10-Q

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated
filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

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 March 31, 2023

☐	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)


Delaware		86-1911840
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

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:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant	HWELU	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share	HWEL	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Redeemable warrants, each warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock for $11.50 per share	HWELW	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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 ☐

s of May 18, 2023, there wer

e 25,000,000 shares of the registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 6,250,000 shares of the registrant’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share issued and outstanding.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

TABLE OF CONTENTS


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements

	Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2023 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2022	1

	Condensed Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited)	2

	Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited)	3

	Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited)	4

	Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements	5

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	22

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	29

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	29

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	30

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	30

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	30

Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	31

Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	31

Item 5.	Other Information	31

Item 6.	Exhibits	31

SIGNATURES		33

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS


	March 31, 2023			December 31, 2022
	(Unaudited)
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash	$	34,860		$	137,752
Prepaid expenses		240,963			330,178

Total current assets		275,823			467,930
Investments held in Trust Account		255,825,764			253,668,826

Total Assets	$	256,101,587		$	254,136,756

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	132,627		$	5,100
Accrued expenses		470,790			475,928
Promissory note - related party		41,332			—
Income tax payable		426,342			393,497
Franchise tax payable		51,000			53,733

Total current liabilities		1,122,091			928,258
Warrant liabilities		2,424,000			1,616,000
Derivative liability - forward purchase agreement		1,020,000			484,000
Deferred underwriting fee payable		8,750,000			8,750,000
Deferred tax liability		397,657			365,381

Total Liabilities		13,713,748			12,143,639
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)
Class A common stock, subject to possible redemption, $0.0001 par value; 25,000,000 shares at redemption value		254,850,765			252,755,071
Stockholders’ Deficit:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding		—			—
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 380,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding (excluding 25,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption)		—			—
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 6,250,000 shares issued and outstanding		625			625
Additional paid-in capital		—			—
Accumulated deficit		(12,463,551	)		(10,762,579	)

Total stockholders’ deficit		(12,462,926	)		(10,761,954	)

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit	$	256,101,587		$	254,136,756

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

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HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)


	For the three months ended March 31, 2023			For the three months ended March 31, 2022
Operating and formation costs	$	375,295		$	317,687
Franchise tax expense		50,250			50,000

Loss from operations		(425,545	)		(367,687	)
Interest expense		(1,095	)		—
Unrealized gains on investments held in Trust Account		153,692			72,777
Realized gains on investments held in Trust Account		2,549,994			25,290
(Loss) gain on change in fair value of derivative liability - forward purchase agreement		(536,000	)		216,000
(Loss) gain on change in fair value of warrant liabilities		(808,000	)		5,454,000

Income before income taxes		933,046			5,400,380
Income tax expense		(556,992	)		—

Net income	$	376,054		$	5,400,380

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class A common stock		25,000,000			25,000,000

Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A common stock	$	0.01		$	0.17

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class B common stock		6,250,000			6,250,000

Basic and diluted net income per share, Class B common stock	$	0.01		$	0.17

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

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HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(UNAUDITED)

THREE

MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023


	Common Stock
	Class A				Class B				Additional Paid-in Capital			Accumulated Deficit			Total Stockholders’ Deficit
	Shares		Amount		Shares		Amount		Additional Paid-in Capital			Accumulated Deficit			Total Stockholders’ Deficit
Balance at December 31, 2022		—	$	—		6,250,000	$	625	$	—		$	(10,762,579	)	$	(10,761,954	)
Proceeds received in excess of initial fair value of convertible promissory note - related party		—		—		—		—		18,668			—			18,668
Remeasurement of Class A common stock to redemption value		—		—		—		—		(18,668	)		(2,077,026	)		(2,095,694	)
Net income		—		—		—		—		—			376,054			376,054

Balance at March 31, 2023		—	$	—		6,250,000	$	625	$	—			$(12,463,551)		$	(12,462,926	)

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022


	Common Stock
	Class A				Class B				Additional Paid-in Capital		Accumulated Deficit			Total Stockholders’ Deficit
	Shares		Amount		Shares		Amount		Additional Paid-in Capital		Accumulated Deficit			Total Stockholders’ Deficit
Balance at December 31, 2021		—	$	—		6,250,000	$	625	$	—	$	(19,420,600	)	$	(19,419,975	)
Net income		—		—		—		—		—		5,400,380			5,400,380

Balance at March 31, 2022		—	$	—		6,250,000	$	625	$	—	$	(14,020,220	)	$	(14,019,595	)

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

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HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)


	For the three months ended March 31, 2023			For the three months ended March 31, 2022
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$	376,054		$	5,400,380
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account		(153,692	)		(72,777	)
Realized gain on investments held in Trust Account		(2,549,994	)		(25,290	)
Change in fair value of derivative liability - forward purchase agreement		536,000			(216,000	)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		808,000			(5,454,000	)
Deferred tax expense		32,276			—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses		89,215			77,146
Accounts payable		127,527			74,366
Accrued expenses		(5,138	)		58,425
Income tax payable		32,845			—
Franchise tax payable		(2,733	)		(132,516	)

Net cash used in operating activities		(709,640	)		(290,266	)

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from Trust Account to pay taxes		546,748			62,500

Net cash provided by in investing activities		546,748			62,500

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of promissory note to related party		60,000			—

Net cash provided by financing activities		60,000			—

Net change in cash		(102,892	)		(227,766	)
Cash - beginning of period		137,752			749,256

Cash - end of period	$	34,860		$	521,490

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:

Excess of cash received over fair value of convertible promissory note - related party	$	18,668		$	—

Remeasurement of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption to redemption value	$	2,095,694		$	—

Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for income and franchise taxes	$	545,948		$	—

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

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HEALTHWELL ACQUISITION CORP. I

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND LIQUIDITY

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, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock 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.

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from February 2, 2021 (inception) through March 31, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation, its initial public offering (the “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 to Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I

Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), generating gross proceeds of $7,700,000 (see Note 4).

Transaction costs 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”) 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

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

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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”).

The Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 either prior to or upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks stockholder approval, a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. A quorum for such meeting 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 holders of Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) (such holders, the “initial stockholders”) have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree) to vote their Founder Shares 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.

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 August 5, 2023 to complete a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). 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.

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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 in or after the Initial Public Offering, 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.

Going Concern and Liquidity

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $34,860 in cash held outside of the Trust Account and a working capital deficit of $368,926

(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 March 31, 2023, will not be sufficient to allow the Company to operate until August 5, 2023, the date at which the Company must complete a Business Combination. Further, if a Business Combination is not consummated by August 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 financial statements are issued.

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 financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Risks and Uncertainties

Management continues to evaluate the impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations, and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these condensed financial statements. The condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

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 financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

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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.

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (“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 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 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 months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023 or for any future periods.

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.

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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 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 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 unaudited condensed 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 March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022.

Investments Held in Trust Account

At March 31, 2023, 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 statements of operations. At March 31, 2023, the assets held in the Trust Account were $255,825,764. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, $546,748 of income was released from the Trust Account for the payment of taxes, respectively.

Warrant Liabilities

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 statement of operations. As of March 31, 2023, the Company estimated the fair value of the warrant derivative liabilities to be $2,424,000. See Note 10 for additional information related to fair value measurements.

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Class A Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption

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. The redemption value of the redeemable common stock as of March 31, 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 for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The carrying value of the Class A common stock subject to redemption represents the redemption value as of March 31, 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 March 31, 2023, the Class A common stock subject to redemption reflected in the balance sheet are reconciled in the following table:


Class A common stock subject to possible redemption at December 31, 2022	$	252,755,071
Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value		2,095,694

Class A common stock subject to possible redemption at March 31, 2023	$	254,850,765

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 statements of operations.

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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.

The Forward Purchase Agreement (as defined in Note 7) 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 statement of operations. As of March 31, 2023, the Company estimated the fair value of the derivative liability related to its forward purchase agreement to be $1,020,000. 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 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 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 March 31, 2023. 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.

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

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	Three months ended March 31, 2023				Three months ended March 31, 2022
	Class A		Class B		Class A		Class B
Basic and diluted net income per share:
Numerator:
Net income	$	300,843	$	75,211	$	4,320,304	$	1,080,076

Denominator:
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding		25,000,000		6,250,000		25,000,000		6,250,000
Basic and diluted net income per share	$	0.01	$	0.01	$	0.17	$	0.17

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.

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 financial statements.

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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 P

rivate 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 will 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.

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 March 31, 2023, 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.

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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 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 March 31, 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.

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. There was no outstanding balance of Working Capital Loans as of March 31, 2023.

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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 August 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. On March 31, 2023, the Company drew $60,000 from the March Working Capital Loan, which has not yet been repaid as of March 31, 202

3. Through May 18, 2023, the total amount drawn by the Company from the March Working Capital Loan was $400,000.

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 balance sheets as $41,332 and $0 as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The difference between the amount of the borrowing of $60,000 and the fair value of $41,332 is $18,668 and is recorded as an equity contribution in the Condensed 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 March 31, 2023 and March 31. 2022, the Company did not incur any 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.

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.

NOTE 7. WARRANTS

As of March 31, 2023, 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.

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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.

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 the 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 the 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:

•

in whole and not in part;

•

at a price of $0.01 per Public Warrant;

•

upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and

•

if, and only if, the reported last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a

30-trading

day period ending three business days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share.

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:

•

in whole and not in part;

•

at a price of $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by the redemption date and the fair market value of the Company’s Class A common stock; and;

•

if the closing price of the Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a

30-trading

day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders is less than $18.00 per share, then the Private Placement Warrants must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding Public Warrants.

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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, as defined below) 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 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 March 31, 2023, the Company estimated the fair value of the forward purchase agreement to be a derivative liability of $1,020,000.

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 March 31, 2023, the Company estimated the fair value of the warrant derivative liabilities to be $2,424,000. 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 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.

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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 Board. As of March 31, 2023, 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 March 31, 2023, 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 March 31, 2023, there were 6,250,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. On September 11, 2021, the underwriters’

45-day

option to purchase additional Units expired. As a result, 937,500 shares of Class B common stock were forfeited.

Holders of Class B common stock will have the right to appoint all of the directors and may remove members of the Board 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 TAXES

The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was 59.7% and 0.0%, respectively. 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 months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company believes that, at this time, the use of the discrete method for the three months ended March 31, 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.

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 March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:

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Description	Amount at Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
March 31, 2023
Assets
Investments held in Trust Account:
Money Market investments	$	255,825,764	$	255,825,764	$	—	$	—
Liabilities
Warrant liability – Public Warrants	$	1,500,000	$	1,500,000	$	—	$	—
Warrant liability – Private Placement Warrants	$	924,000	$	—	$	924,000	$	—
Derivative liability - forward purchase agreement	$	1,020,000	$	—	$	—	$	1,020,000
Convertible promissory note - related party	$	41,332	$	—	$	—	$	41,332
December 31, 2022
Assets
Investments held in Trust Account:
Money Market investments	$	253,668,826	$	253,668,826	$	—	$	—
Liabilities
Warrant liability – Public Warrants	$	1,000,000	$	1,000,000	$	—	$	—
Warrant liability – Private Placement Warrants	$	616,000	$	—	$	616,000	$	—
Derivative liability- forward purchase agreement	$	484,000	$	—	$	—	$	484,000

The Company utilized a binomial lattice model for the initial valuation of the Public Warrants. The subsequent measurement of the Public Warrants as of March 31, 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 $0.12 and $0.08 per warrant as of March 31, 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 statement of operations. The estimated fair value of the Private Placement Warrant liability was initially determined using Level 3 inputs. As of March 31, 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.

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.

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


	As of March 31, 2023			As of December 31, 2022
Stock price	$	10.15		$	9.91
Strike price	$	11.50		$	11.50
Dividend yield		—	%		—	%
Term to expected Business Combination (in years)		0.3			0.5
Volatility		de minimus			de minimus
Risk-free rate (1)		4.82% / 3.56%			4.70% / 3.98%
Probability of Business Combination		70.0	%		60.0	%
Fair value of derivative (asset) liability - forward purchase agreement	$	0.255		$	0.121

1	The risk-free rate was based on U.S. Treasury Rates commensurate with the remaining term to Business Combination / expiration of the Private Placement Warrants (see Note 7).

The following table provides the significant inputs to the model for the fair value of the Convertible Promissory Note - Related Party:


	As of March 31, 2023
Warrant exercise price	$	1.00
Term to expected Business Combination (in years)		0.33
Volatility		de minimus
Risk free rate		4.82	%
Discount factor		0.9841
Probability of Business Combination		70	%
Fair value convertible promissory note - related party	$	41,332

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:


Fair value as of December 31, 2021	$	4,559,000
Change in fair value		(2,295,000	)

Fair value as of March 31, 2022	$	2,264,000

Fair value as of December 31, 2022	$	484,000
Initial measurement of draw on convertible promissory note - related party on March 31, 2023		41,332
Change in fair value		536,000

Fair value as of March 31, 2023	$	1,061,332

The Company recognized loss in connection with changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $808,000 (including $500,000 related to the Public Warrants - Level 1 and $308,000 related to the Private Placement Warrants - Level 2) within the condensed statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company recognized a loss in connection with changes in the fair value of derivative liability - forward purchase agreement of $536,000 within the condensed statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

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The Company recognized a gain in connection with changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $5,454,000 (including $3,375,000 related to the Public Warrants - Level 1 and $2,079,000 related to the Private Placement Warrants - Level 3) within the condensed statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The Company recognized a gain in connection with changes in the fair value of derivative liability - forward purchase agreement of $216,000 within the condensed statement of operations for the three months ended M

arch 31, 2022.

NOTE 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the unaudited condensed financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than described below, and the additional draw

on the March Working Capital Loan as disclosed in Note 5, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the condensed financial unaudited statements.

On April 27, 2023, the Company entered into the business combination agreement (“BCA”) with Starton Therapeutics, Inc. (“Starton”); 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”); 1412388 B.C. Ltd, a British Columbia corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of 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 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.

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:

•

one-third of the Earnout Shares are issuable upon the volume weighted average price of the shares of Pubco Common Stock (the “VWAP”) equaling or exceeding $12.00 per share for any twenty (20) out of any twenty (20) consecutive trading days during the five-year period after the Closing (the “Earnout Period”);

•

one-third of the Earnout Shares are issuable upon (i) the VWAP equaling or exceeding $14.00 per share for any twenty (20) out of any twenty (20) consecutive trading days during the Earnout Period or (ii) successful completion of a Phase 1B clinical trial for multiple myeloma, meaning the completion of an interim data analysis which is sufficient to obtain an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in which the FDA permits Starton to move forward to a phase 2 clinical study following a Type B End-of-Phase-1 meeting; and

•

one-third of the Earnout Shares are issuable upon (i) the VWAP equaling or exceeding $16.00 per share for any twenty (20) out of any twenty (20) consecutive trading days during the Earnout Period or (ii) achievement of the successful completion of an FDA required bridging study in healthy volunteers that proves bio-equivalence between the ambulatory subcutaneous pump and either a transdermal patch or an on body subcutaneous pump.

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 Starto

n Sh

areholders 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. 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 this Quarterly Report.

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report, including, without limitation, statements in this section regarding our financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Quarterly Report, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in our filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph.

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed financial statements and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report under “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

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 the 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 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.

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:

•

one-third of the Earnout Shares are issuable upon the VWAP equaling or exceeding $12.00 per share for any twenty (20) out of any twenty (20) consecutive trading days during the five-year period after the Closing;

•

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.

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 March 31, 2023 were organizational activities, the 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 the 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, including Starton.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we had net income of $376,054, which resulted from unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $153,692, and realized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $2,549,994, offset in part by a loss on the change in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $808,000, a loss on the change in fair value of derivative liability—forward purchase agreement of $536,000, operating and formation costs of $375,295, income tax expense of $556,992, franchise tax expense of $50,250, and interest expense of $1,095.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had net income of $5,400,380, which resulted from a gain on change in the fair value of warrant liabilities of $5,454,000, change in fair value of derivative asset—forward purchase agreement of $216,000, unrealized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $72,777, a realized gain on investments held in Trust Account of $25,290, offset in part by formation and operating costs of $317,687, and franchise tax expense of $50,000.

Liquidity, Capital Resources, and Going Concern

On August 5, 2021, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 25,000,000 Units, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $250,000,000. Simultaneously with the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, we completed the private sale of 7,700,000 Private Placement Warrants to the 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 the Trust Account. If we do not complete an initial Business Combination by August 5, 2023 (24 months from the closing of the 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 three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $709,640, which was due to a unrealized gain on investments held in the Trust Account of $153,692, realized gain on investments held in the Trust Account of $2,549,994, partially offset by our net income of $376,054, change in fair value of derivative liability-forward purchase agreement of 536,000, change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $808,000, deferred tax expense of $32,276, and changes in working capital of $241,716.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $290,266, which was due to a non-cash gain on the change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $5,454,000, change in fair value of derivative asset—forward purchase agreement of $216,000, changes in working capital of $77,421, unrealized gain on investments in the Trust Account of $72,777 and a realized gain on investments in the Trust Account of $25,290, offset in part by our net income of $5,400,380.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities of $546,748 was the proceeds received from the Trust Account to pay taxes.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash provided by investing activities of $62,500 was the result of the amount of proceeds received from the Trust Account to pay franchise taxes.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $60,000, which was a result of proceeds from a convertible promissory note.

There were no cash flows from financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

As of March 31, 2023, we had cash of $34,860 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 the 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 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 March 31, 2023, will not be sufficient to allow us to operate until August 5, 2023, the date at which we must complete our initial Business Combination. Further, if our initial Business Combination is not consummated August 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 August 5, 2023. The financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly 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, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the 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 the 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 August 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. On March 31, 2023, the Company drew $60,000 from the March Working Capital Loan, which has not yet been repaid as of March 31, 2023. Through May 18, 2023, the total amount drawn by the Company from the March Working Capital Loan was $400,000.

The fair value option was elected (see Note 10 of the condensed financial statements contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report) and, as such, the fair value of the March Working Capital Loan is shown on the condensed balance sheets as $41,332 and $0 as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The difference between the amount of the borrowing of $60,000 and the fair value of $41,332 is $18,668 and is recorded as an equity contribution in the Condensed 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 the Trust Account 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 March 31, 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 the Sponsor (the “Promissory Note”), pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to an aggregate of $350,000 to cover expenses related to the 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 the Initial Public Offering. On August 5, 2021, the Company repaid the outstanding balance under the Initial Promissory Note of $350,000 that was borrowed prior to the 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. This 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 August 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 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. On March 31, 2023, the Company drew $60,000 from the March Working Capital Loan, which has not yet been repaid as of March 31, 2023. Through May 18, 2023, the total amount drawn by the Company from the March Working Capital Loan was $400,000.

The fair value option was elected (see Note 10 of the condensed 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 balance sheets as $41,332 and $0 as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The difference between the amount of the borrowing of $60,000 and the fair value of $41,332 is $18,668 and is recorded as an equity contribution in the Condensed 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 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 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 and ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. 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 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 March Working Capital Loan. As of March 31, 2023, the Company estimated the fair value of the warrant derivative liabilities to be $2,424,000. 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 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 our initial 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.

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 the 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 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 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 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 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 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.

Evaluation of Disclosure 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 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 (together, the “Certifying Officers”), to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Certifying Officers, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on the foregoing, our Certifying Officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report.

We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the most recently completed fiscal quarter, there have been no changes to our internal control over financial reporting during the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023 that materially affected, or are 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 Quarterly Report. However, as of the date of this Quarterly Report, other than as set forth below, 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. 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.

Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, including events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, or our prospects.

The funds in our operating account and our Trust Account are held in banks or other financial institutions. Our cash held in non-interest bearing and interest-bearing accounts would exceed any applicable Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits. Should events, including limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments occur with respect to the banks or other financial institutions that hold our funds, or that affect financial institutions or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, our liquidity may be adversely affected. For example, on March 10, 2023, the FDIC announced that Silicon Valley Bank had been closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Although we did not have any funds in Silicon Valley Bank or other institutions that have been closed, we cannot guarantee that the banks or other financial institutions that hold our funds will not experience similar issues.

In addition, investor concerns regarding the U.S. or international financial systems could result in less favorable commercial financing terms, including higher interest rates or costs and tighter financial and operating covenants, or systemic limitations on access to credit and liquidity sources, thereby making it more difficult for us to acquire financing on terms favorable to us in connection with a potential Business Combination, or at all, and could have material adverse impacts on our liquidity, our business, financial condition or results of operations, and our prospects.

Market conditions, economic uncertainty or downturns could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and our ability to consummate a Business Combination.

In recent years, the United States and other markets have experienced cyclical or episodic downturns, and worldwide economic conditions remain uncertain, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, instability in the U.S. and global banking systems, rising fuel prices, increasing interest rates or foreign exchange rates and high inflation and the possibility of a recession. A significant downturn in economic conditions may make it more difficult for us to consummate a Business Combination.

We cannot predict the timing, strength, or duration of any future economic slowdown or any subsequent recovery generally, or in any industry. If the conditions in the general economy and the markets in which we operate worsen from present levels, our business, financial condition, operating results and our ability to consummate a Business Combination could be adversely affected. For example, in January 2023, the outstanding national debt of the U.S. government reached its statutory limit. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury Department”) has announced that, since then, it has been using extraordinary measures to prevent the U.S. government’s default on its payment obligations, and to extend the time that the U.S. government has to raise its statutory debt limit or otherwise resolve its funding situation. The failure by Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling could have severe repercussions within the U.S. and to global credit and financial markets. If Congress does not raise the debt ceiling, the U.S. government could default on its payment obligations, or experience delays in making payments when due. A payment default or delay by the U.S. government, or continued uncertainty surrounding the U.S. debt ceiling, could result in a variety of adverse effects for financial markets, market participants and U.S. and global economic conditions. In addition, U.S. debt ceiling and budget deficit concerns have increased the possibility a downgrade in the credit rating of the U.S. government and could result in economic slowdowns or a recession in the U.S. Although U.S. lawmakers have passed legislation to raise the federal debt ceiling on multiple occasions, ratings agencies have lowered or threatened to lower the long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States as a result of disputes over the debt ceiling. The impact of a potential downgrade to the U.S. government’s sovereign credit rating or its perceived creditworthiness could adversely affect economic conditions, as well as our business, financial condition, operating results and our ability to consummate a Business Combination.

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

Pursuant to the IR Act, commencing in 2023, a 1% U.S. federal excise tax is imposed on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded domestic (i.e., U.S.) corporations and certain domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation and not on its stockholders. The amount of the excise tax is equal to 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. The Treasury Department authority to promulgate regulations and provide other guidance regarding the excise tax. In December 2022, the Treasury Department issued Notice 2023-2, indicating its intention to propose such regulations and issuing certain interim rules on which taxpayers may rely. Under the interim rules, liquidating distributions made by publicly traded domestic corporations are exempt from the excise tax. In addition, any redemptions that occur in the same taxable year as a liquidation is completed will also be exempt from such tax. Accordingly, redemptions of our Public Shares in connection with an extension of the Combination Period may subject us to the excise tax, unless one of the two exceptions above apply. Such redemptions would only occur if an extension of the Combination Period is approved by our stockholders and such extension is implemented by the Board.

If the deadline for us to complete a Business Combination (currently August 5, 2023) is extended, our public stockholders will have the right to require us to redeem their Public Shares. Any redemption or other repurchase may be subject to the excise tax. The extent to which we would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a Redemption Event would depend on a number of factors, including: (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Redemption Event, (ii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with the Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with the Redemption Event but issued within the same taxable year of the Business Combination), (iii) if we fail to timely consummate a Business Combination and liquidate in a taxable year subsequent to the year in which a Redemption Event occurs and (iv) the content of any proposed or final regulations and other guidance from the Treasury Department. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by us and not by the redeeming holders, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax remain to be determined. Any excise tax payable by us in connection with a Redemption Event may cause a reduction in the cash available to us to complete a Business Combination and could affect our ability to complete a Business Combination.

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

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

None.

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

None.

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 Quarterly Report:


No.		Description of Exhibit

2.1		Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2023, by and among Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I, Starton Therapeutics, Inc., HWEL Holdings Corp., HWEL Merger Sub Corp., 1412384 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1412388 B.C. Ltd, Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I Sponsor LLC, and Kiriakos Charlie Perperidis.(1)***

2.2		First Amendment to Business Combination Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2023, by and among Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I, Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I Sponsor LLC, HWEL Holdings Corp., HWEL Merger Sub Corp., 1412384 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1412388 B.C. Ltd, Starton Therapeutics, Inc. and Kiriakos Charlie Perperidis.(2)

10.1		Promissory Note issued to Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I Sponsor LLC, dated March 17, 2023.(3)

10.2		Form of Voting Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2023, by and among Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I, Starton Therapeutics, Inc., and certain shareholders of Starton Therapeutics, Inc.(1)

10.3		Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2023, by and among Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I, Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I Sponsor LLC, HWEL Holdings Corp. and Starton Therapeutics, Inc.(1)

31.1		Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*

31.2		Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*

32.1		Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**

32.2		Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**

101.INS		Inline XBRL Instance Document.*

101.SCH		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.*

101.CAL		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.*

101.DEF		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.*

101.LAB		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.*

101.PRE		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.*

104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded as Inline XBRL document and contained in Exhibit 101).*

*	Filed herewith.

**	Furnished herewith.

***	The exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally to the SEC a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules upon its request.

(1)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on May 3, 2023.

(2)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on May 15, 2023.

(3)	Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023.

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.


	Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I

Date: May 18, 2023	By:	/s/ Alyssa Rapp
		Alyssa Rapp
		Chief Executive Officer

	Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I

Date: May 18, 2023	By:	/s/ Tracy Wan
		Tracy Wan
		President and Chief Financial Officer

SEC Form 10-Q filed by Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I