Any trading suspension or delisting could have a material adverse effect on the trading of our securities and may adversely affect our ability to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination.
Our initial public offering registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on January 4, 2022 and our securities are currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, we have until January 7, 2025 (the “36-Month Date”) to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination. However, Nasdaq’s rules currently require SPACs (such as us) to satisfy certain listing conditions, including the requirement that a SPAC must complete one or more business combinations within 36 months following the effectiveness of its initial public offering registration statement (the “36-Month Requirement”). If a SPAC does not meet the 36-Month Requirement, it will be subject to a suspension of trading and delisting from Nasdaq.
Under the previous Nasdaq rule, a SPAC not in compliance with the 36-Month Requirement could request a hearing before the hearing panel of Nasdaq (the “Hearing Panel”), which would have the effect of staying any potential delisting. However, in rules that became effective on October 7, 2024 (the “New Nasdaq Rules”), which includes removing the stay relating to the 36-Month Requirement Under the New Nasdaq Rules, a SPAC’s Nasdaq-listed securities will be immediately suspended from trading through the pendency of the Hearing Panel’s review. In addition, the scope of the Hearing Panel’s review is limited, as the Hearing Panel may only reverse a delisting determination by the staff of the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq (a “Staff Delisting Determination”) where it determines that the Staff Delisting Determination was made in error and that the SPAC never failed to satisfy the 36-Month Requirement. In such cases, the Hearing Panel is no longer able to consider facts indicating that the SPAC had regained compliance since the date of the Staff Delisting Determination, nor may the Hearing Panel grant an exception allowing the SPAC additional time to regain compliance. If a SPAC completes a business combination after receiving a Staff Delisting Determination and/or demonstrates compliance with all applicable initial listing requirements, the combined company will apply to list its securities on Nasdaq pursuant to the normal application review process. The New Nasdaq Rules contained a list of deficiencies that would immediately result in a Staff Delisting Determination, which includes noncompliance with the 36-Month Requirement.
Accordingly, unless we are able to consummate the Nidar Business Combination on or prior to 36-Month Date, our Extension Period will not be in compliance with the New Nasdaq Rules even if the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by our shareholders, and our securities will be suspended from trading on Nasdaq and delisted. If Nasdaq completes the delisting of our securities from its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, our securities will likely be quoted on an over-the-counter market (the “OTC Markets”).
If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| · | appearing to be less attractive to potential target companies than an exchange listed SPAC; |
| · | failure to meet certain closing conditions in the Business Combination Agreement; |
| · | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
| · | reduced liquidity for our securities; |
| · | a determination that our Class A Ordinary Shares is a “penny stock,” which will require brokers trading in our Class A Ordinary Shares to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities; |
| · | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
| · | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
In addition, if our securities are delisted from Nasdaq, trading in our securities, and offers and sales of our securities by us, may be subject to state securities regulation and additional compliance costs. We intend to maintain the ability for our securities to be quoted on the OTC Markets until the consummation of the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination or earlier liquidation.
Furthermore, if Nasdaq delists the Company’s securities from trading on its exchange and the Company is not able to list its securities on another national securities exchange, it may affect the Company’s ability to consummate a business combination. The fact that the Company’s securities are not listed on Nasdaq may present certain challenges to listing the a post business combination combined company’s securities on Nasdaq, such as the post business combination combined company’s ability to meet the listing requirements for Nasdaq, like the minimum per share bid price and the market value of unrestricted publicly held shares.
If our securities are delisted from Nasdaq, the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares could become subject to the regulations of the SEC relating to the market for “penny stocks.” Under Rule 419 of the Securities Act, the term “blank check company” means a company that (i) is a development stage company that has no specific business plan or purpose or has indicated that its business plan is to engage in a merger or acquisition with an unidentified company or companies, or other entity or person; and (ii) is issuing “penny stock,” as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act. Under Rule 3a51-1, the term “penny stock” means any equity security, unless it fits within certain enumerated exclusions including being listed on a national securities exchange, such as Nasdaq (Rule 3a51-1(a)(2)) (the “Exchange Rule”). The Company currently relies on the Exchange Rule to not be deemed a penny stock issuer (and consequently a “blank check company” under Rule 419). If the Company is deemed a “blank check company” as defined under Rule 419, it may become subject to additional restrictions on the trading of its securities. Among those restrictions is that brokers trading in the securities of a blank check company under Rule 419 adhere to more stringent rules, including being subject to the depository requirements of Rule 419.
The “penny stock” rules are burdensome and may reduce the trading activity for the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares. For example, brokers trading in the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares would be required to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document, which specifies information about penny stocks and the nature and significance of risks of the penny stock market. The broker dealer also must provide the customer with bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker dealer and any salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account statements indicating the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. In addition, the penny stock rules require that, prior to effecting a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, the broker dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. If the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares are a “penny stock,” these disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the trading activity in the secondary market for the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares. If the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares are subject to the “penny stock” rules, the holders of such Class A Ordinary Shares may find it more difficult to sell their shares. This may also result in us no longer being an attractive merger partner if our securities are no longer listed on an exchange, which may impact our ability to complete a business combination.
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Since the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares and warrants are listed on Nasdaq, such securities qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of covered securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if the Class A Ordinary Shares and warrants were no longer listed on Nasdaq, these securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and the Company would be subject to regulation in each state in which it offers its securities, including in connection with our initial business combination, which may it make more difficult and costly to complete a business combination. In addition, our securityholders could be prohibited from trading in our securities absent our registration in the state where such securityholder lives. To date we have not registered our securities in any State, and do not currently plan to do so. This may make it difficult or impossible for our securityholders to trade in our securities.
Changes to laws or regulations or in how such laws or regulations are interpreted or applied, or a failure to comply with any laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination.
We are subject to the laws and regulations, and interpretations and applications of such laws and regulations, of national, regional, state and local governments and, potentially, non-U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, we are required to comply with certain SEC and potentially other legal and regulatory requirements, and our consummation of an initial business combination may be contingent upon our ability to comply with certain laws, regulations, interpretations and applications and any post-business combination company may be subject to additional laws, regulations, interpretations and applications. Compliance with, and monitoring of, the foregoing may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time, and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial business combination. A failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
On January 24, 2024, the SEC adopted a series of new rules relating to SPACs (the “SPAC Rules”) requiring, among other items, (i) additional disclosures relating to SPAC business combination transactions; (ii) additional disclosures relating to dilution and to conflicts of interest involving sponsors and their affiliates in both SPAC initial public offerings and SPAC initial business combinations (“de-SPAC transactions”); (iii) the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; and (iv) both the SPAC and the target company’s status as co-registrants on de-SPAC transaction registration statements.
In addition, the SEC’s adopting release provided guidance describing circumstances in which a SPAC could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including its duration, asset composition, business purpose, and the activities of the SPAC and its management team in furtherance of such goals.
Compliance with the SPAC Rules and related guidance may increase the costs of and the time needed to negotiate and complete an initial business combination, may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial business combination.
We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with certain potential target companies if a proposed transaction with the target company may be subject to review or approval by regulatory authorities pursuant to certain U.S. or foreign laws or regulations.
Certain acquisitions or business combinations may be subject to review or approval by regulatory authorities pursuant to certain U.S. or foreign laws or regulations. In the event that such regulatory approval or clearance is not obtained, or the review process is extended beyond the period of time that would permit an initial business combination to be consummated with us, we may not be able to consummate a business combination with such target.
Among other things, the U.S. Federal Communications Act prohibits foreign individuals, governments, and corporations from owning more than a specified percentage of the capital stock of a broadcast, common carrier, or aeronautical radio station licensee. In addition, U.S. law currently restricts foreign ownership of U.S. airlines. In the United States, certain mergers that may affect competition may require certain filings and review by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, and investments or acquisitions that may affect national security are subject to review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”). CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by foreign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States.
Outside the United States, laws or regulations may affect our ability to consummate a business combination with potential target companies incorporated or having business operations in jurisdiction where national security considerations, involvement in regulated industries (including telecommunications), or in businesses relating to a country’s culture or heritage may be implicated.
U.S. and foreign regulators generally have the power to deny the ability of the parties to consummate a transaction or to condition approval of a transaction on specified terms and conditions, which may not be acceptable to us or a target. In such event, we may not be able to consummate a transaction with that potential target.
As a result of these various restrictions, 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 SPACs that do not have similar ownership issues. Moreover, the process of government review 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 shareholders may only receive $[ ] per share (as of [ ], 2024 and before taking into account the removal of the accrued interest in the Trust Account to pay our taxes), 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.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
As described above, the SEC’s adopting release with respect to the SPAC Rules provided guidance describing the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. Whether a SPAC is an investment company will be a question of facts and circumstances. We can give no assurance that a claim will not be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
| · | restrictions on the nature of our investments, if any; and |
| · | restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. |
In addition, we may be imposed of burdensome requirements, including:
| · | registration as an investment company; |
| · | adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and |
| · | reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations. |
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. We are mindful of the SEC’s investment company definition and guidance and intend to identify and complete an initial business combination with an operating business, and not with an investment company, or to acquire minority interests in other businesses exceeding the permitted threshold.
We do not believe that our business activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, in January 2024, we instructed the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in an interest-bearing demand deposit account at a bank until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation.
However, if we are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds. As a result, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we may abandon our efforts to complete a business combination and instead liquidate the Company. Our public shareholders may receive only approximately $[ ] per share on the liquidation of our Trust Account (as of [ ], 2024 and before taking into account the removal of the accrued interest in the Trust Account to pay our taxes) and our warrants will expire worthless.
THE SPECIAL MEETING OF CARTICA SHAREHOLDERS
This proxy statement is being provided to Cartica shareholders as part of a solicitation of proxies by the Board for use at the Special Meeting to be held on December 26, 2024, and at any postponement or adjournment thereof. This proxy statement contains important information regarding the Special 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 [ ], 2024 to all shareholders of record of Cartica as of November 27, 2024, the Record Date for the Special Meeting. Shareholders of record who owned Ordinary Shares at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at the Special Meeting.
Date, Time and Place of Special Meeting
The Special Meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on December 26, 2024 at the office of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105. You will be permitted to attend the Special Meeting in person at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. If you would like to attend in person you are requested to confirm your attendance at least two business days in advance of the Special Meeting by contacting Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, c/o C. Brian Coad, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105. The Special Meeting may be held at such other date, time and place to which such meeting may be adjourned, to consider and vote on the proposals.
The Proposals at the Special Meeting
At the Special Meeting, Cartica shareholders will consider and vote on the following proposals:
| 1. | Proposal No. 1 - Third Extension Amendment Proposal - To approve, by way of special resolution, the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and that the Charter be amended as set out in Annex A to this proxy statement; |
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| 2. | Proposal No. 2 - Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal - To eliminate, by way of special resolution, from the Charter the limitation that Cartica may not redeem Public Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in Cartica having net tangible assets, of less than the Redemption Limitation in order to allow Cartica to redeem Public Shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation; and. |
| 3. | Proposal No. 3 - Adjournment Proposal - To approve, by way of ordinary resolution, the adjournment of the Special 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 Special Meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve the other proposals. |
Voting Power; Record Date
As a shareholder of Cartica, you have a right to vote on certain matters affecting Cartica. The proposals that will be presented at the Special 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 Special Meeting if you owned Ordinary Shares at the close of business on November 27, 2024, which is the Record Date for the Special Meeting. You are entitled to one vote for each Ordinary Share 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 7,999,422 issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, of which 6,999,422 Class A Ordinary Shares are held by Cartica public shareholders as well as our Sponsor, and 1,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares are held by the Sponsor and former directors of the Board.
Recommendation of the Board
The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “For” each of these proposals.
Broker Non-Votes
Holders of our Ordinary Shares that are held in street name must instruct their bank or brokerage firm that holds their shares how to vote their shares. We believe that each of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal is a “non-routine” matter, and therefore, banks or brokerages cannot use discretionary authority to vote shares on such proposals if they have not received instructions from their clients. Please submit your vote instruction form so your vote is counted.
Quorum and Required Vote for the Proposals for the Special Meeting
The approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal requires a special resolution, being the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes which are cast by of those holders of Ordinary Shares who, being present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, vote at the Special Meeting.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the Ordinary Shares present themselves or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
Shareholders who attend the Special Meeting, either in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by sending their duly authorized representative or proxy), will be counted (and the number of Ordinary Shares held by such shareholders will be counted) for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Special Meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy or by duly authorized representative, at the Special Meeting of the holders of a majority of all issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote at the Special Meeting shall constitute a quorum for the Special Meeting. Holders of Founder Shares, including the Sponsor, who beneficially owns approximately 68.1% of Cartica’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, will count towards this quorum. As a result, no Class A Ordinary Shares would be required to be present at the Special Meeting to achieve a quorum .
At the Special Meeting, only those votes which are actually cast, either “FOR” or “AGAINST”, the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal, will be counted for the purposes of determining whether the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal (as the case may be) is approved, and any Ordinary Shares which are not voted at the Special Meeting will have no effect on the outcome of such votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, or the Adjournment Proposal.
It is possible that Cartica will not be able to complete the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by the Third Charter Extension Date if the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are approved. In such event, Cartica will be required to dissolve and liquidate the Trust Account by returning the then remaining funds in such account to the public shareholders.
Voting Your Shares - Shareholders of Record
If you are a Cartica shareholder of record, you may vote in person, by mail, Internet or telephone. Each Ordinary Share that you own in your name entitles you to one vote on each of the proposals for the Special Meeting. Your one or more proxy cards show the number of Ordinary Shares that you own.
Voting by Mail. You can vote your shares by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. By signing the proxy card and returning it in the enclosed prepaid and addressed envelope, you are authorizing the individuals named on the proxy card to vote your shares at the Special Meeting in the manner you indicate. You are encouraged to sign and return the proxy card even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting so that your shares will be voted if you are unable to attend the Special 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. 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 Special Meeting. If you sign and return the proxy card but do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your Ordinary Shares will be voted as recommended by the Board. The Board recommends voting “FOR” the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, “FOR” the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal. Votes submitted by mail must be received by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on December 24, 2024.
Voting by Internet. Shareholders who have received a copy of the proxy card by mail may be able to vote over the Internet by visiting the web address on the proxy card and entering the voter control number included on your proxy card.
Voting by Telephone. If available, you may dial the telephone number as provided on the proxy card and follow the instructions.
Voting Your Shares - Beneficial Owners
If your shares are registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, you are the “beneficial owner” of those shares and those shares are considered as held in “street name.” If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, you should have received a proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy materials from that organization rather than directly from Cartica. Simply complete and mail the proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted. You may be eligible to vote your shares electronically over the Internet or by telephone. A large number of banks and brokerage firms offer Internet and telephone voting. If your bank or brokerage firm does not offer Internet or telephone voting information, please complete and return your proxy card in the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided. To vote yourself at the Special Meeting, you must first obtain a valid legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent and then register in advance to attend the Special Meeting. Follow the instructions from your broker or bank included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker or bank to request a legal proxy form.
After obtaining a valid legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent, to then register to attend the Special Meeting, you must submit proof of your legal proxy reflecting the number of your shares along with your name and email address to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Requests for registration should be directed to proxy@continentalstock.com. Written requests can be mailed to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: SPAC Redemption Team
Email: Spacredemptions@continentalstock.com
Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 23, 2024.
You will receive a confirmation of your registration by email after Cartica receives your registration materials. You will be permitted to attend the Special Meeting in person at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. If you would like to attend in person you are requested to confirm your attendance at least two business days in advance of the Special Meeting by contacting Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, c/o C. Brian Coad, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105. You will also need a voter control number included on your proxy card in order to be able to vote your shares or submit questions during the meeting. Follow the instructions provided to vote. Cartica encourages you to access the meeting prior to the start time leaving ample time for the check in.
Attending the Special Meeting
The Special Meeting will be held at the office of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105. You will be permitted to attend the Special Meeting in person at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. If you would like to attend in person you are requested to confirm your attendance at least two business days in advance of the Special Meeting by contacting Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, c/o C. Brian Coad, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105.
In order to vote or submit a question during the Special Meeting, you will also need the voter control number included on your proxy card. If you do not have the control number, you will be able to listen to the meeting only by registering as a guest and you will not be able to vote or submit your questions during the meeting.
Revoking Your Proxy
If you are a shareholder and you give a proxy, you may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by doing any one of the following:
| · | you may enter a new vote by Internet or telephone; |
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| · | you may send a later-dated, signed proxy card to Cartica Acquisition Corp, c/o Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, 1345 Avenue of the America, New York, NY 10105, Attn: Chief Executive Officer, so that it is received by Cartica’s Chief Executive Officer on or before the Special Meeting; or |
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| · | you may attend the Special Meeting, revoke your proxy, and vote as indicated above. |
No Additional Matters
The Special Meeting has been called only to consider and vote on the approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal. Under the Charter, other than procedural matters incident to the conduct of the Special Meeting, no other matters may be considered at the Special Meeting if they are not included in this proxy statement, which serves as the notice of the Special Meeting.
Who Can Answer Your Questions about Voting
If you have any questions about how to vote or direct a vote in respect of your Class A Ordinary Shares, you may call Advantage Proxy,Inc., Cartica’s proxy solicitor, at (877) 870-8565 or banks and brokers can call at (206) 870-8565.
Redemption Rights
In connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal and contingent upon the approval of the Third Charter Extension or the Redemption Limitation Amendment, each public shareholder may seek to redeem its Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account, less any taxes. If you exercise your redemption rights, you will be exchanging your Public Shares for cash and will no longer own the shares. Cartica’s Charter provides that Cartica cannot redeem or repurchase Public Shares to the extent such redemption would result in Cartica’s failure to have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets. As a result, Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension unless the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved or if Cartica will have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the redemptions.
In order to exercise your redemption rights, you must:
| · | on or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 23, 2024 (two business days before the Special Meeting), tender your shares physically or electronically and submit a request in writing that Cartica redeem your Public Shares for cash to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, Cartica’s transfer agent, at the following address: |
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: SPAC Redemption Team
Email: Spacredemptions@continentalstock.com
and
| · | deliver your Public Shares either physically or electronically through DTC’s DWAC system to the transfer agent at least two business days before the Special Meeting. Shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights and opting to deliver physical certificates should allot sufficient time to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent and time to effect delivery. Shareholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, it may take longer than two weeks. Shareholders who hold their shares in street name will have to coordinate with their bank, broker or other nominee to have the shares certificated or delivered electronically. If you do not submit a written request and deliver your Public Shares as described above, your shares will not be redeemed. |
Any demand for redemption, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and, thereafter, with our consent. Furthermore, if a holder of Public Shares delivers the certificate representing such holder’s shares in connection with the Redemption and subsequently decides prior to the deadline for exercising redemption requests not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the email address or mailing address listed above.
Shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name” are required to either tender their certificates to the transfer agent prior to the date set forth in this proxy statement, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposals at the Special Meeting, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using DTC’s DWAC system, at such shareholder’s option.
Prior to their exercising redemption rights, Cartica shareholders should verify the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares, as shareholders may receive higher proceeds from the sale of their Class A Ordinary Shares in the public market than from exercising their redemption rights if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price. There is no assurance that you will be able to sell your Public Shares 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 the Class A Ordinary Shares when you wish to sell your shares.
If you exercise your redemption rights, your Public Shares will cease to be outstanding and will only represent the right to receive a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account.
You will have no right to participate in, or have any interest in, the future growth of Cartica, if any. You will be entitled to receive cash for your Public Shares only if you properly and timely demand redemption.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved, and the Nidar Business Combination is not completed on or before January 7, 2025, Cartica will be required to dissolve and liquidate the Trust Account by returning the then remaining funds in such account to the public shareholders and all of Cartica’s warrants will expire worthless.
Appraisal Rights
There are no appraisal rights available to Cartica’s shareholders in connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal.
Proxy Solicitation Costs
Cartica is soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board. This proxy solicitation is being made by mail, but also may be made by telephone or on the Internet. Cartica has engaged Advantage Proxy, Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. Cartica and its directors, officers and employees may also solicit proxies on the Internet. Cartica 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.
Cartica 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. Cartica 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 Cartica shareholders. Directors, officers and employees of Cartica who solicit proxies will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting.
Interests of the Sponsor and Cartica’s Directors and Officers
When you consider the recommendation of the Board, Cartica shareholders should be aware that aside from their interests as shareholders, the Sponsor, certain members of the Board and officers of Cartica have interests that are different from, or in addition to, those of other shareholders generally. The Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in recommending to Cartica shareholders that they approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal. Cartica shareholders should take these interests into account in deciding whether to approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal:
| · | if the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved, and the Nidar Business Combination is not completed on or before January 7, 2025, the 1,000,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor and former directors of the Board and 4,750,000 Class A ordinary shares issued on conversion of a portion of the Founder Shares, which were acquired for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 and 15,900,000 Private Placement Warrants, for which the Sponsor paid $15,900,000, will all be worthless (as the holders have waived liquidation rights with respect to such shares). Assuming such Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants have a value equal to Class A Ordinary Shares and warrants, such securities would have had an aggregate market value of approximately $ [ ] based on the last sale price of approximately $[ ] and $[ ] of the Class A Ordinary Shares and warrants, respectively, on the Nasdaq Capital Market on [__], 2024; |
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| · | the fact that the Sponsor and Cartica’s directors and officers have agreed not to redeem any Ordinary Shares held by them in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an initial business combination; |
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| · | we pay the Sponsor a total of $16,666.67 per month in exchange for the Sponsor paying the annual salary of $200,000 to the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Company; |
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| · | the fact that the Sponsor has loaned Cartica an aggregate of $2,034,000 under promissory notes as of the date of this proxy statement, which may be further increased by one or more draws of up to $75,500 under the promissory notes. The amounts outstanding under the notes are due on the earlier of the consummation of Cartica’s initial business combination or Cartica’s liquidation; |
| · | the fact that the holders of the Founder Shares, including the Sponsor and Cartica’s directors and officers, have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any of the Founder Shares held by them and the Sponsor and Cartica’s officers and directors will not be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses, if Cartica fails to complete an initial business combination on or before January 7, 2025, and the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved. Accordingly, the Sponsor, Cartica’s officers and directors will lose their entire investment in Cartica if Cartica fails to complete an initial business combination on or before January 7, 2025, and the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved; |
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| · | the continued indemnification of Cartica’s existing directors and officers and the continuation of Cartica’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance after a business combination; |
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| · | the fact that if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event Cartica is unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period, the Sponsor has agreed to indemnify Cartica to the extent necessary to preserve the proceeds in the Trust Account, provided that such obligation shall only apply to the extent necessary any such claims for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to Cartica, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.30 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest that may be withdrawn to pay Cartica’s tax obligations, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under Cartica’s indemnity of the underwriters of Cartica’s initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
Additionally, if the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and Cartica consummates the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination, the officers and directors may have additional interests as described in the proxy statement/prospectus for such transaction.
PROPOSAL NO. 1 - THE THIRD EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
Cartica is proposing to amend its Charter to extend the date by which Cartica has to consummate a business combination to the Third Charter Extension Date so as to give Cartica additional time to complete the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination. The complete text of the proposed amendment to the Charter is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.
On June 30, 2023, Cartica held an extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual meeting at which its shareholders approved, among other things, the First Extension.
On April 3, 2024, Cartica held another extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual general meeting of shareholders at which its shareholders approved, among other things, the Second Extension.
On June 24, 2024, Cartica entered into the Business Combination Agreement, by and among Cartica, Nidar, and the Merger Sub. Nidar is a data center provider for artificial intelligence and high-performance compute in India. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Cartica, with Cartica continuing as the Surviving Entity, followed by the merger of the Surviving Entity with and into Nidar, with Nidar continuing as the surviving company. As a result of the Nidar Business Combination, Nidar will continue as the parent/public company. For more information about the Nidar Business Combination, see Cartica’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 24, 2024, as well as the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Nidar with the SEC on November 13, 2024 in connection with the Nidar Business Combination.
Without the Third Charter Extension, the Board believes that Cartica will not be able to complete the Nidar Business Combination on or before January 7, 2025 . If that were to occur, Cartica would be forced to liquidate.
As contemplated by the Charter, the holders of Cartica’s Public Shares may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares in exchange for their pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account if the Third Charter Extension or the Redemption Limitation Amendment is approved.
As of ____, 2024, the redemption price per share was approximately $[ ] (which is expected to be the same approximate amount two business days prior to the Special Meeting), based on the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account of approximately $[ ] as of ____, 2024 (including interest not previously released to Cartica to pay its taxes), divided by the total number of then outstanding Public Shares. The closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on November 27, 2024, the Record Date, was $11.65. Accordingly, if the market price of the Class A Ordinary Shares were to remain the same until the date of the Special Meeting, exercising redemption rights would result in a public shareholder receiving approximately $[ ] more per share than if the shares were sold in the open market. Cartica cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their Class A Ordinary Shares 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 its securities when such shareholders wish to sell their shares. Cartica believes that such redemption right enables its public shareholders to determine whether or not to sustain their investments for an additional period if Cartica does not complete the Nidar Business Combination on or before January 7, 2025.
You are not being asked to vote on the Nidar Business Combination at this time. If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, the remaining holders of Public Shares who do not elect to redeem their Public Shares will retain their right to redeem their Public Shares if and when the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination is submitted to shareholders for approval, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter. In addition, public shareholders who do not redeem their Public Shares in connection with the Third Charter Extension will be entitled to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination before the Third Charter Extension Date or upon the Company’s earlier liquidation, subject to any limitations set forth in the Charter.
Reasons for the Third Extension Amendment Proposal
Cartica’s Charter provides that Cartica has until January 7, 2025 to complete a business combination. Cartica and its officers and directors agreed that they would not seek to amend Cartica’s Charter to allow for a longer period of time to complete a business combination unless Cartica provided holders of its Public Shares with the right to seek redemption of their Public Shares in connection therewith. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of Cartica shareholders that the Third Charter Extension be obtained so that Cartica will have a limited additional amount of time to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination. Without the Third Charter Extension, Cartica believes that Cartica will not be able to complete the Nidar Business Combination on or before January 7, 2025. If that were to occur, Cartica would be forced to liquidate.
The Third Extension Amendment Proposal is essential to allowing Cartica additional time to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination. Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension unless the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved, or if Cartica will have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the redemptions. Cartica will also not proceed with the Third Charter Extension if, on or before January 7, 2025, Cartica completes the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved, and the Nidar Business Combination is not completed on or before January 7, 2025, then, as contemplated by and in accordance with its Charter, Cartica 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 Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to Cartica to pay its taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of the then-outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the holders of Public Shares (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of Cartica’s remaining shareholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to Cartica’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
Holders of Founder Shares, including the Sponsor and the officers and directors of Cartica, have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the Founder Shares held by them. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to Cartica’s warrants, which will expire worthless in the event Cartica dissolves and liquidates the Trust Account.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is Approved
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, Cartica will file the special resolution approving the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the amendment to the Charter, as set forth in Annex A hereto to extend the time it has to complete a business combination until the Third Charter Extension Date. Cartica will then continue to attempt to consummate the Nidar Business Combination until the Third Charter Extension Date, or until such earlier date as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. Cartica will remain a reporting company under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and its Class A Ordinary Shares, Public Warrants will remain publicly traded during this time.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Sponsor and/or its designees will make the Contributions to Cartica $0.03 per Public Share each month (on the 7th day of each subsequent month) during the Extension Period, that is needed to complete an initial business combination which amount will be deposited into the Trust Account. Accordingly, the amount deposited per share will depend on the number of Public Shares that remain outstanding after redemptions in connection with the Third Charter Extension and the length of the Extension Period that will be needed to complete the initial business combination. For example, if Cartica takes until July 7, 2025 to complete its initial business combination, the Sponsor and/or its designees would make aggregate Contributions of approximately $0.18 for each Public Share that is not redeemed.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by Cartica’s shareholders, Cartica has agreed to waive its right to withdraw up to $100,000 of interest accrued on the Trust Account to pay dissolution expenses, should Cartica ultimately liquidate without consummating an initial business combination. As a result, Cartica will not withdraw up to $100,000 of interest, as permitted by its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, for such dissolution expenses upon liquidation, and up to $100,000 of any interest accrued will be held in the Trust Account and will, subject to applicable law, be released to public shareholders upon the redemption of 100% of the Public Shares if the Company is unable to complete its initial business combination by July 7, 2025 or such earlier date as determined by Cartica’s board of directors.
In addition, Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension unless the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved, or if Cartica will have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Charter Extension Proposal, after taking into account the redemptions.
Redemption Rights
In connection with the approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, each public shareholder may seek to redeem its Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account, less any taxes owed on such funds but not yet paid. If you exercise your redemption rights, you will be exchanging your Public Shares for cash and will no longer own the shares. Cartica’s Charter provides that Cartica cannot redeem or repurchase Public Shares to the extent such redemption would result in Cartica’s failure to have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets. As a result, Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension unless the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved or if Cartica will have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal, after taking into account the redemptions.
In order to exercise your redemption rights, you must:
| · | on or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 23, 2024 (two business days before the Special Meeting), tender your shares physically or electronically and submit a request in writing that Cartica redeem your Public Shares for cash to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, Cartica’s transfer agent, at the following address: |
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: SPAC Redemption Team
Email: Spacredemptions@continentalstock.com
and
| · | deliver your Public Shares either physically or electronically through DTC’s DWAC system to the transfer agent at least two business days before the Special Meeting. |
Shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights and opting to deliver physical certificates should allot sufficient time to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent and time to effect delivery. Shareholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, it may take longer than two weeks. Shareholders who hold their shares in street name will have to coordinate with their bank, broker or other nominee to have the shares certificated or delivered electronically. If you do not submit a written request and deliver your Public Shares as described above, your shares will not be redeemed.
Shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name” are required to either tender their certificates to the transfer agent prior to the date set forth in this proxy statement, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal at the Special Meeting, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using DTC’s DWAC system, at such shareholder’s option.
Any demand for redemption, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and, thereafter, with our consent. Furthermore, if a holder of Public Shares delivers the certificate representing such holder’s shares in connection with the Redemption and subsequently decides prior to the deadline for exercising redemption requests not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the email address or mailing address listed above.
Prior to their exercising redemption rights, Cartica shareholders should verify the market price of the Public Shares, as shareholders may receive higher proceeds from the sale of their shares of Public Shares in the public market than from exercising their redemption rights if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price. There is no assurance that you will be able to sell your Public Shares 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 the Public Shares when you wish to sell your shares.
If you exercise your redemption rights, your Public Shares will cease to be outstanding and will only represent the right to receive a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account.
You will have no right to participate in, or have any interest in, the future growth of Cartica, if any. You will be entitled to receive cash for your Public Shares only if you properly and timely demand redemption.
If Cartica does not consummate an initial business combination on or before January 7, 2025, and the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved, Cartica will be required to dissolve and liquidate the Trust Account by returning the then remaining funds in such account to the public shareholders and all of Cartica’s warrants will expire worthless.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Shareholders Exercising Redemption Rights
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations for holders of Cartica’s shares that elect to have their shares redeemed for cash. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) (including administrative interpretations and practices expressed in private letter rulings which are binding on the IRS only with respect to the particular taxpayers who requested and received those rulings) and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax considerations described below. No advance ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding any matter discussed in this summary. This summary does not discuss the impact that U.S. state and local taxes and taxes imposed by non-U.S. jurisdictions could have on the matters discussed in this summary. This summary does not purport to discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular shareholder in light of its investment or tax circumstances or to shareholders subject to special tax rules, such as:
| · | certain U.S. expatriates; |
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| · | traders in securities that elect mark-to-market treatment; |
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| · | S corporations; |
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| · | U.S. shareholders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
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| · | financial institutions; |
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| · | mutual funds; |
| · | qualified plans, such as 401(k) plans, individual retirement accounts, etc.; |
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| · | insurance companies; |
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| · | broker-dealers; |
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| · | regulated investment companies (or RICs); |
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| · | real estate investment trusts (or REITs); |
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| · | persons holding shares as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction,” “synthetic security” or other integrated investment; |
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| · | persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code; |
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| · | tax-exempt organizations; |
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| · | persons that actually or constructively own 5 percent or more of Cartica’s shares; and |
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| · | Redeeming Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below, and except as otherwise discussed below). |
If any partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partner and the partnership. This summary does not address any tax consequences to any partnership that holds our securities (or to any direct or indirect partner of such partnership). If you are a partner of a partnership holding Cartica’s securities, you should consult your tax advisor. This summary assumes that shareholders hold Cartica’s securities as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which generally means as property held for investment and not as a dealer or for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the shareholder’s trade or business.
WE URGE HOLDERS OF CARTICA SHARES CONTEMPLATING EXERCISE OF THEIR REDEMPTION RIGHTS TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES THEREOF.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Shareholders
This section is addressed to Redeeming U.S. Holders (as defined below) of Cartica’s shares that elect to have their shares redeemed for cash as described in the section entitled “Proposal 1: The Third 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:
| · | a citizen or resident of the United States; |
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| · | a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof; |
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| · | an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
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| · | any trust if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons 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 U.S. person. |
Tax Treatment of the Redemption - In General
The balance of the discussion under this heading is subject in its entirety to the discussion below under the heading “- Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.” If Cartica is considered a “passive foreign investment company” for these purposes (which Cartica will be, unless a “start up” exception applies), then the tax consequences of the redemption will be as outlined in that discussion, below.
A Redeeming U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the redemption and such shareholder’s adjusted basis in the shares exchanged therefor if the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s ownership of shares is completely terminated or if the redemption meets certain other tests described below. Special constructive ownership rules apply in determining whether a Redeeming U.S. Holder’s ownership of shares is treated as completely terminated (and in general, such Redeeming U.S.
Holder may not be considered to have completely terminated its interest if it continues to hold our warrants). If gain or loss treatment applies, such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holding period of such shares is more than one year at the time of the exchange. It is possible that because of the redemption rights associated with our shares, the holding period of such shares may not be considered to begin until the date of such redemption (and thus it is possible that long-term capital gain or loss treatment may not apply to shares redeemed in the redemption). Shareholders who hold different blocks of shares (generally, shares purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices) should consult their tax advisors to determine how the above rules apply to them.
Cash received upon redemption that does not completely terminate the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s interest will still give rise to capital gain or loss, if the redemption is either (i) “substantially disproportionate” or (ii) “not essentially equivalent to a dividend.” In determining whether the redemption is substantially disproportionate or not essentially equivalent to a dividend with respect to a Redeeming U.S. Holder, that Redeeming U.S. Holder is deemed to own not just shares actually owned but also shares underlying rights to acquire our shares (including for these purposes our warrants) and, in some cases, shares owned by certain family members, certain estates and trusts of which the Redeeming U.S. Holder is a beneficiary, and certain affiliated entities.
Generally, the redemption will be “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the Redeeming U.S. Holder if (i) the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s percentage ownership of the outstanding voting shares (including all classes which carry voting rights) of Cartica is reduced immediately after the redemption to less than 80% of the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s percentage interest in such shares immediately before the redemption; (ii) the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s percentage ownership of the outstanding shares (both voting and nonvoting) immediately after the redemption is reduced to less than 80% of such percentage ownership immediately before the redemption; and (iii) the Redeeming U.S. Holder owns, immediately after the redemption, less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of Cartica entitled to vote. Whether the redemption will be considered “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to a Redeeming U.S. Holder will depend upon the particular circumstances of that U.S. holder. At a minimum, however, the redemption must result in a meaningful reduction in the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s actual or constructive percentage ownership of Cartica. The IRS has ruled that any reduction in a shareholder’s proportionate interest is a “meaningful reduction” if the shareholder’s relative interest in the corporation is minimal and the shareholder does not have meaningful control over the corporation.
If none of the redemption tests described above give rise to capital gain or loss, the consideration paid to the Redeeming U.S. Holder will be treated as dividend income for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. However, for the purposes of the dividends-received deduction and of “qualified dividend” treatment, due to the redemption right, a Redeeming U.S. Holder may be unable to include the time period prior to the redemption in the shareholder’s “holding period.” Any distribution in excess of our earnings and profits will reduce the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s basis in the shares (but not below zero), and any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the shares.
As these rules are complex, U.S. holders of shares considering exercising their redemption rights should consult their own tax advisors as to whether the redemption will be treated as a sale or as a distribution under the Code.
Certain Redeeming U.S. Holders who are individuals, estates or trusts pay a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income” or “undistributed net investment income” (as applicable), which may include all or a portion of their capital gain or dividend income from their redemption of shares. Redeeming U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of the net investment income tax.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
A foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) corporation will be a passive foreign investment company (or “PFIC”) for U.S. tax purposes if at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year, including its pro rata share of the gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income. Alternatively, a foreign corporation will be a PFIC if at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year of the foreign corporation, ordinarily determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year, including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets.
Because Cartica is a blank check company, with no current active business, we believe that it is likely that we have met the PFIC asset or income test beginning with our initial taxable year. However, pursuant to a start-up exception, a corporation will not be a PFIC for the first taxable year the corporation has gross income, if (1) no predecessor of the corporation was a PFIC; (2) the corporation satisfies the IRS that it will not be a PFIC for either of the first two taxable years following the start-up year; and (3) the corporation is not in fact a PFIC for either of those years. The applicability of the start-up exception to us will not be known until after the close of our current taxable year. If we do not satisfy the start-up exception, we will likely be considered a PFIC since our date of formation, and will continue to be treated as a PFIC until we no longer satisfy the PFIC tests (although, as stated below, in general the PFIC rules would continue to apply to any U.S. holder who held our securities at any time we were considered a PFIC).
If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a Redeeming U.S. Holder of our shares or warrants and, in the case of our shares, the Redeeming U.S. Holder did not make either a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the Redeeming U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) shares or a timely “mark to market” election, in each case as described below, such holder generally will be subject to special rules with respect to:
| · | any gain recognized by the Redeeming U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of its shares or warrants (which would include the redemption, if such redemption is treated as a sale under the rules discussed under the heading “- Tax Treatment of the Redemption - In General,” above); and |
| · | any “excess distribution” made to the Redeeming U.S. Holder (generally, any distributions to such Redeeming U.S. Holder during a taxable year of the Redeeming U.S. Holder that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by such Redeeming U.S. Holder in respect of the shares during the three preceding taxable years of such Redeeming U.S. Holder or, if shorter, such Redeeming U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares), which may include the redemption to the extent such redemption is treated as a distribution under the rules discussed under the heading “- Tax Treatment of the Redemption - In General,” above. Under these special rules, |
| · | the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares or warrants; |
| · | the amount allocated to the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s taxable year in which the Redeeming U.S. Holder recognized the gain or received the excess distribution, or to the period in the Redeeming U.S. Holder’s holding period before the first day of our first taxable year in which we are a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income; |
| · | the amount allocated to other taxable years (or portions thereof) of the Redeeming U.S. Holder and included in its holding period will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the Redeeming U.S. Holder; and |
| · | the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed in respect of the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of the Redeeming U.S. Holder. |
In general, if we are determined to be a PFIC, a Redeeming U.S. Holder may avoid the PFIC tax consequences described above in respect to our shares (but not our warrants) by making a timely QEF election (if eligible to do so) to include in income its pro rata share of our net capital gains (as long-term capital gain) and other earnings and profits (as ordinary income), on a current basis, in each case whether or not distributed, in the taxable year of the Redeeming U.S. Holder in which or with which our taxable year ends. In general, a QEF election must be made on or before the due date (including extensions) for filing such Redeeming U.S. Holder’s tax return for the taxable year for which the election relates. A Redeeming U.S. Holder may make a separate election to defer the payment of taxes on undistributed income inclusions under the QEF rules, but if deferred, any such taxes will be subject to an interest charge.
A Redeeming U.S. Holder may not make a QEF election with respect to its warrants to acquire our shares. As a result, if a Redeeming U.S. Holder sells or otherwise disposes of such warrants (other than upon exercise of such warrants), any gain recognized generally will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above, if we were a PFIC at any time during the period the Redeeming U.S. Holder held the warrants. If a Redeeming U.S. Holder that exercises such warrants properly makes a QEF election with respect to the newly acquired shares (or has previously made a QEF election with respect to our shares), the QEF election will apply to the newly acquired shares, but the adverse tax consequences relating to PFIC shares, adjusted to take into account the current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election, will continue to apply with respect to such newly acquired shares (which generally will be deemed to have a holding period for purposes of the PFIC rules that includes the period the Redeeming U.S. Holder held the warrants), unless the Redeeming U.S. Holder makes a purging election. The purging election creates a deemed sale of such shares at their fair market value. The gain recognized by the purging election will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, the Redeeming U.S. Holder will have a new basis and holding period in the shares acquired upon the exercise of the warrants for purposes of the PFIC rules.
The QEF election is made on a shareholder-by-shareholder basis and, once made, can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. A QEF election may not be made with respect to our warrants. A Redeeming U.S. Holder generally makes a QEF election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 (Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund), including the information provided in a PFIC annual information statement, to a timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the tax year to which the election relates. Retroactive QEF elections generally may be made only by filing a protective statement with such return and if certain other conditions are met or with the consent of the IRS. Redeeming U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a retroactive QEF election under their particular circumstances.
In order to comply with the requirements of a QEF election, a Redeeming U.S. Holder must receive a PFIC annual information statement from us. If we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, we will endeavor to provide to a Redeeming U.S. Holder such information as the IRS may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the Redeeming U.S. Holder to make and maintain a QEF election. However, there is no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of our status as a PFIC in the future or of the required information to be provided.
If a Redeeming U.S. Holder has made a QEF election with respect to our shares, and the special tax and interest charge rules do not apply to such shares (because of a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the Redeeming U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) such shares or a purge of the PFIC taint pursuant to a purging election, as described above), any gain recognized on the sale of our shares generally will be taxable as capital gain and no interest charge will be imposed. As discussed above, Redeeming U.S. Holders of a QEF are currently taxed on their pro rata shares of its earnings and profits, whether or not distributed. In such case, a subsequent distribution of such earnings and profits that were previously included in income generally should not be taxable as a dividend to such Redeeming U.S. Holders. The tax basis of a Redeeming U.S. Holder’s shares in a QEF will be increased by amounts that are included in income, and decreased by amounts distributed but not taxed as dividends, under the above rules. Similar basis adjustments apply to property if by reason of holding such property the Redeeming U.S. Holder is treated under the applicable attribution rules as owning shares in a QEF.
Although a determination as to our PFIC status will be made annually, a determination that we are a PFIC for any particular year will generally apply for subsequent years to a Redeeming U.S. Holder who held shares or warrants while we were a PFIC, whether or not we meet the test for PFIC status in those subsequent years. A Redeeming U.S. Holder who makes the QEF election discussed above for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the Redeeming U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) our shares and receives the requisite PFIC annual information statement, however, will not be subject to the PFIC tax and interest charge rules discussed above in respect to such shares. In addition, such Redeeming U.S. Holder will not be subject to the QEF inclusion regime with respect to such shares for any taxable year of us that ends within or with a taxable year of the Redeeming U.S. Holder and in which we are not a PFIC. On the other hand, if the QEF election is not effective for each of our taxable years in which we are a PFIC and the Redeeming U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) our shares, the PFIC rules discussed above will continue to apply to such shares unless the holder makes a purging election, as described above, and pays the tax and interest charge with respect to the gain inherent in such shares attributable to the pre-QEF election period.
Alternatively, if a Redeeming U.S. Holder, at the close of its taxable year, owns shares in a PFIC that are treated as marketable stock, the Redeeming U.S. Holder may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such shares for such taxable year. If the Redeeming U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election for the first taxable year of the Redeeming U.S. Holder in which the Redeeming U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) shares and for which we are determined to be a PFIC, such holder generally will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above in respect to its shares. Instead, in general, the Redeeming U.S. Holder will include as ordinary income each year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of its shares at the end of its taxable year over the adjusted basis in its shares. The Redeeming U.S. Holder also will be allowed to take an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of its shares over the fair market value of its shares at the end of its taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The Redeeming U.S. Holder’s basis in its shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts, and any further gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of the shares will be treated as ordinary income. Currently, a mark-to-market election may not be made with respect to our warrants.
The mark-to-market election is available only for stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Nasdaq Capital Market, or on a foreign exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents a legitimate and sound fair market value. Redeeming U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election in respect to our shares under their particular circumstances.
If we are a PFIC and, at any time, have a foreign subsidiary that is classified as a PFIC, Redeeming U.S. Holders generally would be deemed to own a portion of the shares of such lower-tier PFIC, and generally could incur liability for the deferred tax and interest charge described above if we receive a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our interest in, the lower-tier PFIC or the Redeeming U.S. Holders otherwise were deemed to have disposed of an interest in the lower-tier PFIC. We will endeavor to cause any lower-tier PFIC to provide to a Redeeming U.S. Holder the information that may be required to make or maintain a QEF election with respect to the lower-tier PFIC. However, there is no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of the status of any such lower-tier PFIC. In addition, we may not hold a controlling interest in any such lower-tier PFIC and thus there can be no assurance we will be able to cause the lower-tier PFIC to provide the required information. Redeeming U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax issues raised by lower-tier PFICs.
A Redeeming U.S. Holder that owns (or is deemed to own) shares in a PFIC during any taxable year of the Redeeming U.S. Holder, may have to file an IRS Form 8621 (whether or not a QEF or market-to-market election is made) and such other information as may be required by the U.S. Treasury Department.
The application of the PFIC rules is extremely complex. Shareholders who are considering participating in the redemption and/or selling, transferring or otherwise disposing of their shares and/or warrants should consult with their tax advisors concerning the application of the PFIC rules in their particular circumstances.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to Non-U.S. Shareholders
This section is addressed to Redeeming Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of Cartica’s shares that elect to have their shares redeemed for cash as described in the section entitled “Proposal 1: The Third Extension Amendment Proposal - Redemption Rights.” For purposes of this discussion, a “Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner (other than a partnership or entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that so redeems its shares and is not a Redeeming U.S. Holder.
Except as otherwise discussed in this section, a Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain recognized or dividends received as a result of the redemption unless the gain or dividends is effectively connected with such Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder).
Dividends (including constructive dividends) and gains that are effectively connected with a Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the same regular U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to a comparable Redeeming U.S. Holder and, in the case of a Redeeming Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate.
Non-U.S. holders of shares considering exercising their redemption rights should consult their own 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.
Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) and U.S. Treasury regulations and administrative guidance thereunder, a 30% United States federal withholding tax may apply to certain income paid to (i) a “foreign financial institution” (as specifically defined in FATCA), whether such foreign financial institution is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its United States “account” holders (as specifically defined in FATCA) and meets certain other specified requirements or (ii) a non-financial foreign entity, whether such non-financial foreign entity is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such entity provides a certification that the beneficial owner of the payment does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each such substantial United States owner and certain other specified requirements are met. In certain cases, the relevant foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity may qualify for an exemption from, or be deemed to be in compliance with, these rules. Redeeming Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding this legislation and whether it may be relevant to their disposition of their shares or warrants.
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 foreign 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 shareholder. We once again urge you to consult with your own 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 Third Extension Amendment Proposal and any redemption of your Public Shares.
Full Text of the Resolution to be Approved
“RESOLVED, by special resolution, that the date by which Cartica Acquisition Corp has to consummate a business combination be extended from January 7, 2025 to July 7, 2025 (or such earlier date as determined by the Board) and that the Charter be amended by the deletion of the existing Article 163 and the insertion of the language as set out in full at Annex A, as a new Article 163, to be effective immediately”.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the Third Extension Amendment Proposal requires a special resolution, being the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes which are cast by those holders of Ordinary Shares who, being present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, vote at the Special Meeting.
The Sponsor and all of our directors, executive officers and their affiliates have agreed to vote any Ordinary Shares owned and are entitled to vote an aggregate of 5,450,000 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 68.1% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, the Sponsor will be able to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal, even if no Public Shares are voted in favor of such proposal.
Recommendation of the Board
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT CARTICA SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR”
THE THIRD EXTENSION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.
PROPOSAL NO. 2 - THE REDEMPTION LIMITATION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
Cartica is proposing to amend its Charter to eliminate the requirement that Cartica have at least $5,000,001 in tangible net assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) under the Exchange Act) following redemptions in connection with this Special Meeting or the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination. The complete text of the proposed amendment to the Charter is attached to this proxy statement as Annex B.
Without the Redemption Limitation Amendment, Cartica may not be able to implement the Third Charter Extension if following redemptions in connection with the Third Charter Extension Cartica would not have at least $5,000,001 in tangible net assets. If that were to occur and Cartica does not consummate the Nidar Business Combination by January 7, 2025, Cartica would be forced to liquidate.
The purpose of the Redemption Limitation requirements was to ensure that Cartica would not be subject to the “penny stock” rules of the SEC as long as it met the Redemption Limitation requirement, and therefore not be deemed a “blank check company” as defined under Rule 419 of the Securities Act because it complied with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) (the “NTA Rule”). Cartica is proposing to amend its Charter to remove the Redemption Limitation requirements. The NTA Rule is one of several exclusions from the “penny stock” rules of the SEC and Cartica believes that it can rely on another exclusion, which relates to it being listed on the Nasdaq. Therefore, the Company intends to rely on the exclusion from the penny stock rules set forth in Rule 3a51-1(a)(2) as a result of its securities being listed on Nasdaq.
As disclosed in its initial public offering prospectus, Cartica is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Under Rule 419 of the Securities Act the term “blank check company” means a company that (i) is a development stage company that has no specific business plan or purpose or has indicated that its business plan is to engage in a merger or acquisition with an unidentified company or companies, or other entity or person; and (ii) is issuing “penny stock,” as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act. Rule 3a51-1 sets forth that the term “penny stock” shall mean any equity security, unless it fits within certain enumerated exclusions including the NTA Rule and the Exchange Act. Historically SPACs have relied upon the NTA Rule to avoid being deemed a penny stock issuer. The inclusion of the Redemption Limitation requirements in the Charter was to ensure that through the consummation of an initial business combination, Cartica would not be considered a penny stock issuer and therefore a blank check company if no other exemption from the rule was available.
The Exchange Act excludes from the definition of “penny stock” a security that is registered, or approved for registration upon notice of issuance, on a national securities exchange, or is listed, or approved for listing upon notice of issuance on, an automated quotation system sponsored by a registered national securities association, that has established initial listing standards that meet or exceed the criteria in the rule. Cartica believes that Nasdaq has initial listing standards that meet the criteria identified in the Exchange Act and that it can therefore rely on this rule to avoid being treated as a penny stock. Therefore, the inclusion of the Redemption Limitation in the Charter is unnecessary. While Cartica’s securities are listed on Nasdaq and have been since the consummation of its initial public offering, Cartica expects to be delisted if it does not consummate an initial business combination by January 4, 2025. If that occurs, and Cartica does not satisfy any of the other exclusions from the from the “penny stock” rules of the SEC, its securities would be considered “penny stock” and would be subject to additional restrictions and legislation. For more information, see “Risk Factors – Our securities will be suspended from trading on Nasdaq and delisted if we do not consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by January 4, 2025. Any trading suspension or delisting could have a material adverse effect on the trading of our securities and may adversely affect our ability to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination.”
Reasons for the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal
Shareholders are being asked to adopt the proposed Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal which, in the judgment of the Board, may facilitate the consummation of the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination. The Charter limits Cartica’ ability to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination, or to redeem Ordinary Shares in connection with an initial business combination, if it would cause Cartica to have less than $5,000,001 in net tangible assets. The purpose of such limitation was initially to ensure that the Ordinary Shares were not deemed to be a “penny stock” pursuant to Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act in the event that such Ordinary Shares failed to be listed on an approved national securities exchange. If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved and there are significant requests for redemption in connection with the Third Charter Extension such that following such redemptions, Cartica’s net tangible assets would be less than $5,000,001, the Redemption Limitation in the Charter would prevent Cartica from being able to implement the Third Charter Extension. If that were to occur, Cartica would be forced to liquidate on January 7, 2025.
Additionally, if the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved and there are significant requests for redemption in connection with consummation of the Nidar Business Combination, the Redemption Limitation in the Charter would prevent Cartica from being able to consummate the Nidar Business Combination even if all other conditions to closing are met.
If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved and the Redemption Limitation is exceeded, either because Cartica do not take action to increase its net tangible assets or because its attempt to do so is not successful, then Cartica will not proceed with the Third Charter Extension and will not redeem any Public Shares. In such case, Public Shares which a public shareholder elects to redeem but which are not redeemed shall be returned to such public shareholder or such public shareholder’s account and such public shareholder will retain the right to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if Cartica has not completed the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by January 7, 2025.
If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is Approved
If the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is approved (and the Third Extension Amendment Proposal is also approved), Cartica shall procure that all filings required to be made with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands in connection with the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are made and redeem Public Shares as necessary, irrespective of whether such redemptions exceed the Redemption Limitation.
If Cartica redeems the Public Shares in an amount in excess of the Redemption Limitation and its securities do not meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, Nasdaq may delist its securities from trading on its exchange. If Nasdaq delists any of Cartica’s securities from trading on its exchange and Cartica is not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, Cartica expects that such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, Cartica could face significant material adverse consequences, including: (i) a limited availability of market quotations for our securities, (ii) reduced liquidity for our securities, (iii) a determination that our public shares are “penny stocks” which will require brokers trading in our public shares to adhere to more stringent rules, including being subject to the depository requirements of Rule 419 of the Securities Act, and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities, (iv) a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future, (v) a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business in connection with an initial Business Combination, and (vi) failure to meet certain closing conditions in the Business Combination Agreement. For more information about such, see those described under “Risk Factors” in this proxy statement entitled “Our securities will be suspended from trading on Nasdaq and delisted if we do not consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination by January 4, 2025. Any trading suspension or delisting could have a material adverse effect on the trading of our securities and may adversely affect our ability to consummate the Nidar Business Combination or another initial business combination.” The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Our Public Shares and warrants qualify as covered securities under such statute. If Cartica’s securities were no longer listed on Nasdaq, such securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and Cartica would be subject to regulation in each state in which it offers its securities.
Redemption Rights
Pursuant to the Charter, holders of Public Shares may seek to redeem their shares for cash, regardless of whether they vote for or against, or whether they abstain from voting on, the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal. In connection with the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, any shareholder holding Public Shares may demand that Cartica redeem such shares for a full pro rata portion of the Trust Account (which, for illustrative purposes, was $[ ] per share as of [ ], 2024, the most recent practicable date prior to the date of this proxy statement), calculated as of two business days prior to the Special Meeting. If a holder properly seeks redemption as described in this section, Cartica 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 Special Meeting. See “The Third Extension Amendment Proposal — Redemption Rights” and “The Third Extension Amendment Proposal — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Shareholders Exercising Redemption Rightsfor more information.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal requires a special resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of at least a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast by the holders of the issued Ordinary Shares, who are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Special Meeting. Abstentions will be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum but, as a matter of Cayman Islands law, will not constitute votes cast at the Special Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the approval of the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal.
As of the date of this proxy statement, the Sponsor and all of our directors, executive officers and their affiliates have agreed to vote any Ordinary Shares owned and are entitled to vote an aggregate of 5,450,000 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 68.1% of the Cartica’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, the Sponsor will be able to approve the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, even if no Public Shares are voted in favor of such proposal.
Full Text of the Resolution to be Approved
“RESOLVED, by special resolution, that the limitation that Cartica may not redeem Public Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in Cartica having net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of less than US$5,000,001 in order to allow Cartica to redeem Public Shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation, be removed, and that the Charter be amended as set out in Annex B to the proxy statement".
Recommendation of the Board
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT CARTICA SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE REDEMPTION LIMITATION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.
PROPOSAL NO. 3 - THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow the Board to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to Cartica’s shareholders in the event, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and/or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal.
Consequences if the Adjournment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by Cartica’s shareholders, the Board may not be able to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date in the event, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and/or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal.
Full Text of the Resolution to be Approved
“RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that the adjournment of the general meeting to a later date or dates to be determined by the chairperson of the general meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies be confirmed, adopted, approved and ratified in all respects.”
Vote Required for Approval
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the Ordinary Shares present themselves or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Failure to vote by proxy or to vote oneself at the Special Meeting, abstentions from voting or broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of any vote on the Adjournment Proposal.
Recommendation of the Board
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT CARTICA SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR”
THE APPROVAL OF THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of the Record Date based on information obtained from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of ordinary shares, by:
| · | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares; |
| · | each of our executive officers and directors that beneficially owns our ordinary shares; and |
| · | all our executive officers and directors as a group. |
In the table below, percentage ownership is based on 7,999,422 shares of our ordinary shares, consisting of (i) 6,999,422 Class A ordinary shares and (ii) 1,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, issued and outstanding as of the Record Date. On all matters to be voted upon, except for the election of directors, holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares vote together as a single class, unless otherwise required by applicable law. Currently, all of the shares of Class B ordinary shares are convertible into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this Report.
| | Class A Ordinary Shares | | | Class B Ordinary Shares | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Approximate | |
| | Number of | | | | | | Number of | | | | | | Percentage | |
| | Shares | | | Approximate | | | Shares | | | Approximate | | | of Outstanding | |
| | Beneficially | | | Percentage | | | Beneficially | | | Percentage | | | Ordinary | |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) | | Owned | | | of Class | | | Owned | | | of Class | | | Shares | |
Cartica Acquisition Partners, LLC, our sponsor (2) | | | 4,750,000 | | | | 67.9 | % | | | 700,000 | | | | 70 | % | | | 68.1 | % |
Suresh Singamsetty, Chief Investment Officer and Director | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Kishore Kondragunta, Director | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Rana Gujral, Director | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Suresh Guduru, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman(3) | | | 4,750,000 | | | | | | | | 700,000 | | | | 70 | % | | | 68.1 | % |
John F. Levy, Director | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
C. Brian Coad, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
All executive officers and directors as a group (six individuals) | | | 4,750,000 | | | | 67.9 | % | | | 700,000 | | | | 70 | % | | | 68.1 | % |
5% Shareholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
— | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| (1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor New York, NY 10105. |
| (2) | Our sponsor, Cartica Acquisition Partners, LLC, is the record holder of 700,000 Class B ordinary shares and 4,750,000 Class A ordinary shares converted on a one-for-one basis from 4,750,000 Class B ordinary shares on June 29, 2023. The managing member of our sponsor is Suresh Guduru. Accordingly, Suresh Guduru may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of such shares held by our sponsor except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
| (3) | These shares represent the Class A ordinary shares and the Class B ordinary shares held by our sponsor. Our sponsor acquired the Class B ordinary shares pursuant to a securities subscription agreement dated February 9, 2021 by and between us and our sponsor. Mr. Guduru is our Chief Executive Officer and Director, and is the Managing Member of Namaste Universe Sponsor LLC, a majority owner of our sponsor. Mr. Guduru is also the Managing Member of our sponsor, and accordingly, may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of such shares held by our sponsor. Mr. Guduru disclaims any beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
FUTURE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal are approved, we anticipate that the 2025 annual general meeting will be held no later than December 31, 2025. For any proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for submission to the shareholders at our 2025 annual general meeting, it must have submitted in writing and comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act and our charter. Such proposals must have been received by us not later than the close of business on October 2, 2025 nor earlier than the close of business on September 2, 2025, or as otherwise required by our Company pursuant to the provisions of our bylaws.
If the Third Extension Amendment Proposal or the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal is not approved, there will be no annual general meeting in 2025.
HOUSEHOLDING INFORMATION
Unless Cartica has received contrary instructions, Cartica may send a single copy of this proxy statement to any household at which two or more shareholders reside if Cartica believes the shareholders 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 Cartica’s expenses. However, if shareholders prefer to receive multiple sets of Cartica’s disclosure documents at the same address this year or in future years, the shareholders should follow the instructions described below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another shareholder and together both of the shareholders would like to receive only a single set of Cartica’s disclosure documents, the shareholders should follow these instructions:
| · | if the shares are registered in the name of the shareholder, the shareholder should contact Cartica at the following address and e-mail address: |
Cartica Acquisition Corp
c/o Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY10105
Attention: Suresh Guduru
Tel: (202) 741-3677
Email: sguduru@carticaspac.com
| · | if a broker, bank or nominee holds the shares, the shareholder should contact the broker, bank or nominee directly. |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Cartica files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act. Cartica’s public filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may request a copy of Cartica’s filings with the SEC (excluding exhibits) at no cost by contacting Cartica at the address and/or telephone number below.
If you would like additional copies of this proxy statement or Cartica’s other filings with the SEC (excluding exhibits) or if you have questions about the proposals to be presented at the Special Meeting, you should contact Cartica at the following address and e-mail address:
Cartica Acquisition Corp
c/o Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY10105
Attention: Suresh Guduru
Tel: (202) 741-3677
Email: sguduru@carticaspac.com
You may also obtain additional copies of this proxy statement by requesting them in writing or by telephone from Cartica’s proxy solicitation agent at the following address, telephone number and e-mail address:
Karen Smith
President & CEO
Advantage Proxy, Inc.
PO Box 10904
Yakima, WA 98909
Toll Free: (877) 870-8565
Collect: (206) 870-8565
(banks and brokers can call collect at (206) 870-8565)
Email: ksmith@advantageproxy.com
You will not be charged for any of the documents you request. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you should contact your broker, bank or other nominee for additional information.
In order to receive timely delivery of the documents in advance of the Special Meeting, Cartica shareholders must make your request for information no later than December 19, 2024. If you request any documents from Cartica, such documents will be mailed to you by first class mail or another equally prompt means.
ANNEX A
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
CARTICA ACQUISITION CORP
[·], 2024
RESOLVED, as special resolutions, that:
(i) The date by which Cartica Acquisition Corp has to consummate a business combination be extended from January 7, 2025 to July 7, 2025 (or such earlier date as determined by the Board) and that the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of the Company be amended as set out in (ii) and (iii) below.
(ii) Article 163(a) of the Articles of the Company be deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:
“In the event that the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination within 42 months from the consummation of the IPO or such earlier date as determined by the board of Directors, or such later time as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles, the Company shall:
(a) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, dissolution and liquidation of the Company;
(b) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Fund, including interest earned on the Trust Fund and not previously released to the Company to pay income taxes, if any, (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay winding up and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public Members’ rights as Members (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and.
(c) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining Members and the Directors, wind up, dissolve and liquidate subject in the case of sub-articles (a) and (b), to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
(iii) Article 163(b) of the Articles of the Company be deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:
“In the event that any amendment is made to the Articles:
(a) that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of our Class A Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within the 42 month period following the closing of the IPO or such earlier date as determined by the board of Directors, or such later time as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles; or
(b) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of Class A Shares or pre-initial business combination activity,
each holder of Public Shares shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval of any such amendment at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Fund, including interest earned on the Trust Fund and not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, if any, divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue.
Annex B
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
CARTICA ACQUISITION CORP
[·], 2024
RESOLVED, as special resolutions, that:
(i) Article 157 of the Articles of the Company be deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:
Prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, the Company shall either:
| (a) | submit such Business Combination to its Members for approval; or |
(b) provide Members with the opportunity to have their Public Shares redeemed or repurchased by means of a tender offer for a per-Share repurchase price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Fund, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Fund and not previously released to the Company to pay income taxes, if any, divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue.
(ii) Article 160 of the Articles of the Company be deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:
At a general meeting called for the purposes of approving a Business Combination pursuant to these Articles, the Company shall be authorised to consummate a Business Combination by Ordinary Resolution.
(iii) Article 162 of the Articles of the Company be deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:
The Redemption Price shall be paid promptly following the consummation of the relevant Business Combination. If the proposed Business Combination is not approved or completed for any reason then such redemptions shall be cancelled and share certificates (if any) returned to the relevant Members as appropriate.
(iv) Article 163(b) of the Articles of the Company be deleted in its entirety and replaced, as set out in Annex A of this proxy statement.
PROXY CARD
FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
CARTICA ACQUISITION CORP
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Suresh Guduru and C. Brian Coad (each, a “Proxy”; collectively, the “Proxies”) as proxies, each with full power to act without the other and the power to appoint a substitute to vote the shares that the undersigned is entitled to vote (the “Shares”) at the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Cartica Acquisition Corp (“Cartica”) to be held on December 26, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, at the office of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105 or at any adjournments and/or postponements thereof. You will be permitted to attend the Special Meeting in person at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. If you would like to attend in person you are requested to confirm your attendance at least two business days in advance of the Special Meeting by contacting Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, c/o C. Brian Coad, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105. Such Shares shall be voted as indicated with respect to the proposals listed on the reverse side hereof and in each Proxy’s discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Special Meeting to Be Held on December 26, 2024:
The notice of meeting and the accompanying proxy statement is available at
https://www.cstproxy.com/carticaspac/egm2024.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO SPECIFIC DIRECTION IS GIVEN AS TO THE PROPOSALS ON THE REVERSE SIDE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2, AND 3 (IF PRESENTED). PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY.
(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed on reverse side)
~ PLEASE DETACH ALONG PERFORATED LINE AND MAIL IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. ~
CARTICA ACQUISITION CORP — THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSALS 1, 2, AND 3 (IF PRESENTED). | | Please mark votes as x indicated in this example |
(1) The Extension Amendment Proposal — To approve, by way of special resolution, that the date by which Cartica has to consummate a business combination be extended from January 7, 2025 to July 7, 2025 (or such earlier date as determined by the board of directors) and that the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of Cartica be amended as set out in Annex A to the proxy statement. | | FOR ¨ | | AGAINST ¨ | | ABSTAIN ¨ | |
| | | | | | | |
(2) The Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal — To eliminate, by way of special resolution, from the the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of Cartica, the limitation that Cartica may not redeem Public Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in Cartica having net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of less than US$5,000,001 (the “Redemption Limitation”) in order to allow Cartica to redeem Public Shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation and that the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of Cartica be amended as set out in Annex B to the proxy statement. | | FOR ¨ | | AGAINST ¨ | | ABSTAIN ¨ | |
| | | | | | | |
(3) The Adjournment Proposal — By ordinary resolution to instruct the chairman of the Special Meeting to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates to be determined by the chairman, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies. | | FOR ¨ | | AGAINST ¨ | | ABSTAIN ¨ | |
| Date: , 2024 |
| |
| Signature |
| |
| Signature (if held jointly) |
| |
| When Shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized person. |
~ PLEASE DETACH ALONG PERFORATED LINE AND MAIL IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. ~