As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 2024

No. 333-269004​

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Amendment No. 7

to

FORM S-4

The information in this proxy statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Binah Capital Group, Inc. may not issue the securities offered by this proxy statement/ prospectus until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part, is declared effective. This proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of these securities is not permitted.​

PROXY STATEMENT FOR

SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF KINGSWOOD
ACQUISITION CORP.​

PROSPECTUS FOR
17,713,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
11,709,450 WARRANTS TO PURCHASE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND
11,709,450 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UNDERLYING WARRANTS OF

BINAH CAPITAL GROUP, INC.​

The board of directors of Kingswood Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“KWAC”), has unanimously approved the agreement and plan of merger (as it may be further amended, restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time), dated as of July 7, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among KWAC, Binah Capital Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of KWAC (“Holdings”), Kingswood Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (“Kingswood Merger Sub”), Wentworth Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (“Wentworth Merger Sub”), and Wentworth Management Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Wentworth”), a copy of which is attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. You are being asked to vote on, among other proposals the Business Combination Proposal, the Organizational Document Proposal, the Nasdaq Proposal, the NTA Proposal, and the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal.

Holdings, Kingswood Merger Sub and Wentworth Merger Sub are newly formed entities that were formed for the sole purpose of entering into and consummating the transactions set forth in the Merger Agreement. Holdings is a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of KWAC and both Kingswood Merger Sub and Wentworth Merger Sub are wholly-owned direct subsidiaries of Holdings. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at closing, each of the following transactions will occur in the following order: (i) Kingswood Merger Sub will merge with and into KWAC (the “Kingswood Merger”), with KWAC surviving the Kingswood Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (the “Kingswood Surviving Company”); (ii) simultaneously with the Kingswood Merger, Wentworth Merger Sub will merge with and into Wentworth (the “Wentworth Merger”), with Wentworth surviving the Wentworth Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (the “Surviving Company”); and (iii) following the Wentworth Merger, Kingswood Surviving Company will acquire, and Holdings will contribute to Kingswood Surviving Company all of the common units of the Surviving Company directly held by Holdings after the Kingswood Merger (the “Holdings Contribution”), such that, following the Holdings Contribution, Surviving Company shall be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kingswood Surviving Company (the Kingswood Merger and the Wentworth Merger, together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”).

Wentworth owns and operates ten entities, four of which are broker-dealers, three of which are registered investment advisors, and three of which are insurance entities. Affiliated financial advisors have the optionality to choose from operating models that include a hybrid open architecture platform, independent registered status, and a W2 advisor model. The platform provides a variety of custody and clearing firms to accommodate the unique business needs of advisors. KWAC is a blank check company formed for the purpose of acquiring, through a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, reorganization, or similar business combination, one or more operating businesses.

If KWAC stockholders approve the Business Combination Proposal (as defined below) and the parties consummate the Business Combination: (i) the holders of shares of KWAC’s common stock (“KWAC Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Business Combination (other than any redeemed shares) will receive one share of common stock of Holdings (“Holdings Common Stock”) in exchange for each share of KWAC Common Stock held by them, subject to adjustment as more fully described herein, (ii) 1,100,000 shares of Holdings Common Stock issued to Sponsor will be placed by Holdings into an escrow account (or at the option of Sponsor, be forfeited by Sponsor) and not released to Sponsor (or in the case of forfeiture, not reissued to Sponsor) unless the dollar volume-weighted average price of Holdings Common Stock exceeds $12.00 for 20 trading days within any 30-day trading period during the four-year period following the consummation of the Business Combination, (iii) the holders of each whole warrant to purchase KWAC Class A Common Stock will receive one warrant to purchase Holdings Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, (iv) 12 million shares of Holdings Common Stock, subject to adjustment as more fully described herein, will be issued to the equityholders of Wentworth in proportion to their ownership interests in Wentworth, (v) an additional 1,100,000 shares of Holdings Common Stock will be issued to certain equityholders of Wentworth, (vi) 3,084,450 KWAC Private Placement Warrants held by Sponsor will be forfeited immediately prior to the effective time of the Business Combination, and (vii) 3,084,450 warrants to purchase Holding Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share will be issued to the equityholders of Wentworth in proportion to their ownership interests in Wentworth. As a result of the Business Combination, Wentworth will become an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings.

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, KWAC entered into the Founder Support Agreement (the “Founder Support Agreement”), dated July 7, 2022 with certain of the Initial Stockholders (as

defined below), pursuant to which, among other things, such Initial Stockholders agreed to approve the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination.

Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain securityholders of Wentworth entered into the Company Support Agreement, pursuant to which such securityholders of Wentworth agreed to approve the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination.

Additionally, an affiliate of Pollen Street Capital Limited (the “PIPE Investor”), a passive investor of the Sponsor, has committed to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of Holdings’ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Holdings Series A Stock”) in a private placement to close immediately prior to the Closing at $9.60 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of up to $14,400,000 (the “Series A PIPE”), subject to certain conditions. The Holdings Series A Stock may be converted into shares of Holdings Common Stock after the second anniversary of the closing of the Series A PIPE, which such conversion shall initially be 1.5 shares of Holdings Common Stock for each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to certain adjustments provided in the Certificate of Designations. In addition, the PIPE Investor may convert the Holdings Series A Stock prior to the second anniversary of the Series A PIPE in the event that Holdings fails to comply with certain financial covenants described in the Certificate of Designations. This is different from the KWAC Class A Common Stock included in the units issued in KWAC’s initial public offering, which will convert into Holdings Common Stock on a one-for-one basis immediately upon the closing of the Business Combination. The Sponsor, directors and officers of KWAC will not participate in the Series A PIPE. At the Closing, the PIPE Investor and Holdings shall consummate the Series A PIPE pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreement.

It is anticipated that, upon completion of the Business Combination, KWAC’s former stockholders will own approximately 21.1% of the outstanding shares of Holdings Common Stock, that Wentworth’s former securityholders will own approximately 78.9% of the outstanding shares of Holdings Common Stock. These percentages are calculated based on a number of assumptions and are subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. These relative percentages assume that none of KWAC’s existing Public Stockholders (as defined below) exercise their redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination, and assume that no shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are converted in to shares of Holdings Common Stock. If any of KWAC’s Public Stockholders exercise their redemption rights, or any of the other assumptions underlying these percentages become inaccurate, these percentages may vary from the amounts shown above. Please see “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” for further information.

Holdings is applying to have the Holdings Common Stock and Holdings Warrants listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbols BCG and BCG.W, respectively. KWAC Class A Common Stock, KWAC Warrants and KWAC Units are listed on the Markets Group Inc. stock exchange (the “OTC Exchange”) under the symbols KWAC, KWAC.WS and KWAC.U, respectively.

Pursuant to the Existing KWAC Charter, KWAC is providing holders of shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock sold as part of the units issued in KWAC’s initial public offering (such shares, “Public Shares” and such stockholders, “Public Stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account, which holds the proceeds of KWAC’s initial public offering, as of two (2) business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to KWAC to pay KWAC’s franchise and income taxes and for working capital purposes, upon the consummation of the Business Combination. For illustrative purposes, based on funds in the Trust Account of approximately 6,287,737 on February 8, 2024, the estimated per share redemption price would have been approximately $12.99. Public Stockholders may elect to redeem their Public Shares even if they vote for the Business Combination Proposal. A Public Stockholder, together with any of his, her or its affiliates or any other person with whom it is acting in concert or as a “group” ​(as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming his, her or its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Public Shares issued in the IPO. Holders of KWAC’s outstanding warrants do not have redemption rights with respect to such warrants in connection with the Business Combination. All of the Initial Stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to Founders Shares and Public Shares that they may have acquired during or after KWAC’s initial public offering (“IPO”) in connection with the completion of the Business Combination. The Founder Shares will be excluded from the pro rata calculation used to determine the per-share redemption price.

The accompanying proxy statement/prospectus provides shareholders of KWAC with detailed information about the Business Combination and other matters to be considered at the special meeting of KWAC. We encourage you to read this entire document, including the Annexes and other documents referred to herein, carefully and in their entirety. You should also carefully consider the risk factors described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 37 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulatory agency has approved or disapproved the transactions described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, passed upon the merits or fairness of the business combination or related transactions or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. Any representation to the contrary constitutes a criminal offense.

 

KINGSWOOD ACQUISITION CORP.
17 Battery Place, Room 625
New York, New York 10004

Proxy Statement/Prospectus, dated February 9, 2024
and first mailed to stockholders on or about February 14, 2024

To the Stockholders of Kingswood Acquisition Corp.:

You are invited to attend a special meeting (the “Special Meeting”) of the stockholders of Kingswood Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“KWAC”) relating to the agreement and plan of merger, dated July 7, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among KWAC, Binah Capital Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of KWAC (“Holdings”), Kingswood Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (“Kingswood Merger Sub”), Wentworth Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (“Wentworth Merger Sub”), and Wentworth Management Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Wentworth”). This document is both a proxy statement/prospectus containing information about KWAC’s special meeting of stockholders and a prospectus of Holdings with respect to the securities to be issued to KWAC’s securityholders and equity holders of Wentworth in the Business Combination (as defined below).

Holdings, Kingswood Merger Sub and Wentworth Merger Sub are newly formed entities that were formed for the sole purpose of entering into and consummating the transactions set forth in the Merger Agreement. Holdings is a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of KWAC and both Kingswood Merger Sub and Wentworth Merger Sub are wholly-owned direct subsidiaries of Holdings. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at closing, each of the following transactions will occur in the following order: (i) Kingswood Merger Sub will merge with and into KWAC (the “Kingswood Merger”), with KWAC surviving the Kingswood Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (the “Kingswood Surviving Company”); (ii) simultaneously with the Kingswood Merger, Wentworth Merger Sub will merge with and into Wentworth (the “Wentworth Merger”), with Wentworth surviving the Wentworth Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (the “Surviving Company”); and (iii) following the Wentworth Merger, Kingswood Surviving Company will acquire, and Holdings will contribute to Kingswood Surviving Company all of the common units of the Surviving Company directly held by Holdings after the Wentworth Merger (the “Holdings Contribution”), such that, following the Holdings Contribution, Surviving Company shall be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kingswood Surviving Company (the Kingswood Merger and the Wentworth Merger, together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”).

Wentworth owns and operates ten entities, four of which are broker-dealers, three of which are registered agents, and three of which are insurance entities. Affiliated financial advisors have the optionality to choose from operating models that include a hybrid open architecture platform, independent registered status, and a W2 advisor model. The platform provides a variety of custody and clearing firms to accommodate the unique business needs of advisors. KWAC is a blank check company formed for the purpose of acquiring, through a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, reorganization, or similar business combination, one or more operating businesses.

If KWAC stockholders approve the Business Combination Proposal (as defined below) and the parties consummate the Business Combination: (i) the holders of shares of KWAC’s common stock (“KWAC Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Business Combination (other than any redeemed shares) will receive one share of common stock of Holdings (“Holdings Common Stock”) in exchange for each share of KWAC Common Stock held by them, subject to adjustment as more fully described herein, (ii) 1,100,000 shares of Holdings Common Stock issued to Sponsor will be placed by Holdings into an escrow account (or at the option of Sponsor, be forfeited by Sponsor) and not released to Sponsor (or in the case of forfeiture, not reissued to Sponsor) unless the dollar volume-weighted average price of Holdings Common Stock exceeds $12.00 for 20 trading days within any 30-day trading period during the four-year period following the consummation of the Business Combination, (iii) the holders of each whole warrant to purchase KWAC Class A Common Stock will receive one warrant to purchase Holdings Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, (iv) 12 million shares of Holdings Common Stock, subject to adjustment as more fully described herein, will be issued to the equity holders of Wentworth in proportion to their ownership interests in Wentworth, (v) an additional 1,100,000 shares of Holdings

 

 

Common Stock will be issued to certain equity holders of Wentworth, (vi) 3,084,450 KWAC Private Placement Warrants held by Sponsor will be forfeited immediately prior to the effective time of the Business Combination, and (vii) 3,084,450 warrants to purchase Holding Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share will be issued to the equity holders of Wentworth in proportion to their ownership interests in Wentworth. As a result of the Business Combination, Wentworth will become a an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings.

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, KWAC entered into the Founder Support Agreement (the “Founder Support Agreement”), dated July 7, 2022 with certain of Initial Stockholders, pursuant to which, among other things, such Initial Stockholders agreed to approve the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination.

Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain securityholders of Wentworth entered into the Company Support Agreement, pursuant to which such securityholders of Wentworth agreed to approve the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination.

Additionally, an affiliate of Pollen Street Capital Limited (the “PIPE Investor”), a passive investor of the Sponsor, has committed to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of Holdings’ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Holdings Series A Stock”) in a private placement to close immediately prior to the Closing at $9.60 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of up to $14,400,000 (the “Series A PIPE”), subject to certain conditions. The Holdings Series A Stock may be converted into shares of Holdings Common Stock after the second anniversary of the closing of the Series A PIPE, which such conversion shall initially be 1.5 shares of Holdings Common Stock for each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to certain adjustments provided in the Certificate of Designations. This is different from the KWAC Class A Common Stock included in the units issued in KWAC’s initial public offering, which will convert into Holdings Common Stock on a one-for-one basis immediately upon the closing of the Business Combination. The Sponsor, directors and officers of KWAC will not participate in the Series A PIPE. At the Closing, the PIPE Investor and Holdings shall consummate the Series A PIPE pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreement.

It is anticipated that, upon completion of the Business Combination, KWAC’s former stockholders will own approximately 21.1% of the outstanding shares of Holdings Common Stock, that Wentworth’s former securityholders will own approximately 78.9% of the outstanding shares of Holdings Common Stock.

These percentages are calculated based on a number of assumptions and are subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. These relative percentages assume that none of KWAC’s existing Public Stockholders (as defined below) exercise their redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination, and assume that no shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are converted in to shares of Holdings Common Stock. If any of KWAC’s Public Stockholders exercise their redemption rights, or any of the other assumptions underlying these percentages become inaccurate, these percentages may vary from the amounts shown above. Please see “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” for further information.

Holdings is applying to have the Holdings Common Stock and Holdings Warrants listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbols BCG and BCG.W, respectively. KWAC Class A Common Stock, KWAC Warrants and KWAC Units are listed on the OTC Exchange under the symbols KWAC, KWAC WS and KWAC.U, respectively.

Pursuant to the Existing KWAC Charter, KWAC is providing holders of shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock sold as part of the units issued in KWAC’s initial public offering (such shares, “Public Shares” and such stockholders, “Public Stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the trust account established in connection with KWAC’s initial public offering (the “Trust Account”), including interest not previously released to KWAC to pay its taxes, as of two (2) business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, upon the consummation of the Business Combination. For illustrative purposes, based on funds in the Trust Account of approximately 6,287,737 on February 8, 2024, the estimated per share redemption price would have been approximately $12.99. Public Stockholders may elect to redeem their Public Shares even if they vote for the Business Combination Proposal. A Public Stockholder, together with

 

 

any of his, her or its affiliates or any other person with whom it is acting in concert or as a “group” ​(as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming his, her or its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Public Shares issued in KWAC’s initial public offering. Holders of KWAC’s outstanding warrants do not have redemption rights with respect to such warrants in connection with the Business Combination.

Kingswood Global Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and KWAC’s officers and directors are not entitled to redeem their shares of KWAC Class B Common Stock (or any shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock issued in exchange for such shares of KWAC Class B Common Stock) and have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any Public Shares held by them in connection in connection with the completion of the Business Combination. The shares of KWAC Class B Common Stock (and any shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock issued in exchange for such shares of Class B Common Stock) will be excluded from the pro rata calculation used to determine the per-share redemption price.

This proxy statement/prospectus provides you with detailed information about the Business Combination and other matters to be considered at the Special Meeting. We urge you to carefully read this entire document and the documents incorporated herein by reference. You should also carefully consider the risk factors described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 37 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

After careful consideration, KWAC’s board of directors (the “KWAC Board”) has unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination and determined that each of the proposals to be presented at the Special Meeting is fair to, advisable, and in the best interests of KWAC and its stockholders, and unanimously recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” each of those proposals.

The existence of financial and personal interests of our directors and officers may result in conflicts of interest, including a conflict between what may be in the best interests of KWAC and its stockholders and what may be best for a director’s personal interests when determining to recommend that KWAC’s stockholders vote for the proposals. See the sections entitled “The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus for a further discussion.

Your vote is very important.   To ensure your representation at the Special Meeting, please complete and return the enclosed proxy card or submit your proxy by following the instructions contained in this proxy statement/prospectus and on your proxy card. Please submit your proxy promptly whether or not you expect to participate in the meeting. Submitting a proxy now will NOT prevent you from being able to vote online during the virtual Special Meeting. If you hold your shares in “street name”, you should instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote in accordance with the voting instruction form you receive from your broker, bank or other nominee.

On behalf of the KWAC Board, I would like to thank you for your support of KWAC and look forward to a successful completion of the Business Combination.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Michael Nessim
Michael Nessim
Chief Executive Officer
Kingswood Acquisition Corp.

If you return your proxy card signed and without an indication of how you wish to vote, your shares will be voted in favor of each of the proposals.

TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST (1) IF YOU HOLD SHARES OF KWAC CLASS A COMMON STOCK THROUGH KWAC UNITS, ELECT TO SEPARATE YOUR KWAC UNITS INTO THE UNDERLYING KWAC COMMON STOCK AND KWAC PUBLIC WARRANTS PRIOR TO EXERCISING YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC SHARES, (2) SUBMIT A WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE TRANSFER AGENT AT LEAST

 

 

 

KINGSWOOD ACQUISITION CORP.
17 Battery Place, Room 625
New York, New York 10004

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF KINGSWOOD
ACQUISITION CORP. TO BE HELD ON February 22, 2024

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF KINGSWOOD ACQUISITION CORP.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Kingswood Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“KWAC”), will be held at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 22, 2024. In light of ongoing developments related to the novel coronavirus, after careful consideration, we have determined that the Special Meeting will be a virtual meeting conducted exclusively via live webcast in order to facilitate stockholder attendance while safeguarding the health and safety of our stockholders, directors and management team. You are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting online by visiting and using a control number assigned by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. To register and receive access to the virtual meeting, registered stockholders and beneficial stockholders (those holding shares through a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record) will need to follow the instructions applicable to them provided in this proxy statement.

At the Special Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote on the following proposals:

(1)

Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — To adopt and approve the Merger Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2022 (as it may be further amended, restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), entered into by and among KWAC, Binah Capital Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of KWAC (“Holdings”), Kingswood Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (“Kingswood Merger Sub”), Wentworth Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (“Wentworth Merger Sub”), and Wentworth Management Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Wentworth”) and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (collectively, the “Business Combination”), pursuant to which:

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•

Kingswood Merger Sub will merge with and into KWAC (the “Kingswood Merger”), with KWAC surviving the Kingswood Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (the “Kingswood Surviving Company”);

​

•

simultaneously with the Kingswood Merger, Wentworth Merger Sub will merge with and into Wentworth (the “Wentworth Merger”), with Wentworth surviving the Wentworth Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (the “Surviving Company”);

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•

following the Wentworth Merger, Kingswood Surviving Company will acquire, and Holdings will contribute to Kingswood Surviving Company all of the common units of the Surviving Company directly held by Holdings after the Wentworth Merger (the “Holdings Contribution”), such that, following the Holdings Contribution, Surviving Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kingswood Surviving Company and Kingswood Surviving Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings;

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•

we refer to this proposal as the “Business Combination Proposal.”

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(2)

Proposal No. 2 — The Organizational Document Proposal — To approve and adopt, assuming the Business Combination Proposal is approved and adopted, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Holdings (the “Proposed Holdings Charter”), which, if approved, would take effect upon the Closing (we refer to this proposal as the “Organizational Document Proposal”, collectively with the Business Combination Proposal, the “Conditions Precedent Proposals”).

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(3)

Proposal No. 3(A) — (C)  — the Advisory Charter Proposals — To approve and adopt, on a non-binding advisory basis, certain governance provisions in the Proposed Holdings Charter, which are being presented separately in accordance with SEC guidance to give stockholders the opportunity to present their separate views on important corporate governance provisions, as three sub-proposals (which we

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refer to, collectively, as the “Advisory Charter Proposals”):

•

Proposal No. 3(A):   to establish Holdings’ capital structure, authorizing (i) 2,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and (ii) 55,000,000 shares of Holdings Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (we refer to this as “Advisory Charter Proposal A”);

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•

Proposal No. 3(B):   to classify the directors into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, and to provide that the members of the board of directors of Holdings be elected serve as Class I, Class II and Class III directors to serve staggered terms until the first, second and third annual meeting of the stockholders of Holdings, respectively, held after the amendment and restatement of Holdings’ Charter, which annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at such date and time and at such place, if any, within or outside the State of Delaware as may be fixed by the board of directors of Holdings or a duly authorized committee thereof. Each elected director shall hold office until the third annual meeting following such director’s election and until his successor shall be elected and duly qualified, or his earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office for cause (we refer to this as “Advisory Charter Proposal B”);

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•

Proposal No. 3(C):   to provide that unless Holdings consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on Holdings’ behalf, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of Holdings’ directors, officers, employees or agents or Holdings’ stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against Holdings or any director or officer arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, (4) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our Proposed Holdings Charter or Proposed Holdings Bylaws, or (5) any other action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or federal court located within the State of Delaware if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction (we refer to this as “Advisory Charter Proposal C”);

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(4)

Proposal No. 4 — The Nasdaq Proposal — To approve, assuming the Conditions Precedent Proposals are approved and adopted, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Global Market rules (the “Nasdaq”), the issuance of shares of Holdings Common Stock and the Holdings Public Warrants in connection with the Business Combination (we refer to this proposal as the “Nasdaq Proposal”);

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(5)

Proposal No. 5 — The NTA Proposal — To approve and adopt, assuming the Conditions Precedent Proposals are approved and adopted, amendments to the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation of KWAC (as amended, the “Existing KWAC Charter”), which amendments (the “NTA Amendments”) shall be effective, if adopted and implemented by KWAC, prior to the consummation of the proposed Business Combination, to remove from the Existing KWAC Charter (i) the limitation on share repurchases prior to the consummation of a business combination that would cause KWAC’s net tangible assets (“NTA”) to be less than $5,000,001 following such repurchases, and (ii) the limitation that KWAC shall not consummate a business combination if it would cause KWAC’s NTA to be less than $5,000,001 either immediately prior or subsequent to the consummation of such business combination (we refer to this proposal as the “NTA Proposal”). A copy of the NTA Amendments to the Existing KWAC Charter is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex I.

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(6)

Proposal No. 6 — The Equity Incentive Plan Proposal — To approve and adopt, assuming the Business Combination Proposal and the Organizational Document Proposal are approved and adopted, to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the Binah Capital Group, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”) (we refer to this proposal as the “Equity Incentive Plan Proposal”); and

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(7)

Proposal No. 7 — The Adjournment Proposal — To approve the adjournment of the Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of any of the Conditions Precedent Proposals, the Advisory Charter Proposals, the Nasdaq Proposal, the NTA Proposal or Equity Incentive Plan Proposal (we refer to this proposal as the “Adjournment Proposal”).

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The above matters are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, which also includes, as Annex A, a copy of the Merger Agreement. We urge you to read carefully the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus in its entirety, including the Annexes and accompanying financial statements.

 

 

The record date for the Special Meeting is February 2, 2024. Only holders of record of shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock and shares of KWAC Class B Common Stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of and to vote and have their votes counted at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the Special Meeting. A complete list of KWAC’s stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Special Meeting will be available for 10 days before the Special Meeting at KWAC’s principal executive offices for inspection by stockholders during ordinary business hours for any purpose germane to the Special Meeting and electronically during the Special Meeting at www.cstproxy.com/kingswoodacquisition/2024.

The KWAC Class A Common Stock and KWAC Public Warrants are currently listed on the OTC Exchange under the symbols “KWAC” and “KWAC WS,” respectively. Certain shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock and KWAC Public Warrants currently trade as KWAC Units consisting of one share of KWAC Class A Common Stock and three-fourths of one redeemable KWAC Public Warrant, and are listed on the OTC Exchange under the symbol “KWAC.U.” The KWAC Units will automatically separate into component securities of Holdings upon consummation of the Business Combination and, as a result, will no longer trade as an independent security. Holdings intends to apply for listing the shares of the Holdings Common Stock and Holdings Public Warrants on the Nasdaq under the symbols “BCG” and “BCG.WS,” respectively, upon the Closing.

Pursuant to the Existing KWAC Charter, a holder of shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock sold as part of the units issued in KWAC’s initial public offering (each such share, a “Public Share”, and such stockholder, a “Public Stockholder”) may request that KWAC redeem all or a portion of its Public Shares for cash if the Business Combination is consummated. Public Stockholders will be entitled to receive cash for any Public Shares to be redeemed only if they:

(a)

(i) hold shares of Public Shares or (ii) hold shares of Public Shares through KWAC Units and they elect to separate their KWAC Units into the underlying Public Shares and warrants (“KWAC Public Warrants”) prior to exercising their redemption rights with respect to the Public Shares; and

​

(b)

prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 20, 2024 (two business days prior to the vote at the Special Meeting), (i) submit a written request to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, KWAC’s transfer agent (the “transfer agent”), that KWAC redeem their Public Shares for cash and (ii) deliver their Public Shares to the transfer agent, physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).

​

Holders of KWAC Units must elect to separate the underlying Public Shares and KWAC Public Warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to their Public Shares. KWAC has not issued fractional KWAC Warrants other than as part of KWAC Units, each of which is comprised of one share of KWAC Class A Common Stock and three-fourths of one KWAC Public Warrant. If, upon the detachment of KWAC Public Warrants from KWAC Units or otherwise, a holder of KWAC Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional KWAC Warrant, KWAC will round down to the nearest whole number of KWAC Warrants to be issued to such holder. If holders hold their KWAC Units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the KWAC Units into the underlying Public Shares of and KWAC Public Warrants, or if a holder holds KWAC Units registered in its own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. A holder of the KWAC Public Warrants will not be able to exercise any fraction of a KWAC Warrant. Public Stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares even if they vote for the Business Combination Proposal. If the Business Combination is not consummated, the Public Shares will not be redeemed for cash. If a Public Stockholder properly exercises its right to redeem its Public Shares and timely delivers its shares to the transfer agent, we will redeem each Public Share for a per share price, payable in cash, equal to (i) the aggregate amount on deposit in the trust account established in connection with KWAC’s initial public offering (the “Trust Account”), including interest not previously released to KWAC to pay our taxes, as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, divided by the number of then-outstanding Public Shares. As of February 8, 2024, this would have amounted to approximately $12.99 per Public Share. If a Public Stockholder exercises its redemption rights, then it will be exchanging its redeemed Public Shares for cash and will no longer own such Public Shares. Any request to redeem Public Shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and

 

 

thereafter, with our consent, until the Closing. Furthermore, if a Public Stockholder delivers its certificate in connection with an election of its redemption and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, it may simply request that we instruct our transfer agent to return the certificate (physically or electronically). Public Stockholders can make such requests by contacting the transfer agent, at the address or email address listed in this proxy statement/ prospectus. KWAC will be required to honor such request only if made prior to the deadline for exercising redemption requests. See “Special Meeting of the Stockholders — Redemption Rights” in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus for a detailed description of the procedures to be followed if you wish to redeem your Public Shares for cash.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Public Stockholders, together with any affiliate of such Public Stockholder or any other person with whom such Public Stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined in Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its Public Shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Public Shares, without KWAC’s prior consent. Accordingly, if a Public Stockholder, alone or acting in concert as a group, seeks to redeem more than 15% of the Public Shares, then any such Public Shares in excess of that 15% limitation would not be redeemed for cash, without our prior consent.

Kingswood Global Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and KWAC’s officers and directors are not entitled to redeem their shares of KWAC Class B Common Stock (or any shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock issued in exchange for such shares of KWAC Class B Common Stock) and have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any Public Shares held by them in connection in connection with the completion of the Business Combination. The shares of KWAC Class B Common Stock (and any shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock issued in exchange for such shares of Class B Common Stock) will be excluded from the pro rata calculation used to determine the per-share redemption price.

Under the Merger Agreement, the approval of each of the Business Combination Proposal and the Organizational Document Proposal (collectively, the “Conditions Precedent Proposals”) is a condition to the consummation of the Business Combination. The adoption of each Conditions Precedent Proposal is conditioned on the approval of all of the Conditions Precedent Proposals.

Approval of the Business Combination Proposal and the Organizational Document Proposal requires the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock and KWAC Class B Common Stock entitled to vote thereon at the Special Meeting, voting as a single class. Each of the Advisory Charter Proposals, the Nasdaq Proposal, the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the votes cast by holders of shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock and KWAC Class B Common Stock present in person (which would include presence at the virtual Special Meeting) or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class.

Your attention is directed to the proxy statement/prospectus accompanying this notice (including the annexes thereto) for a more complete description of the proposed Business Combination and each of the proposals. We urge you to read the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus carefully. If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock, please contact Morrow Sodali LLC, the proxy solicitor, at (800) 662-5200 (toll free) or banks and brokers can call collect at (203) 658-9400, or by emailing KWAC.info@investor.morrowsodali.com. This notice of special meeting and the proxy statement/prospectus are available at www.cstproxy.com/kingswoodacquisition/2024.

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Michael Nessim

Michael Nessim
Kingswood Acquisition Corp.
Chief Executive Officer
February 9, 2024

 

 

 

 

ii

 

 

“DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended.

“DLLCA” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended.

“DWAC” means The Depository Trust Company’s deposit/withdrawal at custodian system.

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

6

 

7

 

8

 

 

10

 

11

 

​

12

 

13

 

​

14

 

​

​

​

Assuming Minimum Redemptions (Shares)

​

​

%

​

​

Assuming Maximum Redemptions (Shares)

​

​

%

​

WMS Shareholders

​

​

​

​

13,100

​

​

​

​

​

78.9

​

​

​

​

​

13,100

​

​

​

​

​

81.2

​

​

Total WMS Merger Shares

​

​

​

​

13,100

​

​

​

​

​

78.9

​

​

​

​

​

13,100

​

​

​

​

​

81.2

​

​

KWAC Public Shares

​

​

​

​

484(2)

​

​

​

​

​

2.9

​

​

​

​

​

—

​

​

​

​

​

0.0

​

​

KWAC Founder and Private Shares(1)

​

​

​

​

3,029

​

​

​

​

​

18.2

​

​

​

​

​

3,029

​

​

​

​

​

18.8

​

​

Total KWAC Shares

​

​

​

​

3,513

​

​

​

​

​

21.1

​

​

​

​

​

3,029

​

​

​

​

​

18.8

​

​

PIPE Investors

​

​

​

​

—

​

​

​

​

​

0.0

​

​

​

​

​

—

​

​

​

​

​

0.0

​

​

Pro Forma Holdings Common Stock at September 30, 2023

​

​

​

​

16,613

​

​

​

​

​

100.0

​

​

​

​

​

16,129

​

​

​

​

​

100.0

​

​

​

​

15

 

​

​

​

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

​

​

For the Year Ended December 31, 2022

​

​

​

​

Pro Forma Combined (Assuming No Redemptions)

​

​

Pro Forma Combined (Assuming Maximum Redemptions)

​

​

Pro Forma Combined (Assuming No Redemptions)

​

​

Pro Forma Combined (Assuming Maximum Redemptions)

​

Pro forma net income (loss)

​

​

​

​

(3,763)

​

​

​

​

​

(3,763)

​

​

​

​

​

338

​

​

​

​

​

338

​

​

Pro forma weighted average shares outstanding of common stock

​

​

​

​

16,613

​

​

​

​

​

16,129

​

​

​

​

​

16,613

​

​

​

​

​

16,129

​

​

Net income (loss) per share (Basic and Diluted) attributable to common stockholders

​

​

​

$

(0.23)

​

​

​

​

$

(0.23)

​

​

​

​

$

0.02

​

​

​

​

$

0.02

​

​

​

16

 

​

17

 

​

18

 

​

19

 

20

 

 

​

22

 

23

 

24

 

25

 

​

26

 

27

 

28

 

Summary of Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

If a U.S. Holder (as defined in “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”) exercises its redemption right to have its shares of KWAC Common Stock redeemed for cash, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such U.S. Holder may be treated as selling KWAC Common Stock, resulting in the recognition of capital gain or capital loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares of KWAC Common Stock being redeemed. There may be certain circumstances in which the redemption may be treated as a distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes depending on the number of KWAC Common Stock shares that a U.S. Holder owns or is deemed to own (including through the ownership of KWAC Warrants).

If a U.S. Holder does not exercise its redemption right to receive cash for its shares of KWAC Common Stock, then, as a result of the Business Combination, we expect that such U.S. Holder should be treated as exchanging its KWAC Common Stock for Holdings Common Stock pursuant to Section 351(a) of the Code. Generally, such U.S. Holder should not recognize any gain or loss.

For a more detailed discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination and the redemption to U.S. Holders, please carefully review the information set forth in the section entitled “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders” beginning on page 183 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

If a non-U.S. Holder (as defined in “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”) exercises its redemption right to have its KWAC Common Stock redeemed for cash, we expect that such redemption may be treated as a sale of KWAC Common Stock. Generally, if the redemption from such non-U.S. Holder is treated as a sale of the shares of KWAC Common Stock, then such non-U.S. Holder’s gain (or loss) from such sale will not be taxable in the United States, subject to certain exceptions as described in the section entitled “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — Non-U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Disposition of Holdings Securities.”

Generally, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination applicable to non-U.S. Holders who do not exercise their redemption rights are the same as the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to U.S. Holders who do not exercise their redemption rights, subject to certain exceptions described in the section entitled “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Non-U.S. Holders.”

For a more detailed discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination and the redemption to non-U.S. Holders, please carefully review the information set forth in the section entitled “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — Non-U.S. Holders” beginning on page 183 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Recommendations of the Board and Reasons for the Business Combination

After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the Board has determined that Business Combination and the transactions contemplated thereby are fair to, and in the

29

 

​

30

 

31

 

Dividend Policy

KWAC has not paid any cash dividends on its shares of KWAC Common Stock to date and does not intend to pay any cash dividends prior to the completion of the Business Combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon Holdings’ revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of the Business Combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to a Business Combination will be within the discretion of the Holdings Board at such time.

Wentworth

There is no public market for shares of Wentworth’s equity securities.

32

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

​

​

Pro Forma Combined (Assuming No Redemptions)

​

​

Pro Forma Combined (Assuming Maximum Redemptions)

​

Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations Data

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Period Ended September 30, 2023 (in thousands except for per share data)

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Pro forma net loss

​

​

​

$

(3,763)

​

​

​

​

$

(3,763)

​

​

Weighted average shares outstanding of common stock

​

​

​

​

16,613

​

​

​

​

​

16,129

​

​

Net loss per share (Basic and Diluted) attributable to common stockholders

​

​

​

$

(0.23)

​

​

​

​

$

(0.23)

​

​

(in thousands)

​

​

Pro Forma Combined (Assuming No Redemptions)

​

​

Pro Forma Combined (Assuming Maximum Redemptions)

​

Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations Data

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Year Ended December 31, 2022 (in thousands except for per share data)

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Pro forma net loss

​

​

​

​

338

​

​

​

​

​

338

​

​

Weighted average shares outstanding of common stock

​

​

​

​

16,613

​

​

​

​

​

16,129

​

​

Net loss per share (Basic and Diluted) attributable to common stockholders

​

​

​

$

0.02

​

​

​

​

$

0.02

​

​

The following summarizes the pro forma Holdings Common Stock ownership as of September 30, 2023 under (i) the no redemption scenario and (ii) the maximum redemption scenario:

(shares in thousands)

​

​

Assuming Minimum Redemptions (Shares)

​

​

%

​

​

Assuming Maximum Redemptions (Shares)

​

​

%

​

WMS Shareholders

​

​

​

​

13,100

​

​

​

​

​

78.9

​

​

​

​

​

13,100

​

​

​

​

​

81.2

​

​

Total WMS Merger Shares

​

​

​

​

13,100

​

​

​

​

​

78.9

​

​

​

​

​

13,100

​

​

​

​

​

81.2

​

​

KWAC Public Shares

​

​

​

​

484(2)

​

​

​

​

​

2.9

​

​

​

​

​

—

​

​

​

​

​

0.0

​

​

KWAC Founder and Private Shares(1)

​

​

​

​

3,029

​

​

​

​

​

18.2

​

​

​

​

​

3,029

​

​

​

​

​

18.8

​

​

Total KWAC Shares

​

​

​

​

3,513

​

​

​

​

​

21.1

​

​

​

​

​

3,029

​

​

​

​

​

18.8

​

​

PIPE Investors

​

​

​

​

—

​

​

​

​

​

0.0

​

​

​

​

​

—

​

​

​

​

​

0.0

​

​

Pro Forma Holdings Common Stock at September 30, 2023

​

​

​

​

16,613

​

​

​

​

​

100.0

​

​

​

​

​

16,129

​

​

​

​

​

100.0

​

​

​

36

 

 

KWAC’s Sponsor has agreed to vote in favor of the Business Combination Proposal described in this proxy statement/ prospectus, regardless of how the Public Stockholders vote.

Sponsor and KWAC’s officers and directors at the time of the IPO entered into a letter agreement to vote their shares of KWAC Class B Common Stock and any Public Shares purchased during or after the IPO, in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. As of the date hereof, Sponsor owns approximately 83% of the total outstanding shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock and KWAC Class B Common Stock. Accordingly, it is more likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if Sponsor agreed to vote its shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by the Public Stockholders.

We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2023. If we are unable to develop and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results in a timely manner, which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.

We have identified a material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to the following:

•

we did not have a control in place to review the appropriateness of our legal accruals,

​

•

we did not have a control in place to review the appropriateness of our Delaware franchise tax accrual,

​

•

we did not have a control in place to review the appropriateness of presentation in the statement of cash flows,

​

•

our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the complex financial instruments.

​

As a result of these material weaknesses, our management has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2023. We have taken measures to remediate the material weaknesses described herein. However, if we are unable to remediate our material weaknesses in a timely manner or we identify additional material weaknesses, we may be unable to provide required financial information in a timely and reliable manner and we may incorrectly report financial information. Likewise, if our financial statements are not filed on a timely basis, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the stock exchange on which our common stock are listed, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The existence of material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect our reputation or investor perceptions of us, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our shares. We can give no assurance that the measures we have taken and plan to take in the future will remediate the material weakness identified or that any additional material weaknesses or restatements of financial results will not arise in the future due to a failure to implement and maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting or circumvention of these controls. Even if we are successful in strengthening our controls and procedures, in the future those controls and procedures may not be adequate to prevent or identify irregularities to facilitate the fair presentation of our financial statements.

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. We continue to evaluate steps to remediate the material weakness. These remediation measures may be time consuming and costly and there is no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects.

If we identify any new material weaknesses in the future, any such newly identified material weakness could limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements. In such case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange listing requirements, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting

 

38

 

and our stock price may decline as a result. We cannot assure you that any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential future material weaknesses.

Going public through a merger rather than an underwritten offering presents risks to unaffiliated investors. Subsequent to completion of the Business Combination, the Company may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructure its operations, or take impairment of other charges, any of which could have a significant negative effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and share price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.

Going public through a merger rather than an underwritten offering, as the Company is seeking to do through the Business Combination, presents risks to unaffiliated investors. Such risks include the absence of a due diligence investigation conducted by an underwriter that would be subject to liability for any material misstatements or omissions in a registration statement. Although KWAC has conducted due diligence, KWAC cannot assure you that this due diligence has identified all material issues that may be present, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of KWAC or the target business, and outside the control of the Company or the control of KWAC will not later arise. As a result of these factors, the Company may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure operations, or incur impairments or other charges that could result in reporting losses. Even if KWAC’s due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with KWAC’s preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on the Company’s liquidity, the fact that KWAC reports charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about the Company or its securities. Accordingly, any of KWAC’s shareholders who choose to remain shareholders of the Company after the Business Combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares and these shareholders are unlikely to have a remedy for the reduction in value.

If KWAC is considered to be a “foreign person,” we might not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company if such initial business combination is subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations or review by a U.S. government entity, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”).

KWAC’s Sponsor is controlled by or has substantial ties with non-U.S. persons domiciled in the United Kingdom. Acquisitions and investments by non-U.S. Persons in certain U.S. business may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving investments by foreign persons in U.S. businesses that have a nexus to critical technologies, critical infrastructure and/or sensitive personal data in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. If KWAC’s Sponsor is considered to be a “foreign person” under such rules and regulations, any proposed business combination between KWAC and a U.S. business engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security could be subject to such foreign ownership restrictions, CFIUS review and/or mandatory filings.

If KWAC’s potential initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within the scope of foreign ownership restrictions, KWAC may be unable to consummate an initial business combination with such business. In addition, if KWAC’s potential business combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may be required to make a mandatory filing or determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance. The potential limitations and risks may limit the attractiveness of a transaction with KWAC or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which KWAC could complete an initial business combination may be limited. Moreover, the process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy.

Because KWAC has only a limited time to complete its initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time-period may require KWAC to liquidate. If KWAC

 

39

 

liquidated, KWAC’s public stockholders may only receive their pro rata share of amounts held in the trust account, and KWAC’s warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.

Subsequent to the completion of the Business Combination, Holdings or Wentworth may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on Holdings’ financial condition and its share price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.

KWAC cannot assure you that the due diligence KWAC has conducted on Wentworth will reveal all material issues that may be present with regards to Wentworth, or that factors outside of KWAC’s or Wentworth’s and/or Holdings’ control will not later arise. As a result of unidentified issues or factors outside of KWAC’s or Wentworth’s control, Holdings may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in reporting losses. Even if KWAC’s due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with the preliminary risk analysis conducted by KWAC. Even though these charges may be non-cash items that would not have an immediate impact on Holdings’ liquidity, the fact that Holdings reports charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about Holdings or its securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause Holdings to violate leverage or other covenants to which it may be subject. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the Business Combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares from any such write-down or write-downs.

Since KWAC’s Sponsor and KWAC’s directors, officers and advisors and Wentworth’s current owners have interests that are different, or in addition to (and which may conflict with), the interests of our other stockholders generally, a conflict of interest may have existed in determining whether the Business Combination is appropriate as KWAC’s initial business combination.

In considering the recommendation of KWAC’s Board to vote in favor of the Business Combination, stockholders should be aware that, aside from their interests as stockholders, Sponsor and KWAC’s directors, officers and advisors and Wentworth’s current owners have interests in the Business Combination that are different from, or in addition to, those of other stockholders generally. KWAC’s Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating the Business Combination, and in recommending to the Public Stockholders that they approve the Business Combination. Stockholders should take these interests into account in deciding whether to approve the Business Combination. These interests include, among other things:

•

the fact that each of Initial Stockholders has waived its right to redeem any of Founder Shares and Public Shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination;

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•

the fact that Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 for the Founder Shares, which have been or will be converted into 2,875,000 shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Existing KWAC Charter and such securities will have a significantly higher value at the time of the Business Combination, estimated at approximately 36,368,750 based on the closing price of $12.65 per public share on the OTC Exchange on January 24, 2024;

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•

the fact that given the differential in the purchase price that our Sponsor paid for the Founder Shares as compared to the price of KWAC Class A Common Stock sold in the IPO and the number of Class A Common Stock that the Initial Stockholders will receive upon Closing of the Business Combination, the Initial Stockholders may earn a positive rate of return on their investment even if the Class A Common Stock trades below the price initially paid for the Class A Common Stock in the IPO and public shareholders experience a negative rate of return following the completion of the Business Combination. Thus, our Sponsor and its affiliates may have more of an economic interest for us to, rather than liquidate if we fail to complete our initial business combination, enter into an initial business combination on potentially less favorable terms with potentially less favorable,

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riskier, weaker-performing or financially unstable business, or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, that would be the case if such parties had paid the full offering price for their Founder Shares;

•

the fact that each of the Initial Stockholders has agreed to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Founder Shares if KWAC fails to complete an initial business combination by February 24, 2024;

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•

the fact that Sponsor paid $6,481,550 for 6,481,550 Private Placement Warrants, each of which is exercisable commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of the IPO and 30 days following the Closing for one share of KWAC Class A Common Stock at $11.50 per share; if KWAC does not consummate an initial business combination by February 24, 2024, then the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will be part of the liquidating distribution to the Public Stockholders and the Private Placement Warrants held by Sponsor will be worthless; the Private Placement Warrants held by Sponsor had an estimated aggregate market value of approximately $74,538 based upon the closing price of $0.0115 per warrant on the OTC Exchange on February 2, 2024;

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if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event KWAC is unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period, Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to KWAC if and to the extent any claims by a third-party for services rendered or products sold to KWAC, or a prospective target business with which KWAC has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or merger agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below: (i) $10.00 per public share; or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case, net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses, except as to any claims by a third-party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act; and

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•

the fact that Oppenheimer as underwriter in the IPO and KWAC’s financial advisor will be entitled to receive a deferred underwriting commission and placement agency and financial advisory fees, as applicable, upon completion of the Business Combination.

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the fact that the PIPE Investor, a passive investor in the Sponsor, has committed to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of Holdings’ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Holdings Series A Stock”) in a private placement to close immediately prior to the Closing at $9.60 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of up to $14,440,000 (the “Series A PIPE”), subject to certain conditions. The Holdings Series A Stock may be converted into shares of Holdings Common Stock after the second anniversary of the closing of the Series A PIPE, which such conversion shall initially be 1.5 shares of Holdings Common Stock for each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, subject to certain adjustments provided in the Certificate of Designations. This is different from the KWAC Class A Common Stock included in the units issued in KWAC’s initial public offering, which will convert into Holdings Common Stock on a one-for-one basis immediately upon the closing of the Business Combination. The Sponsor, directors and officers of KWAC will not participate in the Series A PIPE. At the Closing, the PIPE Investor and Holdings shall consummate the Series A PIPE pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreement.

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the fact that Wentworth, Holdings and the PIPE Investor, a passive investor in the Sponsor, have agreed pursuant to a non-binding term sheet, dated as of August 9, 2023, to enter into substantive strategic discussions about how their respective businesses can cooperate after the Closing of the Business Combination.

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At any time prior to the Special Meeting, during a period when they are not then aware of any material non-public information regarding KWAC or its securities, Sponsor, KWAC’s directors and officers and advisors, Wentworth and/or its respective affiliates may purchase shares and/or warrants from investors, or they may enter into transactions with such investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire shares of KWAC Common Stock or vote their shares in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. The

 

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purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would be to increase the likelihood that the proposals presented to KWAC Stockholders for approval at the Special Meeting are approved or to provide additional equity financing. Any such share purchases and other transactions may thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the Business Combination. This may result in the completion of our Business Combination that may not otherwise have been possible. While the exact nature of any such incentives has not been determined as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, they might include, without limitation, arrangements to protect such investors or holders against potential loss in value of their shares, including the granting of put options.

Entering into any such incentive arrangements may have a depressive effect on shares of KWAC Common Stock. For example, as a result of these arrangements, an investor or holder may have the ability to effectively purchase shares at a price lower than market and may therefore be more likely to sell the shares he owns, either prior to or immediately after the Special Meeting.

If such transactions are effected, the consequence could be to cause the Business Combination to be approved in circumstances where such approval could not otherwise be obtained. Purchases of shares by the persons described above would allow them to exert more influence over the approval of the Proposals to be presented at the Special Meeting and would likely increase the chances that such Proposals would be approved. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there have been no such discussions and no agreements to such effect have been entered into with any such investor or holder. KWAC will file a Current Report on Form 8-K to disclose any arrangements entered into or significant purchases made by any of the aforementioned persons that would affect the vote on the proposals to be voted on at the Special Meeting. Any such report will include descriptions of any arrangements entered into or significant purchases by any of the aforementioned persons.

The existence of financial and personal interests of KWAC’s directors and officers may result in conflicts of interest, including a conflict between what may be in the best interests of KWAC and its stockholders and what may be best for a director’s personal interests when determining to recommend that stockholders vote for the proposals.

Because deferred underwriting fees in connection with the IPO that are payable at the consummation of our initial business combination will not be adjusted to account for redemptions, if our public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, the amount of effective total underwriting commissions as a percentage of the aggregate proceeds from the IPO will increase.

Oppenheimer was an underwriter in KWAC’s IPO and is entitled to $4,025,000 of deferred underwriting commission, contingent upon consummation of the Business Combination, or any other initial business combination. This amount will not be adjusted to account for redemptions of Public Shares by public stockholders. Accordingly, the amount of effective total underwriting commissions as a percentage of the aggregate proceeds from the IPO will increase as the number of Public Shares redeemed increases. If no public stockholders would have exercised redemption rights with respect to their Public Shares, the amount of effective total underwriting commissions due to the underwriters upon the consummation of our initial business combination would be approximately 5.5% (inclusive of the approximately $2.3 million of underwriting commissions previously paid) of the aggregate proceeds from the IPO retained by Holdings. If public stockholders exercise redemption rights with respect to the maximum of approximately 0.5 million Public Shares, the amount of effective total underwriting commissions due to the underwriters upon the consummation of the Business Combination would exceed the aggregate proceeds from the IPO retained by Holdings, taking into account such redemptions.

The exercise of the KWAC Board’s discretion in agreeing to changes or waivers in the terms of the Merger Agreement, including closing conditions, may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether such changes to the terms or waivers of conditions are appropriate and in stockholders’ best interests.

In the period leading up to the Closing, events may occur that, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, would require KWAC to agree to amend the Merger Agreement, to consent to certain actions taken by Wentworth or Holdings or to waive rights that KWAC is entitled to under the Merger Agreement, including those related to closing conditions. Such events could arise because of changes in the course of Wentworth’s businesses or a request by Wentworth or Holdings to undertake actions that would otherwise be prohibited by

 

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the terms of the Merger Agreement or the occurrence of other events that would have a material adverse effect on Wentworth’s businesses and would entitle KWAC to terminate the Merger Agreement. In any of such circumstances, it would be at KWAC’s discretion, acting through its Board, to grant its consent or waive those rights. The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of the directors described in the preceding risk factors (and described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus) may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is best for KWAC and its stockholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining whether or not to take the requested action. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, KWAC does not believe there will be any changes or waivers that its Board would be likely to make after stockholder approval of the Business Combination Proposal has been obtained. While certain changes could be made without further stockholder approval, KWAC will circulate a new or amended proxy statement/prospectus and resolicit KWAC’s stockholders if changes to the terms of the Transaction that would have a material impact on its stockholders are required prior to the vote on the Business Combination Proposal.

The announcement of the proposed Business Combination could disrupt Wentworth’s relationships with its clients, counterparties, vendors and other business partners and others, as well as its operating results and business generally.

Whether or not the Business Combination and related transactions are ultimately consummated, as a result of uncertainty related to the proposed transactions, risks relating to the impact of the announcement of the Business Combination on Wentworth’s business include the following:

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its employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles, which might adversely affect Wentworth’s ability to retain and hire key personnel and other employees;

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Buyers, sellers, distribution partners and other parties with which Wentworth maintains business relationships may experience uncertainty about its future and rescind their deposits, seek alternative relationships with third parties, seek to alter their business relationships with Wentworth or fail to extend an existing relationship with Wentworth; and

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Wentworth has expended and will continue to expend significant costs, fees and expenses for professional services and transaction costs in connection with the proposed business combination.

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If any of the aforementioned risks were to materialize, they could lead to significant costs which may impact Wentworth’s results of operations and cash available to fund its businesses.

Holdings’ ability to be successful following the Business Combination will depend upon the efforts of the Holdings Board and Wentworth’s key personnel and the loss of such persons could negatively impact the operations and profitability of Wentworth and/or Wentworth’s business following the Business Combination.

Holdings’ ability to be successful following the Business Combination will be dependent upon the efforts of the Holdings Board and key personnel. KWAC cannot assure you that, following the Business Combination, the Proposed Holdings Board and Holdings’ key personnel will be effective or successful or remain with Holdings. In addition to the other challenges they will face, such individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a public company, which could cause Holdings’ management to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such requirements.

KWAC has not obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the terms of the Business Combination are fair to KWAC from a financial point of view.

The KWAC Board did not obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in connection with their determination to approve the Business Combination. KWAC is not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from another independent firm that the price it is paying is fair to KWAC from a financial point of view. In analyzing the Business Combination, the KWAC Board and KWAC’s management conducted due diligence on Wentworth and researched the industry in which Wentworth operates and concluded that the Business Combination was in the best interest of its stockholders. Accordingly, KWAC’s stockholders will be relying solely on the judgment of the KWAC Board in determining the value of the Business Combination, and the KWAC Board may not have

 

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properly valued such business. The lack of third-party valuation or fairness opinion may also lead an increased number of stockholders to vote against the Business Combination or demand Redemption of their shares, which could potentially impact our ability to consummate the Business Combination. For more information about our decision-making process, see the section entitled “The Business Combination Proposal — KWAC Board of Director’s Reasons for the Approval of the Business Combination.”

KWAC cannot assure you that the Nasdaq Listing Condition will be satisfied or that Holdings will be able to comply with the continued listing standard of Nasdaq if listed. If the Nasdaq Listing Condition is not satisfied, KWAC would be unable to consummate the Business Combination without a waiver of the Nasdaq Listing Condition.

KWAC’s securities are currently listed on the OTC Exchange and it is anticipated that, following the Business Combination, Holdings’ securities will be listed on the Nasdaq. However, KWAC cannot assure you that Holdings’ securities will be able to meet the initial listing requirements of Nasdaq or continue to be listed on the Nasdaq in the future. Holdings’ eligibility for listing on Nasdaq may depend on the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock that are redeemed in connection with the Business Combination, and Holdings’ ability to satisfy initial listing criteria, including certain financial and liquidity measures. Financial and liquidity measures, depending on the listing standard, may include, among others, stockholders’ equity or the market value of Holdings’ publicly traded shares, as well as the number of unrestricted round lot stockholders. In certain high redemption scenarios, Holdings may not be able to satisfy the minimum financial and liquidity measures under any of the initial listing standards, the Nasdaq Listing Condition may not be satisfied, and KWAC would be unable to consummate the Business Combination without a waiver of the Nasdaq Listing Condition by the parties to the Merger Agreement. In order to continue to maintain the listing of Holdings’ securities on the Nasdaq, Holdings must also maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. In addition to the listing requirements for Holdings Common Stock, the Nasdaq imposes listing standards on warrants, including the Holdings Public Warrants. KWAC cannot assure you that Holdings will be able to meet those initial listing requirements.

If the Nasdaq delists Holdings’ securities from trading on its exchange for failure to meet its listing standards after the Business Combination or the Nasdaq Listing Condition is mutually waived and Holdings is not able to list its securities on another national securities exchange, KWAC expects the Holdings’ securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, Holdings could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

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a limited availability of market quotations for its securities;

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reduced liquidity for its securities;

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a determination that Holdings Common Stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in Holdings Common Stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for Holdings’ securities;

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a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and

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a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

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If not listed on the Nasdaq or other national securities exchange, the shares of Holdings Common Stock may become subject to the “penny stock” rules, and it would become more difficult to trade Holdings’ shares.

The SEC has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in “penny stocks.” “Penny stocks” are generally equity securities with a price of less than $5.00, other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or authorized for quotation on certain automated quotation systems, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system. If Holdings does not obtain a listing on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange and the Nasdaq Listing Condition is waived and if the price of the Holdings Common Stock is less than $5.00, the Holdings Common Stock could be deemed a penny stock. The “penny stock” rules require a broker-dealer, before a transaction in a “penny stock” not otherwise exempt from those rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document containing specified information. In addition, the “penny stock” rules require that before effecting any transaction in a “penny stock” not

 

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otherwise exempt from those rules, a broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the “penny stock” is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive (i) the purchaser’s written acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk disclosure statement; (ii) a written agreement to transactions involving “penny stocks”; and (iii) a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the trading activity in the secondary market for the Holdings Common Stock, and therefore Holdings stockholders may have difficulty selling their shares.

The unaudited pro forma financial information included in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” may not be representative of Holdings’ results if the Business Combination is completed.

KWAC and Holdings currently operate as separate companies and have had no prior history as a combined entity, and Wentworth’s and Holdings’ operations have not previously been managed on a combined basis. The pro forma financial information included in this proxy statement/prospectus is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the financial position or results of operations that would have actually occurred had the Business Combination been completed at or as of the dates indicated, nor is it indicative of the future operating results or financial position of Holdings. The pro forma statement of operations does not reflect future nonrecurring charges resulting from the Business Combination.

The unaudited pro forma financial information does not reflect future events that may occur after the Business Combination and does not consider potential impacts of future market conditions on revenues or expenses. The pro forma financial information included in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” has been derived from KWAC’s and Holdings’ historical financial statements and certain adjustments and assumptions have been made regarding Holdings after giving effect to the Business Combination. There may be differences between preliminary estimates in the pro forma financial information and the final acquisition accounting, which could result in material differences from the pro forma information presented in this proxy statement/prospectus in respect of the estimated financial position and results of operations of Holdings.

In addition, the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial information may not prove to be accurate and other factors may affect Holdings’ financial condition or results of operations following the Closing. Any potential decline in Holdings’ financial condition or results of operations may cause significant variations in the stock price of Holdings.

The Proposed Holdings Charter will not limit the ability of the Sponsor or its affiliates to compete with us.

The Sponsor and its affiliates engage in a broad spectrum of activities. In the ordinary course of their business activities, the Sponsor and its affiliates may engage in activities where their interests conflict with Holdings’ and Wentworth’s interests or those of Wentworth’s stockholders. The Proposed Holdings Charter will provide that none of the Sponsor, any of its respective affiliates or any director who is not employed by Holdings (including any non-employee director who serves as one of its officers in both his director and officer capacities) or his or her affiliates will have any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same business activities or similar business activities or lines of business in which Holdings or Wentworth operate. The Sponsor and its affiliates also may pursue, in their capacities other than as directors of the Holdings Board, acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to Holdings’ or Wentworth’s business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to Holdings or Wentworth. In addition, Sponsor and its affiliates may have interests in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures, and other transactions that, in its judgment, could enhance its investment, even though such transactions might involve risks to KWAC Stockholders.

During the pendency of the Business Combination, KWAC will not be able to enter into a business combination with another party because of restrictions in the Merger Agreement. Furthermore, certain provisions of the Merger Agreement will discourage third parties from submitting alternative takeover proposals, including proposals that may be superior to the arrangements contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

Covenants in the Merger Agreement impede the ability of KWAC to make acquisitions or complete other transactions that are not in the ordinary course of business pending completion of the Business

 

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Combination. As a result, KWAC may be at a disadvantage to its competitors during that period. In addition, while the Merger Agreement is in effect, neither KWAC nor Wentworth may solicit, assist, facilitate the making, submission, or announcement of, or intentionally encourage any alternative acquisition proposal, such as a merger, material sale of assets or equity interests or other business combination, with any third party, even though any such alternative acquisition could be favorable to KWAC’s stockholders than the Business Combination. In addition, if the Business Combination is not completed, these provisions will make it more difficult to complete an alternative business combination following the termination of the Merger Agreement due to the passage of time during which these provisions have remained in effect.

There may be tax consequences of the Kingswood Merger that may adversely affect holders of KWAC Common Stock or KWAC Warrants.

The exchange of KWAC Common Stock for Holdings Common Stock pursuant to the Kingswood Merger generally is expected to qualify as a tax-deferred exchange pursuant to Section 351 of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes (subject to possible gain recognition in respect of any Holdings Warrants received). If such an exchange fails to qualify as a transaction described in Section 351 of the Code, then a U.S. Holder (as that term is defined in “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”) would recognize gain in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of (i) the fair market value of the Holdings Common Stock and Holdings Warrants received over (ii) such U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its KWAC Common Stock and KWAC Warrants. Any such gain would be capital gain and generally would be long-term capital gain if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the KWAC Common Stock (and KWAC Warrants, if any) exceeded one year at the time of the Kingswood Merger.

U.S. Holders of KWAC Warrants are urged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the treatment of their exchange of KWAC Warrants for Holdings Warrants in connection with the Kingswood Merger.

KWAC’s current directors’ and executive officers’ affiliates own shares of KWAC Common Stock and warrants that will be worthless if the Business Combination is not approved. Such interests may have influenced their decision to approve the Business Combination.

If the Business Combination or another business combination is not consummated by February 24, 2024 (unless extended by KWAC’s stockholders), KWAC will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, redeeming 100% of the outstanding Public Shares for cash and, subject to the approval of its remaining stockholders and its board of directors, dissolving and liquidating. In such event, the 2,605,000 Founders Shares held by the Initial Stockholders, that were acquired for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 prior to KWAC’s IPO, would be worthless because the holders are not entitled to participate in any redemption with respect to such shares. Further, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 6,481,550 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant, simultaneously with the consummation of KWAC’s IPO, for an aggregate purchase price of $6,481,550. The KWAC Class B Shares and the Private Placement Warrants (including the shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants) will become worthless if KWAC does not consummate a business combination by February 24, 2024 (unless extended by KWAC’s stockholders). On the other hand, if the Business Combination is consummated, each outstanding KWAC Class B Share will convert into one KWAC Class A Share, at the closing and each outstanding KWAC warrant will become a Holdings Warrant. Such shares and warrants had an estimated aggregate market value of approximately $36,443,288 (based upon the closing price of Public Shares of $12.65 and the closing price of KWAC Public Warrants of $0.0115 on the OTC Exchange on January 24, 2024 and February 2, 2024, respectively.

As such, the Initial Stockholders will benefit from the completion of a business combination and may be incentivized to complete an acquisition on terms less favorable to stockholders rather than liquidate. In addition, based on the difference in the purchase price of approximately $0.05 that the Sponsor paid for the Founder Shares, as compared to the purchase price of $10.00 per unit sold in KWAC’s IPO, the Initial Stockholders may earn a positive rate of return even if the share price of Holdings after the Closing falls below the price initially paid for the units in the IPO and the Public Stockholders experience a negative rate of return following the Closing of the Business Combination. In the event that a business combination is not effected, the Initial Stockholders will not be entitled to any reimbursement of funds invested in KWAC. These financial interests may have influenced the decision of the KWAC Board and officers to approve

 

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the Business Combination and to continue to pursue the Business Combination. In considering the recommendations of the KWAC Board to vote for the Business Combination Proposal and other proposals, KWAC Stockholders should consider these interests. See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Proposal 1 —  The Business Combination Proposal to approve the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination.”

Risks Related to Redemption

The ability of KWAC’s stockholders to exercise Redemption Rights with respect to KWAC’s Public Shares may prevent KWAC from completing the Business Combination or optimizing its capital structure.

KWAC does not know how many stockholders will ultimately exercise their Redemption Rights in connection with the Business Combination. As such, the Business Combination is structured based on KWAC’s expectations (and those of the other parties to the Merger Agreement) as to the number of shares that will be submitted for Redemption. In addition, if a larger number of shares are submitted for Redemption than KWAC initially expected, KWAC may need to seek to arrange for additional third-party financing to be able to have the minimum amount of cash required pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

Even if such third-party financing is available, KWAC’s ability to obtain such financing is subject to restrictions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including the consent of Wentworth, acting reasonably. For information regarding the parameters of such restrictions, please see the sections of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Proposal No 1.: The Business Combination Proposal — The Merger Agreement — Covenants of the Parties” and “The Business Combination Proposal — The Merger Agreement — Conditions to the Closing of the Business Combination.”

Furthermore, raising such additional financing may involve dilutive equity issuances at higher than desirable levels. For information on the consequences if the Business Combination is not completed or must be restructured, please see the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Risk Factors — Risks if the Business Combination is not Consummated.”

The KWAC Stockholders who wish to redeem their KWAC Shares for a pro rata portion of the Trust Account must comply with specific requirements for Redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their Redemption Rights prior to the deadline. If KWAC’s stockholders fail to comply with the redemption requirements specified in this proxy statement/prospectus, they will not be entitled to redeem their KWAC Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account.

A Public Stockholder will be entitled to receive cash for any Public Shares to be redeemed only if such Public Stockholder: (1)(a) holds Public Shares or (b) holds Public Shares through KWAC Units and elects to separate its KWAC Units into the underlying Public Shares and KWAC Public Warrants prior to exercising its Redemption Rights with respect to the Public Shares; (2) prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 2, 2024 (two business days prior to the vote at the Special Meeting) submits a written request to the transfer agent that KWAC redeem its Public Shares for cash; and (3) delivers its Public Shares to the transfer agent physically or electronically through DTC.

If the Business Combination is not consummated, the Public Shares will not be redeemed for cash. If a Public Stockholder properly exercises its right to redeem its Public Shares and timely delivers its Public Shares to the transfer agent, KWAC will redeem each share of KWAC Class A Common Stock for a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then-outstanding Public Shares. If a Public Stockholder exercises its Redemption Rights, then it will be exchanging its redeemed Public Shares for cash and will no longer own such shares. Any request to redeem Public Shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and thereafter, with KWAC’s consent, until the Closing. Furthermore, if a holder of a Public Shares delivers its certificate in connection with an election of its redemption and subsequently decides prior to the Closing not to elect to exercise such rights, it may simply request that KWAC instruct its transfer agent to return the certificate (physically or electronically). The holder can make such request by contacting the transfer agent, at the address or email address listed in this proxy statement/prospectus. KWAC will be required to honor such request only if made

 

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prior to the deadline for exercising redemption requests. See “Special Meeting of the Stockholders —  Redemption Rights” for a detailed description of the procedures to be followed if you wish to redeem your Public Shares for cash.

If a Public Stockholder fails to receive notice of KWAC’s offer to redeem Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.

If, despite KWAC’s compliance with the proxy rules, a Public Stockholder fails to receive KWAC’s proxy materials, such Public Stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem his, her or its Public Shares. In addition, the proxy materials that KWAC is furnishing to holders of Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly redeem the Public Shares. In the event that a Public Stockholder fails to comply with these procedures, its Public Shares may not be redeemed. See “Special Meeting of the Stockholders — Redemption Rights” for a detailed description of the procedures to be followed if you wish to redeem your Public Shares for cash.

If you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of KWAC’s Public Shares issued in the IPO, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of KWAC’s Public Shares.

The Existing KWAC Charter provides that a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” ​(as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking Redemption Rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the IPO, which is referred to as the “Excess Shares.” However, such stockholders may vote all their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against the Business Combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over KWAC’s ability to complete the Business Combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in KWAC if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive Redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if KWAC completes the Business Combination. As a result, you will continue to hold that number of Public Shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell such shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.

There is no guarantee that a KWAC Stockholder’s decision whether to redeem its Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the Trust Account will put the stockholder in a better future economic position.

KWAC can give no assurance as to the price at which a stockholder may be able to sell its Public Shares in the future following the completion of the Business Combination or any alternative business combination. Certain events following the consummation of any initial business combination, including the Business Combination, may cause an increase in KWAC’s share price, and may result in a lower value realized now than a stockholder of KWAC might realize in the future had the stockholder not redeemed its Public Shares. Similarly, if a stockholder does not redeem its Public Shares, the stockholder will bear the risk of ownership of the Public Shares after the consummation of any initial business combination, and there can be no assurance that a stockholder can sell its Public Shares in the future for a greater amount than the redemption price set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus. A stockholder should consult the stockholder’s own tax and/or financial advisor for assistance on how this may affect his, her or its individual situation.

A new 1% U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on KWAC in connection with redemptions by KWAC of its shares.

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of stock repurchased by “covered corporations” beginning in 2023, with certain exceptions (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from which the stock is repurchased. Because we are a Delaware corporation and our securities are or will be trading on the Nasdaq exchange, we believe that we are a “covered corporation” for this purpose. The amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase, net of the fair market value of certain

 

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new stock issuances during the same taxable year. The U.S. Department of Treasury has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the Excise Tax; however, no guidance has been issued to date. It is uncertain whether, and to what extent, the Excise Tax could apply to any redemptions of KWAC public shares after December 31, 2022, including any redemptions in connection with a business combination.

Any redemption or other repurchase that we make that occurs after December 31, 2022, may be subject to the Excise Tax. Whether and to what extent KWAC 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 KWAC’s initial business combination; (ii) the structure of a business combination; (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with the business combination but issued within the same taxable year of a business combination); and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Risks if the Business Combination is not Consummated

If the conditions to the Merger Agreement are not met, the Business Combination may not occur.

Even if the Merger Agreement is approved by the stockholders of KWAC and Wentworth, specified conditions must be satisfied or waived before the parties to the Merger Agreement are obligated to complete the Business Combination. For a list of the material closing conditions contained in the Merger Agreement, see the section titled “Proposal No. 1: The Business Combination Proposal — The Merger Agreement — Conditions to the Closing of the Business Combination.” KWAC and Wentworth may not satisfy all of the closing conditions in the Merger Agreement. If the closing conditions are not satisfied or waived, the Business Combination will not occur, or will be delayed pending later satisfaction or waiver, and such delay may cause KWAC and Wentworth to each lose some or all of the intended benefits of the Business Combination. Even if NTA Proposal and the Condition Precedent Proposals are approved, the Nasdaq Listing Condition may not be satisfied, and we would be unable to consummate the Business Combination without a waiver of the Nasdaq Listing Condition by the parties to the Merger Agreement. For more information, see the sections entitled “Proposal No. 5: The NTA Proposal — Reasons for the Amendments” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Business Combination — We cannot assure you that the Nasdaq Listing Condition will be satisfied or that Holdings will be able to comply with the continued listing standards of Nasdaq if it is listed. If the Nasdaq Listing Condition is not satisfied, we would be unable to consummate the Business Combination without a waiver of the Nasdaq Listing Condition.”

If KWAC is unable to complete an initial business combination by February 24, 2024, unless otherwise extended, KWAC will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and it would redeem the Public Shares and liquidate, in which case the Public Stockholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities.

Pursuant to the Existing KWAC Charter, if KWAC is unable to complete an initial business combination by February 24, 2024, unless otherwise extended, KWAC will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining KWAC Stockholders and the KWAC Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law. Sponsor and KWAC’s officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the KWAC Class B Common Stock if KWAC fails to complete an initial business combination by February 24, 2024, unless otherwise extended. However, if Sponsor or KWAC’s management team acquires Public Shares in or after the IPO, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if KWAC fails to complete an initial business combination within the prescribed time period.

 

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In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of KWAC after a business combination, KWAC’s stockholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities. Stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the shares of KWAC Common Stock, except that KWAC will provide Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares for cash at a per share price equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, upon the completion of an initial business combination, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein.

Public Stockholders have limited rights or interests in funds in the Trust Account. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or KWAC Public Warrants, potentially at a loss.

Public Stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only upon (i) such stockholder’s exercise of Redemption Rights in connection with KWAC’s initial business combination (which will be the Business Combination should it occur) and then only in connection with those shares of KWAC’s Common Stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (ii) the Redemption of any Public Shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Existing KWAC Charter to (A) modify the substance or timing of KWAC’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if KWAC does not complete an initial business combination by February 24, 2024 or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity and (iii) the Redemption of Public Shares if KWAC is unable to complete an initial business combination by February 24, 2024, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if KWAC’s plan to redeem its Public Shares if it is unable to complete an initial Business Combination by February 24, 2024 is not completed for any reason, compliance with Delaware law and the Existing KWAC Charter may require that KWAC submit a plan of dissolution to its then-existing stockholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in the Trust Account. In that case, Public Stockholders may be forced to wait beyond February 24, 2024 before they receive funds from the Trust Account. In no other circumstances will a Public Stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or KWAC Public Warrants, potentially at a loss.

Risks Related to our Organizational Structure after the Business Combination

Holdings will be a holding company and its only material asset after completion of the Business Combination will be its interest in its subsidiaries, and it is accordingly dependent upon distributions made by their subsidiaries to pay taxes and pay dividends.

Upon completion of the Business Combination, Holdings will be a holding company with no material assets other than the equity interests in its direct and indirect subsidiaries. As a result, Holdings will have no independent means of generating revenue or cash flow. Holdings’ ability to pay taxes and pay dividends will depend on the financial results and cash flows of its subsidiaries and the distributions it receives from its subsidiaries. Deterioration in the financial condition, earnings, or cash flow of such subsidiaries for any reason could limit or impair such subsidiaries’ ability to pay such distributions. Additionally, to the extent that Holdings needs funds, and its subsidiaries are restricted from making such distributions under applicable law or regulation or under the terms of any financing arrangements, or its subsidiaries are otherwise unable to provide such funds, it could materially adversely affect Holdings’ liquidity and financial condition.

Dividends on the Holdings Common Stock, if any, will be paid at the discretion of the Holdings Board, which will consider, among other things, Holdings’ business, operating results, financial condition, current and expected cash needs, plans for expansion and any legal or contractual limitations on its ability to pay such dividends. Financing arrangements may include restrictive covenants that restrict Holdings’ ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to its stockholders. In addition, entities are generally prohibited under relevant law from making a distribution to a stockholder to the extent that, at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, the liabilities of such entity (subject to certain exceptions) exceed the fair value of its assets. If Holdings’ subsidiaries do not have sufficient funds to make distributions, Holdings’ ability to declare and pay cash dividends may also be restricted or impaired.

 

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Entities affiliated with Wentworth will beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 78.9%, assuming no redemptions, of outstanding Holdings Common Stock upon completion of the Business Combination, and these stockholders may have strategic interests that differ from Holdings’ interests and from those of Holdings’ other stockholders.

Former Wentworth Unitholders will beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 78.9%, assuming no redemptions, of Holdings Common Stock upon completion of the Business Combination. As a result, these stockholders will have significant influence over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, the approval of certain business combinations or dispositions, amendments to the Proposed Holdings Charter and Proposed Holdings Bylaws and other extraordinary transactions. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.”

Former Wentworth Unitholders may, together or separately, have interests that are different from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree, and which may be adverse to your interests. Furthermore, our concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control or otherwise discouraging a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of us, which could cause the market price of Holdings Common Stock to decline or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over the market price for their Holdings Common Stock. Additionally, former Wentworth Unitholders, together or separately, may from time to time acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us or supply us with goods and services. Further, former Wentworth Unitholders may have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures, and other transactions that, in their respective judgment, could enhance their investment in us, even though such transactions might involve risks to you. Stockholders should consider that the interests of former Wentworth Unitholders may differ from their interests in material respects.

Risks Related to Wentworth

Following the Business Combination, Holdings will be a holding company with no direct operations or material assets, other than the operations and assets of Wentworth that relies on dividends, distributions, loans and other payments, advances, and transfers of funds from Wentworth to pay dividends, pay expenses and meet its other obligations. Accordingly, Holdings’ stockholders and warrant holders will be subject to all of the risks of the business of Wentworth following the Business Combination.

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

Several risks are inherent in the independent broker-dealer business model.

Compared to wirehouses and other employee models, our advisors are not typically our direct employees. We generally offer advisors wider choice in operating their businesses with regard to product offerings, outside business activities, office technology and supervisory models. Our approach may make it more challenging for us to comply with our supervisory and regulatory compliance obligations, particularly in light of our de-centralized operations and the complexity of certain advisor business models.

Misconduct and errors by our advisors could be difficult for us to detect and could result in violations of law by us, regulatory sanctions, or serious reputational or financial harm. Although we have designed policies and procedures to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations and interpretations, we cannot always prevent or detect misconduct and errors by our advisors, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect these activities may not be effective in all cases. Prevention and detection among our advisors, who are typically not our direct employees and some of whom tend to be located in small, decentralized offices, present additional challenges, particularly in the case of complex products or supervision of outside business activities. We also cannot assure that misconduct or errors by our employees or advisors will not lead to a material adverse effect on our business, or that our errors and omissions insurance will be sufficient to cover such misconduct or errors.

Misconduct by our advisors, who operate in a decentralized environment, is difficult to detect and deter and could harm our business, reputation, results of operations or financial condition.

Even though our advisors are typically not our direct employees, we may be held liable for their misconduct that results in violations of law, regulatory sanctions and/or serious reputational or financial harm. Misconduct could include:

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recommending transactions that are not suitable for the client or in the client’s best interests;

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engaging in fraudulent or otherwise improper activity;

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binding us to transactions that exceed authorized limits;

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hiding unauthorized or unsuccessful activities, resulting in unknown and unmanaged risks or losses;

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improperly using or disclosing confidential information;

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failure, whether negligent or intentional, to effect securities transactions on behalf of clients;

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failure to perform reasonable diligence on a security, product or strategy;

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failure to supervise a financial advisor;

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failure to provide insurance carriers with complete and accurate information;

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engaging in unauthorized or excessive trading to the detriment of clients;

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engaging in improper transactions with clients; or

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otherwise not complying with laws or our control procedures.

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We cannot always deter misconduct by our advisors, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Also, our failure to properly investigate new and existing advisors may subject us to additional risks and liabilities.

Poor performance of the investment products and services recommended or sold to our clients or competitive pressures on pricing of such products and services may have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our advisors’ clients control their assets maintained with us. These clients can terminate their relationships, reduce the aggregate amount of assets under management or shift their funds to other types of accounts with different rate structures for any number of reasons, including investment performance, changes in prevailing interest rates, financial market performance, competitive pricing and personal client liquidity needs. Poor performance of the investment products and services recommended or sold to such clients relative to the performance of other products available in the market or the performance of other investment management firms tends to result in the loss of accounts. Competitive pricing, including from robo-advisors and higher deposit rates on cash deposits, could adversely impact our business. The decrease in revenue that could result from such an event could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Maintaining and enhancing our Wentworth brand and reputation is critical to our growth, and if we are unable to maintain and enhance our brand, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Several competitors have brands that are well recognized. As a relatively new entrant into the digital market, we spend considerable capital to create brand awareness and build our reputation. We may not be able to build brand awareness, and our efforts at building, maintaining, and enhancing our reputation could fail. Complaints or negative publicity about our business practices, our marketing and advertising campaigns, our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, the integrity of the data that we provide to consumers, data privacy and security issues, and other aspects of our business, whether valid or not, could diminish confidence in our brand, which could adversely affect our reputation and business. As we expand our product offerings and enter new markets, we need to establish our reputation with new customers, and to the extent we are not successful in creating positive impressions, our business in these newer markets could be adversely affected. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or enhance our reputation, and failure to do so could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. If we are unable to maintain or enhance consumer awareness of our brand cost-effectively, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Our subsidiaries are broker-dealers registered with the SEC and members of FINRA, and therefore are subject to extensive regulation and scrutiny.

Our subsidiaries facilitate transactions in shares and fractionalized shares of publicly-traded stock and exchange-traded funds through a third-party clearing and carrying brokers. Our subsidiaries are registered

 

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with the SEC as broker-dealers under the Exchange Act and are members of FINRA. Therefore, our subsidiaries are subject to regulation, examination, and supervision by the SEC, FINRA, and state securities regulators. The regulations applicable to broker-dealers cover all aspects of the securities business, including sales practices, use and safekeeping of clients’ funds and securities, capital adequacy, record-keeping, and the conduct and qualification of officers, employees, and independent contractors. As part of the regulatory process, broker-dealers are subject to periodic examinations by their regulators, the purpose of which is to determine compliance with securities laws and regulations, and from time to time may be subject to additional routine and for-cause examinations. It is not uncommon for regulators to assert, upon completion of an examination, that the broker-dealer being examined has violated certain of these rules and regulations. Depending on the nature and extent of the violations, the broker-dealer may be required to pay a fine and/or be subject to other forms of disciplinary and corrective action. Additionally, the adverse publicity arising from the imposition of sanctions could harm our reputation and cause us to lose existing customers or fail to gain new customers.

The SEC, FINRA, and state securities regulators have the authority to bring administrative or judicial proceedings against broker-dealers, whether arising out of examinations or otherwise, for violations of state and federal securities laws. Administrative sanctions can include cease-and-desist orders, censure, fines, and disgorgement and may even result in the suspension or expulsion of the firm from the securities industry. Similar sanctions may be imposed upon officers, directors, representatives, and employees.

Our subsidiaries have adopted, and regularly review and update, various policies, controls, and procedures designed for compliance with their regulatory obligations. However, appropriately addressing our subsidiaries regulatory obligations is complex and difficult and our reputation could be damaged if we fail, or appear to fail, to appropriately address them. Failure to adhere to these policies and procedures may also result in regulatory sanctions or litigation against us. Our subsidiaries also rely on various third parties to provide services, including managing and executing customer orders, and failure of these third parties to adequately perform these services may negatively impact customer experience, product performance, and our reputation and may also result in regulatory sanctions or litigation against us or our subsidiaries.

In the event of any regulatory action or scrutiny, we or our subsidiaries could also be required to make changes to our business practices or compliance programs. In addition, any perceived or actual breach of compliance by our subsidiaries with respect to applicable laws, rules, and regulations could have a significant impact on our reputation, could cause us to lose existing customers, prevent us from obtaining new customers, require us to expend significant funds to remedy problems caused by breaches and to avert further breaches, and expose us to legal risk, including litigation against us, and potential liability.

Our subsidiaries are subject to net capital and other regulatory capital requirements; failure to comply with these rules could harm our business.

Our subsidiaries are subject to the net capital requirements of the SEC and FINRA. These requirements typically specify the minimum level of net capital a broker-dealer must maintain and also mandate that a significant part of their assets be kept in relatively liquid form. Failure to maintain the required net capital may subject a firm to limitation of its activities, including suspension or revocation of its registration by the SEC and suspension or expulsion by FINRA, and ultimately may require its liquidation. Currently, our subsidiaries have relatively low net capital requirements, because they do not hold customer funds or securities, but instead facilitate the transmission and delivery of those funds. However, a change in the net capital rules, a change in how our subsidiaries handle or hold customer assets, or the imposition of new rules affecting the scope, coverage, calculation, or amount of net capital requirements could have adverse effects. Finally, our subsidiaries are subject to such net capital requirements, we may be required to inject additional capital into our subsidiaries from time to time and as such, we may have liability and/or our larger business may be affected by any of these outcomes.

It is possible that FINRA will require changes to our business practices based on the ownership of our subsidiaries, which could impose additional costs or disrupt our business.

In certain cases, FINRA has required unregistered affiliates of broker-dealers to comply with additional regulatory requirements, including, among others, handling all securities or other financial transactions through the affiliated broker-dealer or conforming all marketing and advertising materials to the requirements

 

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applicable to broker-dealers. We do not currently believe that these types of requirements apply to any aspect of our business other than the securities transactions facilitated through our subsidiaries. It is possible that, in the future, FINRA could require us to comply with additional regulations in the conduct of other activities (i.e., beyond the securities transactions made through our subsidiaries). If that were to occur, it could require significant changes to our business practices. These and other changes would impose significantly greater costs on us and disrupt existing practices in ways that could negatively affect our overarching business and profitability.

We rely on clearing brokers and the termination of our clearing agreements could disrupt our business.

Each of our broker-dealer subsidiaries depends on the operational capacity and ability of its clearing broker for the orderly processing of transactions. By engaging the processing services of a clearing firm, each of our broker-dealer subsidiaries is exempt from some capital reserve requirements and other regulatory requirements imposed by federal and state securities laws. If these clearing agreements were terminated for any reason, we would be forced to find alternative clearing arrangements.

We cannot assure you that we would be able to find alternative clearing arrangements on acceptable terms to us or at all. Also, the loss of a clearing firm could hamper the ability of our subsidiaries to recruit and retain their respective independent financial advisors.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect our ability to consummate the Business Combination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in governmental authorities worldwide implementing numerous measures to contain the virus, including travel restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders, and business limitations and shutdowns. More generally, the pandemic raises the possibility of an extended global economic downturn and has caused volatility in financial markets. The pandemic may also amplify many of the other risks described in this revised proxy statement/prospectus.

We may be unable to complete the Business Combination if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 restrict travel and limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the Holdings personnel. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our ability to consummate the Business Combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other matters of global concern continue for an extended period of time, our ability to consummate the Business Combination may be materially adversely affected.

Our business may be harmed by global events beyond our control, including overall slowdowns in securities trading.

Like other brokerage and financial services firms, our business and profitability are directly affected by elements that are beyond our control, such as economic and political conditions, broad trends in business and finance, changes in volume of securities and futures transactions, changes in the markets in which such transactions occur and changes in how such transactions are processed. A weakness in securities markets, such as a slowdown causing reduction in trading volume in U.S. or foreign securities and derivatives, has historically resulted in reduced transaction revenues and would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our business, operations, financial position and clinical development plans and timelines, and our ability to consummate the Business Combination, could be materially adversely affected by the continuing military action in Ukraine.

As a result of the military action commenced in February 2022 by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, and related economic sanctions imposed by certain governments, our ability to consummate the Business Combination, and our financial position and operations following the Business Combination, may be materially and adversely affected. As our ability to continue to operate following the Business Combination will be dependent on raising debt and equity finance, any adverse impact to those markets as a result of

 

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this military action, including due to increased market volatility, decreased availability in third-party financing and/or a deterioration in the terms on which it is available (if at all), could negatively impact our business, operations or financial position.

We may require additional capital to grow our business, which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.

To the extent that our present capital is insufficient to meet future operating requirements or to cover losses, we may need to raise additional funds through financings or curtail our projected growth. Many factors will affect our capital needs as well as their amount and timing, including our growth and profitability, as well as market disruptions and other developments.

Historically, we have funded our operations, marketing expenditures and capital expenditures primarily through earnings. We evaluate financing opportunities from time to time, and our ability to obtain financing will depend, among other things, on our development efforts, business plans and operating performance and the condition of the capital markets at the time we seek financing.

If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity, equity-linked or debt securities, those securities may have rights, preferences, or privileges senior to those of Holdings Common Stock, and our existing stockholders may experience dilution. Any debt financing secured by us in the future could require that a substantial portion of our operating cash flow be devoted to the payment of interest and principal on such indebtedness, which may decrease available funds for other business activities, and could involve restrictive covenants relating to our capital-raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities.

If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us, when we require it, our ability to continue to support our business growth, maintain minimum amounts of capital and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited, and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

We rely on the experience and expertise of our senior management team, key technical employees, and other highly skilled personnel.

Our success depends upon the continued service of our senior management team, highly specialized experts, and key technical employees, as well as our ability to continue to attract and retain additional highly qualified personnel. Our future success depends on our continuing ability to identify, hire, develop, motivate, retain, and integrate highly skilled personnel for all areas of our organization. If we are unable to attract the requisite personnel, our business and prospects may be adversely affected. Our founder, executive officers, key technical personnel, and other employees could terminate his or her relationship with us at any time. The loss of our founder or any other member of our senior management team or key personnel may significantly delay or prevent the achievement of our strategic business objectives and could harm our business. Competition in our industry for qualified employees is intense. Our compensation arrangements, such as our equity award programs, may not always be successful in attracting new employees and retaining and motivating our existing employees. Moreover, if and when the stock options or other equity awards are substantially vested, employees under such equity arrangements may be more likely to leave, particularly when the underlying shares have seen a value appreciation.

Legal, Regulatory or Compliance Risks

The SEC has recently adopted new rules to regulate special purpose acquisition companies. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential business combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with such rules may increase KWAC’s costs and the time needed to complete KWAC’s initial business combination and may constrain the circumstances under which KWAC could complete a business combination.

On January 24, 2024, the SEC adopted new rules (the “SPAC Rules”), relating to disclosures in business combination transactions between special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) such as KWAC and private operating companies; the condensed financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with

 

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proposed business combination transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”). Certain of the procedures that KWAC, a potential business combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with the SPAC Rules, or pursuant to the SEC’s views expressed in the SPAC Rules, may increase the costs and the time required to consummate a business combination, and may constrain the circumstances under which KWAC could complete a business combination.

If KWAC were deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we may be forced to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead may be required to liquidate KWAC. To avoid that result, on the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement of KWAC’s initial public offering (the “IPO Registration Statement”), KWAC liquidated the securities held in the Trust Account and transferred all funds in the Trust Account to cash. As a result of such transfer, KWAC will likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount that our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of KWAC.

There is currently uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC, including a company like KWAC, that may not complete its initial business combination within 24 months after the effective date of its IPO Registration Statement. We did not complete our initial business combination within 24 months of the effective date of KWAC’s IPO Registration Statement. As a result, it is possible that a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company. If we were deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we might be forced to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead be required to liquidate KWAC. If we are required to liquidate KWAC, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning stock in the Company, including the potential appreciation in the value of KWAC’s stock and warrants following such a transaction, and KWAC’s warrants would expire worthless.

The funds in the Trust Account have, since KWAC’s IPO, been held only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. However, to mitigate the risk of KWAC being deemed to have been operating as an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act), KWAC on the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement, instructed CST, the trustee with respect to the Trust Account, to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash until the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination or liquidation. As a result of the liquidation, KWAC will receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of KWAC.

Legislative, judicial, or regulatory changes to the classification of independent contractors could increase our operating expenses.

From time to time, various legislative or regulatory proposals are introduced at the federal or state levels to change the status of independent contractors’ classification to employees for either employment tax purposes (withholding, social security, Medicare and unemployment taxes) or other benefits available to employees. Most of our advisors are classified as independent contractors for all purposes, including employment tax and employee benefit purposes. We cannot assure you that legislative, judicial, or regulatory (including tax) authorities will not introduce proposals or assert interpretations of existing rules and regulations that would change the employee/independent contractor classification of these firms’ financial advisors. The costs associated with potential changes, if any, to these independent contractor classifications could have a material adverse effect on us, including our results of operations and financial condition.

We collect, process, store, share, disclose and use customer information and other data, and our actual or perceived failure to protect such information and data, respect customers’ privacy or comply with data privacy and security laws and regulations could damage our reputation and brand and harm our business and operating results.

Use of our technology involves the storage and transmission of information, including personal information, in relation to our staff, contractors, business partners and current, past, or potential customers.

 

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Security breaches, including by hackers or insiders, could expose confidential information, which could result in potential regulatory investigations, fines, penalties, compliance orders, liability, litigation, and remediation costs, as well as reputational harm, any of which could materially adversely affect our business and financial results. Further, outside parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or customers to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to our information or customers’ information. Any of these incidents could result in an investigation by a competent regulator, resulting in a fine or penalty, or an order to implement specific compliance measures. It could also trigger claims by affected third parties. While we use encryption and authentication technology licensed from third parties designed to effect secure transmission of such information, we cannot guarantee the security of the transfer and storage of personal information.

Any or all of the issues above could adversely affect our ability to attract new customers or retain existing customers, or subject us to governmental or third-party lawsuits, investigations, regulatory fines or other actions or liability, resulting in a material adverse effect to our business, results of operations and financial condition.

There are numerous existing and proposed federal, state, and local laws in the United States and around the world regarding privacy and the collection, processing, storing, sharing, disclosing, using, cross-border transfer, and the protection of personal information and other data. The scope of these existing and proposed laws are changing, subject to differing interpretations, may be costly to comply with, and may be inconsistent between countries and jurisdictions or conflict with other rules. These laws include the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the “CCPA”), which became effective on January 1, 2020. The CCPA gives California residents expanded rights to access and delete their personal information, opt out of certain personal information sharing and receive detailed information about how their personal information is used. The CCPA provides civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action and statutory damages for data breaches that are expected to increase data breach litigation. The CCPA may increase our compliance costs and potential liability.

Any failure or perceived failure to comply with these rules may result in regulatory fines or penalties including orders that require us to change the way we process data (including by way of our algorithms). In the event of a data breach, we are also subject to breach notification laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including U.S. state laws, and the risk of litigation and regulatory enforcement actions.

Additionally, we are subject to the terms of our privacy policies and privacy-related obligations to third parties. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with our privacy policies, our privacy-related obligations to customers or other third parties, or our privacy-related legal obligations, or any compromise of security that results in the unauthorized release or transfer of sensitive information, which could include personally identifiable information or other user data, may result in governmental or regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, regulatory fines, compliance orders, litigation or public statements against us by consumer advocacy groups or others, and could cause customers to lose trust in us, all of which could be costly and have an adverse effect on our business. In addition, new and changed rules and regulations regarding privacy, data protection of customer information could cause us to delay planned uses and disclosures of data to comply with applicable privacy and data protection requirements. Moreover, if third parties that we work with violate applicable laws or our policies, such violations also may put personal information at risk, which may result in increased regulatory scrutiny and have a material adverse effect to our reputation, business, and operating results.

Regulators may limit our ability to expand or implement and/or may eliminate or restrict the confidentiality of our proprietary technology, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our future success depends on our ability to continue to expand and implement our proprietary product. Changes to existing regulations, their interpretation or implementation, or new regulations could impede our use of this technology or require that we disclose our proprietary technology to our competitors, which could impair our competitive position and result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Litigation and legal proceedings filed by or against us and our subsidiaries could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Litigation and other proceedings may include, but are not limited to, complaints from or litigation by customers or reinsurers, related to alleged breaches of contract or otherwise. As our market share increases, competitors may pursue litigation to require us to change our business practices or offerings and limit our ability to compete effectively. We continually face risks associated with litigation of various types arising in the normal course of our business operations, including disputes relating to general commercial and corporate litigation. We are not currently involved in any material litigation with our customers, consumers, or affinity partners. We cannot predict with any certainty whether we will be involved in such litigation in the future or what impact such litigation would have on our business. If we were to be involved in litigation and it was determined adversely, it could require us to pay significant damage amounts or to change aspects of our operations, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results. Even claims without merit can be time-consuming and costly to defend and may divert management’s attention and resources away from our business and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, routine lawsuits over claims that are not individually material could in the future become material if aggregated with a substantial number of similar lawsuits. In addition to increasing costs, a significant volume of customer complaints or litigation could adversely affect our brand and reputation, regardless of whether such allegations are valid or whether we are liable. We cannot predict with certainty the costs of defense, the costs of prosecution, insurance coverage or the ultimate outcome of litigation or other proceedings filed by or against us, including remedies or damage awards, and adverse results in such litigation, and other proceedings may harm our business and financial condition.

We may be subject to certain industry regulations, including the Truth-in-Lending Act.

Our business may require compliance with certain regulatory regimes, including some applicable to consumer lending. In particular, the laws which our business may be subject to directly or indirectly include the Truth-in-Lending Act, and its implementing Regulation Z, and similar state laws, which require certain disclosures to borrowers regarding the terms and conditions of their loans and credit transactions. Non-compliance with the Truth-in-Lending Act or other laws and regulations could result in fines, sanctions, or other adverse consequences.

Changes in applicable tax laws, regulations or administrative interpretations thereof may materially adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Holdings could be adversely affected by changes in applicable tax laws, regulations, or administrative interpretations thereof. For example, the U.S. federal tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”), enacted in December 2017, resulted in fundamental changes to the Code, including, among many other things, a reduction to the federal corporate income tax rate, a limitation on the deductibility of business interest expense, a limitation on the deductibility of certain director and officer compensation expense, limitations on the use of net operating loss carrybacks and carryovers and changes relating to the scope and timing of U.S. taxation on earnings from international business operations. Subsequent legislation, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), enacted on March 27, 2020, relaxed certain of the limitations imposed by the TCJA for certain taxable years, including the limitation on the use and carryback of net operating losses and the limitation on the deductibility of business interest expense. The exact impact of the TCJA and the CARES Act for future years is difficult to quantify, but these changes could materially adversely affect holders of the Holdings Common Stock or Holdings. In addition, on August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of stock repurchased by “covered corporations” beginning in 2023. Other changes could be enacted in the future to increase the corporate tax rate, limit further the deductibility of interest or effect other changes that could have a material adverse effect on Holdings’ business, results of operations and financial condition. Such changes could also include increases in state taxes and other changes to state tax laws to replenish state and local government finances depleted by costs attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduction in tax revenues due to the accompanying economic downturn.

In addition, Holdings’ effective tax rate and tax liability are based on the application of current income tax laws, regulations, and treaties. These laws, regulations and treaties are complex, and the manner in which

 

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they apply to Holdings and its diverse set of business arrangements is often open to interpretation. Significant management judgment is required in determining Holdings’ provision for income taxes, its deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against its net deferred tax assets. The tax authorities could challenge Holdings’ interpretation of laws, regulations, and treaties, resulting in additional tax liability or adjustment to its income tax provision that could increase its effective tax rate. Changes to tax laws may also adversely affect Holdings’ ability to attract and retain key personnel.

Failure to comply with anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws, including the FCPA and similar laws associated with our activities outside of the United States, could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.

We operate a global business and may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or affiliated entities. We are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, the U.S. domestic bribery statute contained in 18 U.S.C. § 201, the U.S. Travel Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, the U.K. Bribery Act, and possibly other anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws in countries in which we conduct activities. These laws that prohibit companies and their employees and third-party intermediaries from corruptly promising, authorizing, offering, or providing, directly or indirectly, improper payments or anything of value to foreign government officials, political parties, and private-sector recipients for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business, directing business to any person, or securing any advantage. In addition, U.S. public companies are required to maintain records that accurately and fairly represent their transactions and have an adequate system of internal accounting controls. In many foreign countries, including countries in which we may conduct business, it may be a local custom that businesses engage in practices that are prohibited by the FCPA or other applicable laws and regulations. We face significant risks if we or any of our directors, officers, employees, agents or other parties or representatives fail to comply with these laws and governmental authorities in the United States and elsewhere could seek to impose substantial civil and/or criminal fines and penalties which could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition.

We have begun to implement an anti-corruption compliance program and policies, procedures and training designed to foster compliance with these laws; however, our employees, contractors, and agents, and companies to which we outsource some of our business operations, may take actions in violation of our policies or applicable law. Any such violation could have an adverse effect on our reputation, business, operating results and prospects.

Any violation of the FCPA, other applicable anti-corruption laws, or anti-money laundering laws could result in whistleblower complaints, adverse media coverage, investigations, loss of export privileges, severe criminal, or civil sanctions and, in the case of the FCPA, suspension or debarment from U.S. government contracts, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our reputation, business, operating results, and prospects. In addition, responding to any enforcement action may result in a significant diversion of management’s attention and resources and significant defense costs and other professional fees.

Risks Relating to Cybersecurity and Technology

Security incidents or real or perceived errors, failures or bugs in our systems or our website could impair our operations, result in loss of personal customer information, damage our reputation, and brand, and harm our business and operating results.

Our continued success is dependent on our systems, applications, and software continuing to operate and to meet the changing needs of our customers and users. We rely on our technology and engineering staff and vendors to successfully implement changes to and maintain our systems and services in an efficient and secure manner. Like all information systems and technology, our website may contain material errors, failures, vulnerabilities or bugs, particularly when new features or capabilities are released, and may be subject to computer viruses or malicious code, break-ins, phishing impersonation attacks, attempts to overload our servers with denial-of-service or other attacks, ransomware and similar incidents or disruptions from unauthorized use of our computer systems, as well as unintentional incidents causing data leakage, any of

 

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which could lead to interruptions, delays or website or online app shutdowns, or could cause loss of critical data or the unauthorized disclosure, access, acquisition, alteration or use of personal or other confidential information.

If we experience compromises to our security that result in technology performance, integrity, or availability problems, the complete shutdown of our website or the loss or unauthorized disclosure, access, acquisition, alteration or use of confidential information, customers may lose trust and confidence in us, and customers may decrease the use of our website or stop using our website entirely. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable, or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently, often they are not recognized until launched against a target, and may originate from less regulated and remote areas around the world, we may be unable to proactively address these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. Even if we take steps that we believe are adequate to protect us from cyber threats, hacking against our competitors or other companies could create the perception among our customers or potential customers that our website is not safe to use.

A significant impact on the performance, reliability, security, and availability of our systems, software, or services may harm our reputation, impair our ability to operate, retain existing customers or attract new customers, and expose us to legal claims and government action, each of which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects.

We may be unable to prevent or address the misappropriation of our data.

From time to time, third parties may misappropriate our data through website scraping, robots or other means and aggregate this data on their websites with data from other companies. In addition, copycat websites or online apps may misappropriate data and attempt to imitate our brand or the functionality of our website. If we become aware of such websites or online apps, we intend to employ technological or legal measures in an attempt to halt their operations. However, we may be unable to detect all such websites or online apps in a timely manner and, even if we could, technological and legal measures may be insufficient to halt their operations. In some cases, particularly in the case of websites or online apps operating outside of the United States, our available remedies may not be adequate to protect us against the effect of the operation of such websites or online apps. Regardless of whether we can successfully enforce our rights against the operators of these websites or online apps, any measures that we may take could require us to expend significant financial or other resources, which could harm our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, to the extent that such activity creates confusion among consumers or advertisers, our brand and business could be harmed.

Risks Related to Being a Public Company

The market price and trading volume of Holdings Common Stock and warrants may be highly volatile and could decline significantly following the Business Combination.

Securities markets worldwide experience significant price and volume fluctuations. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of Holdings Common Stock and Holdings Public Warrants in spite of our operating performance. Holdings cannot assure you that the market price of Holdings Common Stock and Holdings Public Warrants will not fluctuate widely or decline significantly in the future in response to a number of factors, including any of the risks presented under this section entitled “Risk Factors” or presented elsewhere in this proxy statement/​prospectus, and, among others, the following:

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Holdings operating and financial performance, quarterly or annual earnings relative to similar companies;

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publication of research reports or news stories about Holdings, Holdings’ competitors or Holdings’ industry, or positive or negative recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage by securities analysts;

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the public’s reaction to Holdings’ press-releases, other public announcements and filings with the SEC;

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announcements by Holdings or Holdings’ competitors of acquisitions, business plans or commercial relationships;

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any major change in the Holdings Board or senior management;

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sales of Holdings Common Stock by Holdings, Holdings’ directors, executive officers, principal shareholders;

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adverse market reaction to any indebtedness Holdings may incur or securities we may issue in the future;

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short sales, hedging and other derivative transactions in Holdings Common Stock;

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exposure to capital market risks related to changes in interest rates, realized investment losses, credit spreads, equity prices, foreign exchange rates and performance of insurance-linked investments;

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Holdings’ creditworthiness, financial condition, performance and prospects;

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Holdings’ dividend policy and whether dividends on Holdings Common Stock have been, and are likely to be, declared and paid from time to time;

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perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with Holdings Common Stock relative to other investment alternatives;

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regulatory or legal developments;

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changes in general market, economic, and political conditions, such as inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, potential recession, local and national elections, fuel prices, international currency fluctuations, corruption, political instability and acts of war or terrorism;

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conditions or trends in our industry, geographies or customers;

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changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations, or principles; and

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threatened or actual litigation or government investigations.

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In addition, broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of Holdings Common Stock, regardless of Holdings’ actual operating performance, and factors beyond Holdings’ control may cause Holdings’ stock price to decline rapidly and unexpectedly. In addition, in the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. Holdings’ may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Litigation of this type could result in substantial costs and diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could have a material adverse effect on Holdings’ business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. Any adverse determination in litigation could also subject Holdings to significant liabilities.

Broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our securities irrespective of our operating performance. The stock market in general and Nasdaq in particular have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the particular companies affected. The trading prices and valuations of these stocks, and of our securities, may not be predictable. A loss of investor confidence in the market for retail stocks or the stocks of other companies which investors perceive to be similar to Holdings following the business combination could depress our stock price regardless of our business, prospects, financial conditions or results of operations. A decline in the market price of our securities also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future.

Holdings’ management team has limited experience managing a public company.

Most members of our management team have limited experience managing a publicly traded company, interacting with public company investors, and complying with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage our transition to being a public company subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. These new obligations and constituents will require significant attention from our senior management and could divert their attention

 

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away from the day-to-day management of our business, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our shares or if our results of operations do not meet their expectations, our share price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for Holdings Common Stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about Holdings or its business. We do not have any control over these analysts. Securities and industry analysts do not currently, and may never, publish research on us. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price of our shares would likely be negatively impacted. In the event securities or industry analysts-initiated coverage, and one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our share price or trading volume to decline. Moreover, if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock, or if our results of operations do not meet their expectations, our share price could decline.

As a public company, we will become subject to additional laws, regulations, and stock exchange listing standards, which will impose additional costs on us and may strain our resources and divert our management’s attention.

As a company with publicly traded securities, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the listing requirements of the Nasdaq and other applicable securities laws and regulations. These rules and regulations require that we adopt additional controls and procedures and disclosure, corporate governance and other practices thereby significantly increasing our legal, financial, and other compliance costs. These new obligations will also make other aspects of our business more difficult, time-consuming, or costly and increase demand on our personnel, systems, and other resources. For example, to maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, we will need to commit significant resources, hire additional staff, and provide additional management oversight. Furthermore, as a result of disclosure of information in this proxy statement/ prospectus and in our Exchange Act and other filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition will become more visible, which we believe may give some of our competitors who may not be similarly required to disclose this type of information a competitive advantage. In addition to these added costs and burdens, if we are unable to satisfy our obligations as a public company, we could be subject to delisting of Holdings Common Stock, fines, sanctions, other regulatory actions, and civil litigation, any of which could negatively affect the price of Holdings Common Stock.

The Proposed Holdings Charter will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or the federal district courts within the State of Delaware if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, will be the exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees. These exclusive-forum provisions do not apply to claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

The Proposed Holdings Charter which will become effective upon the closing of the Business Combination will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents or our stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, (4) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our Proposed Holdings Charter or Proposed Holdings Bylaws, or (5) any other action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or federal court located within the State of Delaware if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, in all cases subject to the court’s having jurisdiction over indispensable parties named as defendants. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act, and

 

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accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such Securities Act claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, unless Holdings consents in writing to the selection of an alternate forum, the federal courts will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. The Proposed Holdings Charter will not address or apply to claims that arise under the Exchange Act; however, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation and bylaws has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with any action, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our Proposed Holdings Charter and Proposed Holdings Bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action.

Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us or our directors and officers. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our Proposed Holdings Charter and Proposed Holdings Bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, financial condition, and operating results. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in our shares of capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this exclusive forum provision but will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

A significant portion of our total outstanding shares of Holdings Common Stock are restricted from immediate resale but may be sold into the market in the near future. This could cause the market price of Holdings Common Stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.

The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, Holdings will enter into Lock-Up Agreements with each of Holdings, Wentworth, and certain of the holders of Wentworth Units, pursuant to, and on the terms and conditions of which, subject to certain exceptions, such holders shall not transfer or make any announcement of any intention to effect a transfer of any of the equity interests of securities of Holdings beneficially owned by the holder during the period ending twelve months following the date of such Lock-Up Agreement (unless earlier released if after 150 days following Closing the Holdings Common Stock trades at $12.00 or higher for 20 days within any 30 day trading period).

Following the applicable expiration of the lock-up period, Holdings, Wentworth, and the holders of Wentworth Units subject to Lock-Up Agreements will not be restricted from selling shares of Holdings Common Stock held by them, other than by applicable securities laws. As such, sales of a substantial number of shares of Holdings Common Stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of Holdings Common Stock. Upon completion of the Business Combination, Holdings, Wentworth, and certain of the holders of Wentworth Units will collectively own approximately 78.9% of Holdings Common Stock, translating to a 78.9% voting interest, assuming that no public stockholders redeem their Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination.

As restrictions on resale end and registration statements for the sale of shares of Holdings Common Stock by the parties to the registration rights agreement are available for use, the sale or possibility of sale of these shares of Holdings Common Stock, could have the effect of increasing the volatility in the market price of Holdings Common Stock, or decreasing the market price itself.

Holdings Warrants will become exercisable for Holdings Common Stock, which will increase the number of shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in dilution to our stockholders.

Following the Closing, there will be 15,184,550 outstanding Holdings Warrants to purchase 15,184,550 shares of Holdings Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, which Holdings Warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination. To the extent such Holdings Warrants are exercised, additional shares of Holdings Common Stock will be issued, which will result in dilution to the holders of Holdings Common Stock and increase the number of shares eligible for resale in

 

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the public market. Sales of substantial numbers of such shares Holdings Common Stock in the public market or the fact that such Holdings Warrants may be exercised could adversely affect the market price of Holdings Common Stock.

Our quarterly operating results and other operating metrics may fluctuate from quarter to quarter, which makes these metrics difficult to predict.

Our quarterly operating results and other operating metrics have fluctuated in the past and may continue to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. As a result, you should not rely on our past quarterly operating results as indicators of future performance. You should take into account the risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in rapidly evolving markets. Our financial condition and operating results in any given quarter can be influenced by numerous factors, many of which we are unable to predict or are outside of our control, including:

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our ability to maintain and attract new customers;

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the continued development and upgrading of our technology platform;

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the timing and success of new product, service, feature, and content introductions by us or our competitors or any other change in the competitive landscape of our market;

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pricing pressure as a result of competition or otherwise;

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delays or disruptions in our supply chain;

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errors in our forecasting of the demand for our products and services, which could lead to lower revenue or increased costs, or both;

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increases in marketing, sales, and other operating expenses that we may incur to grow and expand our operations and to remain competitive;

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successful expansion into international markets;

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the diversification and growth of our revenue sources;

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our ability to maintain gross margins and operating margins;

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constraints on the availability of consumer financing or increased down payment requirements to finance purchases of our products;

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system failures or breaches of security or privacy;

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adverse litigation judgments, settlements, or other litigation-related costs, including content costs for past use;

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changes in the legislative or regulatory environment, including with respect to insurance and consumer product regulations;

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fluctuations in currency exchange rates and changes in the proportion of our revenue and expenses denominated in foreign currencies;

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changes in our effective tax rate;

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changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations, or principles; and

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changes in business or macroeconomic conditions, including lower consumer confidence, recessionary conditions, increased unemployment rates, or stagnant or declining wages.

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Any one of the factors above or the cumulative effect of some of the factors above may result in significant fluctuations in our operating results.

The variability and unpredictability of our quarterly operating results or other operating metrics could result in our failure to meet our expectations or those of analysts that cover us or investors with respect to revenue or other operating results for a particular period. If we fail to meet or exceed such expectations, the market price of Holdings Common Stock could fall substantially, and we could face costly lawsuits, including securities class action suits.

 

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Failure to establish and maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price.

We are not currently required to comply with the rules of the SEC implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and are therefore not required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. Upon becoming a public company, we will be required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which will require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of controls over financial reporting.

Although we will be required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis, we will not be required to make our first annual assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC. As an emerging growth company, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until the later of (i) the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC or (ii) the date we are no longer an emerging growth company. At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed, or operating.

As a private company, we do not currently have any internal audit function. To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we have undertaken various actions, and will need to take additional actions, such as implementing numerous internal controls and procedures and hiring additional accounting or internal audit staff or consultants. Testing and maintaining internal control can divert our management’s attention from other matters that are important to the operation of our business. Additionally, when evaluating our internal control over financial reporting, we may identify material weaknesses that we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the applicable deadline imposed upon us for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. If we identify any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting or are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting once we are no longer an emerging growth company, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of Holdings Common Stock could be negatively affected. We could also become subject to investigations by the SEC, the stock exchange on which our securities are listed or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources. In addition, if we fail to remedy any material weakness, our financial statements could be inaccurate, and we could face restricted access to capital markets.

Taking advantage of the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to “emerging growth companies” may make Holdings Common Stock less attractive to investors.

The JOBS Act provides that, so long as a company qualifies as an “emerging growth company,” it will, among other things:

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be exempt from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that its independent registered public accounting firm provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting;

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be exempt from the “say on pay” and “say on golden parachute” advisory vote requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”);

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be exempt from certain disclosure requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act relating to compensation of its executive officers and be permitted to omit the detailed compensation discussion and analysis from proxy statements and reports filed under the Exchange Act; and

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be exempt from any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or be required to deliver a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis).

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We currently intend to take advantage of each of the exemptions described above. Further, pursuant to Section 107 of the JOBS Act, as an emerging growth company, we have elected to take advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. As a result, our operating results and financial statements may not be comparable to the operating results and financial statements of other companies who have adopted the new or revised accounting standards. It is possible that some investors will find Holdings Common Stock less attractive as a result, which may result in a less active trading market for Holdings Common Stock and higher volatility in our stock price. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years following the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, though we may cease to be an emerging growth company earlier if (1) we have more than $1.07 billion in annual gross revenue, (2) we qualify as a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, or (3) we issue, in any three-year period, more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities held by non-affiliates. We cannot predict if investors will find Holdings Common Stock less attractive if we elect to rely on these exemptions, or if taking advantage of these exemptions would result in less active trading or more volatility in the price of Holdings Common Stock.

The requirements of being a public company, including maintaining adequate internal control over our financial and management systems, may strain our resources, divert management’s attention, and affect our ability to attract and retain executive management and qualified board members.

As a public company we will incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. We will be subject to reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the rules subsequently implemented by the SEC, the rules and regulations of the listing standards of the Nasdaq, and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Compliance with these rules and regulations will likely strain our financial and management systems, internal controls, and employees.

The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual, quarterly, and current reports with respect to our business and operating results. Moreover, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures, and internal control, over financial reporting. In order to maintain and, if required, improve our disclosure controls and procedures, and internal control over, financial reporting to meet this standard, significant resources and management oversight may be required. If we have material weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting, we may not detect errors on a timely basis and our consolidated financial statements may be materially misstated. Effective internal control is necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and is important to prevent fraud.

In addition, we will be required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act when we cease to be an emerging growth company. We expect to incur significant expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. As a result of the complexity involved in complying with the rules and regulations applicable to public companies, our management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition. Although we have already engaged additional resources to assist us in complying with these requirements, our finance team is small and we may need to hire more employees in the future, or engage outside consultants, which will increase our operating expenses.

We also expect that being a public company and complying with applicable rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to incur substantially higher costs to obtain and maintain the same or similar coverage. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of the Holdings Board and qualified executive officers.

Our ability to raise capital in the future may be limited.

Our business and operations may consume resources faster than we anticipate. In the future, we may need to raise additional funds through the issuance of new equity securities, debt, or a combination of both. However, the lapse or waiver of any lock up restrictions or any sale or perception of a possible sale by

 

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our stockholders, and any related decline in the market price of Holdings Common Stock, could impair our ability to raise capital. Separately, additional financing may not be available on favorable terms, or at all. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to fund our capital requirements. If we issue new debt securities, the debt holders would have rights senior to Holdings Common Stockholders to make claims on our assets, and the terms of any debt could restrict our operations, including our ability to pay dividends on Holdings Common Stock. If we issue additional equity securities, existing stockholders will experience dilution, and the new equity securities could have rights senior to those of Holdings Common Stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing, or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our stockholders bear the risk of our future securities offerings reducing the market price of Holdings Common Stock and diluting their interest.

The forecasts of market growth and other projections included in this proxy statement/prospectus may prove to be inaccurate, and even if the markets in which we compete achieve the forecasted growth, we cannot assure you that our business will grow at a similar rate, if at all.

Growth forecasts and projections are subject to significant uncertainty and are based on assumptions and estimates that may not prove to be accurate. The forecasts in this proxy statement/prospectus relating to the expected growth in the direct to consumer vehicle and consumer product protection plan market, including estimates based on our own internal survey data, as well as any corresponding projections related to our potential performance, may prove to be inaccurate. Even if the markets experience the forecasted growth described in this proxy statement/prospectus, we may not grow our business at a similar rate, or at all. Our growth is subject to many factors, including our success in implementing our business strategy, which is subject to many risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, the forecasts of market growth included in this prospectus should not be taken as indicative of our future growth.

Holdings’ business and operations could be negatively affected if it becomes subject to any securities litigation or stockholder activism, which could cause Holdings to incur significant expense, hinder execution of business and growth strategy and impact its stock price.

In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Stockholder activism, which could take many forms or arise in a variety of situations, has been increasing recently. Volatility in the stock price of the Holdings Common Stock or other reasons may in the future cause it to become the target of securities litigation or stockholder activism. Securities litigation and stockholder activism, including potential proxy contests, could result in substantial costs and divert management’s and our Board’s attention and resources from Holdings’ business. Additionally, such securities litigation and stockholder activism could give rise to perceived uncertainties as to Holdings’ future, adversely affect its relationships with service providers and make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel. Also, Holdings may be required to incur significant legal fees and other expenses related to any securities litigation and activist stockholder matters. Further, its stock price could be subject to significant fluctuation or otherwise be adversely affected by the events, risks and uncertainties of any securities litigation and stockholder activism.

We may amend the terms of the Holdings Public Warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of Holdings Public Warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Holdings Public Warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of a Holdings Public Warrant could be decreased, all without a warrant holder’s approval.

The Holdings Public Warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement, which will provide that the terms of the Holdings Public Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, and that all other modifications or amendments will require the vote or written consent of the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Holdings Public Warrants, and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the private placement warrants, a majority of the then outstanding private placement warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the Holdings Public Warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Holdings Public Warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the

 

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Holdings Public Warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding Holdings Public Warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the Holdings Public Warrants, convert the Holdings Public Warrants into cash or Holdings Common Stock, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of a Holdings Public Warrant.

Your unexpired Holdings Public Warrants may be redeemed prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your Holdings Public Warrants worthless.

Outstanding Holdings Public Warrants may be redeemed at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per Holdings Public Warrant, provided that the last reported sales price of the Holdings Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date Holdings sends the notice of Redemption to the Holdings Public Warrantholders. If and when the Holdings Public Warrants become redeemable by Holdings, Holdings may not exercise its Redemption Rights if the issuance of shares of Holdings Common Stock upon exercise of the Holdings Public Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or Holdings is unable to effect such registration or qualification, subject to Holdings’ obligation in such case to use its best efforts to register or qualify the shares of Holdings Common Stock under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the KWAC Public Warrants were initially offered by KWAC in its IPO. Redemption of the outstanding Holdings Public Warrants could force you to (i) exercise your Holdings Public Warrants and pay the exercise price at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants or (iii) accept the nominal Redemption Price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for Redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your Holdings Public Warrants. None of the Holdings Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by Holdings so long as they are held by their initial purchasers or their permitted transferees.

Risks Related to KWAC

KWAC’s stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against KWAC to the extent of distributions received by them upon Redemption of their shares.

If KWAC is forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against KWAC which is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/ creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by KWAC’s stockholders. Furthermore, because KWAC intends to distribute the proceeds held in the Trust Account to KWAC’s Public Stockholders promptly after expiration of the time KWAC has to complete an initial business combination, this may be viewed or interpreted as giving preference to KWAC’s Public Stockholders over any other potential creditors with respect to access to, or distributions from KWAC’s assets. Furthermore, the KWAC Board may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duties to KWAC or KWAC’s creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and KWAC to claims of punitive damages, by paying Public Stockholders from the Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. There is no assurance that claims will not be brought against KWAC for these reasons.

Although KWAC seeks to have all vendors, service providers (other than its independent auditors), prospective target businesses or other entities with which it does business execute agreements with KWAC waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of Public Stockholders, as well as distributions to Public Stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the Public Stockholders or claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver.

If third parties bring claims against KWAC, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the Redemption Price received by Public Stockholders may be less than $12.99 per share.

KWAC’s placing of funds in the Trust Account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against KWAC. Although KWAC seeks to have all vendors, service providers (other than its independent

 

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registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which it does business execute agreements with KWAC waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of Public Stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary duty or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against KWAC’s assets, including the funds held in the Trust Account. If any third-party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account, KWAC’s management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to KWAC than any alternative.

Examples of possible instances where KWAC may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with KWAC and agree not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason. Upon Redemption of KWAC’s Public Shares, if KWAC is unable to complete its initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, or upon the exercise of a Redemption Right in connection with the Business Combination, KWAC will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against KWAC within the ten years following Redemption. Accordingly, the Redemption Price received by Public Stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the Trust Account, due to claims of such creditors.

Pursuant to the Insider Letter Agreement, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to KWAC if and to the extent any claims by a vendor (other than KWAC’s independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to KWAC, or a prospective target business with which KWAC has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under KWAC’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. KWAC believes that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of KWAC, and KWAC has neither undertaken any efforts to independently verify whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds available to satisfy its indemnification obligations, nor asked the Sponsor to reserve for such obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the Trust Account, the funds available for an initial business combination and Redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per Public Share without any meaningful recourse against the Sponsor. In such event, KWAC may not be able to complete an initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any Redemption of your Public Shares.

None of KWAC’s officers or directors will indemnify KWAC for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

KWAC’s directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of the Sponsor under the Insider Letter Agreement, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the Trust Account available for distribution to Public Stockholders.

In the event that the proceeds in the Trust Account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10 per Public Share or (ii) such lesser amount per share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and the Sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, KWAC’s independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against the Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While KWAC

 

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currently expects that its independent directors would take legal action on behalf of KWAC against the Sponsor to enforce their indemnification obligations to KWAC, it is possible that KWAC’s independent directors, in exercising their business judgment, may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If KWAC’s independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, there may be less funds in the Trust Account available for distribution to KWAC’s Public Stockholders.

If, after KWAC distributes the proceeds in the Trust Account to its Public Stockholders, KWAC files a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against KWAC that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds and the members of the KWAC Board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to KWAC’s creditors, thereby exposing the members of the KWAC Board and KWAC to claims of punitive damages.

If, after KWAC distributes the proceeds in the Trust Account to its Public Stockholders, KWAC files a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against KWAC that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by KWAC’s stockholders. In addition, the KWAC Board may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to KWAC’s creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and KWAC to claims of punitive damages, by paying Public Stockholders from the Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.

If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to its Public Stockholders, KWAC files a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against KWAC that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceedings may have priority over the claims of KWAC’s stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by KWAC’s stockholders in connection with KWAC’s liquidation may be reduced.

If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to KWAC’s Public Stockholders, KWAC files a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against KWAC that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, and may be included in KWAC’s bankruptcy or insolvency estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of KWAC’s stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy or insolvency claims deplete the Trust Account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by KWAC’s Public Stockholders in connection with its liquidation would be reduced.

Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect the business, investments, and results of operations of KWAC.

KWAC is subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional, and local governments. In particular, KWAC is required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on the business, investments, and results of operations of KWAC. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on KWAC’s business and results of operations.

 

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KWAC SPECIAL MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS

General

KWAC is furnishing this proxy statement/prospectus to KWAC Stockholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by KWAC’s Board for use at the Special Meeting to be held on February 22, 2024, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. This proxy statement/prospectus is first being furnished to KWAC’s stockholders on or about February 14, 2024 in connection with the vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement/prospectus. This proxy statement/prospectus provides KWAC Stockholders with information they need to know to be able to vote or instruct their vote to be cast at the Special Meeting.

Date, Time, and Place of Special Meeting

The Special Meeting will be held via live webcast at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 22, 2024, to consider and vote upon the proposals to be submitted to the Special Meeting, including, if necessary, the adjournment proposal. The Special Meeting can be accessed by visiting www.cstproxy.com/kingswoodacquisition/2024, where you will be able to listen to the meeting live and vote during the meeting. Please note that you will only be able to access the Special Meeting by means of remote communication. Please have your control number, which can be found on your proxy card, to join the Special Meeting. If you do not have a control number, please contact Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, the transfer agent.

If you do not have access to Internet, you can listen only to the meeting by dialing 1 800-450-7155 (or +1 857-999-9155 if you are located outside the United States and Canada (standard rates apply)) and when prompted enter the pin number 1368697#. Please note that you will not be able to vote or ask questions at the Stockholder Meeting if you choose to participate telephonically.

Registering for the Special Meeting

Pre-registration at www.cstproxy.com/kingswoodacquisition/2024 is recommended but is not required in order to attend.

Any KWAC Stockholder wishing to attend the virtual meeting should register for the meeting by February 21, 2024. To register for the Special Meeting, please follow these instructions as applicable to the nature of your ownership of KWAC Common Stock:

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If your shares are registered in your name with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and you wish to attend the online-only Special Meeting, go to www.cstproxy.com/kingswoodacquisition/2024, enter the 12-digit control number included on your proxy card or notice of the meeting and click on the “Click here to preregister for the online meeting” link at the top of the page. Just prior to the start of the meeting you will need to log back into the meeting site using your control number. Pre-registration is recommended but is not required in order to attend.

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Beneficial stockholders (those holding shares through a stock brokerage account or a bank or other holder of record) who wish to attend the Special Meeting must obtain a legal proxy by contacting their account representative at the bank, broker, or other nominee that holds their shares and e-mail a copy (a legible photograph is sufficient) of their legal proxy to proxy@continentalstock.com. Beneficial stockholders who e-mail a valid legal proxy will be issued a 12-digit meeting control number that will allow them to register to attend and participate in the Special Meeting. After contacting Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a beneficial holder will receive an e-mail prior to the meeting with a link and instructions for entering the virtual meeting. Beneficial stockholders should contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company at least five (5) business days prior to the Special Meeting date in order to ensure access.

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Purpose of the KWAC Special Meeting of the Stockholders

At the Special Meeting, KWAC is asking holders of the KWAC Common Stock:

 

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To consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination, including the KWAC Merger. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A;

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To consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt and approve the Proposed Holdings Charter. A copy of the Proposed Holdings Charter is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B;

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To consider and vote upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, the Advisory Charter Proposals;

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To consider and vote upon the Nasdaq Proposal;

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To consider and vote upon the Adjournment Proposal, if it is presented at the Special Meeting.

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Recommendation of the KWAC Board with Respect to the Proposals

The KWAC Board believes that the Business Combination Proposal and the other proposals to be presented at the Special Meeting are in the best interest of KWAC’s stockholders and unanimously recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the Business Combination Proposal, “FOR” the Organizational Document Proposal, “FOR” each of the separate Advisory Charter Proposals, “FOR” the Nasdaq Proposal, “FOR” the NTA Proposal, “FOR” the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal, in each case, if presented to the Special Meeting.

Record Date; Who is Entitled to Vote

KWAC has fixed the close of business on February 2, 2024, as the “record date” for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at the Special Meeting. As of the close of business on the Record Date, there were 3,463,083 shares of KWAC Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share of KWAC Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share at the Special Meeting.

KWAC’s initial stockholders and other officers and directors at the time of the IPO entered into a letter agreement to vote their shares of KWAC Class B Common Stock and any shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock purchased during or after the IPO, in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. As of the date hereof, the Sponsor owns approximately 83% of the total outstanding shares of KWAC Class A Common Stock and KWAC Class B Common Stock.

Quorum

The presence, in person (which would include presence at the virtual Special Meeting) or by proxy, of holders of shares of outstanding capital stock of KWAC representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of KWAC entitled to vote at the Special Meeting constitutes a quorum at the Special Meeting.

Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

With respect to each proposal in this proxy statement/prospectus, you may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN.”

If a stockholder fails to return a proxy card or fails to instruct a broker or other nominee how to vote, and does not attend the Special Meeting in person, then the stockholder’s shares will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Special Meeting. If a valid quorum is established, any such failure to vote or to provide voting instructions will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Business Combination Proposal and the Organizational Document Proposal, but will have no effect on the outcome of any other proposal in this proxy statement/prospectus.

Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but their effect on the proposals in this proxy statement/prospectus differ as follows:

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An abstention will have no effect on the Advisory Charter Proposals and the Adjournment Proposal.

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