Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I (HWEL) 10-Q2023 Q2 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2023

or

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                  to

Commission File Number 001-40697

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1001 Green Bay Rd, #227

Winnetka, IL

(Address of principal executive offices)

60093

(Zip code)

(847) 230-9162

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒   No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒   No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☒   No ☐

As of August 18, 2023, there were 10,307,380 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1 share of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the registrant issued and outstanding.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(UNAUDITED)

THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(UNAUDITED)

THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN

Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on February 2, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.

In connection with the business combination agreement (as described below) the Company created HWEL Holdings Corp., a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Pubco”); HWEL Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Purchaser Merger Sub”); 1412384 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, a British Columbia unlimited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“CallCo”); and 1412388 B.C. Ltd, a British Columbia corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of CallCo (“ExchangeCo”). All of these subsidiaries have not commenced operations and have no or nominal assets.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from February 2, 2021 (inception) through June 30, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation, its initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”) as described below, and since the closing of the Initial Public Offering, its search for a prospective initial Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income or gains on investments on the cash and investments held in the Trust Account (as defined below) from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined below).

The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on August 2, 2021. On August 5, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 25,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Class A common stock included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares”), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $250,000,000 (see Note 3).

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 7,700,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) to Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), generating gross proceeds of $7,700,000 (see Note 4).

Transaction costs for the Initial Public Offering amounted to $21,720,139, consisting of $5,000,000 of underwriting fees, $8,750,000 of deferred underwriting fees, $7,207,313 of non-cash anchor investor offering costs and $762,826 of other offering costs.

Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on August 5, 2021, an amount of $250,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”) acting as trustee, and invested in U.S. government securities within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with maturities of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s stockholders, as described below. Following the 24-month anniversary of the effective date of our registration statement for the Initial Public Offering, we instructed Continental to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and thereafter to hold all funds in the Trust Account in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank until the earlier of the consummation of an initial Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company, with Continental continuing to act as trustee. As a result, following the liquidation of investments in the Trust Account, the remaining proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement will no longer be invested in U.S. government debt securities or money market funds.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. The Company must complete a Business Combination with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into an initial Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.

The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “public stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require the Company to seek stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement. The public stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially $10.00 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants. The Public Shares subject to redemption are recorded at redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”).

A quorum for a meeting to approve an initial Business Combination will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting. In such case, pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with the Company, the initial stockholders have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree) to vote their Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) and any Public Shares held by them in favor of an initial Business Combination. The Company expects that at the time of any stockholder vote relating to an initial Business Combination, the initial stockholders and their permitted transferees will own at least 20% of the issued and outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon. The directors and officers also have agreed to vote in favor of an initial Business Combination with respect to any Public Shares acquired by them. These voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of the initial stockholders, may make it more likely that the Company will consummate a Business Combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.

Notwithstanding the above, if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Sponsor has agreed to waive: (i) its redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares and Public Shares held by them, as applicable, in connection with the completion of an initial Business Combination; (ii) its redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares and Public Shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the obligation to allow redemption in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company do not complete an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity; and (iii) its rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares they hold if the Company fails to complete an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing the Initial Public Offering (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares they hold if the Company fail to complete an initial Business Combination within the prescribed time frame).

The Company will have until December 5, 2023, extended from August 5, 2023, to complete a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”), subject to making monthly stock transfers to the Holders (as defined in Note 11) of 155,581 Class A shares, which will begin payment on September 5, 2023. The Monthly Shares (as defined in Note 11) will be issued to the Holders substantially concurrently with the closing of the Company’s Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company 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 and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations (less 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 the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s 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 the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.

The Sponsor has agreed to waive its liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsor acquires Public Shares, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares.

In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than the independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (1) $10.00 per Public Share or (2) 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 the taxes except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering 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. The Company has not independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company and, therefore, the Sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. The Company has not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such obligations.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Proposed Starton Therapeutics Business Combination

On April 27, 2023, the Company entered into the business combination agreement (“BCA”) with Starton Therapeutics, Inc. (“Starton”); Pubco; Purchaser Merger Sub; CallCo; ExchangeCo; the Sponsor, as the representative from and after the Effective Time (as defined in the BCA) of the stockholders of Pubco (other than the Starton Shareholders (as defined below) and their successors and assignees); and Kiriakos Charlie Perperidis, in the capacity as the representative of the shareholders of Starton (the “Starton Shareholders”) from and after the Effective Time (all of the transactions contemplated by the BCA, including the issuances of securities thereunder, the “Starton Business Combination”). The BCA was amended by the First Amendment to the Business Combination Agreement, dated May 15, 2023 (the “First BCA Amendment”) pursuant to which the Parties agreed to amend Section 9.1 of the Business Combination Agreement to add a new closing condition which requires that, immediately after the Closing, and after giving effect to the Redemption, the Starton Shareholders will own a number of voting shares of Pubco representing, in the aggregate, no less than 51% of the total voting power of all issued and outstanding shares of Pubco.

Pursuant to the BCA, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, Purchaser Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (the “Purchaser Merger”), in connection with which all of the existing securities of the Company will be exchanged for rights to receive securities of Pubco as follows: (a) each share of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will automatically convert into one share of common stock, par value $0.0001, issued by Pubco (“Pubco Common Stock”), and (b) each whole Public Warrant, Private Placement Warrant and Forward Purchase Warrant will automatically convert into one warrant to purchase shares of Pubco Common Stock on substantially the same terms and conditions. Immediately following the Purchaser Merger, by means of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Plan of Arrangement”), (i) CallCo will acquire a portion of the issued and outstanding common shares of Starton (“Starton Shares”) from certain holders in exchange for Pubco Common Stock (the “Pubco Share Exchange”), and will contribute such Starton Shares to ExchangeCo in exchange for ExchangeCo common shares, (ii) following the Pubco Share Exchange, ExchangeCo will acquire the remaining issued and outstanding Starton Shares from the remaining shareholders of Starton in exchange for shares of ExchangeCo (“Exchangeable Shares”). The Exchangeable Shares will be exchangeable, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of Pubco Common Stock, with each share valued at the price at which the Company redeems Public Shares held by its public stockholders in connection with the Starton Business Combination (the “Redemption Price”). As a result of the foregoing, Starton will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of ExchangeCo and an indirect subsidiary of Pubco.

Each outstanding Starton option will be assumed by Pubco and automatically converted into an option to purchase shares of Pubco Common Stock in accordance with the Plan of Arrangement and under an equity incentive plan to be adopted by Pubco prior to the closing of the Starton Business Combination (the “Closing”).

Pursuant to the terms of the BCA, the aggregate base consideration to be delivered to the Starton Shareholders in connection with the Starton Business Combination will be $260.0 million (including up to $20.0 million of incentive shares provided to potential PIPE investors), subject to adjustments for Starton’s closing debt (net of cash) and certain other adjustments, which consideration will be payable in newly-issued shares of (i) Pubco Common Stock or (ii) Exchangeable Shares, each valued at the Redemption Price.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

In addition to the shares of Pubco Common Stock or Exchangeable Shares deliverable at the Closing, the Starton Shareholders will have the contingent right to receive up to an additional shares 25,000,000 shares of Pubco Common Stock or Exchangeable Shares, as earnout consideration after the Closing (the “Earnout Consideration” and such shares the “Earnout Shares”). The Earnout Consideration will be issuable to the Starton Shareholders (as of the date of the Closing) as follows:

Simultaneously with the execution and delivery of the BCA, the Company and Starton entered into voting agreements (collectively, the “Voting Agreements”) with certain Starton Shareholders required to approve the Starton Business Combination. Under the Voting Agreements, such Starton Shareholders agreed to vote all of their Starton Shares in favor of the BCA and the related transactions. Such Starton Shareholders also agreed to take certain other actions in support of the BCA and related transactions and refrain from taking actions that would adversely affect their ability to perform their obligations under the Voting Agreements. Such Starton Shareholders also provided a proxy to the Company to vote their Starton Shares in accordance with the foregoing. The Voting Agreements prevent transfers of the Starton Shares held by such Starton Shareholders between the date of the Voting Agreement and the date of Closing, except for certain permitted transfers where the recipient also agrees to comply with the Voting Agreement.

Simultaneously with the execution of the BCA, the Company, Pubco, Starton and the Sponsor also entered into a sponsor support agreement (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to vote all of its shares of the Company’s common stock in favor of the BCA and the Starton Business Combination. The Sponsor also agreed to waive its anti-dilution rights that would otherwise allow it to maintain ownership of 20% of Pubco. The Sponsor Support Agreement also prevents transfers of the Company’s securities held by the Sponsor between the date of the Sponsor Support Agreement and the termination of the Sponsor Support Agreement.

The BCA and related agreements and the First BCA Amendment are further described in our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 3, 2023 and May 15, 2023, respectively and the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Pubco, initially filed with the SEC on May 15, 2023 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”). The foregoing descriptions of each of the BCA, the form of Voting Agreement and the Sponsor Letter Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to such agreement filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report filed on May 18, 2023.

Going Concern and Liquidity

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $46,925 in cash held outside of the Trust Account and a working capital deficit of $1,459,851 (excluding income tax payable and franchise tax payable). The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its acquisition plans. The Company anticipates that the cash held outside of the Trust Account as of June 30, 2023, will not be sufficient to allow the Company to operate until December 5, 2023, the date at which the Company must complete a Business Combination. Further, if a Business Combination is not consummated by December 5, 2023, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of time within one year after the date that these condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Business Combination as discussed above. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to consummate a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the Combination Period. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Risks and Uncertainties

In February 2022, the Russian Federation and Belarus commenced a military action with the country of Ukraine. As a result of this action, various nations, including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. As a result of this action and related economic sanctions, the Company’s ability to consummate a Business Combination, or the operations of a target business with which the Company ultimately consummates a Business Combination, may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, the Company’s ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by these events, including as a result of increased market volatility, or decreased market liquidity in third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. The impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy and the specific impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and/or ability to consummate a Business Combination are not yet determinable. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and Excise Tax

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law, which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of stock repurchased by a domestic corporation beginning in 2023, with certain exceptions (the “Excise Tax”). Because the Company is a Delaware corporation, it will be a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the IR Act, and while not free from doubt, it is possible that, unless an exemption is available, the Company (or any post-combination company) will be subject to the Excise Tax as a result of any redemptions by the Company of its common stock that occurs after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with an initial Business Combination. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the Excise Tax in connection with a Business Combination would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Business Combination, (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 Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of the Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the U.S. Treasury. In addition, because the Excise Tax would be payable by the Company, and not by the redeeming stockholder, the mechanics of any required payment of the Excise Tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the per-share amount that the public stockholder would otherwise be entitled to receive or reduce the cash available on hand to complete a Business Combination. This may make a transaction with the Company less appealing to potential Business Combination targets, and thus, potentially hinder the Company’s ability to enter into and consummate an initial Business Combination, particularly an initial Business Combination in which substantial PIPE or other equity issuances are not contemplated. The Company will not use, now or in the future, any funds in the Trust Account, including any interest thereon, to pay for any excise tax imposed under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. See Note 11.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the SEC. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a comprehensive presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on March 3, 2023. The interim results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023 or for any future periods.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Emerging Growth Company

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. The Company has elected to implement the aforementioned exemptions.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

Investments Held in Trust Account

At June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets held in the Trust Account were held in money market funds, which are invested in U.S. Treasury securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheet at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities, along with interest and dividend income on the securities, is included in realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments held in Trust Account in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. At June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the assets held in the Trust Account were $258,894,006 and $253,668,826. For the three and six months June 30, 2023, $80,000 and $626,748, respectively, of income was released from the Trust Account for the payment of taxes.

Warrant Liabilities

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own common stock, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.

For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the condensed consolidated statement of operations. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company estimated the fair value of the warrant derivative liabilities to be $4,646,000 and $1,616,000, respectively. See Note 10 for additional information related to fair value measurements.

Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption

All of the 25,000,000 shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the Units in the Initial Public Offering contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, if there is a stockholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. In accordance with SEC and its staff’s guidance on redeemable equity instruments, which has been codified in ASC 480-10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of the Company require common stock subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Therefore, all Public Shares have been classified outside of permanent equity.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable common stock are affected by charges against additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit. The redemption value of the redeemable common stock as of June 30, 2023 increased as the income earned on the Trust Account exceeds the Company’s expected tax obligations plus up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses (see Note 1). As such, the Company recorded an increase in the carrying amount of the redeemable common stock of $2,095,694 and $2,448,400 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The carrying value of the Class A common stock subject to redemption represents the redemption value as of June 30, 2023. The actual redemption value will be net of the Company’s tax obligations and dissolution expenses as of the date of redemption.

As of June 30, 2023, the Class A common stock subject to redemption reflected in the balance sheet are reconciled in the following table:

Offering Costs associated with the Initial Public Offering

The Company complies with the requirements of ASC Topic 340, Other Assets and Deferred Costs and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A - Expenses of Offering. Offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs directly attributable to the issuance of an equity contract to be classified in equity are recorded as a reduction in equity. Offering costs for equity contracts that are classified as assets and liabilities are expensed immediately. The Company incurred offering costs amounting to $21,720,139 as a result of the Initial Public Offering (consisting of a $5,000,000 underwriting discount, $8,750,000 of deferred underwriting fees (as defined in Note 6), $7,207,313 of anchor investor offering costs, and $762,826 of other offering costs). The Company recorded $20,699,265 of offering costs as a reduction of equity in connection with the Class A common stock included in the Units. The Company immediately expensed $1,020,874 of offering costs in connection with the Public Warrants (as defined in Note 3) and Private Placement Warrants that were classified as liabilities.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Derivative instruments are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The forward purchase agreement is accounted for as a derivative instrument in accordance with ASC 815 and is presented as a derivative forward purchase agreement liability on the balance sheet. The forward purchase agreement was measured at fair value at the Initial Public Offering and on a recurring basis, with subsequent changes in fair value to be recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company estimated the fair value of the forward purchase agreement to be a derivative liability of $1,296,000 and $484,000, respectively. See Note 10 for additional information related to fair value measurements.

Income Taxes

The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the condensed consolidated financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the condensed consolidated financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.

See Note 9 for additional information on income taxes for the periods presented.

Net Income Per Share of Common Stock

Net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Remeasurement associated with the redeemable shares of Class A common stock is excluded from net income per share as the redemption value approximates fair value. Therefore, the net income per share calculation allocates income and losses shared pro rata between Class A and Class B common stock. As a result, the calculated net income per share is the same for Class A and Class B shares of common stock. The Company has not considered the effect of the warrants sold in the Initial Public Offering and private placement to purchase an aggregate of 20,200,000 shares in the calculation of diluted income per share, since the exercise of the warrants is contingent upon the occurrence of future events. As a result, diluted net income per share is the same as basic net income per share for the periods presented.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following table reflects the calculation of basic and diluted net income per common share (in dollars, except share amounts):

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution which, at times may exceed the Federal depository insurance coverage of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company applies ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and clarifies the definition of fair value within that framework. ASC 820 defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the Company’s principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820 generally requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the entity’s own assumptions based on market data and the entity’s judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are to be developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The carrying amounts reflected in the balance sheet for current assets and current liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Level 1 — Assets and liabilities with unadjusted, quoted prices listed on active market exchanges. Inputs to the fair value measurement are observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are determined using prices for recently traded assets and liabilities with similar underlying terms, as well as direct or indirect observable inputs, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.

Level 3 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are unobservable inputs, such as estimates, assumptions, and valuation techniques when little or no market data exists for the assets or liabilities.

See Note 10 for additional information on assets and liabilities measured at fair value.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Recent Accounting Standards

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on August 2, 2021. On August 5, 2021, the Company completed its Initial Public Offering of 25,000,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $250,000,000. Each Unit consisted of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share (see Note 7).

NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 7,700,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant ($7,700,000 in aggregate). Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants were added to the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law). There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Private Placement Warrants.

NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

On February 10, 2021, the Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain expenses on behalf of the Company in exchange for the issuance of 7,187,500 Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”). The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 937,500 Class B common stock subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the Sponsor would own, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering (see Note 5).

On September 11, 2021, the remaining option expired. As a result, 937,500 shares of Class B common stock were forfeited (see Note 8).

The Sponsor has agreed that, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Founder Shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of a Business Combination or (B) subsequent to a Business Combination or (x) if the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, rights issuances, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their common stock for cash, securities or other property.

A total of twelve anchor investors (the “Anchor Investors” representing both the Original Anchor Investors and the Additional Anchor Investors as defined below) purchased Units in the Initial Public Offering; nine of which each purchased 2,400,000 Units at the offering price of $10.00 per Unit, and three of which each purchased 1,200,000 Units at the offering price of $10.00 per Unit. Pursuant to such Units, the Anchor Investors have not been granted any stockholder or other rights in addition to those afforded to the Company’s other public stockholders.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Three anchor investors (the “Original Anchor Investors”) entered into separate subscription agreements in February 2021 with the Sponsor for indirect interests in the Founder Shares held by the Sponsor for a nominal amount. Certain interests in Founder Shares were granted to the Original Anchor Investors subject to a performance condition (i.e., if any Anchor Investor transfers the Units purchased in the Initial Public Offering (or the Class A common stock underlying such Units) prior to the closing of an initial Business Combination (other than to its affiliates or such other parties that are approved in advance in writing by the Sponsor) or it elects to redeem any of the Class A common stock purchased in this offering) and must be returned to the Sponsor if performance conditions are not met. Compensation expense related to these interests will be recognized only when the performance condition is probable of occurrence under ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, no stock-based compensation expense has been recognized. Stock-based compensation would be recognized at the date satisfaction of the performance obligation is considered probable in an amount equal to the number of Founder Shares times the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified) less the amount initially received for the purchase of the Founder Share interests. The fair value of these interests in the Founder Shares sold to the Original Anchor Investors was estimated at $1,796,901 or approximately $4.09 per share.

The other nine anchor investors (the “Additional Anchor Investors”) entered into separate subscription agreements in July 2021 with the Sponsor for indirect interests in the Founder Shares held by the Sponsor. The Additional Anchor Investors purchased interests representing an aggregate of 1,125,000 Founder Shares at a purchase price of $0.004 per share or $3,938 in the aggregate. Further, the Additional Anchor Investors are not required to (i) hold any Units, shares of Class A common stock or warrants they may purchase in the Initial Public Offering or thereafter for any amount of time, (ii) vote any shares of Class A common stock they may own at the applicable time in favor of the Business Combination or (iii) refrain from exercising their right to redeem their Public Shares at the time of the Business Combination. The Anchor Investors will have the same rights to the funds held in the Trust Account with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the Units they may purchase in the Initial Public Offering as the rights afforded to the Company’s other public stockholders.

The Company estimated the fair value at July 20, 2021 of the Founder Share interests attributable to the Additional Anchor Investors to be $7,211,250 or $6.41 per share. The excess of the fair value of the Founder Shares sold over the purchase price was determined to be an offering cost in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A. Accordingly, the offering cost will be allocated to the separable financial instruments issued in the Initial Public Offering based on a relative fair value basis, compared to total proceeds received. Offering costs allocated to derivative warrant liabilities were expensed immediately in the condensed consolidated statement of operations upon the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs allocated to the Public Shares were charged to stockholder’s equity (deficit) at the date of the Initial Public Offering.

On February 24, 2021, the Company granted units in the Sponsor to certain of its directors, executive officers, and other advisors representing indirect interests in the Founder Shares for no cash consideration. These awards are subject to ASC 718. Under ASC 718, stock-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date. The indirect interests in the Founder Shares were granted subject to a performance condition (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). Compensation expense related to the indirect interests in the Founder Shares are recognized only when the performance condition is probable of occurrence. As of June 30, 2023, the Company determined that a Business Combination is not considered probable, and, therefore, no stock-based compensation expense has been recognized. Stock-based compensation would be recognized at the date a Business Combination is considered probable (i.e., upon consummation of a Business Combination) in an amount equal to the number of indirect interests in the Founder Shares that ultimately vest multiplied by the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified).

The total number of indirect interests in the Founder Shares granted were 1,404,532 shares with a grant date fair value consistent with that of the Original Anchor Investors.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Related Party Loans

In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans, but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post-Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants issued to the Sponsor.

On March 17, 2023, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note in the principal amount of up to $750,000 to the Sponsor (the “March Working Capital Loan”).The March Working Capital Loan bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which the Company’s initial Business Combination is consummated and (ii) the liquidation of the Company on or before December 5, 2023, or such later liquidation date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders. At the election of the Sponsor, the unpaid principal amount of the March Working Capital Loan may be converted into warrants of the Company (the “Conversion Warrants”) with the total Conversion Warrants so issued equal to: (x) the portion of the principal amount of the March Working Capital Loan being converted divided by (y) $1.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of warrants. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company drew an aggregate of $400,000 from the March Working Capital Loan, which has not yet been repaid as of June 30, 2023.

The fair value option was elected (see Note 10) and, as such, the fair value of the March Working Capital Loan is shown on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as $276,276 and $0 as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The difference between the amount of the borrowing of $400,000 and the fair value at the time of initial borrowings of $276,154 is $123,847 and is recorded as an equity contribution in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit.

Public Relation Services

Daniel J. Edelman Inc. provides public relation services to the Company relating to finding a suitable target for the initial Business Combination. George Hornig who serves as Co-Chair of the Company’s Board, is also a Director of Daniel J. Edelman Holdings Inc., the parent company of Daniel J. Edelman Inc. For the three months ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022, the Company incurred $82,000 and $0, respectively, of expenses in relation to the services described above. For the six months ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022, the Company incurred $82,000 and $0, respectively, of expenses in relation to the services described above.

NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS

Registration Rights

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on August 2, 2021, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founders Shares) are entitled to registration rights. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to consummation of a Business Combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Underwriting Agreement

The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 3,750,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments at the Initial Public Offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On September 11, 2021, the over-allotment option expired.

The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $5,000,000 in the aggregate, upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. In addition, $0.35 per Unit, or $8,750,000 in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

Vendor Agreements

On April 7, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with a financial filing and printing firm (the “Printer”) for services as needed by the Company in connection with a Business Combination. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company incurred approximately $15,000 in fees during the six months ended June 30, 2023. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company will pay the Printer a total of approximately of $125,000, inclusive of the $15,000 paid by the Company during the six months ended June 30, 2023. The remaining $110,000 is contingent upon the consummation of the Business Combination.

NOTE 7. WARRANTS

As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 7,700,000 Private Placement Warrants and 12,500,000 Public Warrants outstanding.

A warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of Class A common stock. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two Units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of an initial Business Combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the satisfying the obligations described below with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of a warrant unless Class A common stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised warrants, the purchaser of a Unit containing such warrant, if not cash settled, will have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the share of Class A common stock underlying such Unit.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of an initial Business Combination, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, and the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of an initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed; provided that if the shares of Class A common stock are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at the option, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elect, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement.

Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00. Once the Public Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants:

The Company will not redeem the warrants for cash unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, unless the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable, the Company may exercise the redemption right even if the Company are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00. Commencing ninety days after the Public Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants:

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

In addition, if (x) the Company issue additional common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of an initial Business Combination (excluding any Forward Purchase Securities) at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of an Business Combination on the date of the completion of an initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the shares of Class A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummate an initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 and $18.00 per share redemption trigger prices described below under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” and “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 100% and 180%, respectively, of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the Units in the Initial Public Offering except that, so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees: (1) they will not be redeemable (except as described above under Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00); (2) they (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the Sponsor until 30 days after the completion of an initial Business Combination, as described below; (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) they (including the common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights.

In connection with the Initial Public Offering, the Company entered into a forward purchase agreement (the “Forward Purchase Agreement”) with Peterson Partners, a member of the Sponsor, pursuant to which Peterson Partners has subscribed to purchase from the Company 4,000,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share of Class A common stock (“Forward Purchase Shares”), and one-half of one warrant to purchase one share of Class A common stock (“Forward Purchase Warrants”, together with the Forward Purchase Shares the “Forward Purchase Securities”) for $10.00 per unit, or an aggregate amount of up to $40,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of a Business Combination. The Forward Purchase Shares will be identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the Units being sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that they will be subject to certain transfer restrictions, and the Forward Purchase Warrants shall be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company estimated the fair value of the forward purchase agreement to be a derivative liability of $1,296,000 and $484,000, respectively.

The obligations under the Forward Purchase Agreement do not depend on whether any shares of Class A common stock are redeemed by the public stockholders. Peterson Partners obligation to purchase forward units will, among other things, be terminated in the event that the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.

The Company accounts for the 20,200,000 warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering (including 12,500,000 Public Warrants and 7,700,000 Private Placement Warrants) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40. Such guidance provides that because the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment thereunder, each warrant must be recorded as a liability.

The accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments required that the Company record the warrants as derivative liabilities at fair value upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company estimated the fair value of the warrant derivative liabilities to be $4,646,000 and $1,616,000. The Public Warrants were allocated a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Units equal to its fair value. The warrant liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date. With each such re-measurement, the warrant liabilities are adjusted to current fair value, with the change in fair value recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations. The Company will reassess the classification at each balance sheet date. If the classification changes as a result of events during the period, the warrants will be reclassified as of the date of the event that causes the reclassification.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 8. STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

Preferred stock — The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.

Class A common stock — The Company is authorized to issue 380,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 25,000,000 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding, of which 25,000,000 shares of Class A common stock are subject to possible redemption.

Class B common stock — The Company is authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 6,250,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. On September 11, 2021, the underwriters 45-day option expired. As a result, 937,500 shares of Class B common stock were forfeited.

Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, holders of Class B common stock have the right to appoint all of the directors and may remove members of the board of directors for any reason. On any other matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders, holders of the shares of Class B common stock and holders of the Class A common stock will vote together as a single class, except as required by law.

The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of an initial Business Combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities (as described herein), are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts issued in the Initial Public Offering and related to the closing of an initial Business Combination, the ratio at which the shares of Class B common stock will convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, 20% of the sum of all shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding at the date of the Initial Public Offering, plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with an initial Business Combination, excluding any Forward Purchase Securities and any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the Business Combination.

NOTE 9. INCOME TAX

The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, was (109.3%) and 357.5%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, was 0.0%. The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the statutory income tax rate of 21% primarily due to the recognition of gains or losses from the change in the fair value of warrant liabilities and derivative asset - forward purchase agreement, which are not recognized for tax purposes, and recording a full valuation allowance on deferred tax assets. The Company has used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. The Company believes that, at this time, the use of the discrete method for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 is more appropriate than the estimated annual effective tax rate method as the estimated annual effective tax rate method is not reliable due to a high degree of uncertainty in estimating annual pretax earnings.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following table presents information about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:

The Company utilized a binomial lattice model for the initial valuation of the Public Warrants. The subsequent measurement of the Public Warrants as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 is classified as Level 1 due to the use of an observable market quote in an active market under the ticker HWELW. The quoted price of the Public Warrants was $0.23 and $0.08 per warrant as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

In prior periods, the Company utilized a binomial lattice model to value the Private Placement Warrants at each reporting period, with changes in fair value recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. The estimated fair value of the Private Placement Warrant liability was initially determined using Level 3 inputs. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Private Placement Warrants are classified as Level 2 due to the use of an observable market quote for a similar asset in an active market.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The model used to estimate the fair value of the derivative asset for the Forward Purchase Agreement is based on the assumption that the Forward Purchase Securities are equivalent to the Company’s Units and determined, on a per unit basis, as the price of the Company’s Units less the present value of the contractually stipulated forward price of $10.00.

Transfers to/from Levels 1, 2 and 3 are recognized at the end of the reporting period. The estimated fair value of the Private Placement Warrants transferred from a Level 3 fair value measurement to a Level 2 fair value measurement in the fourth quarter of 2022 due to the use of an observable market quote for a similar asset in an active market.

The following table provides the significant inputs to the model for the fair value of the Forward Purchase Agreement:

The convertible promissory notes - related party were valued using a Black-Scholes model, which is considered to be a Level 3 fair value measurement. The following table provides the significant inputs to the model for the fair value of the convertible promissory note - related party:

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following table provides a summary of the changes in the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

The Company recognized loss in connection with changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $3,030,000 (including $1,875,000 related to the Public Warrants - Level 1 and $1,155,000 related to the Private Placement Warrants - Level 2) within the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the six months June 30, 2023. The Company recognized a loss in connection with changes in the fair value of derivative liability - forward purchase agreement of $812,000 within the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the six months June 30, 2023. The Company recognized a loss on the change in fair value of the Sponsor Working Capital Loans of $123 within the condensed statements of operations for the six months June 30, 2023.

The Company recognized loss in connection with changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $2,222,000 (including $1,375,000 related to the Public Warrants - Level 1 and $847,000 related to the Private Placement Warrants - Level 2) within the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The Company recognized a loss in connection with changes in the fair value of derivative liability - forward purchase agreement of $276,000 within the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The Company recognized a loss on the change in fair value of the Working Capital Loans of $123 within the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2023.

The Company recognized gains in connection with changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $8,080,000 (including $5,000,000 related to the Public Warrants - Level 1 and $3,080,000 related to the Private Placement Warrants - Level 3) within the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The Company recognized a gain in connection with changes in the fair value of derivative asset - forward purchase agreement of $232,000 within the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Company recognized gains in connection with changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $2,626,000 (including $1,625,000 related to the Public Warrants—Level 1 and $1,001,000 related to the Private Placement Warrants—Level 3) within the unaudited condensed statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The Company recognized a gain in connection with changes in the fair value of derivative asset—forward purchase agreement of $16,000 within the unaudited condensed statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2022.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred up to the date unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than as described below, the Company did not identify any other subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

On July 21, 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of 6,249,999 Class A Shares to the Sponsor upon the conversion of an equal number of Class B Shares. The 6,249,999 Class A Shares issued in the Conversion, approximately 20.0% of the total issued and outstanding Class A Shares after the Conversion, are subject to the same restrictions as applied to the Class B Shares before the Conversion, including, among others, certain transfer restrictions, waiver of redemption rights and the obligation to vote in favor of an initial business combination as described in the prospectus for the IPO.

Between July 22, 2023 and July 25, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor, entered into seven voting and non-redemption agreements (the “Non-Redemption Agreements”) with certain unaffiliated third parties (each, a “Holder,” and collectively, the “Holders”) in exchange for the Holders agreeing either not to request redemption, or to reverse any previously submitted redemption demand, with respect to an aggregate of 3,889,523 Public Shares sold in its Initial Public Offering in connection with the special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, which was held on July 26, 2023 (the “Extension Meeting”). The Extension Meeting was held to, among other things, consider a proposal to amend to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a Business Combination from August 5, 2023 to December 5, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors) (the “Extension Amendment”). In consideration of the Non-Redemption Agreements, the Sponsor and Starton have agreed to transfer to the Holders an aggregate of 155,581 Class A Shares for each month beginning on September 5, 2023 and continuing for each subsequent month thereafter (including partial months) until the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination (the “Monthly Shares”). The Monthly Shares will be issued to the Holders substantially concurrently with the closing of the Company’s Business Combination.

As of the date of this Quarterly Report, the Company and the Sponsor have entered into Non-Redemption Agreements with respect to an aggregate of 3,889,523 Class A Shares, and the Sponsor and Starton have agreed to transfer an aggregate of 155,581 Class A Shares for each month beginning on September 5, 2023 and continuing for each subsequent month thereafter (including partial months) until the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination.

The Non-Redemption Agreements are expected to increase the amount of funds that remain in the Company’s Trust Account following the Meeting. Pursuant to the Non-Redemption Agreements, each Holder has also agreed to vote any Class A Shares held by it as of the record date for the Extension Meeting in favor of the Extension Amendment at the Extension Meeting and cause all such shares to be counted as present at the Extension Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

On July 26, 2023, the Company held the Extension Meeting. At the Extension Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved (1) an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which the Company must consummate an initial Business Combination from August 5, 2023 to December 5, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors); (2) an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding class of preferred stock, the number of authorized shares of any class of common stock or preferred stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote thereon, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law; (3) an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate from the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation the limitation that the Company may not redeem the shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the units in the IPO to the extent that such redemption would result in the Company having net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of less than $5,000,001 (the “Redemption Limitation”) in order to allow the Company to redeem public shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation (all of the aforementioned amendments, collectively the “Amendments”); and (4) a proposal to ratify the selection by the audit committee of the Board of Marcum LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023. The Company filed the Amendments with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 26, 2023.

In connection with the Extension Meeting, stockholders holding 20,942,619 public shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account. As a result, approximately $215,635,294 (approximately $10.30 per public share) was removed from the Trust Account to pay such holders and approximately $41,776,749 remained in the Trust Account. Following redemptions, the Company has 4,057,381 public shares outstanding.

In the event of either the closing of the BCA or a mandatory liquidation of the Company prior to December 31, 2023, the Company does not expect the redemptions that occurred in connection with the Extension Meeting to be subject to the Excise Tax under the IR Act.

On August 10, 2023, the Company, Starton, Pubco, Purchaser Merger Sub, CallCo, ExchangeCo, and the Sponsor entered into the Second Amendment to Business Combination Agreement (the “Second BCA Amendment”), pursuant to which the the Company, Starton, Pubco, Purchaser Merger Sub, CallCo, ExchangeCo, and the Sponsor agreed to amend the Business Combination Agreement to (a) increase the size of the option award pool under the Pubco equity plan to fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate number of shares of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding after the Closing and to provide for an annual “evergreen” increase of five percent (5%); (b) provide that the Sponsor incentive shares and Company incentive shares to be provided as incentives to support an equity investment or debt financing will be provided on a pari passu basis; and (c) remove the Closing condition that, upon the Closing, after giving effect to the redemptions and any equity investment or debt financing, the Company will have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

References in this report (the “Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I Sponsor LLC The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report including, without limitation, statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “seek” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factor Summary” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on March 3, 2023 and the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A as filed with the SEC on July 5, 2023. The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Overview

We are a blank check company incorporated on February 2, 2021 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effectuating a business combination with one or more businesses. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering that occurred on August 5, 2021 and the private placement of the private placement warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (including to the target or pursuant to the forward purchase agreement or other forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into or otherwise, shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing.

Recent Developments

On April 27, 2023, the Company entered into the BCA with Starton; Pubco; Purchaser Merger Sub; CallCo; ExchangeCo; the Sponsor, as the representative from and after the Effective Time of the stockholders of Pubco (other than the Starton Shareholders (as defined below) and their successors and assignees); and Kiriakos Charlie Perperidis, in the capacity as the representative of the Starton Shareholders from and after the Effective Time. The BCA was amended by the First BCA Amendment on May 15, 2023, pursuant to which the Parties agreed to amend Section 9.1 of the Business Combination Agreement to add a new closing condition which requires that, immediately after the Closing, and after giving effect to the Redemption, the Starton Shareholders will own a number of voting shares of Pubco representing, in the aggregate, no less than 51% of the total voting power of all issued and outstanding shares of Pubco.

Pursuant to the BCA, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, Purchaser Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, in connection with which all of the existing securities of the Company will be exchanged for rights to receive securities of Pubco as follows: (a) each share of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will automatically convert into one share of Pubco Common Stock, and (b) each whole Public Warrant, Private Placement Warrant and Forward Purchase Warrant will automatically convert into one warrant to purchase shares of Pubco Common Stock on substantially the same terms and conditions. Immediately following the Purchaser Merger, by means of the Plan of Arrangement, (i) CallCo will acquire a portion of the issued and outstanding Starton Shares from certain holders in exchange for Pubco Common Stock, and will contribute such Starton Shares to ExchangeCo in exchange for ExchangeCo common shares, (ii) following the Pubco Share Exchange, ExchangeCo will acquire the remaining issued and outstanding Starton Shares from the remaining shareholders of Starton in exchange for Exchangeable Shares. The Exchangeable Shares will be exchangeable, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of Pubco Common Stock, with each share valued at the price at which the Company redeems Public Shares held by its public stockholders in connection with the Starton Business Combination. As a result of the foregoing, Starton will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of ExchangeCo and an indirect subsidiary of Pubco.

Each outstanding Starton option will be assumed by Pubco and automatically converted into an option to purchase shares of Pubco Common Stock in accordance with the Plan of Arrangement and under an equity incentive plan to be adopted by Pubco prior to the Closing.

Pursuant to the terms of the BCA, the aggregate base consideration to be delivered to the Starton Shareholders in connection with the Starton Business Combination will be $260.0 million (including up to $20.0 million of incentive shares provided to potential PIPE investors), subject to adjustments for Starton’s closing debt (net of cash) and certain other adjustments, which consideration will be payable in newly-issued shares of (i) Pubco Common Stock or (ii) Exchangeable Shares, each valued at the Redemption Price.

In addition to the shares of Pubco Common Stock or Exchangeable Shares deliverable at the Closing, the Starton Shareholders will have the contingent right to receive up to an additional shares 25,000,000 shares of Pubco Common Stock or Exchangeable Shares, as earnout consideration after the Closing. The Earnout Consideration will be issuable to the Starton Shareholders (as of the date of the Closing) as follows:

Simultaneously with the execution and delivery of the BCA, the Company and Starton entered into the Voting Agreements with certain Starton Shareholders required to approve the Starton Business Combination. Under the Voting Agreements, such Starton Shareholders agreed to vote all of their Starton Shares in favor of the BCA and the related transactions. Such Starton Shareholders also agreed to take certain other actions in support of the BCA and related transactions and refrain from taking actions that would adversely affect their ability to perform their obligations under the Voting Agreements. Such Starton Shareholders also provided a proxy to the Company to vote their Starton Shares in accordance with the foregoing. The Voting Agreements prevent transfers of the Starton Shares held by such Starton Shareholders between the date of the Voting Agreement and the date of Closing, except for certain permitted transfers where the recipient also agrees to comply with the Voting Agreement.

Simultaneously with the execution of the BCA, the Company, Pubco, Starton and the Sponsor also entered into the Sponsor Support Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to vote all of its shares of the Company’s common stock in favor of the BCA and the Starton Business Combination. The Sponsor also agreed to waive its anti-dilution rights that would otherwise allow it to maintain ownership of 20% of Pubco. The Sponsor Support Agreement also prevents transfers of the Company’s securities held by the Sponsor between the date of the Sponsor Support Agreement and the termination of the Sponsor Support Agreement.

The BCA and related agreements and the First BCA Amendment are further described in our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 3, 2023 and May 15, 2023, respectively and the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Pubco, initially filed with the SEC on May 15, 2023 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”). The foregoing descriptions of each of the BCA, the form of Voting Agreement and the Sponsor Letter Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to such agreement filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report filed on May 18, 2023.

On July 21, 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of 6,249,999 Class A Shares to the Sponsor upon the conversion of an equal number of Class B Shares. The 6,249,999 Class A Shares issued in the Conversion, approximately 20.0% of the total issued and outstanding Class A Shares after the Conversion, are subject to the same restrictions as applied to the Class B Shares before the Conversion, including, among others, certain transfer restrictions, waiver of redemption rights and the obligation to vote in favor of an initial business combination as described in the prospectus for the IPO.

Between July 22, 2023 and July 25, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor, entered into seven voting and non-redemption agreements (the “Non-Redemption Agreements”) with certain unaffiliated third parties (each, a “Holder,” and collectively, the “Holders”) in exchange for the Holders agreeing either not to request redemption, or to reverse any previously submitted redemption demand, with respect to an aggregate of 3,889,523 Public Shares sold in its Initial Public Offering in connection with the special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, which was held on July 26, 2023 (the “Extension Meeting”). The Extension Meeting was held to, among other things, consider a proposal to amend to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to extend the date by which the Company must consummate a Business Combination from August 5, 2023 to December 5, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors) (the “Extension Amendment”). In consideration of the Non-Redemption Agreements, the Sponsor and Starton have agreed to transfer to the Holders an aggregate of 155,581 Class A Shares for each month beginning on September 5, 2023 and continuing for each subsequent month thereafter (including partial months) until the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination (the “Monthly Shares”). The Monthly Shares will be issued to the Holders substantially concurrently with the closing of the Company’s Business Combination.

As of the date of this Quarterly Report, the Company and the Sponsor have entered into Non-Redemption Agreements with respect to an aggregate of 3,889,523 Class A Shares, and the Sponsor has agreed to transfer an aggregate of 155,581 Class A Shares for each month beginning on September 5, 2023 and continuing for each subsequent month thereafter (including partial months) until the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination.

The Non-Redemption Agreements increased the amount of funds that remain in the Company’s Trust Account following the Meeting. Pursuant to the Non-Redemption Agreements, each Holder has also agreed to vote any Class A Shares held by it as of the record date for the Extension Meeting in favor of the Extension Amendment at the Extension Meeting and cause all such shares to be counted as present at the Extension Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum.

On July 26, 2023, the Company held the Extension Meeting. At the Extension Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved (1) an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) to extend the date by which the Company must consummate an initial Business Combination from August 5, 2023 to December 5, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors); (2) an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding class of preferred stock, the number of authorized shares of any class of common stock or preferred stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote thereon, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law; (3) an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate from the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation the limitation that the Company may not redeem the shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the units in the IPO to the extent that such redemption would result in the Company having net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of less than $5,000,001 (the “Redemption Limitation”) in order to allow the Company to redeem public shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation (all of the aforementioned amendments, collectively the “Amendments”); and (4) a proposal to ratify the selection by the audit committee of the Board of Marcum LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023. The Company filed the Amendments with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 26, 2023. The extension of the date by which the Company must consummate an initial Business Combination from August 5, 2023 to December 5, 2023 is subject to making monthly stock transfers to the Holders of 155,581 Class A shares, which will begin payment on September 5, 2023. The Monthly Shares will be issued to the Holders substantially concurrently with the closing of the Company’s Business Combination.

In connection with the Extension Meeting, stockholders holding 20,942,619 public shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account. As a result, approximately $215,635,294 (approximately $10.30 per public share) will be removed from the Trust Account to pay such holders and approximately $41,776,749 will remain in the Trust Account. Following redemptions, the Company has 4,057,381 public shares outstanding.

In the event of either the closing of the BCA or a mandatory liquidation of the Company prior to December 31, 2023, the Company does not expect the redemptions that occurred in connection with the Extension Meeting to be subject to the Excise Tax under the IR Act.

On August 10, 2023, the Company, Starton, Pubco, Purchaser Merger Sub, CallCo, ExchangeCo, and the Sponsor entered into the Second Amendment to Business Combination Agreement (the “Second BCA Amendment”), pursuant to which the the Company, Starton, Pubco, Purchaser Merger Sub, CallCo, ExchangeCo, and the Sponsor agreed to amend the Business Combination Agreement to (a) increase the size of the option award pool under the Pubco equity plan to fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate number of shares of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding after the Closing and to provide for an annual “evergreen” increase of five percent (5%); (b) provide that the Sponsor incentive shares and Company incentive shares to be provided as incentives to support an equity investment or debt financing will be provided on a pari passu basis; and (c) remove the Closing condition that, upon the Closing, after giving effect to the redemptions and any equity investment or debt financing, the Company will have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001.

Results of Operations

We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities for the period from February 2, 2021 (inception) through June 30, 2023 were organizational activities, our initial public offering and identifying target companies for a business combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents held in our trust account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as due diligence expenses in connection with our search for business combination targets.

For the three months ended June 30, 2023, we had net loss of $1,245,704, which resulted from a loss on the change in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $2,222,000, a loss on the change in fair value of derivative liability—forward purchase agreement of $276,000, operating and formation costs of $1,195,181, income tax expense of $650,442, franchise tax expense of $50,200, and loss on change in fair value of promissory note - related party of $123, offset in part by unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $232,425, realized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $2,915,143, and dividend income on investments held in Trust Account of $674.

For the three months ended June 30, 2022, we had net income of $2,644,342, which resulted from a gain on the change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $2,626,000, unrealized gains on investments held in Trust Account of $189,623, realized gains on investments held in Trust Account of $126,548, and a gain on the change in fair value of derivative asset - forward purchase agreement of 16,000, offset in part by operating and formation costs of $263,429 and franchise tax expense of $50,400.

For the six months June 30, 2023, we had net loss of $869,650, which resulted from a loss on the change in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $3,030,000, a loss on the change in fair value of derivative liability—forward purchase agreement of $812,000, operating and formation costs of $1,570,476, income tax expense of $1,207,434, franchise tax expense of $100,450, interest expense of $1,095, and loss on change in fair value of promissory note - related party of $123, offset in part by unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $386,117, realized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $5,465,137, and dividend income on investments held in Trust Account of $674.

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, we had net income of $8,044,722, which resulted from a gain on the change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $8,080,000, unrealized gains on investments held in Trust Account of $262,400, a gain on the change in fair value of derivative asset—forward purchase agreement of $232,000, realized gains on investments held in Trust Account of $151,838, offset in part by operating and formation costs of $581,116, and franchise tax expense of $100,400.

Liquidity, Capital Resources, and Going Concern

On August 5, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering of 25,000,000 units generating gross proceeds to the Company of $250,000,000. Simultaneously with the consummation of our initial public offering, we completed the private sale of 7,700,000 private placement warrants to our sponsor at a purchase price of $1.00 per warrant, generating gross proceeds of $7,700,000. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants were added to our net proceeds from the initial public offering held in a trust account. If we do not complete an initial business combination by December 5, 2023 (28 months from the closing of our initial public offering), the proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants deposited in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of the public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the private placement warrants will expire worthless.

For the six months June 30, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $1,117,575, which was due to a unrealized gain on investments held in the trust account of $386,117, realized gain on investments held in the trust account of $5,465,137, dividend income on investments held in Trust Account of $674, and our net loss of $869,650, partially offset by change in fair value of derivative liability-forward purchase agreement of $812,000, change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $3,030,000, deferred tax expense of $81,085, changes in working capital of $1,680,795, and change in the fair value of promissory notes – related party of $123.

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $480,958, which was due to a non-cash gain on the change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $8,080,000, a gain on the change in fair value of derivative asset—forward purchase agreement of $232,000, unrealized gains on investments in the Trust Account of $262,400 and realized gains on investments in the Trust Account of $151,838, offset in part by our net income of $8,044,722 and changes in working capital of $200,558.

For the six months June 30, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities of $626,748 was the proceeds received from the trust account to pay taxes.

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, net cash provided by investing activities of $263,316 was the result of the amount of proceeds received from the Trust Account to pay franchise taxes.

For the six months June 30, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $400,000, which was a result of proceeds from a convertible promissory note.

There were no cash flows from financing activities for the six months June 30, 2022.

As of June 30, 2023, we had cash of $46,925 held outside the trust account. We intend to use the funds held outside the trust account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a business combination. We also incur expenses as a result of being a public company for legal, financial reporting, accounting and compliance. We will also have obligations to pay Delaware and California state franchise taxes and other taxes with the funds held outside of the trust account to the extent that interest earned on the trust account is not sufficient to cover these taxes. We currently believe that the interest earned on the trust account should be sufficient to cover these taxes.

We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and excluding deferred underwriting commissions) to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest to pay taxes. We estimate our annual franchise tax obligations, based on the number of shares of our common stock authorized and outstanding after the completion of our initial public offering, to be to be $200,000 per year for Delaware, and $800 per year for California, plus other taxes, including but not limited to federal and state income and excise taxes, which we may pay from funds from the sale of the private placement warrants held outside of the trust account or from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and released to us for this purpose. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. To the extent that our common stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, which contemplates continuation of the Company as a going concern and the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. We anticipate that the cash held outside of the trust account as of June 30, 2023, will not be sufficient to allow us to operate until December 5, 2023, the date at which we must complete our initial business combination. Further, if our initial business combination is not consummated December 5, 2023, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the next 12 months after the date that the accompanying financial statements are issued.

We plan to address this uncertainty through our initial business combination as discussed above. There is no assurance that our plans to consummate our initial business combination will be successfully completed by December 5, 2023. The financial statements included elsewhere in this Report do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required on a non-interest basis. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from the trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants of the post business combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in the trust account.

On March 17, 2023, we issued an unsecured promissory note in the principal amount of up to $750,000 to the Sponsor (the “March Working Capital Loan”).The March Working Capital Loan bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which our initial business combination is consummated and (ii) the liquidation of the Company on or before December 5, 2023, or such later liquidation date as may be approved by our stockholders. At the election of the Sponsor, the unpaid principal amount of the March Working Capital Loan may be converted into warrants of the Company (the “Conversion Warrants”) with the total Conversion Warrants so issued equal to: (x) the portion of the principal amount of the March Working Capital Loan being converted divided by (y) $1.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of warrants. The Company drew $60,000 on March 31, 2023, $125,000 on April 17, 2023, $20,000 on April 26, 2023, and $195,000 on May 8, 2023 from the March Working Capital Loan. The outstanding balance as of June 30, 2023 is $400,000.

The fair value option was elected (see Note 10 of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Report) and, as such, the fair value of the March Working Capital Loan is shown on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as $276,276 and $0 as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The difference between the amount of the borrowing of $400,000 and the initial fair value of $276,154 is $123,847 and is recorded as an equity contribution in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit.

These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

Contractual Obligations

We do not have any long-term debt obligations, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations or other long-term liabilities, other than described below.

Promissory Note—Related Party

On February 10, 2021, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note, as amended on July 6, 2021, to our sponsor, pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to an aggregate of $350,000 to cover expenses related to our initial public offering. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and was payable on the earlier of (i) June 30, 2022 or (ii) the consummation of our initial public offering. On August 5, 2021, the Company repaid the outstanding balance under the Promissory Note of $350,000 that was borrowed prior to our initial public offering. As of December 31, 2022, there was no borrowings outstanding under the Promissory Note. The Company no longer has the ability to borrow under the Promissory Note.

On March 17, 2023, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note in the principal amount of up to $750,000 to the Sponsor (the “Promissory Note”).The Working Capital Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which the Company’s initial business combination is consummated and (ii) the liquidation of the Company on or before December 5, 2023, or such later liquidation date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders. At the election of the Sponsor, the unpaid principal amount of the Working Capital Note may be converted into warrants of the Company (the “Conversion Warrants”) with the total Conversion Warrants so issued equal to: (x) the portion of the principal amount of the Working Capital Note being converted divided by (y) $1.00, rounded up to the nearest whole number of warrants. The Company drew $60,000 on March 31, 2023, $125,000 on April 17, 2023, $20,000 on April 26, 2023, and $195,000 on May 8, 2023 from the March Working Capital Loan, which has not yet been repaid as of June 30, 2023.

The fair value option was elected (see Note 10 of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report) and, as such, the fair value of the March Working Capital Loan is shown on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as $276,276 and $0 as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The difference between the amount of the borrowing of $400,000 and the initial fair value of $276,154 is $123,847 and is recorded as an equity contribution in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit.

Underwriting Agreement

The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 3,750,000 additional units to cover over-allotments at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On September 11, 2021, the over-allotment option expired.

The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $5,000,000 in the aggregate, upon the closing of our Initial Public Offering. In addition, $0.35 per unit, or $8,750,000 in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriters as deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the trust account solely in the event that the Company completes an initial business combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies.

Warrant Liabilities

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own common stock, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.

For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the condensed consolidated statement of operations. The accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments required that the Company record the warrants as derivative liabilities at fair value upon the closing of our initial public offering. As of June 30, 2023, the Company estimated the fair value of the warrant derivative liabilities to be $4,646,000. The public warrants were allocated a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the units equal to its fair value.

Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption

All of the 25,000,000 shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the units in our initial public offering contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such public shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, if there is a stockholder vote or tender offer in connection with our initial business combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In accordance with SEC and its staff’s guidance on redeemable equity instruments, which has been codified in ASC 480-10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of the Company require common stock subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Therefore, all public shares have been classified outside of permanent equity.

The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable common stock to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying amount of redeemable common stock are affected by charges against additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit.

Net Income Per Share of Common Stock

Net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Remeasurement associated with the redeemable shares of Class A common stock is excluded from net income per share as the redemption value approximates fair value. Therefore, the income per share calculation allocates income and losses shared pro rata between Class A and Class B common stock. As a result, the calculated net income per share is the same for Class A and Class B shares of common stock. The Company has not considered the effect of the warrants sold in our initial public offering and private placement to purchase an aggregate of 20,200,000 shares in the calculation of diluted net income per share, since the exercise of the warrants is contingent upon the occurrence of future events. As a result, diluted net income per share is the same as basic net income per share for the periods presented.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Significant estimates included in the condensed consolidated financial statements include warrant liabilities and derivative financial instruments.

Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Standards

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Factors That May Adversely Affect our Results of Operations

Our results of operations and our ability to complete an initial business combination may be adversely affected by various factors that could cause economic uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, many of which are beyond our control. Our business could be impacted by, among other things, downturns in the financial markets or in economic conditions, increases in oil prices, inflation, increases in interest rates, supply chain disruptions, declines in consumer confidence and spending, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including resurgences and the emergence of new variants, and geopolitical instability, such as the military conflict in Ukraine. We cannot at this time fully predict the likelihood of one or more of the above events, their duration or magnitude or the extent to which they may negatively impact our business and our ability to complete an initial business combination.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this Item.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2023. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 (e) and 15d-15 (e) under the Exchange Act) were effective as of June 30, 2023.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the most recently completed fiscal quarter, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15 (f) and 15d-15 (f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

To the knowledge of our management team, there is no litigation currently pending or contemplated against us, any of our officers or directors in their capacity as such or against any of our property.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

As a smaller reporting company under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are not required to include risk factors in this Report. As of the date of this Report, there have been no material changes with respect to those risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on March 3, 2023, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on May 18, 2023, and our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, as filed with the SEC on July 5, 2023. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risks could arise that may also affect our business or ability to consummate an initial Business Combination. We may disclose changes to such risk factors or disclose additional risk factors from time to time in our future filings with the SEC.

For risks related to Starton and the Starton Business Combination, see Pubco’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on May 15, 2023 and amendments thereto.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

On July 21, 2023, we issued an aggregate of 6,249,999 shares of Class A common stock to the Sponsor, upon the conversion of an equal number of shares of Class B common stock held by the Sponsor(the “Founder Conversion”). The 6,249,999 shares of Class A common stock issued in connection with the Founder Conversion are subject to the same restrictions as applied to the Class B common stock before the Founder Conversion, including, among others, certain transfer restrictions, waiver of redemption rights and the obligation to vote in favor of an initial business combination as described in the prospectus for the Initial Public Offering. Following the Founder Conversion and the redemptions in connection with the Extension, there were 10,307,380 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding and one share of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. As a result of the Founder Conversion and the redemptions in connection with the Extension, the Sponsor held 60.6% of the outstanding Class A common stock.

Use of Proceeds

For a description of the use of proceeds generated in our initial public offering and private placement, see Part II, Item 5 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on March 28, 2022. There has been no material change in the planned use of proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and private placement as described in the Registration Statement. The specific investments in our Trust Account may change from time to time.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

On July 26, 2023, the Company held a special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, which was held on July 26, 2023 (the “Extension Meeting”). At the Extension Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved (1) an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”) to extend the date by which the Company must consummate an initial Business Combination from August 5, 2023 to December 5, 2023 (or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors); (2) an amendment to the Charter to provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding class of preferred stock, the number of authorized shares of any class of common stock or preferred stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote thereon, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law; (3) an amendment to the Charter to eliminate from the Charter the limitation that the Company may not redeem the shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the units in the IPO to the extent that such redemption would result in the Company having net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of less than $5,000,001 (the “Redemption Limitation”) in order to allow the Company to redeem public shares irrespective of whether such redemption would exceed the Redemption Limitation (all of the aforementioned amendments, collectively the “Charter Amendments”); and (4) a proposal to ratify the selection by the audit committee of the Board of Marcum LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023. The Company filed the Charter Amendments with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 26, 2023.

There were no repurchases of our equity securities by us or an affiliate during the fiscal quarter covered by the Report.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Item 6. Exhibits.

The following documents are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Report:

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.