HCIC Hennessy Capital Investment Corporation V

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

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Schedule 14A

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Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.    )

Check the appropriate box:

HENNESSY CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORP. V

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

_______________________________________________________________

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

HENNESSY CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORP. V
3415 N. Pines Way, Suite 204
Wilson, WY 83014

LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF HENNESSY CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORP. V:

You are cordially invited to attend the special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders (the “Meeting”), of Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. V (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”), to be held at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on December 21, 2022.

The Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of stockholders, which will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the Meeting online, vote and submit your questions during the Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/hennessycapv/2022.

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

The accompanying proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) is dated December 2, 2022, and is first being mailed to stockholders of the Company on or about December 5, 2022. The sole purpose of the Meeting is to consider and vote upon the following proposals (the “Proposals”):

1)      a proposal to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”), in the form set forth in Annex A to the accompanying Proxy Statement (the “Extension Amendment” and such proposal, the “Extension Amendment Proposal”), to extend the date by which the Company must (i) consummate a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”, and the Company’s initial Business Combination, the “Business Combination”), (ii) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, and (iii) redeem or repurchase 100% of the Company’s Class A common stock included as part of the units (the “Public Shares”) sold in the Company’s initial public offering that was consummated on January 20, 2021 (the “IPO”), from January 20, 2023 to July 20, 2023 (the “Extension”, and such later date, the “Extended Date”), or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”));

2)      a proposal to ratify the selection by the audit committee of the Board of WithumSmith+Brown, PC to serve as our independent registered accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2022 (the “Auditor Ratification Proposal”); and

3)      a proposal to approve the adjournment of the Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, 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 the other proposals (the “Adjournment Proposal”). The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented at the Meeting if there are not sufficient votes to approve any of the other proposals.

Each of the Proposals are more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement. The purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow us additional time to complete the Business Combination. While we are currently in discussions regarding various Business Combination opportunities, our Board currently believes that there will not be sufficient time before January 20, 2023 to complete the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Board believes that in order to be able to consummate the Business Combination, we will need to obtain the Extension. Therefore, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of our stockholders to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a Business Combination to the Extended Date in order for our stockholders to have the opportunity to participate in our future investment.

In connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal, public stockholders may elect (the “Election”) to redeem their Public Shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (the “Trust Account”), including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, regardless of whether such public stockholders vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the remaining holders of Public Shares will retain their right to redeem their Public Shares when the Business Combination is submitted to the stockholders, subject to any limitations set forth in our Charter, as amended by the Extension Amendment. In addition, public stockholders who do not make the Election would be entitled to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed the Business Combination by the Extended Date. Our sponsor, Hennessy Capital Partners V LLC (the “Sponsor”), owns 7,175,000 shares of our Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”), that were issued to the Sponsor prior to our IPO, and 4,853,333 private placement warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”), which were purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO.

To make the Election, you must demand that the Company redeem your Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account and tender your Public Shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days prior to the Meeting (or December 19, 2022). You may tender your Public Shares by either delivering your share certificate to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian system. If you hold your Public Shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the Public Shares from your account in order to make the Election.

As of September 30, 2022, based on funds in the Trust Account of approximately $346 million as of such date, the pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account for the redemption of Public Shares was approximately $10.04 per share (before taking into account the removal of the accrued interest in the Trust Account to pay our taxes). The closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on November 29, 2022 as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $10.02. The Company cannot assure stockholders that they will be able to sell their shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in the open market, even if the market price per share is lower than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when such stockholders wish to sell their shares.

The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our stockholders in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the other Proposals.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by January 20, 2023, as contemplated by our IPO prospectus and in accordance with our Charter, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (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 outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete a Business Combination by January 20, 2023, 24 months from the closing of the IPO. In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor and our officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Warrants.

Subject to the foregoing, the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, including the Founder Shares, will be required to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. Stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment is required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date by which we must consummate our Business Combination. Notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders.

Approval of the Auditor Ratification Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the Meeting.

Approval of the Adjournment Proposal, if presented, requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon.

Our Board has fixed the close of business on November 17, 2022 (the “Record Date”) as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your Public Shares, provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the Business Combination, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your Public Shares for cash in the event the Business Combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a Business Combination by the Extended Date.

After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal, the AUDITOR RATIFICATION PROPOSAL and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal are advisable and recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” such proposals.

Under Delaware law and the Company’s bylaws, no other business may be transacted at the Meeting.

Enclosed is the Proxy Statement containing detailed information concerning the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal, the Adjournment Proposal and the Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, we urge you to read this material carefully and vote your shares.

Your vote is important. If you are a stockholder of record, please sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible to make sure that your shares are represented at the Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may also cast your vote online at the Meeting. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank how to vote your shares, or you may cast your vote online at the Meeting by obtaining a proxy from your brokerage firm or bank. Your failure to vote or instruct your broker or bank how to vote will have the same effect as voting “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal, and an abstention will have the same effect as voting “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum for the Auditor Ratification Proposal; broker non-votes will count as votes cast on the Auditor Ratification Proposal, whereas abstentions will not count as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Auditor Ratification Proposal. Abstentions, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Adjournment Proposal. Broker non-votes will also not count as votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Adjournment Proposal. Failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person (including virtually) at the Meeting will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Adjournment Proposal.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting in lieu of an Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on December 21, 2022: This notice of meeting and the accompanying Proxy Statement are available at https://www.cstproxy.com/hennessycapv/2022.

HENNESSY CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORP. V
3415 N. Pines Way, Suite 204
Wilson, WY 83014

their Public Shares redeemed for cash if the Company has not completed a Business Combination by the Extended Date. Our sponsor, Hennessy Capital Partners V LLC (the “Sponsor”), owns 7,175,000 shares of our Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”), that were issued to the Sponsor prior to our IPO, and 4,853,333 private placement warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”), which were purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the completion of the IPO.

To make the Election, you must demand that the Company redeem your Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account and tender your shares to the Company’s transfer agent at least two business days prior to the Meeting (or December 19, 2022). You may tender your shares by either delivering your share certificate to the transfer agent or by delivering your shares electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s (“DTC”) Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian (“DWAC”) system. If you hold your Public Shares in street name, you will need to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee to withdraw the Public Shares from your account in order to make the Election.

The withdrawal of funds from the Trust Account in connection with the Election will reduce the amount held in the Trust Account following the Election and the amount remaining in the Trust Account may be significantly less than the approximately $346 million that was in the Trust Account as of September 30, 2022. In such event, the Company may need to obtain additional funds to complete the Business Combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all.

The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow our Board to adjourn the Meeting to a later date or dates to permit further solicitation of proxies. The Adjournment Proposal will only be presented to our stockholders in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the other Proposals.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by January 20, 2023, as contemplated in our IPO prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 14, 2021 (the “IPO Prospectus”) and in accordance with our Charter, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (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 outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete a Business Combination by January 20, 2023, 24 months from the closing of the IPO (the “Combination Period”). In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor and our officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Warrants. As a consequence, a liquidating distribution will be made only with respect to the Public Shares.

If the Company liquidates, the Sponsor has agreed to indemnify us to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or any claims by a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into an acquisition 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 (x) any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to our Trust Account and (y) claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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. We cannot assure you, however, that the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As of September 30, 2022, based on funds in the Trust Account of approximately $346 million as of such date, the pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account for the redemption of Public Shares was approximately $10.04 per share (before taking into account the removal of the accrued interest

in the Trust Account to pay our taxes). Nevertheless, the Company cannot assure you that the per-share distribution from the Trust Account, if the Company liquidates, will not be less than $10.00, plus interest, due to unforeseen claims of creditors.

Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.

Because the Company will not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL, as described in our IPO Prospectus, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations have been limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers or investment bankers) or prospective target businesses.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company, pursuant to the terms of the investment management trust agreement, dated January 14, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”), will (i) remove from the Trust Account an amount (the “Withdrawal Amount”), equal to the number of Public Shares properly redeemed multiplied by the 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 outstanding Public Shares, and (ii) deliver to the holders of such redeemed Public Shares their portion of the Withdrawal Amount. The remainder of such funds shall remain in the Trust Account and be available for use by the Company to complete a Business Combination on or before the Extended Date. Holders of Public Shares who do not redeem their Public Shares now will retain their redemption rights and their ability to vote on a Business Combination through the Extended Date, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved.

Our Board has fixed the close of business on November 17, 2022 (the “Record Date”) as the date for determining the Company stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting and any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. On the Record Date of the Meeting, there were 34,500,000 shares of our Class A common stock and 4,853,333 shares of Class B common stock outstanding. The Company’s warrants do not have voting rights in connection with the Proposals.

This proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) contains important information about the Meeting and the Proposals. Please read it carefully and vote your shares.

We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies from our working capital. We have engaged Morrow Sodali Global LLC (the “Solicitation Agent”) to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Meeting. We have agreed to pay the Solicitation Agent approximately $35,000 in connection with such services for the Meeting. We will also reimburse the Solicitation Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify the Solicitation Agent and its affiliates against certain claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our Board and the management of the Company (the “Management”) may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. While the payment of these expenses will reduce the cash available to us to consummate the Business Combination if the Extension is approved, we do not expect such payments to have a material effect on our ability to consummate an initial Business Combination.

This Proxy Statement is dated December 2, 2022 and is first being mailed to stockholders on or about December 5, 2022.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MEETING

These Questions and Answers are only summaries of the matters they discuss. They do not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read carefully the entire document, including the annexes to this Proxy Statement.

Why am I receiving this Proxy Statement?

This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card are being sent to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board for use at the Meeting, which is a special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders, to be held at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on December 21, 2022, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof. This Proxy Statement summarizes the information that you need to make an informed decision on the proposals to be considered at the Meeting. This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card were first sent to our stockholders on or about December 5, 2022.

We are a blank check company formed in Delaware on October 6, 2020, for the purpose of effecting a Business Combination with one or more businesses. On January 20, 2021, we consummated our IPO, as well as a private placement, from which we derived gross proceeds of approximately $345,000,000 ($10.00 per unit) in the aggregate. A total of $345,000,000, comprised of $338,100,000 of the proceeds from the IPO (which amount includes $12,075,000 of the underwriters’ deferred discount) and $6,900,000 of the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, was placed in a U.S.-based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. Following the closing of the IPO, an amount of $345,000,000 from the net proceeds of the sale of the units in the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in the Trust Account. Like most blank check companies, our Charter provides for the return of our IPO proceeds held in the Trust Account to the holders of our Public Shares if there is no qualifying Business Combination consummated on or before a certain date (in our case, January 20, 2023). Our Board believes that it is in the best interests of the stockholders to continue our existence until the Extended Date in order to allow us more time to complete the Business Combination.

The Meeting is being held, in part, to allow us additional time to complete the Business Combination.

Why does the Company need to hold an annual meeting?

The Meeting is also being held, in part, to satisfy the annual meeting requirement of Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”). Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(a) requires that we hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors within 12 months after our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

In addition to sending our stockholders this Proxy Statement, we are also sending our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, so that at the Meeting, stockholders may discuss and ask questions of the Company with respect to such financial statements.

The Proposals

What is being voted on?

You are being asked to vote on three Proposals:

•        Extension Amendment Proposal.    A proposal to amend our Charter to extend the date by which we have to either consummate a Business Combination or wind up the Company and redeem 100% of the Public Shares sold in the IPO from January 20, 2023 to July 20, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined by the Board);

•        Auditor Ratification Proposal.    A proposal to ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of Withum to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2022; and

•        Adjournment Proposal.    A proposal to approve the adjournment of the Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, 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 the other Proposals.

The Extension Amendment Proposal is required for the implementation of our Board’s plan to extend the date that we have to complete our Business Combination. The purpose of the Extension Amendment is to allow the Company more time to complete the Business Combination. Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal is a condition to the implementation of the Extension.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, we will, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, remove the Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account, deliver to the holders of redeemed Public Shares their portion of the Withdrawal Amount and retain the remainder of the funds in the Trust Account for our use in connection with consummating a Business Combination on or before the Extended Date.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved and the Extension is implemented, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account in connection with the Election will reduce the amount held in the Trust Account following the Election. We cannot predict the amount that will remain in the Trust Account if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved. In such event, we may need to obtain additional funds to complete the Business Combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by January 20, 2023, as contemplated by our IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our Charter, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (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 outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our Business Combination within the Combination Period. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up. In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor and our officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Warrants.

Why is the Company proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal?

Our Charter provides for the return of our IPO proceeds held in the Trust Account to the holders of Public Shares if there is no qualifying Business Combination consummated on or before January 20, 2023. As explained below, we will not be able to complete the Business Combination by that date and therefore, we are asking for an extension of this timeframe.

The purpose of the Extension Amendment Proposal and, if necessary, the Adjournment Proposal, is to allow us additional time to complete the Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to consummate the Business Combination, given the actions that must occur prior to closing of the Business Combination.

The Company believes that given its expenditure of time, effort and money on finding a Business Combination, circumstances warrant providing public stockholders an opportunity to consider the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Board is proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal to amend our Charter in the form set forth in Annex A hereto to extend the date by which we must (i) consummate a Business Combination, (ii) cease our operations if we fail to complete such Business Combination, and (iii) redeem or repurchase 100% of the Public Shares sold in our IPO from January 20, 2023 to July 20, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined by the Board).

Furthermore, we may in parallel engage in discussions with potential investors who may purchase certain of our equity securities and assist with a potential Business Combination process and/or elect to not redeem their public holdings of the Company.

You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your Public Shares, provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the Business Combination, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination

when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your Public Shares for cash in the event the Business Combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a Business Combination by the Extended Date.

Why is the Company proposing the Adjournment Proposal?

The Company is proposing the Adjournment Proposal to provide flexibility to adjourn the Meeting to give the Company more time to seek approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Auditor Ratification Proposal, if necessary. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved, the Company will not have the ability to adjourn the Meeting to a later date for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. In such event, the Extension would not be completed, the Company would 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 the Board, dissolving and liquidating.

Why should I vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal?

Our Board believes stockholders should have an opportunity to evaluate the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Board is proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal to amend our Charter in the form set forth in Annex A hereto to extend the date by which we must (i) consummate a Business Combination, (ii) cease our operations if we fail to complete such Business Combination, and (iii) redeem or repurchase 100% of the Public Shares sold in our IPO from January 20, 2023 to July 20, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined by the Board). The Extension would give the Company the opportunity to complete the Business Combination.

Our Charter provides that if our stockholders approve an amendment to our Charter that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our Business Combination before January 20, 2023, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon such approval 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), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. We believe that this Charter provision was included to protect our stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if we failed to find a suitable Business Combination in the timeframe contemplated by the Charter.

Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal.

Why should I vote “FOR” the Auditor Ratification Proposal?

Withum has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since inception. Our Audit Committee and Board believe that stability and continuity in the Company’s auditor is important as we continue to search for and complete the Business Combination.

Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of each of the nominees set forth in the Auditor Ratification Proposal.

Why should I vote “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal?

If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved by our stockholders, our Board may not be able to adjourn the Meeting to a later date in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the other Proposals.

What vote is required to adopt the Proposals?

•        Extension Amendment Proposal.    The approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of at least 65% of our outstanding shares of common stock on the Record Date.

•        Auditor Ratification Proposal.    Approval of the proposal to ratify the selection of Withum as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by holders of the Company’s common stock present (including virtually) or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.

•        Adjournment Proposal.    Approval of the Adjournment Proposal, if presented, requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon.

What if I don’t want to vote “FOR” any of the Proposals?

If you do not want the Extension Amendment Proposal to be approved, you may abstain, not vote, or vote “AGAINST” such proposal. You will be entitled to redeem your Public Shares for cash in connection with this vote whether or not you vote on the Extension Amendment Proposal, so long as you make the Election. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, then the Withdrawal Amount will be withdrawn from the Trust Account and paid to the redeeming holders.

If you do not want the Auditor Ratification Proposal to be approved, you must vote against such proposal. Abstentions will have no effect on the Auditor Ratification Proposal.

If you do not want the Adjournment Proposal to be approved, you must vote against such proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes (as described below) will have no effect on such proposal.

How do the Company insiders intend to vote their shares?

All of our directors, executive officers and their respective affiliates are expected to vote any common stock over which they have voting control (including any Public Shares owned by them) in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. Currently, our Sponsor, Board and Management own approximately 19.65% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, including 8,475,000 Founder Shares. The Sponsor and our directors, executive officers and their affiliates do not intend to purchase shares of common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in connection with the stockholder vote on the Extension Amendment.

Does the Board recommend voting for the approval of the Proposals?

Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of these Proposals, our Board has determined that the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Auditor Ratification Proposal and, if presented, the Adjournment Proposal are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the Extension Amendment Proposal, “FOR” the Auditor Ratification and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal, if presented.

What interests do the Company’s Sponsor, directors and officers have in the approval of the Proposals?

The Sponsor, directors and officers have interests in the Proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include ownership of 8,475,000 Founder Shares (purchased for a nominal price) and 4,853,333 Private Placement Warrants (purchased for approximately $7.3 million), which would expire worthless if the Business Combination is not consummated. See the section below entitled “Proposal Two — The Extension Amendment Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and our Directors and Officers”.

Do I have appraisal rights if I object to any of the Proposals?

Our stockholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the Proposals under the DGCL.

The Extension Amendment Proposal

When would the Board abandon the Extension Amendment Proposal?

Our Board will abandon the Extension Amendment if our stockholders do not approve the Extension Amendment Proposal. In addition, notwithstanding stockholder approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, our Board will retain the right to abandon and not implement the Extension Amendment at any time without any further action by our stockholders

What happens if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved?

Our Board will abandon the Extension Amendment if our stockholders do not approve the Extension Amendment Proposal.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by January 20, 2023, as contemplated by our IPO Prospectus and in accordance with our Charter, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (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 outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in each case, to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our Business Combination within the Combination Period. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up.

In the event of a liquidation, our Sponsor and our officers and directors will not receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Warrants.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, what happens next?

We are seeking the Extension Amendment to provide us time to compete the Business Combination. Our seeking to complete the Business Combination will involve:

•        negotiating and executing a definitive agreement and related agreements

•        completing proxy materials;

•        establishing a meeting date and record date for considering the Business Combination, and distributing proxy materials to stockholders; and

•        holding a special meeting to consider the Business Combination.

We are seeking approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal because we will not be able to complete all of the tasks listed above prior to January 20, 2023. If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, we expect to seek stockholder approval of the Business Combination. If stockholders approve the Business Combination, we expect to consummate the Business Combination as soon as possible following such stockholder approval.

Upon approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal by holders of at least 65% of the shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date, we will file an amendment to the Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in the form set forth in Annex A hereto. We will remain a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and our units, Public Shares and warrants included as part of the units sold in the IPO (the “Public Warrants”) will remain publicly traded.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account will reduce the amount remaining in the Trust Account and increase the percentage interest of our common stock held by the Sponsor and our directors and our officers as a result of their ownership of the Founder Shares.

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

What happens to our warrants if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved?

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate the Business Combination by January 20, 2023, there will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our Business Combination within the Combination Period. There will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up.

What happens to our warrants if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved?

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, we will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to us and continue to attempt to consummate a Business Combination until the Extended Date. The Public Warrants will remain outstanding and only become exercisable 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, provided that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or we permit holders to exercise warrants on a cashless basis).

Would I still be able to exercise my redemption rights if I vote “AGAINST” the Business Combination?

Unless you elect to redeem your Public Shares at this time, you will be able to vote on the Business Combination when it is submitted to stockholders if you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to seek stockholder approval of the Business Combination. If you disagree with the Business Combination, you will retain your right to redeem your Public Shares upon consummation of the Business Combination in connection with the stockholder vote to approve the Business Combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our Charter.

How do I redeem my shares of Class A common stock?

If the Extension is implemented, each of our public stockholders may seek to redeem all or a portion of their 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), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. You will also be able to redeem your Public Shares in connection with any stockholder vote to approve a proposed Business Combination, or if we have not consummated a Business Combination by the Extended Date.

In order to exercise your redemption rights, you must, prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on December 19, 2022 (two business days before the Meeting) tender your shares physically or electronically and submit a request in writing that we redeem your Public Shares for cash to Continental, our transfer agent, at the following address:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street Plaza, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Mark Zimkind
E-mail: mzimkind@continentalstock.com

Information about the Meeting

How do I attend the Meeting?

As a registered stockholder, you received a proxy card from Continental. The form contains instructions on how to attend the Meeting including the URL address, https://www.cstproxy.com/hennessycapv/2022, along with your 12-digit control number. You will need your control number for access. If you do not have your control number, contact Continental at the phone number or e-mail address below. Beneficial investors who hold shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary, will need to contact them and obtain a legal proxy. Once you have your legal proxy, contact Continental to have a control number generated. Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company contact information is as follows: 917-262-2373, or proxy@continentalstock.com.

If you do not have internet capabilities, you can listen to the meeting by dialing: (800)-450-7155 (toll-free) within the U.S. and Canada, or (857)-999-9155 (standard rates apply) outside of the U.S. and Canada. When prompted, enter the pin number 5408917#. This is a listen-only option, and you will not be able to vote or enter questions during the meeting.

How do I change or revoke my vote after I have voted?

You may change your vote by e-mailing a later-dated, signed proxy card to our Secretary at info@hennessycapitalllc.com, so that it is received by our Secretary prior to the Meeting or by attending the Meeting online and voting. You also may revoke your proxy by sending a notice of revocation to our Secretary, which must be received by our Secretary prior to the Meeting.

Please note, however, that if on the Record Date, your shares were held not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, custodian bank, or other nominee, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. If your shares are held in street name, and you wish to attend the Meeting and vote at the Meeting online, you must follow the instructions included with the enclosed proxy card.

How are votes counted?

•        Extension Amendment Proposal.    The Extension Amendment Proposal must be approved by the affirmative vote of at least 65% of the outstanding shares of our common stock as of the Record Date, including the Founder Shares, voting together as a single class. Accordingly, a Company stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote online at the Meeting or an abstention with respect to the Extension Amendment Proposal will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” such proposal.

•        Auditor Ratification Proposal.    The ratification of the appointment of Withum requires the vote of a majority of the votes cast by our represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the Meeting. Abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. However, your shares may be voted as broker non-votes by your brokerage firm for the Auditor Ratification Proposal. See the subsection below entitled “Will my shares be voted if I do not provide my proxy?” for more information about broker-non votes.

•        Adjournment Proposal.    Approval of the Adjournment Proposal, if presented, requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Accordingly, a stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote online at the Meeting will have no effect on the outcome of any vote on the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will also have no effect on this proposal.

If my shares are held in “street name”, will my broker automatically vote them for me?

No. Under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares with respect to non-discretionary matters unless you provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and procedures provided to you by your broker, bank, or nominee.

We believe the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal, if presented, will be considered non-discretionary, and therefore your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares without your instruction on these proposals. Consequently, your bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your shares for these proposals only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares in accordance with directions you provide. If your shares are held by your broker as your nominee, which we refer to as being held in “street name”, you may need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares.

In contrast, brokerage firms generally have the authority to vote shares not voted by customers on certain “routine” matters, including the ratification of an independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, at the Meeting, your shares may be voted by your brokerage firm for the Auditor Ratification Proposal.

How many votes must be present to hold the Meeting?

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. Holders of a majority in voting power of our common stock on the Record Date issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting, present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy, constitute a “quorum”.

Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote online at the Meeting. Abstentions will be counted towards the quorum requirement. In the absence of a quorum, the chair of the Meeting has the power to adjourn the Meeting. As of the Record Date for the Meeting, 21,562,501 shares of our common stock would be required to achieve a quorum.

Who can vote at the Meeting?

Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on the Record Date, November 17, 2022, are entitled to have their vote counted at the Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. On this Record Date, 34,500,000 shares of our Class A common stock and 8,625,000 shares of Class B common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote.

What is the difference between a stockholder of record and a beneficial owner of shares held in street name?

•        Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name.    If on the Record Date your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Continental, then you are a “stockholder of record”.

•        Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank.    If on the Record Date your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization.

What is the proxy card?

The proxy card enables you to appoint each of Daniel J. Hennessy, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Nicholas A. Petruska, our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, as your representatives at the Meeting. By completing and returning the proxy card, you are authorizing Mr. Hennessy and Mr. Petruska to vote your shares at the Meeting in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card. This way, your shares will be voted whether or not you attend the Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Meeting, it is strongly recommended that you complete and return your proxy card before the Meeting date in case your plans change. If a proposal comes up for vote at the Meeting that is not on the proxy card, the proxies will vote your shares, under your proxy, according to their best judgment.

Will my shares be voted if I do not provide my proxy?

If you hold your shares directly in your own name, they will not be voted if you do not provide a proxy.

Your shares may be voted under certain circumstances if they are held in the name of a brokerage firm. Brokerage firms generally have the authority to vote shares not voted by customers on certain “routine” matters, including the ratification of an independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, at the Meeting, your shares may be voted by your brokerage firm for the Auditor Ratification Proposal.

Brokers are prohibited from exercising discretionary authority on non-routine matters. The Extension Amendment Proposal and Adjournment Proposal are considered non-routine matters, and therefore brokers cannot exercise discretionary authority regarding these proposals for beneficial owners who have not returned proxies to the brokers (so-called “broker non-votes”).

How can I vote if I am a stockholder of record?

•        Online.    If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote online at the Meeting.

•        By Mail.    You may vote by proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting online, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the Meeting and vote online if you have already voted by proxy.

How can I vote if I am a beneficial owner of shares held in street name?

•        Online at the Meeting.    If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you wish to vote online at the Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds your shares. Please contact that organization for instructions regarding obtaining a legal proxy.

•        By mail.    You may vote by proxy by filling out the vote instruction form and sending it back in the envelope provided by your brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds your shares.

•        By telephone or over the Internet.    You may vote by proxy by submitting your proxy by telephone or over the Internet (if those options are available to you) in accordance with the instructions on the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card. This is allowed if you hold shares in street name and your bank, broker or other nominee offers those alternatives. Although most banks, brokers and other nominees offer these voting alternatives, availability and specific procedures vary.

You are also invited to attend the Meeting. For more information, see the subsection above entitled “How do I attend the Meeting”.

What happens if I do not indicate how to vote my proxy?

If you sign your proxy card without providing further instructions, your shares of the Company’s common stock will be voted “FOR” the Proposals.

How many votes do I have?

Each share of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter that comes before the Meeting. See the section below entitled “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” for information about the stock holdings of our Sponsor, directors and executive officers.

Is my vote kept confidential?

Proxies, ballots and voting tabulations identifying stockholders are kept confidential and will not be disclosed except as may be necessary to meet legal requirements.

What do I need to do now?

We urge you to read carefully and consider the information contained in this Proxy Statement, including the annexes, and to consider how the Proposals will affect you as our stockholder. You should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions provided in this Proxy Statement and on the enclosed proxy card.

What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?

You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this Proxy Statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards, if your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all of your shares of the Company’s common stock.

Where do I find the voting results of the Meeting?

We will announce preliminary voting results at the Meeting. The final voting results will be tallied by the inspector of election and published in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company is required to file with the SEC within four business days following the Meeting.

Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies from our working capital. We have engaged the Solicitation Agent to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Meeting. We have agreed to pay the Solicitation Agent approximately $35,000 in connection with such services for the Meeting. We will also reimburse Solicitation Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify the Solicitation Agent and its affiliates against certain claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. While the payment of these expenses will reduce the cash available to us to consummate a Business Combination if the Extension is approved, we do not expect such payments to have a material effect on our ability to a Business Combination.

Who can help answer my questions?

If you have questions about the Proposals or if you need additional copies of the Proxy Statement or the enclosed proxy card, you should contact the Solicitation Agent at:

Morrow Sodali LLC
333 Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford, CT 06902
Toll Free: (800) 662-5200
Collect: (203) 658-9400
E-mail: HCIC.info@investor.morrowsodali.com

You may also contact us at:

Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. V
3415 N. Pines Way, Suite 204
Wilson, Wyoming 83014
Email: info@hennessycapitalllc.com

You may also obtain additional information about the Company from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section below entitled “Where You Can Find More Information”.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained in this Proxy Statement constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, the pending Business Combination, our capital resources and results of operations. Likewise, our financial statements and all of our statements regarding market conditions and results of operations are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of terminology such as “outlook”, “believes”, “expects”, “potential”, “continues”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “seeks”, “approximately”, “predicts”, “intends”, “plans”, “estimates”, “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words or phrases.

The forward-looking statements contained in this Proxy Statement reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause its actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements:

•        our ability to enter into a definitive agreement and related agreements;

•        our ability to complete the Business Combination;

•        the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination;

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

•        the use of funds not held in the Trust Account;

•        the competitive environment in which our successor will operate following the Business Combination; and

•        proposed changes in SEC rules related to special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”).

While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes after the date of this Proxy Statement, except as required by applicable law.

For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause our future results, performance or transactions to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, please see the section below entitled “Risk Factors”, and in other reports we file with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to us (or to third parties making the forward-looking statements).

RISK FACTORS

You should consider carefully all of the risks described in our (i) IPO Prospectus, (ii) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on March 30, 2022, (iii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022, and (iv) other reports we file with the SEC, before making a decision to invest in our securities. Furthermore, if any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected or we could face liquidation. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties described in the aforementioned filings and below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results or result in our liquidation.

There are no assurances that the Extension will enable us to complete a Business Combination.

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

A new 1% U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with redemptions by us of our shares in connection with a Business Combination or other stockholder vote pursuant to which stockholders would have a right to submit their shares for redemption (a “Redemption Event”).

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded domestic (i.e., U.S.) corporations and certain domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury Department”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax. The IR Act applies only to repurchases that occur after December 31, 2022.

As described under the section below entitled “The Extension Amendment Proposal — Redemption Rights”, if the deadline for us to complete a Business Combination (currently January 20, 2023) is extended, our public stockholders will have the right to require us to redeem their Public Shares. Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with a Redemption Event may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a Redemption Event would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Redemption Event, (ii) the structure of the Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with the Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with the Redemption Event but issued within the same taxable year of the Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury Department. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by us, and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. If the Extension is not completed by December 31, 2022, the foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a Business Combination and in our ability to complete a Business Combination.

Changes to laws or regulations or in how such laws or regulations are interpreted or applied, or a failure to comply with any laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete a Business Combination.

We are subject to the laws and regulations, and interpretations and applications of such laws and regulations, of national, regional, state and local governments and, potentially, non-U.S. jurisdictions. In particular, we are required to comply with certain SEC and potentially other legal and regulatory requirements, and our consummation of an initial Business Combination may be contingent upon our ability to comply with certain laws, regulations, interpretations and applications and any post-Business Combination company may be subject to additional laws, regulations, interpretations and applications. Compliance with, and monitoring of, the foregoing may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time, and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial Business Combination. A failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete an initial Business Combination. The SEC has, in the past year, adopted certain rules and may, in the future adopt other rules, which may have a material effect on our activities and on our ability to consummate an initial Business Combination, including the SPAC Rule Proposals described below.

The SEC has recently issued proposed rules relating to certain activities of SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential Business Combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with such proposals may increase our costs and the time needed to complete a Business Combination and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial Business Combination. The need for compliance with the SPAC Rule Proposals may cause us to liquidate the funds in the Trust Account or liquidate the Company at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose.

On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules (the “SPAC Rule Proposals”) relating, among other things, to disclosures in SEC filings in connection with Business Combination transactions between SPACS such as us and private operating companies; the financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed Business Combination transactions; the potential liability of certain participants in proposed Business Combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), including a proposed rule that would provide SPACs a safe harbor from treatment as an investment company if they satisfy certain conditions that limit a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities. The SPAC Rule Proposals have not yet been adopted, and may be adopted in the proposed form or in a different form that could impose additional regulatory requirements on SPACs. Certain of the procedures that we, a potential Business Combination target, or others may determine to undertake in connection with the SPAC Rule Proposals, or pursuant to the SEC’s views expressed in the SPAC Rule Proposals, may increase the costs and time of negotiating and completing an initial Business Combination, and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial Business Combination. The need for compliance with the SPAC Rule Proposals may cause us to liquidate the funds in the Trust Account or liquidate the Company at an earlier time than we might otherwise choose. Were we to liquidate, our warrants would expire worthless, and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including potential price appreciation of our securities.

If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we would be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities would be severely restricted. As a result, in such circumstances, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we may abandon our efforts to complete an initial Business Combination and instead liquidate the Company.

As described further above, the SPAC Rule Proposals relate, among other matters, to the circumstances in which SPACs such as the Company could potentially be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. The SPAC Rule Proposals would provide a safe harbor for such companies from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided that a SPAC satisfies certain criteria, including a limited time period to announce and complete a de-SPAC transaction. Specifically, to comply with the safe harbor, the SPAC Rule Proposals would require a company to file a report on Form 8-K announcing that it has entered into an agreement with a target company for a Business Combination no later than 18 months after the effective date

of its registration statement for its initial public offering (the “IPO Registration Statement”). The company would then be required to complete its initial Business Combination no later than 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement.

If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities would be severely restricted. In addition, we would be subject to burdensome compliance requirements. We do not believe that our principal activities will subject us to regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. However, if we are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds. As a result, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we may abandon our efforts to complete a Business Combination and instead liquidate the Company. Were we to liquidate, our warrants would expire worthless, and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including potential price appreciation of our securities.

To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we currently expect that we will instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and to instead hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash items until the earlier of the consummation of our initial Business Combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the liquidation of investments in the Trust Account, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account, which would likely reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.

The funds in the Trust Account have, since our 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 us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, we currently expect that we will, on or prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of our IPO Registration Statement, instruct Continental, the trustee with respect to the Trust Account, to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account as cash items until the earlier of the consummation of our initial Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company. Following such liquidation, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the Trust Account. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the Trust Account still may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any. As a result, any decision to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in cash items would likely reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company. Were we to liquidate the Company, our warrants would expire worthless, and our securityholders would lose the investment opportunity associated with an investment in the combined company, including any potential price appreciation of our securities.

In addition, even prior to the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement, we may be deemed to be an investment company. The longer that the funds in the Trust Account are held in short-term U.S. government treasury obligations or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, even prior to the 24-month anniversary, the greater the risk that we may be considered an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate the Company. Accordingly, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the Trust Account at any time, even prior to the 24-month anniversary, and instead hold all funds in the Trust Account in as cash items which would further reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.

BACKGROUND

We are a blank check company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware on October 6, 2020, for the purpose of effecting a Business Combination with one or more businesses.

There are currently 34,500,000 shares of our Class A common stock and 8,625,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. In addition, we issued (i) Public Warrants to purchase 8,625,000 shares of Class A common stock as part of our IPO and (ii) Private Placement Warrants to purchase 6,933,333 shares of Class A common stock as part of the private placement with the Sponsor that we consummated simultaneously with the consummation of our IPO. Each whole warrant entitles its holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial Business Combination and expire five years after the completion of our initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants at a price of $0.01 per warrant, if the last sale price of the Company’s Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third business day before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. The Private Placement Warrants, however, are non-redeemable so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees.

As of September 30, 2022, approximately $346 million from our IPO and the simultaneous sale of the Private Placement Warrants is being held in our Trust Account in the United States maintained by Continental, acting as trustee, invested in U.S. “government securities”, within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 180 days or less or in any open ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by us meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act , until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the proceeds in the Trust Account as described below.

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, the Sponsor has committed, in the form of a loan, up to $1,500,000 to be provided to us to fund our expenses relating to investigating and selecting a target business and other working capital requirements prior to our initial Business Combination.

You are not being asked to vote on the Business Combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your Public Shares, provided that you are a stockholder on the record date for a meeting to consider the Business Combination, you will retain the right to vote on the Business Combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your Public Shares for cash in the event the Business Combination is approved and completed or we have not consummated a Business Combination by the Extended Date.

THE MEETING

Overview

Date, Time and Place

The Meeting of the stockholders will be held at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on December 21, 2022 as a virtual meeting. You will be able to attend, vote your shares and submit questions during the Meeting via a live webcast available at https://www.cstproxy.com/hennessycapv/2022. The Meeting will be held virtually over the internet by means of a live audio webcast. Only stockholders who own shares of our common stock as of the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to attend the Meeting.

To register for the Meeting, please follow these instructions as applicable to the nature of your ownership of our common stock:

•        Record Holders.    If your shares are registered in your name with our transfer agent, Continental, and you wish to attend the online-only virtual Meeting, go to https://www.cstproxy.com/hennessycapv/2022, enter the control number you received on your proxy card 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.

•        Beneficial Holders.    Beneficial stockholders who own shares of the Company in “street name”, who wish to attend the online-only virtual 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 meeting control number that will allow them to register to attend and participate in the online-only virtual Meeting. After contacting our transfer agent, Continental, 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 our transfer agent by December 14, 2022 at the latest (five business days prior to the Meeting).

Quorum

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. Holders of a majority of the voting power of our issued and outstanding common stock on the Record Date that are (i) entitled to vote at the Meeting and (ii) present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy, constitute a quorum. Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote online at the Meeting. Abstentions will be counted towards the quorum requirement. In the absence of a quorum, the chairman of the Meeting has the power to adjourn the Meeting. As of September 30, 2022, 21,562,501 shares of our common stock would be required to achieve a quorum.

Voting Power; Record Date

You will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the Meeting if you owned shares of our Class A common stock at the close of business on the Record Date for the Meeting. You will have one vote per Proposal for each share of our common stock you owned at that time. Our warrants do not carry voting rights.

Required Votes

Extension Amendment Proposal

Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of at least 65% of our common stock outstanding on the Record Date, including the Founder Shares. If you do not vote or you abstain from voting on the Extension Amendment Proposal, your action will have the same effect as an “AGAINST” vote. Broker non-votes will have the same effect as “AGAINST” votes.

Auditor Ratification Proposal

Approval of the proposal to ratify the selection of Withum as our independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by the holders of our common stock represented in person (including virtually) or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. If you do not want the Auditor Ratification Proposal approved, you must vote “AGAINST” the Auditor Ratification Proposal.

Adjournment Proposal

Approval of the Adjournment Proposal, if presented, requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is otherwise established, a stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or online at the Meeting will have no effect on the outcome of any vote on the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established, but will have no effect on the outcome of the Adjournment Proposal. If you do not want the Adjournment Proposal approved, you must vote “AGAINST” the Adjournment Proposal.

At the close of business on the Record Date of the Meeting, there were 34,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 8,625,000 shares of Class B common stock outstanding, each of which entitles its holder to cast one vote per proposal.

Redemption Rights

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, and the Extension is implemented, public stockholder may seek to redeem their 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), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. As of September 30, 2022, based on funds in the Trust Account of approximately $346 million as of such date, the pro rata portion of the funds available in the Trust Account for the redemption of Public Shares was approximately $10.04 per share (before taking into account the removal of the accrued interest in the Trust Account to pay our taxes). If you do not elect to redeem your Public Shares in connection with the Extension, you will retain the right to redeem your Public Shares in connection with any stockholder vote to approve a proposed Business Combination, or if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination, by the Extended Date. See the section below entitled “Proposal One — The Extension Amendment Proposal — Redemption Rights”.

Appraisal Rights

Our stockholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with any of the Proposals under the DGCL.

Proxies; Board Solicitation; Proxy Solicitor

Your proxy is being solicited by the Board on the Proposals being presented to stockholders at the Meeting. The Company has engaged the Solicitation Agent to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Meeting. No recommendation is being made as to whether you should elect to redeem your Public Shares. Proxies may be solicited in person or by telephone. If you grant a proxy, you may still revoke your proxy and vote your shares online at the Meeting if you are a holder of record of our common stock as of the Record Date. You may contact the Solicitation Agent at:

Morrow Sodali LLC
333 Ludlow Street, 5th Floor, South Tower
Stamford, CT 06902
Toll Free: (800) 662-5200
Collect: (203) 658-9400
E-mail: HCIC.info@investor.morrowsodali.com

Recommendation of the Board

After careful consideration, the Board determined unanimously that each of the Proposals is fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board has approved and declared advisable and unanimously recommends that you vote or give instructions to vote “FOR” each of the Proposals.