# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001843100
**File Stem:** 0001213900-23-014886
**Filing Date:** 2023-2
**Character Count:** 240468
**Document Hash:** dd4d867b5b15d7dad29b8970d5caa203
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001213900-23-014886.hdr.sgml**: 20230227

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001213900-23-014886

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: PRE 14A

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 1

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20230227

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230227

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230227

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001843100
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** BLANK CHECKS [6770]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 861206818
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** PRE 14A
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-40891
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23676403

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 800 WESTCHESTER AVENUE
- **STREET 2:** SUITE S-632
- **CITY:** RYE BROOK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10573
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 914-701-5260

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 800 WESTCHESTER AVENUE
- **STREET 2:** SUITE S-632
- **CITY:** RYE BROOK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10573

#### UNITED STATES<br>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br>Washington, D.C. 20549
**________________**

#### SCHEDULE 14A
**________________**

#### Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the<br>Securities Exchange Act of 1934

#### (Amendment No.)
<u> Filed by the Registrant </u>   <u> ☒ </u> <br> <u> Filed by a party other than the Registrant </u>   <u> ☐ </u>

#### Check the appropriate box:
 ☒ Preliminary Proxy Statement

 ☐ **Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))**

 ☐ Definitive Proxy Statement

 ☐ Definitive Additional Materials

 ☐ Soliciting Material under § 240.14a-12

#### SCHULTZE SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION CORP. II<br> (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

#### ________________________________________________________________

#### (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

<u> ☒ </u>   <u> No fee required. </u> <br> <u> ☐ </u>   <u> Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. </u> <br> <u> ☐ </u>   <u> Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 </u>

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#### PRELIMINARY COPY

#### Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II

#### 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite S-632<br>Rye Brook, NY 10573

#### NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING IN LIEU OF THE<br>2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS <br> TO BE HELD , 2023
To the Stockholders of Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II:

You are cordially invited to attend the special meeting in lieu of the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders (the "special meeting") of Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II ("Company," "we," "us" or "our") to be held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on , 2023 as a virtual meeting.

The special meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of stockholders, which will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the special meeting online, vote and submit your questions during the special meeting by visiting .

Even if you are planning on attending the special meeting online, please promptly submit your proxy vote by telephone, or, if you received a printed form of proxy in the mail, by completing, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy, so your shares will be represented at the special meeting. Instructions on voting your shares are on the proxy materials you received for the special meeting. Even if you plan to attend the special meeting online, it is strongly recommended you complete and return your proxy card before the special meeting date, to ensure that your shares will be represented at the special meeting if you are unable to attend.

The accompanying proxy statement is dated , 2023 and is first being mailed to stockholders on or about that date. The sole purpose of the special meeting is to consider and vote upon the following proposals:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• **Proposal No. 1 — The Charter Amendment Proposal** — a proposal to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (our "charter"), in the form set forth as Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement (the "Charter Amendment"), to extend the date by which we must consummate an initial business combination (the "Extension") from April 13, 2023 (the "Original Termination Date") to October 13, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors (the "Board") (such later date, the "Extended Date", and such proposal, the "Charter Amendment Proposal");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• **Proposal No. 2 — The Director Election Proposal** — a proposal to re-elect two directors to the Board, with each such director to serve until the second annual meeting of stockholders following the special meeting or until his successor is elected and qualified (the "Director Election Proposal");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• **Proposal No. 3 — The Auditor Ratification Proposal** — a proposal to ratify the selection by our audit committee of Marcum LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 (the "Auditor Ratification Proposal"); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• **Proposal No. 4 — The Adjournment Proposal** — a proposal to direct the chairman of the special meeting to adjourn 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 one or more of the foregoing proposals or the Board determines before the special meeting that it is not necessary or no longer desirable to proceed with the Charter Amendment Proposal (the "Adjournment Proposal").

Each of the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our stockholders in the event, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the special meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve one or more of the other proposals set forth in the accompanying proxy statement or the Board determines before the special meeting that it is not necessary or no longer desirable to proceed with the Charter Amendment Proposal.

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The purpose of the Charter Amendment Proposal is to allow us more time to complete an initial business combination. The final prospectus for our initial public offering (the "IPO", and such prospectus, the "IPO Prospectus") and our charter provide that we have until the Original Termination Date to complete an initial business combination. While we are currently in discussions with respect to business combination opportunities, we have not yet executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination. We currently anticipate entering into such an agreement with one of our prospective targets, but the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Original Termination Date to consummate an initial business combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that, in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is advisable to extend the date that we have to consummate an initial business combination to the Extended Date. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission announcing such proposed business combination.

Holders of shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Class A common stock"), included as part of the units sold in the IPO ("public shares", and such holders, the "public stockholders") may elect to redeem all or a portion of their shares for their *pro rata* portion of the funds available in the trust account in connection with the Charter Amendment Proposal (the "Election") regardless of whether such public stockholders vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" the Charter Amendment Proposal, and the Election can also be made by public stockholders who abstain, do not vote, or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the special meeting. Public stockholders may make the Election regardless of whether such public stockholders were holders as of the record date. We believe that such redemption right protects the public stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if we do not consummate a suitable initial business combination in the timeframe initially contemplated by our charter. In addition, regardless of whether public stockholders vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" the Charter Amendment Proposal, abstain, do not vote, or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the special meeting, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders and the Extension is implemented, the remaining public stockholders 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.

**To exercise your redemption rights, you must tender your shares to our transfer agent at least two business days prior to the special meeting in accordance with the procedures and deadlines described in the accompanying proxy statement. You may tender your shares by either delivering your stock certificate(s) to our transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using The Depository Trust Company's DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system. If you hold your shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the shares from your account in order to exercise your redemption rights.**

We estimate that the per-share *pro rata* portion of the trust account will be approximately $10.23 at the time of the special meeting, based on the approximate amount of $168.8 million held in the trust account as of December 31, 2022. The closing price of our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on , 2023 was $. Accordingly, if the market price were to remain the same until the date of the special meeting, exercising redemption rights would result in a public stockholder receiving approximately $[more] for each share than if such stockholder sold its public shares in the open market. We cannot assure public stockholders that they will be able to sell their public shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in our securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.

If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved (or if such proposal is approved and the Extension is not implemented) and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, as contemplated by the IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our charter, or if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented but we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Extended Date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and

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liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date.

Our initial stockholders, including Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Sponsor II, LLC (our "sponsor"), Stifel Venture Corp., an affiliate of one of the underwriters of the IPO ("Stifel Venture"), and certain of our officers, directors and strategic advisors (together with their permitted transferees, the "initial stockholders"), collectively beneficially own an aggregate of 4,125,000 shares ("founder shares") of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Class B common stock", and together with our Class A common stock, "common stock"), representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination or the approval of certain amendments to our charter, including with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, and to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date. As a consequence of such waivers, any liquidating distribution that is made will be only with respect to the public shares; however, such persons would be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold.

The affirmative vote of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting is required to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal, a plurality of the shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required for the re-election of the directors in the Director Election Proposal, and the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required to approve each of the Auditor Ratification Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.

Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension at any time without any further action by our stockholders.

The Board has fixed the close of business on March 3, 2023 as the date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the special meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of shares of our common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the special meeting or any adjournment thereof. Pursuant to our charter, until the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of shares of Class B common stock can elect, remove or replace directors. Therefore, only holders of shares of Class B common stock are entitled to vote on the Director Election Proposal.

**You are not being asked to vote on an initial business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not make the Election to redeem all of your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to vote on an initial business combination when it is submitted to the public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider such business combination) and the right to redeem your public shares for a *pro rata* portion of the trust account in the event an initial business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.**

**After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal, are advisable and unanimously recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote "FOR" such proposals.**

Under Delaware law and our bylaws, no other business may be transacted at the special meeting.

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Enclosed is the proxy statement containing detailed information concerning the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal, the Adjournment Proposal and the special meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, we urge you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
|  Dated: , 2023 | By Order of the Board of Directors, |
|  | George J. Schultze |
|  | *Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer* |

---

**Your vote is important. If you are a stockholder of record, please sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible to make sure that your shares are represented at the special meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may also cast your vote online at the special meeting. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank how to vote your shares, or you may cast your vote online at the special meeting by obtaining a proxy from your brokerage firm or bank. Your failure to vote or instruct your broker or bank how to vote will have the same effect as voting "AGAINST" the Charter Amendment Proposal, and an abstention will have the same effect as voting "AGAINST" the Charter Amendment Proposal. Abstentions, broker non**-votes **and withhold votes (as applicable), while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast for the other proposals and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the other proposals. Failure to vote in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the other proposals.**

**Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting in Lieu of the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on , 2023:** This notice of special meeting, the accompanying proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 are available at .

TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS: (1) IF YOU HOLD SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK THROUGH UNITS, YOU MUST ELECT TO SEPARATE YOUR UNITS INTO THE UNDERLYING PUBLIC SHARES AND PUBLIC WARRANTS PRIOR TO EXERCISING YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC SHARES, (2) YOU MUST SUBMIT A WRITTEN REQUEST TO OUR TRANSFER AGENT BY 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON , 2023 (TWO BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETING) THAT YOUR PUBLIC SHARES BE REDEEMED FOR CASH, AND (3) DELIVER YOUR SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK TO OUR TRANSFER AGENT, PHYSICALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY'S DWAC (DEPOSIT WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT. IF YOU HOLD THE SHARES IN STREET NAME, YOU WILL NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BANK OR BROKER TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS.

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#### Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II<br> 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite S-632<br>Rye Brook, NY 10573

#### SPECIAL MEETING IN LIEU OF THE<br>2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS <br> TO BE HELD , 2023

#### PROXY STATEMENT
The special meeting in lieu of the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders (the "special meeting") of Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II ("Company," "we," "us" or "our") will be held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on , 2023 as a virtual meeting.

The special meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of stockholders, which will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the special meeting online, vote and submit your questions during the special meeting by visiting .

Even if you are planning on attending the special meeting online, please promptly submit your proxy vote by telephone, or, if you received a printed form of proxy in the mail, by completing, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy, so your shares will be represented at the special meeting. Instructions on voting your shares are on the proxy materials you received for the special meeting. Even if you plan to attend the special meeting online, it is strongly recommended you complete and return your proxy card before the special meeting date, to ensure that your shares will be represented at the special meeting if you are unable to attend.

This proxy statement is dated , 2023 and is first being mailed to stockholders on or about that date. The sole purpose of the special meeting is to consider and vote upon the following proposals:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• **Proposal No. 1 — The Charter Amendment Proposal** — a proposal to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (our "charter"), in the form set forth as Annex A to this proxy statement (the "Charter Amendment"), to extend the date by which we must consummate an initial business combination (the "Extension") from April 13, 2023 (the "Original Termination Date") to October 13, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by our board of directors (the "Board") (such later date, the "Extended Date", and such proposal, the "Charter Amendment Proposal");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• **Proposal No. 2 — The Director Election Proposal** — a proposal to re-elect two directors to the Board, with each such director to serve until the second annual meeting of stockholders following the special meeting or until his successor is elected and qualified (the "Director Election Proposal");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• **Proposal No. 3 — The Auditor Ratification Proposal** — a proposal to ratify the selection by our audit committee of Marcum LLP ("Marcum") to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 (the "Auditor Ratification Proposal"); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• **Proposal No. 4 — The Adjournment Proposal** — a proposal to direct the chairman of the special meeting to adjourn 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 one or more of the foregoing proposals or the Board determines before the special meeting that it is not necessary or no longer desirable to proceed with the Charter Amendment Proposal (the "Adjournment Proposal").

The Charter Amendment Proposal is essential to the overall implementation of the Board's plan to extend the date that we have to complete an initial business combination. The purpose of the Charter Amendment Proposal is to allow us more time to complete an initial business combination. The final prospectus for our initial public offering (the "IPO", and such prospectus, the "IPO Prospectus") and our charter provide that we have until the Original Termination Date to complete an initial business combination. While we are currently in discussions with respect to business combination opportunities, we have not yet executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination. We currently anticipate entering into such an agreement with one of our prospective targets, but the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Original Termination Date to consummate an initial business combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that, in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is advisable to extend the date that we

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have to consummate an initial business combination to the Extended Date. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") announcing such proposed business combination.

Holders of shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Class A common stock"), included as part of the units sold in the IPO ("public shares", and such holders, the "public stockholders") may elect to redeem all or a portion of their shares for their *pro rata* portion of the funds available in the trust account in connection with the Charter Amendment Proposal (the "Election") regardless of whether such public stockholders vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" the Charter Amendment Proposal, and the Election can also be made by public stockholders who abstain, do not vote, or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the special meeting. Public stockholders may make the Election regardless of whether such public stockholders were holders as of the record date. We believe that such redemption right protects the public stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if we do not consummate a suitable initial business combination in the timeframe initially contemplated by our charter. In addition, regardless of whether public stockholders vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" the Charter Amendment Proposal, abstain, do not vote, or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, at the special meeting, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders and the Extension is implemented, the remaining public stockholders 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.

If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount (as defined below) from the trust account in connection with the Election will reduce our net asset value and the amount held in the trust account following the redemption, and the amount remaining in the trust account may be significantly reduced from the approximately $168.8 million that was in the trust account as of December 31, 2022. In such event, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete an initial business combination and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.

If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved (or if such proposal is approved and the Extension is not implemented) and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, as contemplated by the IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our charter, or if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented but we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Extended Date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date.

Our initial stockholders, including Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Sponsor II, LLC (our "sponsor"), Stifel Venture Corp., an affiliate of one of the underwriters of the IPO ("Stifel Venture"), and certain of our officers, directors and strategic advisors (together with their permitted transferees, the "initial stockholders"), collectively beneficially own an aggregate of 4,125,000 shares ("founder shares") of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Class B common stock", and together with our Class A common stock, "common stock"), representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination or the approval of certain amendments to our charter, including with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, and to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date. As a consequence of such waivers, any liquidating distribution that is made will be only with respect to the public shares; however, such persons would be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold.

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To protect amounts held in the trust account, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.10 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a vendor or prospective target business who executed an agreement with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that our sponsor's only assets are our securities. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. The per-share liquidation price for the public shares is anticipated to be approximately $10.23 (based on the approximate amount of $168.8 million held in the trust account as of December 31, 2022). Nevertheless, we cannot assure you that the per share distribution from the trust account, if we liquidate, will not be less than $10.10, plus interest, due to unforeseen claims of potential creditors.

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to the public stockholders upon the redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within the required time period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder's pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.

However, because we will not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations have been limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses.

The affirmative vote of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting is required to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal, a plurality of the shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required for the re-election of the directors in the Director Election Proposal, and the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required to approve each of the Auditor Ratification Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.

Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension at any time without any further action by our stockholders.

Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal will constitute consent for us to instruct the trustee to (i) remove from the trust account an amount (the "Withdrawal Amount") equal to the *pro rata* portion of funds available in the trust account relating to the redeemed public shares and (ii) deliver to the holders of such redeemed public shares their *pro rata* portion of the Withdrawal Amount. The remainder of such funds will remain in the trust account and be available for our use to complete an initial business combination on or before the Extended Date. Public stockholders who do not make the Election to redeem all of their public shares in connection with the Extension will retain their redemption rights and their ability to vote on an initial business combination (provided that they are stockholders on the record date for a meeting to consider such business combination) through the Extended Date if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented.

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The record date for the special meeting is March 3, 2023. Record holders of our common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to vote or have their votes cast at the special meeting. Pursuant to our charter, until the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of shares of Class B common stock can elect, remove or replace directors. Therefore, only holders of shares of Class B common stock are entitled to vote on the Director Election Proposal. On the record date there were 20,625,000 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, consisting of 16,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 4,125,000 shares of Class B common stock. Our warrants do not have voting rights.

This proxy statement contains important information about the special meeting and the proposals. Please read it carefully and vote your shares.

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

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|  | **Page** |
|  [QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING](#T99101) | 1 |
|  [FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS](#T99102) | 14 |
|  [RISK FACTORS](#T99103) | 15 |
|  [BACKGROUND](#T99104) | 19 |
|  [THE SPECIAL MEETING](#T99105) | 20 |
|  [PROPOSAL NO. 1 — THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL](#T99106) | 22 |
|  [PROPOSAL NO. 2 — THE DIRECTOR ELECTION PROPOSAL](#T99107) | 30 |
|  [PROPOSAL NO. 3 — THE AUDITOR RATIFICATION PROPOSAL](#T99108) | 31 |
|  [PROPOSAL NO. 4 — THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL](#T99109) | 33 |
|  [MANAGEMENT](#T99110) | 34 |
|  [BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES](#T99111) | 40 |
|  [CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE](#T99112) | 42 |
|  [STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS](#T99113) | 45 |
|  [DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS](#T99114) | 45 |
|  [WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION](#T99115) | 46 |
|  [ANNEX A](#T116) | A-1 |

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#### QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING
These Questions and Answers are only summaries of the matters they discuss. They do not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read carefully the entire document, including the Charter Amendment set forth as Annex A to this proxy statement.

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|  ***Q. Why am I receiving this proxy statement?*** | A. This proxy statement and the accompanying materials are being sent to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board, for use at the special meeting to be held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on , 2023 as a virtual meeting. This proxy statement summarizes the information that you need to make an informed decision on the proposals to be considered at the special meeting.<br> We are a blank check company incorporated on December 15, 2020 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as an initial business combination. On October 13, 2021, we consummated the IPO of 15,000,000 units, and on October 22, 2021, we consummated the sale of 1,500,000 additional units as a result of the underwriters' partial exercise of their over-allotment option. A total of $166,650,000 of the proceeds from the IPO, including the partial exercise of the over-allotment option, and simultaneous private placements of private placement warrants was placed in the trust account. Like most blank check companies, our charter provides for the return of the proceeds held in trust to the public stockholders if no qualifying business combination is consummated on or before a certain date (in our case, the Original Termination Date). The Board believes that it is advisable to continue our existence until the Extended Date in order to allow us more time to complete an initial business combination and is submitting the Charter Amendment Proposal to the stockholders to vote upon. In addition, we are proposing the re-election of two directors to the Board, the ratification of the selection by our audit committee of Marcum to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, and a measure to direct the chairman of the special meeting to adjourn 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 one or more of the foregoing proposals or the Board determines before the special meeting that it is not necessary or no longer desirable to proceed with the Charter Amendment Proposal. |
|  ***Q. What is included in these materials?*** | A. These materials include:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• this proxy statement for the special meeting;<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a proxy card; and<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2023 (our "2022 Form 10-K"). |
|  ***Q. What is being voted on?*** | A. You are being asked to vote on:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a proposal to amend our charter, in the form set forth as Annex A to this proxy statement, to extend the date by which we must consummate an initial business combination from the Original Termination Date to the Extended Date;<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a proposal to re-elect two directors to the Board, with each such director to serve until the second annual meeting of stockholders following the special meeting or until his successor is elected and qualified; |

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 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a proposal to ratify the selection by our audit committee of Marcum to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023; and<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a proposal to direct the chairman of the special meeting to adjourn 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 one or more of the foregoing proposals or the Board determines before the special meeting that it is not necessary or no longer desirable to proceed with the Charter Amendment Proposal.<br> The Charter Amendment Proposal is essential to the overall implementation of the Board's plan to extend the date that we have to complete an initial business combination. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC announcing such proposed business combination. Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension at any time without any further action by our stockholders.<br> If the Extension is implemented, our stockholders' approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal will constitute consent for us to instruct the trustee to (i) remove the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account and (ii) deliver to the holders of such redeemed public shares their *pro rata* portion of the Withdrawal Amount, and to retain the remainder of the funds in the trust account for our use in connection with consummating an initial business combination on or before the Extended Date.<br> If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account in connection with the Election will reduce our net asset value and the amount held in the trust account following the redemption, and the amount remaining in the trust account may be significantly reduced from the approximately $168.8 million that was in the trust account as of December 31, 2022. In such event, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete an initial business combination and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.<br> If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved (or if such proposal is approved and the Extension is not implemented) and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, as contemplated by the IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our charter, or if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented but we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Extended Date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date.<br>

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|  | Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination or the approval of certain amendments to our charter, including with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, and to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date. As a consequence of such waivers, any liquidating distribution that is made will be only with respect to the public shares; however, such persons would be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold. We will pay the costs of liquidation from up to $150,000 of interest from the trust account and our remaining assets held outside of the trust account. |
|  ***Q. Why are we proposing the Charter Amendment Proposal?*** | A. Our charter provides for the return of the proceeds held in trust to the public stockholders if no qualifying business combination is consummated on or before the Original Termination Date. Accordingly, the trust agreement that we entered into at the time of the IPO provides for the trustee to liquidate the trust account and distribute to each public stockholder its *pro rata* share of such funds if a qualifying business combination is not consummated on or before such date provided in our charter. As we explain below, we believe we will not be able to complete an initial business combination by that date.<br> While we are currently in discussions with respect to business combination opportunities, we have not yet executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination. We currently anticipate entering into such an agreement with one of our prospective targets, but the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Original Termination Date to consummate such an initial business combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that, in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is advisable to extend the date that we have to consummate an initial business combination to the Extended Date. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC announcing such proposed business combination.<br> Because we believe we will not be able to complete an initial business combination within the permitted time period under our charter, we have determined to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which we must consummate an initial business combination.<br> We believe that given our expenditure of time, effort and money on finding a potential initial business combination, circumstances warrant providing our stockholders an opportunity to consider an initial business combination. Accordingly, the Board is proposing the Charter Amendment Proposal to extend our corporate existence.<br> **You are not being asked to vote on an initial business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not make the Election to redeem all of your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to vote on an initial business combination when it is submitted to the public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider such business combination) and the right to redeem your public shares for a *pro rata* portion of the trust account in the event an initial business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.** |

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|  ***Q. Why should I vote for the Charter Amendment Proposal?*** | A. The Board believes our stockholders should have an opportunity to evaluate a potential initial business combination with one or more of our prospective targets. Accordingly, the Board is proposing the Charter Amendment Proposal to extend the date by which we must consummate an initial business combination until the Extended Date and to allow for the Election.<br> The affirmative vote of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting is required to effect an amendment to our charter that would extend our corporate existence beyond the Original Termination Date. Additionally, the IPO Prospectus and our charter require that all public stockholders have an opportunity to redeem their public shares in the case that our corporate existence is extended. We believe that this charter provision was included to protect our stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if we do not consummate a suitable initial business combination in the timeframe contemplated by our charter. Given our expenditure of time, effort and money on finding a potential initial business combination, we believe circumstances warrant providing those who would like to consider whether a potential initial business combination with one or more of our prospective targets is an attractive investment with an opportunity to consider such transaction, inasmuch as we are also affording public stockholders who wish to redeem their public shares the opportunity to do so, as required under our charter. Accordingly, we believe the Extension is consistent with our charter and the IPO Prospectus. |
|  ***Q. How do insiders intend to vote their shares?*** | A. All of our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates are expected to vote any shares of our common stock over which they have voting control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.<br> Our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates collectively beneficially own an aggregate of 4,125,000 founder shares, representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination or the approval of certain amendments to our charter, including with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, and to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date. However, such persons would be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date.<br> Subject to applicable securities laws, our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of an initial business combination, although they are under no obligation to do so. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our initial stockholders purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. |

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|  | To the extent any such purchases by our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates are made in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases apply, we will disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to the special meeting the following: (i) the number of public shares purchased outside of the redemption offer, along with the purchase price(s) for such public shares; (ii) the purpose of any such purchases; (iii) the impact, if any, of the purchases on the likelihood that the Charter Amendment Proposal will be approved; (iv) the identities of the securityholders who sold to our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of the securityholders (e.g., five percent security holders) who sold such public shares; and (v) the number of public shares for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to the redemption offer.<br> The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would be to increase the likelihood of otherwise limiting the number of public shares electing to redeem.<br> If such transactions are effected, the consequence could be to cause the Extension to be effectuated in circumstances where such effectuation could not otherwise occur. Consistent with SEC guidance, purchases of shares by the persons described above would not be permitted to be voted for a proposed initial business combination and could decrease the chances that a proposed initial business combination would be approved. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public "float" of our securities and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.<br> We hereby represent that any of our securities purchased by our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would apply would not be voted in favor of approving the Charter Amendment Proposal. |
|  ***Q. What vote is required to approve each of the proposals?*** | A. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting is required to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal, a plurality of the shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required for the re-election of the directors in the Director Election Proposal, and the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required to approve each of the Auditor Ratification Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.<br> A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. Holders of a majority in voting power of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting, present in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy, constitute a quorum. Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote online at the special meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairman of the special meeting may adjourn the special meeting to another date. As of the record date for the special meeting, 10,312,501 shares of our common stock would be required to achieve a quorum.<br> If you do not vote, your action will have the effect of a vote against the Charter Amendment Proposal and, if a valid quorum is otherwise established, no effect on the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal. Likewise, abstentions, broker non-votes and withhold votes (as applicable) will have the effect of a vote against the Charter Amendment Proposal and no effect on the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal. |

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|  ***Q. What if I don't want to vote for the Charter Amendment Proposal?*** | A. If you do not want the Charter Amendment Proposal to be approved, you must vote against, abstain or not vote on such proposal. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Withdrawal Amount will be withdrawn from the trust account and paid to the redeeming public stockholders. |
|  ***Q. Will you seek any further extensions to consummate an initial business combination?*** | A. Other than the Extension until the Extended Date as described in this proxy statement, we do not currently anticipate seeking any further extensions to consummate an initial business combination. We have provided that all public stockholders, including those who vote for the Charter Amendment Proposal, abstain, do not vote, or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote, may make the Election to redeem all or a portion of their public shares into their *pro rata* portion of the trust account and, if the Extension is implemented, should receive the funds soon after the completion of the Charter Amendment. Those public stockholders who do not make the Election to redeem all of their public shares in connection with the Extension will retain redemption rights with respect to an initial business combination we may propose, or, if we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Extended Date, such holders will be entitled to their *pro rata* portion of the trust account on such date. |
|  ***Q. What happens if the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved?*** | A. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, as contemplated by the IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our charter, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date.<br> Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination or the approval of certain amendments to our charter, including with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, and to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date. As a consequence of such waivers, any liquidating distribution that is made will be only with respect to the public shares; however, such persons would be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold. We will pay the costs of liquidation from up to $150,000 of interest from the trust account and our remaining assets held outside of the trust account. |

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|  ***Q. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved, what happens next?*** | A. We will continue our efforts to execute a definitive agreement for an initial business combination with one or more of our prospective targets.<br> If we execute such an agreement, we will seek to complete the potential initial business combination, which will involve:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• completing proxy materials;<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• establishing a meeting date and record date for considering such potential initial business combination and distributing proxy materials to stockholders;<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• holding a special meeting to consider such potential initial business combination; and<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• if approved, consummating such potential initial business combination.<br> We are seeking approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal because we believe we will not be able to complete all of the above listed tasks prior to the Original Termination Date.<br> Upon approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal by holders of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting, if the Board determines to implement the Extension, we will file the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. We will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and our units, Class A common stock and warrants will remain publicly traded. We will then continue to attempt to complete an initial business combination by the Extended Date.<br> If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account will reduce our net asset value and the amount remaining in the trust account and increase the percentage interest of our common stock held by our initial stockholders, directors, officers and their affiliates through their beneficial ownership of the founder shares.<br> If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented but we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Extended Date, or if the Extension is not implemented and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date. |

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|  | Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination or the approval of certain amendments to our charter, including with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, and to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date. As a consequence of such waivers, any liquidating distribution that is made will be only with respect to the public shares; however, such persons would be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold. We will pay the costs of liquidation from up to $150,000 of interest from the trust account and our remaining assets held outside of the trust account.<br> Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension at any time without any further action by our stockholders. |
|  ***Q. Would I still be able to exercise my redemption rights if I vote against a potential initial business combination?*** | A. Unless you make the Election to redeem all of your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will still be able to vote on an initial business combination when it is submitted to stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider such business combination). If you disagree with such business combination, you will retain your right to redeem your public shares upon consummation of such business combination in connection with the stockholder vote to approve such business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter. |
|  ***Q. How do I attend the special meeting?*** | A. The special meeting is to be held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on , 2023 as a virtual meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you will be able to attend, vote your shares and submit questions during the special meeting via a live webcast available at . You will need your control number for access. If you do not have your control number, contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent, by telephone at 917-262-2373 or by e-mail at proxy@continentalstock.com. If you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary, you will need to contact such bank, broker or other intermediary and obtain a legal proxy. Once you have your legal proxy, e-mail a copy of your legal proxy to our transfer agent at least five business days prior to the special meeting date to have a control number generated. You may also attend special the meeting telephonically by dialing 1- (toll-free within the United States and Canada) or<br>+1 (outside of the United States and Canada, standard rates apply). The passcode for telephone access is #, but please note that you will not be able to vote or ask questions if you choose to attend the special meeting telephonically. |
|  ***Q. How do I change my vote?*** | A. If you have submitted a proxy to vote your shares and wish to change your vote, you may do so by delivering a later-dated, signed proxy card to Morrow Sodali LLC, our proxy solicitor, prior to the date of the special meeting or by voting in person (by virtual attendance) at the special meeting. Virtual attendance at the special meeting alone will not change your vote. You also may revoke your proxy by sending a notice of revocation to: Morrow Sodali LLC, 333 Ludlow Street, 5<sup>th</sup> Floor, South Tower, Stamford, CT 06902. |

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|  ***Q. How are votes counted?*** | A. Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the special meeting, who will separately count "FOR", "AGAINST" and "WITHHOLD" votes, abstentions and broker non-votes. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting is required to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal, a plurality of the shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required for the re-election of the directors in the Director Election Proposal, and the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required to approve each of the Auditor Ratification Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.<br> A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. Holders of a majority in voting power of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting, present in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy, constitute a quorum. Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote online at the special meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairman of the special meeting may adjourn the special meeting to another date. As of the record date for the special meeting, 10,312,501 shares of our common stock would be required to achieve a quorum.<br> If you do not vote, your action will have the effect of a vote against the Charter Amendment Proposal and, if a valid quorum is otherwise established, no effect on the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal. Likewise, abstentions, broker non-votes and withhold votes (as applicable) will have the effect of a vote against the Charter Amendment Proposal and no effect on the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal.<br> If your shares are held by your broker as your nominee (that is, in "street name"), you may need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares. If you do not give instructions to your broker, your broker can vote your shares with respect to "discretionary" items, but not with respect to "non-discretionary" items. Discretionary items are proposals considered routine under the rules of various national securities exchanges applicable to member brokerage firms. These rules provide that for routine matters your broker has the discretion to vote shares held in street name in the absence of your voting instructions. On non-discretionary items for which you do not give your broker instructions, the shares will be treated as broker non-votes. |
|  ***Q. If my shares are held in "street name," will my broker automatically vote them for me?*** | A. With respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Director Election Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal, your broker can vote your shares only if you provide them with instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares. Your broker can tell you how to provide these instructions. Your broker may automatically vote your shares with respect to the Auditor Ratification Proposal. |

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|  ***Q. What is a quorum requirement?*** | A. A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. Holders of a majority in voting power of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting, present in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy, constitute a quorum.<br> Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote online at the special meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairman of the special meeting may adjourn the special meeting to another date. As of the record date for the special meeting, 10,312,501 shares of our common stock would be required to achieve a quorum. |
|  ***Q. Who can vote at the special meeting?*** | A. Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on March 3, 2023, the record date, are entitled to have their vote counted at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Pursuant to our charter, until the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of shares of Class B common stock can elect, remove or replace directors. Therefore, only holders of shares of Class B common stock are entitled to vote on the Director Election Proposal. On the record date, 20,625,000 shares of our common stock, consisting of 16,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 4,125,000 shares of Class B common stock, were outstanding and entitled to vote.<br> *Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name*. If on the record date your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person (by virtual attendance) at the special meeting or vote by proxy.<br> *Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank*. If on the record date your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in "street name" and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the special meeting online. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person (by virtual attendance) at the special meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.<br> Stockholders are urged to vote their proxies by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope, or to direct their brokers or other agents on how to vote the shares in their accounts, as applicable. |
|  ***Q. How does the Board recommend I vote?*** | A. After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal, are advisable and unanimously recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote "FOR" such proposals. |
|  ***Q. What interests do our initial stockholders, directors and officers have in the approval of the proposals?*** | A. Our initial stockholders, directors and officers have interests in the proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include ownership of the founder shares and warrants that may become exercisable in the future and the possibility of future compensatory arrangements. See the section of this proxy statement entitled "Proposal No. 1 *—* The Charter Amendment Proposal — Interests of Our Initial Stockholders, Directors and Officers." |

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|  ***Q. What if I object to the Charter Amendment? Do I have appraisal rights?*** | A. If you do not want the Charter Amendment Proposal to be approved, you must vote against, abstain or not vote on such proposal. If public stockholders do not make the Election to redeem all of their public shares in connection with the Extension, such holders will retain redemption rights in connection with an initial business combination. You will still be entitled to make the Election if you vote against, abstain or do not vote on the Charter Amendment Proposal. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled to redemption if we implement the Extension and do not complete an initial business combination by the Extended Date. Our stockholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the Charter Amendment Proposal or any of the other proposals under the DGCL. |
|  ***Q. What happens to our warrants if the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved?*** | A. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, as contemplated by the IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our charter, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date. |
|  ***Q. What happens to our warrants if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved?*** | A. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, we will continue to attempt to complete an initial business combination by the Extended Date and will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to us. Our warrants will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms and will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of an initial business combination. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the completion of an initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. |
|  ***Q. What do I need to do now?*** | A. We urge you to read carefully and consider the information contained in this proxy statement, including the Charter Amendment set forth as Annex A to this proxy statement, and to consider how the proposals will affect you as a stockholder. You should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions provided in this proxy statement and on the enclosed proxy card. |
|  ***Q. How do I vote?*** | A. If you are a holder of record of our common stock, you may vote in person (by virtual attendance) at the special meeting or by submitting a proxy for the special meeting. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope. You may still attend the special meeting and vote online if you have already voted by proxy. |

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|  | If your shares of our common stock are held in "street name" by a broker or other agent, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the special meeting online. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person (by virtual attendance) at the special meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.<br> Stockholders are urged to vote their proxies by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope, or to direct their brokers or other agents on how to vote the shares in their accounts, as applicable. |
|  ***Q. How do I redeem my public shares?*** | A. If the Extension is implemented, each public stockholder may seek to redeem all or a portion of such stockholder's public shares for its *pro rata* portion of the funds available in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us (less taxes payable). If the Extension is implemented, we anticipate that such stockholders who made the Election to redeem their public shares in connection with the Election would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Charter Amendment. Unless you make the Election to redeem all of your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will still be able to redeem your public shares in connection with any stockholder vote to approve an initial business combination, or if we have not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.<br> To demand redemption, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on , 2023 (two business days before the special meeting), you must elect either to physically tender your stock certificate(s) to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent, at Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, One State Street, 30<sup>th</sup> Floor, New York, New York 10004-1561, Attn: SPAC Redemption Team, Email: spacredemptions@continentalstock.com, or deliver your shares to our transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company's DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system, which election would likely be determined based on the manner in which you hold your shares.<br> Certificates that have not been tendered in accordance with these procedures at least two business days prior to the special meeting will not be redeemed for a *pro rata* portion of the funds held in the trust account. In the event that a public stockholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the implementation of the Extension that it does not want to redeem its shares, the stockholder may withdraw the tender until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and, thereafter, with our consent. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide within the required timeframe not to redeem your shares, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the address listed above. |
|  ***Q. What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?*** | A. You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards, if your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all of your shares of our common stock. |

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|  ***Q. Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?*** | A. We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. |
|  ***Q. Where do I find the voting results of the special meeting?*** | A. We will announce preliminary voting results at the special meeting. The final voting results will be tallied by the inspector of election and disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which we are required to file with the SEC within four business days following the special meeting. |
|  ***Q. Who can help answer my questions?*** | A. If you have questions, you may write or call our proxy solicitor:<br> Morrow Sodali LLC<br> 333 Ludlow Street, 5<sup>th</sup> Floor, South Tower<br> Stamford, CT 06902<br> Telephone: (800) 662-5200<br> Banks and brokers: (203) 658-9400<br> E-mail: SAMA.info@investor.morrowsodali.com<br> You may also obtain additional information about us from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section of this proxy statement entitled "Where You Can Find More Information." |

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#### FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement and the documents to which we refer you in this proxy statement contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the federal securities laws. Any statements that do not relate to historical or current facts or matters are forward-looking statements. You can identify some of the forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "should," "may" and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. There can be no assurance that actual results will not materially differ from expectations. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our ability to consummate an initial business combination and any other statements that are not statements of current or historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of the proxy materials and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date and we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made.

These forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• our ability to effect the Extension or consummate an initial business combination;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the volatility of the market price and liquidity of our securities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• unanticipated delays in the distribution of the funds from the trust account;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• claims by third parties against the trust account;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• our ability to maintain the listing of our securities on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") or another national securities exchange prior to or following an initial business combination;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• our ability to finance and consummate an initial business combination; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• changes in SEC rules related to special purpose acquisition companies ("SPACs").

You should carefully consider these risks, in addition to those factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this proxy statement, and the risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC, including the IPO Prospectus, our 2022 Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The documents we file with the SEC, including those referred to above, also discuss some of the risks that could cause actual results to differ from those contained or implied in the forward-looking statements. See the section of this proxy statement entitled "Where You Can Find More Information" for additional information about our filings.

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#### RISK FACTORS
*You should consider carefully all of the risks described in the IPO prospectus, our 2022 Form 10*-K*, any subsequent filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10*-Q *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.*

#### There are no assurances that the Extension will enable us to complete an initial business combination.
Approving the Charter Amendment Proposal involves a number of risks. Even if such proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, we can provide no assurances that an initial business combination will be consummated prior to the Extended Date. Our ability to consummate any business combination is dependent on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, we expect to seek stockholder approval of an initial business combination. We are required to offer the public stockholders the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal and implementation of the Extension, and we will be required to offer the public stockholders redemption rights again in connection with any stockholder vote to approve an initial business combination. Even if such proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, or if an initial business combination is approved by our stockholders, it is possible that redemptions will leave us with insufficient cash to consummate an initial business combination on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. The fact that we will have separate redemption periods in connection with the implementation of the Extension and an initial business combination vote could exacerbate these risks. Other than in connection with a redemption offer or liquidation, our stockholders may be unable to recover their investment except through sales of our shares on the open market. The price of our shares may be volatile, and there can be no assurance that stockholders will be able to dispose of their shares at favorable prices, or at all.

***The ability of the public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of public shares if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented may adversely affect the liquidity of our securities.***

Pursuant to our charter, each public stockholder may seek to redeem all or a portion of such stockholder's public shares for its pro rata portion of the funds available in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us (less taxes payable), in connection with the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal and implementation of the Extension. The ability of the public stockholders to exercise such redemption rights with respect to a large number of public shares may adversely affect the liquidity of our securities. As a result, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, you may be unable to sell your public shares even if the per-share market price is higher than the per-share redemption price paid to public stockholders that elected to redeem their public shares in connection with the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal and implementation of the Extension.

***Since our initial stockholders, officers and directors will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, the Board may have a conflict of interest in making their recommendation that you vote in favor of the Charter Amendment Proposal.***

On January 15, 2021, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Our sponsor subsequently transferred 25,000 founder shares to each of our independent directors, 276,000 founder shares to Stifel Venture and an aggregate of 50,000 founder shares to certain strategic advisors identified in connection with the IPO, in each case at the same price originally paid for such shares. Subsequently, our sponsor forfeited an aggregate of 1,437,500 founder shares, resulting in there being 4,312,500 founder shares outstanding. On October 22, 2021, in connection with the underwriters' election to partially exercise their over-allotment option and the forfeiture of the remaining portion of such over-allotment option, 175,500 and 12,000 founder shares were forfeited by our sponsor and Stifel Venture, respectively, to us at no cost, and 4,125,000 founder shares remain outstanding. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the

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expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after the IPO. In addition, our sponsor and Stifel Venture purchased an aggregate of 6,575,000 private placement warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $6,575,000.

Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination or the approval of certain amendments to our charter, including with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, and to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date. The founder shares will therefore be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination; however, such persons would be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the private placement warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination.

These interests, among others, may influence our directors in making their recommendation that you vote in favor of the Charter Amendment Proposal. See the section of this proxy statement entitled "Proposal No. 1 — The Charter Amendment Proposal — Interests of Our Initial Stockholders, Directors and Officers."

***Since our anchor investors will acquire founder shares from our sponsor upon consummation of our initial business combination, a conflict of interest may arise in connection with the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal.***

In connection with the closing of the IPO, certain qualified institutional buyers or institutional accredited investors that are not affiliated with us, our sponsor, our directors or any member of our management team ("anchor investors") acquired an interest in an aggregate of 937,500 founder shares for a price of $0.10 per share, which our sponsor will distribute to our anchor investors after the completion of an initial business combination. Accordingly, our anchor investors will share in any appreciation in the value of the founder shares above that nominal amount, provided that we successfully complete a business combination. Moreover, as our anchor investors purchased 14,857,500 units in the IPO for a purchase price of $10.00 per unit and paid $0.10 per share for their interests in the founder shares, and assuming each warrant has no value and without taking into account any liquidity discount on the founder shares, our anchor investors paid an effective price of approximately $9.41 per share acquired, as compared to the $10.00 per share paid by the other public stockholders in the IPO. As a result, our anchor investors may have an incentive to vote any public shares they own in favor of the Charter Amendment Proposal. In addition, if our anchor investors retain a substantial portion of their interests in our public shares and vote those public shares in favor of the Charter Amendment Proposal, we may receive sufficient votes to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal regardless of how any other public stockholder votes their shares, although we are not aware of any arrangements or understandings among our anchor investors with regard to voting, including voting with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal.

***If following the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal and implementation of the Extension we are no longer in compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements, Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors' ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.***

Our securities are currently listed on Nasdaq, a national securities exchange. We cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq in the future prior to an initial business combination, including following any stockholder redemptions in connection with certain amendments to our charter, such as the Charter Amendment Proposal. If the public stockholders exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of public shares in connection with the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal and implementation of the Extension, our securities may no longer meet Nasdaq's continued listing requirements and Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange.

We expect that if our Class A common stock fails to meet Nasdaq's continued listing requirements, our units and warrants will also fail to meet Nasdaq's continued listing requirements for those securities. We cannot assure you that any of our Class A common stock, units or warrants will be able to meet any of Nasdaq's continued listing requirements following any stockholder redemptions of public shares in connection with the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal and implementation of the Extension. If Nasdaq delists any of our securities from trading on its

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exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. However, if this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a determination that our shares of Class A common stock are "penny stock" which will require brokers trading in our shares of Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our shares of Class A common stock;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

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." Because our units, Class A common stock and warrants are currently listed on Nasdaq, our units, Class A common stock and warrants are covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our 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 we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.

***A new 1% U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with redemptions by us of our shares, including in connection with the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal and implementation of the Extension.***

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the "IR Act") was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the "Treasury") has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax.

On December 27, 2022, the Treasury released Notice 2023-2, which provides taxpayers with interim guidance on the excise tax that may be relied upon until the Internal Revenue Service issues proposed Treasury regulations on such matter. Notice 2023-2 includes as one of its exceptions to the excise tax a distribution in complete liquidation of a "covered corporation", such as ours, to which Sec. 331 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), applies (so long as Sec. 332(a) of the Code also does not also apply). Although it remains uncertain whether, and/or to what extent, the excise tax could apply to any redemptions of our public shares after December 31, 2022, including any redemptions in connection with our initial business combination or in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination by the Original Termination Date (or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date), we would not expect the excise tax to apply to redemptions of our public shares that occur during a taxable year in which we completely liquidate under Sec. 331 of the Code.

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Pursuant to our charter, each public stockholder may seek to redeem all or a portion of such stockholder's public shares for its pro rata portion of the funds available in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us (less taxes payable), in connection with the approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal and implementation of the Extension. Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022 may be subject to the excise tax, including in connection with our initial business combination, certain amendments to our charter (including the proposed Charter Amendment Proposal) or otherwise. Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the excise tax would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the initial business combination, certain amendments to our charter (including the proposed Charter Amendment Proposal) or otherwise, (ii) the structure of the initial business combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any "PIPE" or other equity issuances in connection with the initial business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with the initial business combination but issued within the same taxable year of the initial business combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by us and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete our initial business combination and in our ability to complete our initial business combination.

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#### BACKGROUND
We are a blank check company incorporated on December 15, 2020 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as an initial business combination.

On January 15, 2021, we issued an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares to our sponsor for an aggregate price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Our sponsor subsequently transferred 25,000 founder shares to each of our independent directors, 276,000 founder shares to Stifel Venture and an aggregate of 50,000 founder shares to certain strategic advisors identified in connection with the IPO, in each case at the same price originally paid for such shares. On each of July 27, 2021 and September 20, 2021, our sponsor forfeited 718,750 founder shares, resulting in there being 4,312,500 founder shares issued and outstanding. On October 22, 2021, in connection with the underwriters' election to partially exercise their over-allotment option and the forfeiture of the remaining portion of such over-allotment option, as described below, 175,500 and 12,000 founder shares were forfeited by our sponsor and Stifel Venture, respectively, to us at no cost, and 4,125,000 founder shares remain outstanding. The founder shares will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment.

On October 13, 2021, we consummated the IPO of 15,000,000 units, and on October 22, 2021, we consummated the sale of 1,500,000 additional units as a result of the underwriters' partial exercise of their over-allotment option. Each unit consisted of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating total gross proceeds of $165,000,000.

Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, we consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 6,200,000 private placement warrants to our sponsor and Stifel Venture at a price of $1.00 per private placement warrant, generating total gross proceeds of $6,200,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the partial exercise of the over-allotment option, we consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 375,000 additional private placement warrants to such purchasers at $1.00 per additional private placement warrant, generating total gross proceeds of $375,000 (collectively, the "private placements").

Of the aggregate 16,500,000 units sold in the IPO, 14,857,500 units were purchased by our anchor investors. In connection with the closing of the IPO, each anchor investor acquired from our sponsor an indirect economic interest in certain founder shares (937,500 founder shares in the aggregate) at a purchase price of $0.10 per share. Our sponsor has agreed to distribute such founder shares to our anchor investors pro rata based on their indirect ownership interest in such founder shares after the completion of our initial business combination.

A total of $166,650,000 ($10.10 per unit) of the proceeds from the IPO, including the partial exercise of the over-allotment option, and simultaneous private placements of private placement warrants was placed in the trust account, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $168.8 million in the trust account.

Our units began trading on October 8, 2021 on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "SAMAU." Commencing on November 29, 2021, the Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units began separate trading on Nasdaq under the symbols "SAMA" and "SAMAW," respectively. Those units not separated continue to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol "SAMAU."

The mailing address of our principal executive office is Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II, 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite S-632, Rye Brook, NY 10573, and our telephone number is 914-701-5260. Our corporate website is *www.samaspac.com*. The contents of our corporate website are not incorporated into this proxy statement and our reference to the URL of our corporate website is intended to be an inactive textual reference only.

**You are not being asked to vote on an initial business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not make the Election to redeem all of your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to vote on an initial business combination when it is submitted to the public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider such business combination) and the right to redeem your public shares for a *pro rata* portion of the trust account in the event an initial business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.**

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#### THE SPECIAL MEETING
*Date, Time and Place.* The special meeting will be held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on , 2023 as a virtual meeting. You will be able to attend, vote your shares and submit questions during the special meeting via a live webcast available at . The special meeting will be held virtually over the internet by means of a live audio webcast. Only stockholders who own shares of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date will be entitled to attend the special meeting.

To pre-register for the special meeting, please follow the below instructions as applicable to the nature of your ownership of our common stock. Pre-registration is recommended but not required to attend the special meeting and is available starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on , 2023 (five business days prior to the special meeting).

If your shares are registered in your name with our transfer agent and you wish to attend and participate in the virtual meeting, go to , enter the control number you received on your proxy card and click on the "Click here" to pre-register for the online meeting link at the top of the page. Just prior to the start of the special meeting you will need to log back into the above website using your control number. If you do not have your control number, contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent, by telephone at 917-262-2373 or by e-mail at proxy@continentalstock.com.

Beneficial stockholders who wish to attend and participate in the virtual meeting must (i) obtain a legal proxy by contacting their account representative at the bank, broker, or other nominee that holds their shares and (ii) e-mail a copy (a legible photograph is sufficient) of their legal proxy to our transfer agent at proxy@continentalstock.com. Beneficial stockholders who e-mail our transfer agent a valid legal proxy will be issued a meeting control number that will allow them to pre-register to attend and participate in the virtual meeting. A beneficial stockholder who wishes to attend the virtual meeting but not vote may be issued a guest control number upon providing proof of ownership to our transfer agent. After contacting our transfer agent, a beneficial holder will receive an e-mail prior to the special meeting with a link and instructions for entering the virtual meeting. Beneficial stockholders should contact our transfer agent at least five business days prior to the special meeting date.

You may also attend special the meeting telephonically by dialing 1- (toll-free within the United States and Canada) or +1 (outside of the United States and Canada, standard rates apply). The passcode for telephone access is #, but please note that you will not be able to vote or ask questions if you choose to attend the special meeting telephonically.

*Quorum.* A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. Holders of a majority in voting power of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting, present in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy, constitute a quorum. Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote online at the special meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairman of the special meeting may adjourn the special meeting to another date. As of the record date for the special meeting, 10,312,501 shares of our common stock would be required to achieve a quorum.

*Voting Power; Record Date.* You will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the special meeting, if you owned shares of our common stock at the close of business on March 3, 2023, the record date for the special meeting. You will have one vote per proposal for each share you owned at that time. Pursuant to our charter, until the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of shares of Class B common stock can elect, remove or replace directors. Therefore, only holders of shares of Class B common stock are entitled to vote on the Director Election Proposal. Our warrants do not carry voting rights.

*Votes Required.* The affirmative vote of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting is required to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal, a plurality of the shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required for the re-election of the directors in the Director Election Proposal, and the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting is required to approve each of the Auditor Ratification Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. If you do not vote, your action will have the effect of a vote against the Charter Amendment Proposal and, if a valid quorum is otherwise established, no effect on the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor

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Ratification Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal. Likewise, abstentions, broker non-votes and withhold votes (as applicable) will have the effect of a vote against the Charter Amendment Proposal and no effect on the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal.

At the close of business on the record date, there were 20,625,000 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, consisting of 16,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 4,125,000 shares of Class B common stock, each of which entitles its holder to cast one vote per proposal. Pursuant to our charter, until the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of shares of Class B common stock can elect, remove or replace directors. Therefore, only holders of shares of Class B common stock are entitled to vote on the Director Election Proposal.

If you do not want the Charter Amendment Proposal approved, you must vote against, abstain or not vote on such proposal. If you want to obtain your *pro rata* portion of the trust account in the event the Extension is implemented, which is anticipated to be paid soon after the completion of the Charter Amendment, you must make the Election to redeem your public shares. Public stockholders may make the Election to redeem all or a portion of their public shares regardless of whether they vote for or against the Charter Amendment Proposal, abstain, do not vote or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote.

*Proxies; Board Solicitation.* Your proxy is being solicited by the Board on the proposals being presented to stockholders at the special meeting to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Director Election Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. No recommendation is being made as to whether you should make the Election to redeem your shares. Proxies may be solicited in person or by telephone. If you grant a proxy, you may still revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person (by virtual attendance) at the special meeting.

We have retained Morrow Sodali LLC to aid in the solicitation of proxies. Morrow Sodali LLC will receive a fee of approximately $, as well as reimbursement for certain costs and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with their services, all of which will be paid by us. In addition, our officers and directors may solicit proxies by mail, telephone, facsimile, and personal interview, for which no additional compensation will be paid, though they may be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses. We will bear the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the enclosed form of proxy, this proxy statement and other material that may be sent to stockholders in connection with this solicitation. We may reimburse brokerage firms and other nominee holders for their reasonable expenses in sending proxies and proxy material to the beneficial owners of our shares.

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**PRoPOSAL NO. 1** — **THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL**

We are proposing to amend our charter, in the form set forth as Annex A to this proxy statement, to extend the date by which we must consummate an initial business combination from the Original Termination Date to the Extended Date. All stockholders are encouraged to read the proposed Charter Amendment in its entirety for a more complete description of its terms.

The Charter Amendment Proposal is essential to the overall implementation of the Board's plan to extend the date that we have to complete an initial business combination. Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension at any time without any further action by our stockholders.

If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved (or if such proposal is approved and the Extension is not implemented) and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, as contemplated by the IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our charter, or if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented but we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Extended Date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date.

#### Reasons for the Proposal
The IPO Prospectus and our charter provide that we have until the Original Termination Date to consummate an initial business combination. While we are currently in discussions with respect to business combination opportunities, we have not yet executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination. We currently anticipate entering into such an agreement with one of our prospective targets, but the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Original Termination Date to consummate an initial business combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that, in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is advisable to extend the date that we have to consummate an initial business combination to the Extended Date. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission announcing such proposed business combination.

The affirmative vote of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting is required to effect an amendment to our charter that would extend our corporate existence beyond the Original Termination Date. Additionally, the IPO Prospectus and our charter require that all public stockholders have an opportunity to redeem their public shares in the case that our corporate existence is extended. We believe that this charter provision was included to protect our stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if we do not consummate a suitable initial business combination in the timeframe contemplated by our charter. Given our expenditure of time, effort and money on finding a potential initial business combination, we believe circumstances warrant providing those who would like to consider whether a potential initial business combination with one or more of our prospective targets is an attractive investment with an opportunity to consider such transaction, inasmuch as we are also affording public stockholders who wish to redeem their public shares the opportunity to do so, as required under our charter. Accordingly, we believe the Extension is consistent with our charter and the IPO Prospectus.

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#### If the Charter Amendment Proposal Is Not Approved
If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, as contemplated by the IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our charter, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date.

Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination or the approval of certain amendments to our charter, including with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, and to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date. As a consequence of such waivers, any liquidating distribution that is made will be only with respect to the public shares; however, such persons would be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold. We will pay the costs of liquidation from up to $150,000 of interest from the trust account and our remaining assets held outside of the trust account.

If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved, we will not effect the Extension, and in the event we do not complete an initial business combination on or before the Original Termination Date, the trust account will be liquidated and distributed to the public stockholders on a *pro rata* basis as described above.

#### If the Charter Amendment Proposal Is Approved
If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Board determines to implement the Extension, we will file the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. We will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and our units, Class A common stock and warrants will remain publicly traded. We will then continue to attempt to complete an initial business combination by the Extended Date.

If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented but we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Extended Date, or if the Extension is not implemented and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date.

Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination or the approval of certain amendments to our charter, including with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal, and to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date or, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the Extended Date. As a consequence of such waivers, any liquidating distribution that is made will be only with respect to the public

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shares; however, such persons would be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold. We will pay the costs of liquidation from up to $150,000 of interest from the trust account and our remaining assets held outside of the trust account.

**You are not being asked to vote on an initial business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not make the Election to redeem all of your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to vote on an initial business combination when it is submitted to the public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider such business combination) and the right to redeem your public shares for a *pro rata* portion of the trust account in the event an initial business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.**

If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the trust account in connection with the Election will reduce our net asset value and the amount held in the trust account following the redemption, and the amount remaining in the trust account may be significantly reduced from the approximately $168.8 million that was in the trust account as of December 31, 2022. In such event, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete an initial business combination and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.

Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension at any time without any further action by our stockholders.

#### Redemption Rights
If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, we will provide the public stockholders making the Election the opportunity to receive, soon after the completion of the Charter Amendment, and in exchange for the surrender of their shares, a *pro rata* portion of the funds available in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us (less taxes payable). Unless you make the Election to redeem all of your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will still be able to redeem your public shares in connection with any stockholder vote to approve an initial business combination, or if we have not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.

**TO DEMAND REDEMPTION, PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON , 2023 (TWO BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETING), YOU MUST ELECT EITHER TO PHYSICALLY TENDER YOUR STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) TO OUR TRANSFER AGENT OR DELIVER YOUR SHARES TO OUR TRANSFER AGENT ELECTRONICALLY USING The Depository Trust Company's DWAC (DEPOSIT/WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN. YOU SHOULD ENSURE THAT YOUR BANK OR BROKER COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED ELSEWHERE HEREIN.**

Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its, his or her own name, the holder must contact our transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public stockholders may make the Election to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote for or against the Charter Amendment Proposal, abstain, do not vote or do not instruct their broker or bank how to vote.

To demand redemption, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on , 2023 (two business days before the special meeting), you must elect either to physically tender your stock certificate(s) to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent, at Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, One State Street, 30<sup>th</sup> Floor, New York, New York 10004-1561, Attn: SPAC Redemption Team, Email: spacredemptions@continentalstock.com, or deliver your shares to our transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company's ("DTC") DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system, which election would likely be determined based on the manner in which you hold your shares. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery at least two business days prior to the vote at the special meeting ensures that a redeeming holder's Election is completed once the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented. Accordingly, stockholders making the Election will not be able to tender their shares after the date that is two business days prior to the vote at the special meeting.

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Through the DWAC system, this electronic delivery process can be accomplished by the stockholder, whether or not it is a record holder or its shares are held in "street name," by contacting our transfer agent or its broker and requesting delivery of its shares through the DWAC system. Delivering shares physically may take significantly longer. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a stockholder's broker and/or clearing broker, DTC, and our transfer agent will need to act together to facilitate this request. There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. Our transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $100 and the broker would determine whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. It is our understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from our transfer agent. We do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, and it may take longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. Such stockholders will have less time to make their investment decision than those stockholders that deliver their shares through the DWAC system. Stockholders who request physical stock certificates and wish to make the Election to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for tendering their shares before exercising their redemption rights and thus will be unable to redeem their shares.

Certificates that have not been tendered in accordance with these procedures at least two business days prior to the special meeting will not be redeemed for a *pro rata* portion of the funds held in the trust account. In the event that a public stockholder tenders its shares and decides prior to the implementation of the Extension that it does not want to redeem its shares, the stockholder may withdraw the tender until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and, thereafter, with our consent. If you delivered your shares for redemption to our transfer agent and decide within the required timeframe not to redeem your shares, you may request that our transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting our transfer agent at the address listed above. In the event that a public stockholder tenders shares and the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved or are otherwise abandoned, or if such proposal is approved and the Extension is not implemented, these shares will not be redeemed and the physical certificates representing these shares will be returned to the stockholder promptly following the determination that the Charter Amendment Proposal will not be approved or will be otherwise abandoned, or following the approval of such proposal, that the Extension will not be implemented. We anticipate that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal, if the Extension is implemented, would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Charter Amendment. Our transfer agent will hold the certificates of public stockholders that make the Election until such shares are redeemed for cash or returned to such stockholders.

If properly demanded, we will redeem each public share for a *pro rata* portion of the funds available in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us (less taxes payable), calculated as of two business days prior to the filing of the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. As of December 31, 2022, this would amount to approximately $10.23 per share. The closing price of our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on , 2023 was $. Accordingly, if the market price were to remain the same until the date of the special meeting, exercising redemption rights would result in a public stockholder receiving approximately $[more] for each share than if such stockholder sold its public shares in the open market. We cannot assure public stockholders that they will be able to sell their public shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in our securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.

If you exercise your redemption rights, you will be exchanging your public shares for cash and will no longer own the shares. You will be entitled to receive cash for such shares only if you properly demand redemption and tender your stock certificate(s) to our transfer agent at least two business days prior to the special meeting. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved or if such proposal is otherwise abandoned, such shares will be returned promptly following the special meeting as described above. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is not implemented, such shares will be returned promptly followed the determination that the Extension will not be implemented.

#### Possible Claims Against and Impairment of the Trust Account
To protect amounts held in the trust account, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.10 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a vendor or prospective target business who executed an

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agreement with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that our sponsor's only assets are our securities. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. The per-share liquidation price for the public shares is anticipated to be approximately $10.23 (based on the approximate amount of $168.8 million held in the trust account as of December 31, 2022). Nevertheless, we cannot assure you that the per share distribution from the trust account, if we liquidate, will not be less than $10.10, plus interest, due to unforeseen claims of potential creditors.

In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below $10.10 per public share and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce such indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce such indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to the public stockholders may be reduced below $10.10 per share.

#### Required Vote
Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting. Abstentions, broker non-votes or failure to vote will have the effect of a vote against the Charter Amendment Proposal. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, as contemplated by the IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our charter, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders' rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date.

All of our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates are expected to vote any shares of our common stock over which they have voting control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of the Charter Amendment Proposal. On the record date, our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates collectively beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 4,125,000 founder shares, representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock.

Subject to applicable securities laws, our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of an initial business combination, although they are under no obligation to do so. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our initial stockholders purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares.

To the extent any such purchases by our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates are made in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases apply, we will disclose in a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to the special meeting the following: (i) the number of public shares purchased outside of the redemption offer, along with the purchase price(s) for such public shares; (ii) the purpose of any such purchases;

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(iii) the impact, if any, of the purchases on the likelihood that the Charter Amendment Proposal will be approved; (iv) the identities of the securityholders who sold to our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of the securityholders (e.g., five percent security holders) who sold such public shares; and (v) the number of public shares for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to the redemption offer.

The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would be to increase the likelihood of otherwise limiting the number of public shares electing to redeem.

If such transactions are effected, the consequence could be to cause the Extension to be effectuated in circumstances where such effectuation could not otherwise occur. Consistent with SEC guidance, purchases of shares by the persons described above would not be permitted to be voted for a proposed initial business combination and could decrease the chances that a proposed initial business combination would be approved. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public "float" of our securities and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.

We hereby represent that any of our securities purchased by our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates in situations in which the tender offer rules restrictions on purchases would apply would not be voted in favor of approving the Charter Amendment Proposal.

#### Interests of Our Initial Stockholders, Directors and Officers
When you consider the recommendation of the Board, you should keep in mind that our initial stockholders, directors and officers have interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include, among other things:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, in accordance with our charter, the aggregate 4,125,000 founder shares beneficially owned by our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates, which were acquired prior to the IPO for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $25,000, will be worthless (as the holders have waived liquidation rights with respect to such shares), as will be the aggregate 6,575,000 private placement warrants that were acquired in connection with the IPO by our sponsor and Stifel Venture for an aggregate purchase price of $6,575,000, which will expire. Such founder shares and private placement warrants had an aggregate market value of approximately $ based on the closing price of our Class A common stock and warrants of<br>$ and $, respectively, on the Nasdaq Global Market on , 2023;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Even if the trading price of our Class A common stock was as low as $1.60 per share, the aggregate market value of the founder shares alone (without taking into account the value of the private placement warrants) would be approximately equal to the initial investment in us by our initial stockholders. As a result, if an initial business combination is completed, our initial stockholders are likely to be able to make a substantial profit on their investment in us even at a time when the Class A common stock has lost significant value. On the other hand, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, our initial stockholders will lose their entire investment in us;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Each anchor investor acquired from our sponsor an indirect economic interest in certain founder shares (937,500 founder shares in the aggregate) at a purchase price of $0.10 per share. Our sponsor has agreed to distribute such founder shares to our anchor investors pro rata based on their indirect ownership interest in such founder shares after the completion of our initial business combination. As a result, if an initial business combination is completed, our anchor investors may make a substantial profit on their investment in us, even at a time when the Class A common stock has lost significant value. Our anchor investors may therefore have different interests with respect to a vote on the Charter Amendment Proposal than other public stockholders and an incentive to vote any public shares they own in favor of such proposal. However, we are not aware of any arrangements or understandings among our anchor investors with regard to voting, including voting with respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• In connection with the IPO, our sponsor agreed that it will be liable under certain circumstances to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.10 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• All rights specified in our charter relating to the right of officers and directors to be indemnified by us, and of our officers and directors to be exculpated from monetary liability with respect to prior acts or omissions, will continue after an initial business combination. If an initial business combination is not approved and we liquidate, we will not be able to perform our obligations to our officers and directors under those provisions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• None of our officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. All of the current members of the Board are expected to continue to serve as directors at least through the date of the special meeting and may continue to serve following an initial business combination and receive compensation thereafter; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Our sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, are entitled to reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, they will not have any claim against the trust account for reimbursement. Accordingly, we may not be able to reimburse these expenses if an initial business combination is not completed.

#### The Board's Reasons for the Charter Amendment Proposal and Its Recommendation
As discussed below, after careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that the Charter Amendment Proposal is advisable and unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" such proposal. The Board expresses no opinion as to whether you should make the Election to redeem your public shares.

We are a blank check company incorporated on December 15, 2020 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On October 13, 2021, we consummated the IPO of 15,000,000 units, and on October 22, 2021, we consummated the sale of 1,500,000 additional units as a result of the underwriters' partial exercise of their over-allotment option. Each unit consisted of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating total gross proceeds of $165,000,000. Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, we consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 6,200,000 private placement warrants to our sponsor and Stifel Venture at a price of $1.00 per private placement warrant, generating total gross proceeds of $6,200,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the partial exercise of the over-allotment option, we consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 375,000 additional private placement warrants to such purchasers at $1.00 per additional private placement warrant, generating total gross proceeds of $375,000.

The IPO Prospectus and our charter provide that we have until the Original Termination Date to consummate an initial business combination. The Charter Amendment Proposal is essential to the overall implementation of the Board's plan to extend the date that we have to complete an initial business combination. Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. While we are currently in discussions with respect to business combination opportunities, we have not yet executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination. We currently anticipate entering into such an agreement with one of our prospective targets, but the Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before the Original Termination Date to consummate an initial business combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that, in order to be able to consummate an initial business combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is advisable to extend the date that we have to consummate an initial business combination to the Extended Date. In the event that we enter into a definitive agreement for an initial business combination prior to the special meeting, we will issue a press release and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC announcing such proposed business combination.

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The affirmative vote of at least a majority of all then outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting is required to effect an amendment to our charter that would extend our corporate existence beyond the Original Termination Date. Additionally, the IPO Prospectus and our charter require that all public stockholders have an opportunity to redeem their public shares in the case that our corporate existence is extended. We believe that this charter provision was included to protect our stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if we do not consummate a suitable initial business combination in the timeframe contemplated by our charter. Given our expenditure of time, effort and money on finding a potential initial business combination, we believe circumstances warrant providing those who would like to consider whether a potential initial business combination with one or more of our prospective targets is an attractive investment with an opportunity to consider such transaction, inasmuch as we are also affording public stockholders who wish to redeem their public shares the opportunity to do so, as required under our charter. Accordingly, we believe the Extension is consistent with our charter and the IPO Prospectus.

**You are not being asked to vote on an initial business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not make the Election to redeem all of your public shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to vote on an initial business combination when it is submitted to the public stockholders (provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider such business combination) and the right to redeem your public shares for a *pro rata* portion of the trust account in the event an initial business combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated an initial business combination by the Extended Date.**

#### Recommendation of the Board
**The Board unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" the Charter Amendment Proposal. The Board expresses no opinion as to whether you should make the Election to redeem your public shares.**

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**PROPOSAL NO. 2** — **THE DIRECTOR ELECTION PROPOSAL**

At the special meeting, stockholders are being asked to re-elect two directors to the Board to serve as Class I directors. Pursuant to our charter, until the closing of our initial business combination, only holders of shares of Class B common stock can elect, remove or replace directors. Therefore, only holders of shares of Class B common stock are entitled to vote on the Director Election Proposal.

Pursuant to our charter, the Board is currently divided into two classes, Class I and Class II, with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a two-year term. The term of the initial Class I directors expires at our first annual meeting stockholders, and the term of the initial Class II directors expires at our second annual meeting of stockholders. Commencing at our first annual meeting of stockholders, and then at each following annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire are elected for a term of office to expire at the second annual meeting following their election. Directors whose terms expire at an annual meeting of stockholders may also be re-elected for a further two-year period if nominated by the Board.

As the special meeting is in lieu of our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders (being our first annual meeting of stockholders since the IPO), the terms of the initial Class I directors, Messrs. William G. LaPerch and William T. Allen, will expire at the special meeting. However, the Board has nominated each of such individuals for re-election as Class I directors, to hold office until the second annual meeting of stockholders following the special meeting, or until his successor is elected and qualified.

Unless a holder indicates otherwise, shares of Class B common stock represented by executed proxies in the form enclosed will be voted to re-elect each of Messrs. LaPerch and Allen unless any such individual is unavailable, in which case such shares will be voted for a substitute nominee designated by the Board. We have no reason to believe that either nominee will be unavailable or, if elected, will decline to serve. Any shares of Class B common stock not voted "FOR" a particular nominee, whether as a result of an abstention, a direction to withhold authority or a broker non-vote, will not be counted in the nominee's favor.

For a biography of each of Messrs. LaPerch and Allen, please see the section of this proxy statement entitled "Management*.*"

#### Required Vote
The re-election of the directors in the Director Election Proposal requires a plurality of the shares of Class B common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting. This means that the two nominees who receive the highest number of "FOR" votes will be elected as directors, even if those nominees do not receive a majority of the votes cast. A holder of shares of Class B common stock may vote for or withhold such holder's vote for all, or any, of the nominees. Cumulative voting is not permitted in the election of directors. Only holders of shares of Class B common stock are entitled to vote on the Director Election Proposal.

All of our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates are expected to vote any shares of Class B common stock over which they have voting control in favor of each of the directors named in the Director Election Proposal. On the record date, our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates collectively beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 4,125,000 founder shares, representing 100% of our issued and outstanding shares of Class B common stock.

#### Recommendation of the Board
**The Board unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" the election of each of the nominees named above.**

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**PROPOSAL NO. 3** — **THE AUDITOR RATIFICATION PROPOSAL**

We are asking our stockholders to ratify the selection by our audit committee of Marcum to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. Our audit committee is directly responsible for appointing our independent registered public accounting firm. Our audit committee is not bound by the outcome of this vote. However, if our stockholders do not direct, in the manner set forth herein, the ratification of the selection of Marcum to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, our audit committee intends to reconsider the selection of Marcum as our independent registered public accounting firm.

Marcum has audited our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and the period from January 1, 2021 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2021. Representatives of Marcum are not expected to be present at the special meeting to answer questions.

The following is a summary of fees paid or to be paid to Marcum for services rendered.

*Audit Fees*

Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by Marcum in connection with regulatory filings. The aggregate fees billed by Marcum for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the financial information included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the respective periods and other required filings with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the period from January 1, 2021 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2021 totaled $93,910 and $110,725, respectively. The above amounts include interim procedures and audit fees, as well as attendance at audit committee meetings.

*Audit-Related Fees*

Audit-related services consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under "Audit Fees." These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. We did not pay Marcum for consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards for the year ended December 31, 2022 and for the period from January 1, 2021 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2021.

*Tax Fees*

We paid Marcum $17,510 for tax planning and tax advice for the year ended December 31, 2022. We did not pay Marcum for tax planning and tax advice for the period from January 1, 2021 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2021.

*All Other Fees*

We paid Marcum $50,000 for tax due diligence advisory services in connection with the evaluation of potential business combination targets for the year ended December 31, 2022; however, we did not pay Marcum for other services and for the period from January 1, 2021 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2021.

#### Pre-Approval Policy
Our audit committee was formed in connection with the effectiveness of our registration statement for the IPO. As a result, our audit committee did not pre-approve all of the foregoing services, although any services rendered prior to the formation of our audit committee were approved by the Board. Since the formation of our audit committee, and on a going-forward basis, our audit committee has and will pre-approve all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the *de minimis* exceptions for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act which are approved by our audit committee prior to the completion of the audit).

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#### Required Vote
The Auditor Ratification Proposal must be approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting.

All of our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates are expected to vote any shares of our common stock over which they have voting control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of the Auditor Ratification Proposal. On the record date, our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates collectively beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 4,125,000 founder shares, representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock.

#### Recommendation of the Board
**The Board unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" the Auditor Ratification Proposal.**

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#### PROPOSAL NO. 4 — THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will request the chairman of the special meeting to adjourn 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 one or more of the other proposals set forth in this proxy statement or the Board determines before the special meeting that it is not necessary or no longer desirable to proceed with the Charter Amendment Proposal. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our stockholders in the event, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the special meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve one or more of the other proposals set forth in this proxy statement or the Board determines before the special meeting that it is not necessary or no longer desirable to proceed with the Charter Amendment Proposal.

If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by our stockholders, the chairman of the special meeting may not be able to exercise his or her ability to adjourn the special meeting to a later date in the event, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the special meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve one or more of the other proposals set forth in this proxy statement or the Board determines before the special meeting that it is not necessary or no longer desirable to proceed with the Charter Amendment Proposal.

#### Required Vote
The Adjournment Proposal, if presented, must be approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon and voted in person (by virtual attendance) or by proxy at the special meeting.

All of our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates are expected to vote any shares of our common stock over which they have voting control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of the Adjournment Proposal. On the record date, our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates collectively beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 4,125,000 founder shares, representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock.

#### Recommendation of the Board
**The Board unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" the Adjournment Proposal.**

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#### MANAGEMENT

#### Directors and Executive Officers
Our current directors and executive officers are as follows:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  **Name** | **Age** | **Position** |
|  George J. Schultze | 53 | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
|  Gary M. Julien | 53 | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director |
|  Scarlett Du | 55 | Secretary |
|  William G. LaPerch | 67 | Director |
|  William T. Allen | 66 | Director |
|  John J. Walker | 70 | Director |

---

#### George J. Schultze
George J. Schultze, J.D., has been our Chairman, President and CEO since our founding on December 15, 2020. Mr. Schultze is also the Managing Member, Chairman of Investment Committee and Chairman of Strategy Committee and Founder at Schultze Asset Management, LP ("Schultze Asset Management"). Mr. Schultze also served as Chairman, CEO and President of Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. ("Schultze I") from June 2018 until its business combination with Clever Leaves Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CLVR) ("Clever Leaves") in December 2020. Mr. Schultze is known as a foremost authority within the distressed and special situations industry with nearly 25 years of related experience. Mr. Schultze is often interviewed and quoted in the media, including CNBC and Bloomberg, and has published numerous articles in Forbes on special situations investing and high-profile reorganizations as a contributing writer since 2013. He is also a frequent speaker at industry conferences and graduate business schools. Mr. Schultze is the author of The Art of Vulture Investing: Adventures in Distressed Securities Management (Wiley Finance, 2012). He has previously served as board director or liquidation trust or creditor committee member at American Plumbing & Mechanical, Armstrong World Industries, Atkins Nutritional, Breed Technologies, Chrysler, Collins & Aikman, General Chemical Group, Home Products International, Horizon Natural Resources, Interstate Bakeries, Le Nature's, M. Fabrikant & Sons, Pineapple Grove, Power Plumbing, Resurrection Foundation, The Hedge Fund Association, Tropicana Entertainment, Tweeter Home Entertainment, Twinlab, Ultra Petroleum, United Airlines, US Timberlands, Washington Group International, and Werner Co. Mr. Schultze has served on the Litigation Trust Subcommittee for Tropicana Entertainment since July 2009. Prior to founding Schultze Asset Management in 1998, Mr. Schultze focused on distressed and special situations investing at MD Sass. Before that, he was employed at Fiduciary Partners (a fund of funds), the Law Firm of Mayer Brown & Platt and at Merrill Lynch. Mr. Schultze has served as a member of the board of directors of Clever Leaves since February 2022. Mr. Schultze earned an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. He also received a B.A., with a joint major in Economics and Political Science and the Henry Rutgers Scholar distinction, from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. We believe Mr. Schultze is well qualified to serve on the Board based on his extensive leadership and business experience, together with his strong background in distressed securities investing, finance and public company governance.

#### Gary M. Julien
Gary M. Julien has been our Executive Vice President since January 2021, our Chief Financial Officer since March 2022 and has served as one of our directors since October 2021. Mr. Julien is also a Managing Director, Acquisitions at Schultze Asset Management. Mr. Julien served as Executive Vice President of Schultze I from September 2018, and also as a director from December 2018, until its business combination with Clever Leaves in December 2020. Mr. Julien has over 20 years of M&A, SPAC and public and private equity investment experience across a variety of industries. Mr. Julien previously led and supported M&A initiatives on behalf of entities controlled by Mario J. Gabelli, Chairman, and CEO of GAMCO Investors, Inc., including as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development for PMV Acquisition Corp., LICT Corporation and CIBL, Inc. From November 2009 through 2014, Mr. Julien was Senior Vice President at Bronson Point Management, an investment management firm, where he originated, oversaw and analyzed public market investments helping to the firm grow from approximately $70 million in asset under management at launch in 2010 to $1.9 billion in 2014. From 2007 through 2009, Mr. Julien led and supported M&A and corporate finance initiatives for the private investment firm Kanders & Company, Inc. and its affiliates including as Vice President, Corporate Development of Kanders & Company, Clarus Corp. and

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Highlands Acquisition Corp. From 2003 through 2006, Mr. Julien was Vice President, Corporate Development for Armor Holdings, Inc., an aerospace and defense company and portfolio company of Kanders & Company, where he oversaw mergers, acquisitions and divestitures for the company, executing 15 transactions during this period and investing approximately $1.2 billion. During this period of time, Armor Holdings' revenue grew from $305 million to $2.4 billion prior to its sale to BAE Systems plc in July 2007 for $4.5 billion. Mr. Julien previously worked at Global Crossing Ltd. where he led and supported several M&A, joint ventures and minority investments. Mr. Julien has served as a member of the board of directors of Clever Leaves since December 2020. Mr. Julien received an M.B.A. with honors in Finance from Columbia Business School and a B.S. from the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University. We believe Mr. Julien is well qualified to serve on the Board based on his business experience, including his extensive experience in investing, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.

#### Scarlett Du
Scarlett Du has been our Secretary since January 2021 and has served as the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Schultze Asset Management since November 2011 where she is responsible for providing advice and guidance on a range of legal, regulatory and compliance matters. Ms. Du served as Secretary of Schultze I from September 2018 until its business combination with Clever Leaves in December 2020. Prior to joining Schultze Asset Management, Ms. Du worked as an in-house attorney for the Reserve Fund, a money market mutual fund that managed $120.0 billion in assets under management, from January 2008 to January 2010, and in the New York office at Ropes & Gray, a law firm, from September 2005 to January 2008. Before starting her private legal practice, Ms. Du clerked for a federal district judge, the Honorable Gordon Quist, in the Western District of Michigan. Before switching to law, Ms. Du worked in the accounting and audit field for nine years, including with Deloitte & Touche. Scarlett earned a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from City College, CUNY and a J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

#### William G. LaPerch
William G. LaPerch has served as one of our directors since October 2021. Mr. LaPerch has served as President of LaPerch Consulting, LLC (a provider of consulting services to private equity firms) since September 2012. Mr. LaPerch served as a director of Schultze I from December 2018 until its business combination with Clever Leaves in December 2020. From July 2016 to December 2019, Mr. LaPerch served as Executive Chairman of Hylan Inc., a provider of specialty contracting services in the New York City region for telecommunications providers and municipal organizations. From 2004 to 2012, Mr. LaPerch served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of AboveNet, Inc., then a publicly-traded provider of bandwidth infrastructure services, prior to which he served as Senior Vice President Operations. At AboveNet he was responsible for guiding the company out of Chapter 11 (AboveNet emerged from protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code effective September 2003) and establishing the company as a profitable and recognized leader in providing optical connectivity solutions for Fortune 1000 companies. In March 2012, AboveNet was acquired by Zayo Group Holdings for $2.2 billion. Before joining AboveNet, Mr. LaPerch served as Senior Vice President of Network Services at MCI and he also held executive positions at NYNEX. Mr. LaPerch has served on the boards of Digital Realty Trust (NYSE: DLR) since March 2013 and Windstream (formerly NASDAQ: WIN) since September 2014 and was on the board of Imation, Inc. (NYSE: IMN) from November 2012 to August 2015. Mr. LaPerch also serves as a board member and advisor to several privately held companies including First Light Fiber, South Reach Networks and ITG Construction Services. Mr. LaPerch is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and received his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. We believe Mr. LaPerch is well qualified to serve on the Board based on his extensive leadership and business experience, including his management positions and service as a board member of public and private companies.

#### William T. Allen
William T. Allen has served as one of our directors since October 2021. Mr. Allen has extensive 30-year background managing businesses and providing leadership to manufacturing operations requiring operational turnarounds, notably as CEO. Amongst industries Mr. Allen has worked in have included nuclear power, oil/petrochemical, automotive, industrial equipment, steel fabrication and plastic injection molding. Mr. Allen served as a director of Schultze I from December 2018 until its business combination with Clever Leaves in December 2020. Mr. Allen was, until

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December 2017, CEO of Werner Co., Inc., a leading manufacturer of industrial climbing products, from August 2007, and President and Chairman of the Board since March 2009, through its sale to Triton Funds in July 2017. Mr. Allen serves as a member of the board of directors of AQuity Solutions (formerly Mmodal Inc.), a leading provider of clinical documentation technology solutions to the healthcare market, Savers, a privately held thrift store chain offering vintage and second-hand shopping, and is Chairman of Envocore, which provides state-of-the-art energy efficient solutions that provide measurable waste reduction. Until recently, Mr. Allen also served as a board member of Rockport, a leading provider of men's and women's footwear, which filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and is in the process of being sold to through Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. He has also held board positions at USI, Arclin, Constar, Ames Taping Tools, Oriental Trading, Hines Nurseries, Running Aces Harness Park, WrightLine (former CEO), APW (former CEO), Chart Industries (former CEO) and Millennium Rail, many of which were on behalf of leading alternative investment firms including Ares Management, Black Diamond Capital Management, Oaktree Capital and Crescent Capital Group. In 2012, Mr. Allen received the Pittsburgh Business Times' Diamond Award as CEO of the Year in the 'Large for Profit' category. We believe Mr. Allen is well qualified to serve on the Board based on his extensive leadership and business experience, including his management positions and service as a board member of public and private companies.

#### John J. Walker, C.P.A., C.G.M.A.
John J. Walker has served as one of our directors since October 2021. Mr. Walker is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. Mr. Walker has 37 years of financial and executive management experience including 21 years as a Chief Financial Officer with both public and private companies. Since 2011, Mr. Walker has been a Director of The Descartes Systems Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSGX, TSX: DSG), a logistics technology company and serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Walker served as a director of Schultze I from December 2018 until its business combination with Clever Leaves in December 2020. From 2006 through 2010, he served as Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President of Bowne & Company, a New York Stock Exchange-listed provider of documentation services largely to the financial services industry, during which he led and supervised a significant financial restructuring of the company leading to a sale of the company to R.R. Donnelley in 2010 for $481 million. Prior to Bowne & Company, from 1988 to 2006, Mr. Walker was an executive with Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation, then the 4<sup>th</sup> largest motion picture operator in the world, including sixteen years as Chief Financial Officer. In January 2006, the company was acquired by AMC Entertainment for $1.5 billion creating the second largest theater operator in the world. Prior thereto, Mr. Walker served for six years as Controller and Principal Accounting Officer of Corporate Property Investors, then one of the largest real estate investment trusts in the United States. Mr. Walker also served for six years as Treasurer and Assistant Corporate Controller of Princess Hotels International a company involved in the ownership and operation of luxury resort hotels, real estate and timesharing developments. He is a Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Walker started his professional career with then Price Waterhouse & Co. He received his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Scranton in 1974. We believe Mr. Walker is well qualified to serve on the Board based on his extensive leadership, business and finance experience, including his management positions and service as a board member of public and private companies.

#### Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
The Board is divided into two classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a two-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Messrs. LaPerch and Allen, will expire at the special meeting. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Messrs. Schultze, Julien and Walker, will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders.

Our officers are appointed by the Board and serve at the discretion of the Board, rather than for specific terms of office. The Board is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and such other officers (including, without limitation, Vice Presidents and Assistant Secretaries) as may be determined by the Board.

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#### Executive Compensation
No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Commencing on October 7, 2021 through the earlier of our consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we are obligated to pay our sponsor an aggregate fee of up to $25,000 per month for general and administrative services, including office space, utilities and administrative support. However, this arrangement is solely for our benefit and is not intended to provide our executive officers or directors compensation in lieu of a salary.

Other than the administrative fee of up to $25,000 per month and the repayment of any loans made by our sponsor to us, no compensation or fees of any kind, including finder's, consulting fees and other similar fees, will be paid to our sponsor, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, they will receive repayment of any loans from our sponsor, officers and directors for working capital purposes and reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us.

After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by the SEC.

#### Committees of the Board
The Board has three standing committees: an audit committee, a nominating committee and a compensation committee. Each of our audit committee, our nominating committee and our compensation committee is composed solely of independent directors.

#### Audit Committee
Our audit committee consists of Messrs. Walker (chair), LaPerch and Allen, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq's listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Each member of our audit committee is financially literate, and the Board has determined that Mr. Walker qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined in applicable SEC rules because he meets the requirement for past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting or comparable experience. Our audit committee's duties, which are specified in our Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Form 10-K;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• monitoring the independence of the independent auditor;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• reviewing and approving all related-party transactions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• appointing or replacing the independent auditor;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• approving reimbursement of expenses incurred by our management team in identifying potential target businesses.

#### Nominating Committee
Our nominating committee consists of Messrs. Allen (chair), LaPerch and Walker, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq's listing standards. Our nominating committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on the Board. Our nominating committee considers persons identified by its members, management, stockholders, investment bankers and others.

*Guidelines for Selecting Director Nominees*

The guidelines for selecting nominees, which are specified in the Nominating Committee Charter, generally provide that persons to be nominated:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the Board and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the stockholders.

Our nominating committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person's candidacy for membership on the Board. Our nominating committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific Board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of Board members. Our nominating committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by stockholders and other persons.

#### Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee consists of Messrs. LaPerch (chair), Allen and Walker, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq's listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our compensation committee's duties, which are specified in our Compensation Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer's compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer's performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers and employees;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• if required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.

#### Code of Ethics and Committee Charters
We have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to all of our executive officers, directors and employees (if any). The Code of Ethics codifies the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business. We have filed a copy of our Code of Ethics, Audit Committee Charter, Nominating Committee Charter and Compensation Committee Charter as exhibits to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-254018). You may review these documents by accessing our public filings at the SEC's website at *www.sec.gov*. In addition, a copy of our Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request to us in writing at 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite S-632, Rye Brook, NY 10573 or by telephone at (914) 701-5260. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

#### Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration, governmental proceeding or any other legal proceeding currently pending or known to be contemplated against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such.

#### Report of the Audit Committee\*
Our audit committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements with management, and has discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the "PCAOB") and the SEC. Additionally, our audit committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from our independent registered public accounting firm, as required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the independent registered public accounting firm's independence. Based upon such review and discussion, our audit committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our 2022 Form 10-K.

Submitted by our audit committee:

John J. Walker<br>William G. LaPerch<br>William T. Allen

____________

\* The above report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference.

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#### BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of , 2023, by:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• each of our officers and directors; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• all our officers and directors as a group.

Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of our warrants, including the private placement warrants, because such warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this proxy statement.

We have based our calculation of the percentage of beneficial ownership on 20,625,000 shares of common stock outstanding on , 2023, consisting of 16,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 4,125,000 shares of Class B common stock.

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Class A Common Stock** | **Class A Common Stock** | **Class B Common Stock** | **Class B Common Stock** | **Approximate <br>Percentage of <br>Outstanding <br>Common <br>Stock** |
|  **Name and Address of Beneficial Owner<sup>(1)</sup>** | **Number of <br>Shares <br>Beneficially <br>Owned** | **Approximate <br>Percentage <br>of Class** | **Number of <br>Shares <br>Beneficially <br>Owned** | **Approximate<br> Percentage <br>of Class** | **Approximate <br>Percentage of <br>Outstanding <br>Common <br>Stock** |
|  Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Sponsor II, LLC<sup>(2)(3)</sup> |  |  | 3736000 | 90.6% | 18.1% |
|  George J. Schultze<sup>(2)(3)</sup> |  |  | 3736000 | 90.6% | 18.1% |
|  Gary M. Julien |  |  |  |  |  |
|  Scarlett Du |  |  |  |  |  |
|  William G. LaPerch<sup>(2)</sup> |  |  | 25000 | \* | \* |
|  William T. Allen<sup>(2)</sup> |  |  | 25000 | \* | \* |
|  John J. Walker<sup>(2)</sup> |  |  | 25000 | \* | \* |
|  All directors and executive officers as a group (6 individuals) |  |  | 3811000 | 92.4% | 18.5% |
|  D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C.<sup>(4)</sup> | 1485000 | 9.0% |  |  | 7.2% |
|  Magnetar Financial LLC<sup>(5)</sup> | 1485000 | 9.0% |  |  | 7.2% |
|  RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC<sup>(6)</sup> | 1485000 | 9.0% |  |  | 7.2% |
|  Polar Asset Management Partners Inc.<sup>(7)</sup> | 1408700 | 8.5% |  |  | 6.8% |
|  Atalaya Capital Management LP<sup>(8)</sup> | 1206859 | 7.3% |  |  | 5.9% |
|  Radcliffe Capital Management, L.P.<sup>(9)</sup> | 983432 | 6.0% |  |  | 4.8% |
|  Highbridge Capital Management, LLC<sup>(10)</sup> | 884539 | 5.4% |  |  | 4.3% |

---

____________

\* Less than one percent.

(1) Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite S-632, Rye Brook, New York 10573.

(2) Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, classified as shares of Class B common stock. Such shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment.

(3) Represents shares held by our sponsor directly and indirectly through its subsidiary, SAMA Sponsor II Subsidiary, LLC (the "Sponsor Subsidiary"), as managing member of the Sponsor Subsidiary. Schultze Asset Management is the manager of our sponsor, and Schultze Master Fund, Ltd is the majority owner of our sponsor. Each of Schultze Asset Management and Schultze Master Fund, Ltd is controlled by George J. Schultze. Accordingly, Mr. Schultze may be deemed to beneficially own all of the reported shares. Mr. Schultze disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities held by our sponsor or the Sponsor Subsidiary except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Our sponsor also disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by the Sponsor Subsidiary except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.

(4) According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on October 25, 2021, on behalf of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and David E. Shaw. The reported shares are held directly by D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C. By virtue of Mr. Shaw's position as President and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc.,

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which is the general partner of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P., which in turn is the investment adviser of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., and by virtue of Mr. Shaw's position as President and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw & Co. II, Inc., which is the managing member of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., which in turn is the manager of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., Mr. Shaw may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of, and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of, the reported shares and, therefore, Mr. Shaw may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares. Mr. Shaw disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. The business address of this stockholder is 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 9<sup>th</sup> Floor, New York, NY 10036.

(5) According to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2023, on behalf of Magnetar Financial LLC ("Magnetar Financial"), Magnetar Capital Partners LP ("Magnetar Capital Partners"), Supernova Management LLC ("Supernova Management") and David J. Snyderman. The reported shares are held for certain funds (collectively, the "Magnetar Funds"). Magnetar Financial serves as the investment adviser to the Magnetar Funds, and as such, Magnetar Financial exercises voting and investment power over the shares held for the Magnetar Funds' accounts. Magnetar Capital Partners serves as the sole member and parent holding company of Magnetar Financial. Supernova Management is the general partner of Magnetar Capital Partners. The manager of Supernova Management is Mr. Snyderman. The business address of this stockholder is 1603 Orrington Avenue, 13<sup>th</sup> Floor, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

(6) According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 15, 2022, on behalf of RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC. The business address of this stockholder is 325 N. LaSalle Street, Ste. 645, Chicago, Illinois 60654.

(7) According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2022, on behalf of Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. ("Polar"). Polar serves as the investment advisor to Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund ("PMSMF") with respect to the reported shares directly held by PMSMF. The business address of this stockholder is 16 York Street, Suite 2900, Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 0E6.

(8) According to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on December 14, 2021, on behalf of Atalaya Special Purpose Investment Fund II LP ("ASPIF II"); ACM ASOF VII (Cayman) Holdco LP ("ASOF"); ACM Alameda Special Purpose Investment Fund II LP ("Alameda"); ACM Alamosa (Cayman) Holdco LP ("Alamosa"); Atalaya Capital Management LP ("ACM"); Corbin ERISA Opportunity Fund, Ltd. ("CEOF"); Corbin Capital Partners GP, LLC ("Corbin GP"); and Corbin Capital Partners, L.P. ("CCP"). The shares are directly held by ASPIF II, ASOF, Alameda, Alamosa and CEOF. As ASPIF II, ASOF, Alameda and Alamosa's investment manager, ACM has the power to vote and direct the disposition of all shares held by ASPIF II, ASOF, Alameda and Alamosa. As CEOF's investment manager, CCP has the power to vote and direct the disposition of all shares held by CEOF. CEOF, Corbin GP and CCP disclaim beneficial ownership over the shares held directly by ASPIF II, ASOF, Alameda and Alamosa. ASPIF II, ASOF, Alameda, Alamosa and ACM disclaim beneficial ownership over the shares held directly by CEOF. The business address of this stockholder is One Rockefeller Plaza, 32<sup>nd</sup> Floor, New York, NY 10020.

(9) According to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022, on behalf of Radcliffe Capital Management, L.P. ("RCM"), RGC Management Company, LLC ("RGC"), Steven B. Katznelson, Christopher Hinkel, Radcliffe SPAC Master Fund, L.P. ("RSMF") and Radcliffe SPAC GP, LLC ("RSG"). RCM is the relevant entity for which RGC, Mr. Katznelson and Mr. Hinkel may be considered control persons. RSMF is the relevant entity for which RSG, Mr. Katznelson and Mr. Hinkel may be considered control persons. The business address of this stockholder is 50 Monument Road, Suite 300, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.

(10) According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 2, 2023, on behalf of Highbridge Capital Management, LLC ("Highbridge"). Highbridge serves as the investment adviser to certain funds and accounts (the "Highbridge Funds") with respect to the reported shares that are directly held by the Highbridge Funds. The Schedule 13G provides that such filing should not be construed as an admission that Highbridge is, for purposes of Section 13 of the Exchange Act, the beneficial owner of such reported shares. The business address of this stockholder is 277 Park Avenue, 23<sup>rd</sup> Floor, New York, New York 10172.

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#### CERT AIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS,<br>AND DIRECTOR INDEPEND ENCE
On January 15, 2021, we issued an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares to our sponsor for an aggregate price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Our sponsor subsequently transferred 25,000 founder shares to each of our independent directors, 276,000 founder shares to Stifel Venture and an aggregate of 50,000 founder shares to certain strategic advisors identified in connection with the IPO, in each case at the same price originally paid for such shares. On each of July 27, 2021 and September 20, 2021, our sponsor forfeited 718,750 founder shares, resulting in there being 4,312,500 founder shares issued and outstanding. On October 22, 2021, in connection with the underwriters' election to partially exercise their over-allotment option and the forfeiture of the remaining portion of such over-allotment option, 175,500 and 12,000 founder shares were forfeited by our sponsor and Stifel Venture, respectively, to us at no cost, and 4,125,000 founder shares remain outstanding. The founder shares will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment.

Subject to certain limited exceptions, our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our business combination, (x) if the last sales price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.

Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, we consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 6,200,000 private placement warrants to our sponsor and Stifel Venture at a price of $1.00 per private placement warrant, generating total gross proceeds of $6,200,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the partial exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, we consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 375,000 additional private placement warrants to such purchasers at $1.00 per additional private placement warrant, generating total gross proceeds of $375,000. The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants underlying the units, except that the private placement warrants held by Stifel Venture will not be exercisable more than five years from the commencement of sales of the IPO in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A). In addition, the private placement warrants (and the shares of Class A common stock underlying the private placement warrants) will be subject to transfer restrictions until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, subject to certain limited exceptions.

If any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such initial business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such initial business combination opportunity to us. Our officers and directors currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.

In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with our initial business combination, our sponsor or our officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the holder's discretion, up to $1,500,000 of the notes may be converted into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans will be forgiven.

The holders of the founder shares and the private placement warrants, including Stifel Venture, and any warrants our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (and all underlying securities), are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement, dated as of October 7, 2021, among our company and such holders. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands that we register such securities. The holders of a majority of the founder shares, private placement warrants and warrants issued to our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates in payment of working capital loans made to us (in each case, including the underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing,

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the registration rights relating to the founder shares and the private placement warrants held by Stifel Venture shall comply with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5110 (g)(8)(B)-(D), namely that Stifel Venture may not exercise its demand and "piggy-back" registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, from the commencement of sales of the IPO and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.

Our sponsor loaned us a total of $85,000 in connection with the expenses of the IPO, pursuant to the terms of an unsecured promissory note. We fully repaid the loans from our sponsor on October 13, 2021.

Pursuant to an agreement with our sponsor, which is affiliated with our officers and directors, we pay our sponsor an aggregate of up to $25,000 for certain general and administrative services, including office space, utilities and administrative support, as we may require from time to time. We began incurring these fees on October 7, 2021 and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of our initial business combination and our liquidation. Accordingly, our officers and directors will benefit from the transaction to the extent of their interest in our sponsor. However, this arrangement is solely for our benefit and is not intended to provide our officers or directors compensation in lieu of a salary. We believe, based on rents and fees for similar services in the Rye Brook, New York area, that the fee charged by our sponsor is at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person.

Other than the administrative fee of up to $25,000 per month and the repayment of any loans made by our sponsor to us, no compensation or fees of any kind, including finder's, consulting fees and other similar fees, will be paid to our sponsor, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, they will receive repayment of any loans from our sponsor, officers and directors for working capital purposes and reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us.

After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by the SEC.

All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by a majority of our disinterested "independent" directors or the members of the Board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested "independent" directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.

#### Related Party Policy
Our Code of Ethics requires us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the Board (or our audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (i) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (ii) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (iii) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our shares of common stock, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.

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Our audit committee, pursuant to our Audit Committee Charter, is responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. Our audit committee will consider all relevant factors when determining whether to approve a related party transaction, including whether the related party transaction is on terms no less favorable to us than terms generally available from an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party's interest in the transaction. No director may participate in the approval of any transaction in which he or she is a related party, but that director is required to provide our audit committee with all material information concerning the transaction. We also require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors' and officers' questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.

These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.

To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our sponsor, officers or directors including (i) an entity that is either a portfolio company of, or has otherwise received a material financial investment from, any private equity fund or investment company (or an affiliate thereof) that is affiliated with any of the foregoing, (ii) an entity in which any of the foregoing or their affiliates are currently passive investors, (iii) an entity in which any of the foregoing or their affiliates are currently officers or directors, or (iv) an entity in which any of the foregoing or their affiliates are currently invested through an investment vehicle controlled by them, unless we have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, and the approval of a majority of our disinterested independent directors that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view.

#### Director Independence
Nasdaq listing standards require that a majority of the Board be independent. An "independent director" is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the company's board of directors, would interfere with the director's exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The Board has determined that Messrs. LaPerch, Allen and Walker are "independent directors" as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards.

Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.

Any affiliated transactions will be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. The Board will review and approve all affiliated transactions with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.

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#### STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
If the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and we consummate an initial business combination in which we remain a separate public company, we anticipate that the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders will be held no later than December 31, 2024. For any proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for submission to the stockholders at our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, it must be submitted in writing and comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act.

In addition, our bylaws provide notice procedures for stockholders to nominate a person as a director and to propose business to be considered by stockholders at a meeting. Notice of a nomination or proposal must be delivered to our corporate secretary at our principal executive offices not later the close of business on the 90<sup>th</sup> day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120<sup>th</sup> day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120<sup>th</sup> day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90<sup>th</sup> day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10<sup>th</sup> day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made by us. Nominations and proposals also must satisfy other requirements set forth in the bylaws. The Chairman of the Board may refuse to acknowledge the introduction of any stockholder proposal not made in compliance with the foregoing procedures.

Alternatively, if the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate an initial business combination by the Original Termination Date, there will be no annual meeting of stockholders in 2024.

#### Stockholder and Interested Party Communications
Stockholders and interested parties may communicate with the Board, any committee chairperson or the non-management directors as a group by writing to the Board or committee chairperson in care of Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II, 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite S-632, Rye Brook, NY 10573.

#### DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS
Unless we have received contrary instructions, we may send a single copy of this proxy statement to any household at which two or more stockholders reside if we believe the stockholders are members of the same family. This process, known as "householding," reduces the volume of duplicate information received at any one household and helps to reduce our expenses. However, if stockholders prefer to receive multiple sets of our disclosure documents at the same address in the future, the stockholders should follow the instructions described below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another stockholder and together both of the stockholders would like to receive only a single set of our disclosure documents, the stockholders should follow these instructions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the shares are registered in the name of the stockholder, the stockholder may notify us of his or her request by calling or writing Morrow Sodali LLC, our proxy solicitor, at 333 Ludlow Street, 5<sup>th</sup> Floor, South Tower, Stamford, CT 06902, telephone number: (800) 662-5200, e-mail: SAMA.info@investor.morrowsodali.com; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If a bank, broker or other nominee holds the shares, the stockholder should contact the bank, broker or other nominee directly; banks or brokers may call Morrow Sodali LLC collect at (203) 658-9400.

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#### WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual and quarterly reports and other reports and information with the SEC. We distribute to our stockholders annual reports containing financial statements audited by our independent registered public accounting firm and, upon request, quarterly reports for the first three quarters of each fiscal year containing unaudited financial information. In addition, the reports and other information are filed through Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (known as "EDGAR") system and are publicly available on the SEC's website, located at *http://www.sec.gov*. We will provide without charge to you, upon written or oral request, a copy of the reports and other information filed with the SEC.

Any requests for copies of information, reports or other filings with the SEC should be directed to Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II, 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite S-632, Rye Brook, NY 10573.

In order to receive timely delivery of the documents in advance of the special meeting, you must make your request for information no later than , 2023 (seven days prior to the special meeting).

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**ANNEX A**

**PROPOSED AMENDMENT<br>TO THE<br>AMENDED AND RESTATED<br>CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION<br>OF<br>SCHULTZE SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION CORP. II**

, 2023

Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "**Corporation**"), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. The name of the Corporation is "**Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II**". The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 15, 2020. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 7, 2021 (the "**Amended and Restated Certificate**").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends the Amended and Restated Certificate.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the common stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. The text of Section 9.1(b) is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Immediately after the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation's registration statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "**SEC**") on March 9, 2021, as amended (the "**Registration Statement**"), shall be deposited in a trust account (the "**Trust Account**"), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, none of the funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below) if the Corporation does not complete its initial Business Combination by October 13, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by the Board (the "**Termination Date**") and (iii) the redemption of Offering Shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend any provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate relating to stockholders' rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in <u>Section 9.7</u>). Holders of shares of the Class A Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the "**Offering Shares**") (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are the Sponsor or officers or directors of the Corporation, or any affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as "**Public Stockholders**."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. The text of Section 9.2(d) is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) In the event that the Corporation has not completed an initial Business Combination by the Termination Date, the Corporation shall (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 Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Corporation (net of taxes payable and less up to $150,000 for any dissolution or liquidation related expenses, as applicable), by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,

Annex A-1

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subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Corporation's obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. The text of Section 9.7 is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows:

Section 9.7 <u>Additional Redemption Rights</u>. If, in accordance with <u>Section 9.1(a)</u>, any amendment is made to this Amended and Restated Certificate to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation's obligation to allow redemptions in connection with its initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation does not complete an initial Business Combination by the Termination Date or with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders' rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Corporation but net of taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares; provided, however, that any such amendment will be voided, and this *Article IX* will remain unchanged, if any stockholders who wish to redeem are unable to redeem due to the Redemption Limitation.

Annex A-2

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II has caused this Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be duly executed in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set above.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
|  **Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II** | **Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II** |
|  By: |  |
|  | Name: |
|  | Title: |

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Annex A-3

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#### Preliminary Proxy Card
**Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II**

#### THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br>FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON<br>, 2023
The undersigned, revoking any previous proxies relating to these shares, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice and Proxy Statement, dated , 2023, in connection with the Special Meeting in Lieu of the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special Meeting") to be held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on , 2023 as a virtual meeting, and hereby appoints George J. Schultze and Gary M. Julien, and each of them (with full power to act alone), the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with power of substitution to each, to vote all shares of the common stock of Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II (the "Company") registered in the name provided, which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, and at any adjournments thereof, with all the powers the undersigned would have if personally present. Without limiting the general authorization hereby given, said proxies are, and each of them is, instructed to vote or act as follows on the proposals set forth in the accompanying proxy statement.

**PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE ENCLOSED. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" EACH OF THE PROPOSALS ON WHICH THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AND WILL GRANT DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF. THIS PROXY WILL REVOKE ALL PRIOR PROXIES SIGNED BY YOU.**

**THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" PROPOSALS 1, 2, 3 AND 4.**

**Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting in Lieu of the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on , 2023**: This notice of special meeting, the accompanying proxy statement and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 are available at *.*

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **FOR** | **AGAINST** | **ABSTAIN** |
|  **Proposal 1 — The Charter Amendment Proposal**<br> To amend the Company's amended and restated certificate of incorporation, in the form set forth as Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement, to extend the date by which the Company must consummate an initial business combination from April 13, 2023 to October 13, 2023 or such earlier date as determined by the Company's board of directors (the "Board") (the "Charter Amendment Proposal"). | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
|  **Proposal 2 — The Director Election Proposal** <br> **[ONLY HOLDERS OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK ENTITLED TO VOTE]**<br> To re-elect two directors to the Board, with each such director to serve until the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Special Meeting or until his successor is elected and qualified. | **FOR** | **WITHHOLD** |  |
|  William G. LaPerch | ☐ | ☐ |  |
|  William T. Allen | ☐ | ☐ |  |
|  | **FOR** | **AGAINST** | **ABSTAIN** |
|  **Proposal 3 — The Auditor Ratification Proposal**<br> To ratify the selection by the Company's audit committee of Marcum LLP to serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
|  | **FOR** | **AGAINST** | **ABSTAIN** |
|  **Proposal 4 — The Adjournment Proposal**<br> To direct the chairman of the Special Meeting to adjourn 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 one or more of the foregoing proposals or the Board determines before the Special Meeting that it is not necessary or no longer desirable to proceed with the Charter Amendment Proposal. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |

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| |
|:---|
|  Dated: __________________ 2023 |
|  Stockholder's Signature |
|  Stockholder's Signature |

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Signature should agree with name printed hereon. If stock is held in the name of more than one person, EACH joint owner should sign. Executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, and attorneys should indicate the capacity in which they sign. Attorneys should submit powers of attorney.

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