MTRY Monterey Innovation Acquisition Corporation

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RISK FACTORS

In addition to the below risk factors, you should consider carefully all of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “2022 annual report”), any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and in the other reports we file with the SEC before making a decision to invest in our securities. The risks and uncertainties described in the aforementioned filings and below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results or result in our liquidation.

We cannot assure you that the Extension will enable us to complete a business combination.

Approving the Extension involves a number of risks. Even if the Extension is approved, we cannot assure you that a business combination will be consummated prior to the Extended Date. Our ability to consummate any business combination is dependent on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. If the Extension is approved, we expect to seek stockholder approval of a business combination. We are required to offer stockholders the opportunity to redeem shares in connection with the Charter Amendment Proposal, and we will be required to offer stockholders redemption rights again in connection with any stockholder vote to approve a business combination. Even if the Extension or a business combination are approved by our stockholders, it is possible that redemptions will leave us with insufficient cash to consummate a business combination on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. The fact that we will have separate redemption periods in connection with the Extension and a business combination vote could exacerbate these risks. Other than in connection with a redemption offer or liquidation, our stockholders may be unable to recover their investment except through sales of our shares on the open market. The price of our shares may be volatile, and there can be no assurance that stockholders will be able to dispose of our shares at favorable prices, or at all.

In the event the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and we amend our charter, Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange following stockholder redemptions in connection with such amendment, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.

Our common stock, units and warrants are listed on Nasdaq. We are subject to compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements in order to maintain the listing of our securities on Nasdaq. Such continued listing requirements for our common stock include, among other things, the requirement to maintain at least 300 public holders and at least 500,000 publicly held shares. Pursuant to the terms of our charter, in the event the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved and the charter is amended, public stockholders may elect to redeem their public shares and, as a result, we may not be in compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements.

We expect that if our common stock fails to meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, our units and warrants will also fail to meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements for those securities. We cannot assure you that any of our common stock, units or warrants will be able to meet any of Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements following any stockholder redemptions of our public shares in connection with the amendment of our certificate of incorporation pursuant to the Charter Amendment Proposal. If our securities do not meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange.

If Nasdaq delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Our common stock, units and warrants qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of covered securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by special purpose acquisition companies, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.

A new 1% U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with redemptions by us of our shares of common stock.

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

Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with a business combination, extension vote or otherwise, may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent we would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a business combination or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the business combination or otherwise, (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 Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by us and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a business combination and in our ability to complete a business combination. It is expected that any such excise tax would be paid by the Company using funds held outside of the Trust Account.

We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company if such initial business combination is subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), or ultimately prohibited.

Neither NorthStar nor Chardan Monterey is controlled by or has substantial ties with a non-U.S. person. Mr. Omur, who is our Chief Executive Officer, is a U.S. citizen. We do not expect the Company to be considered a “foreign person” under the regulations administered by CFIUS. However, if our initial business combination with a U.S. business is subject to CFIUS review, the scope of which was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”), to include certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business, FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subjects certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company without first obtaining CFIUS clearance, which may limit the attractiveness of or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our stockholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other SPACs which do not have similar foreign ownership issues.

Moreover, the process of government review, whether by the CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy and we have limited time to complete our initial business combination. If we cannot complete an initial business combination by July 5, 2023 (or the Extended Date if our stockholders approve the Charter Amendment Proposal) because the review process drags on beyond such timeframe or because our initial business combination is ultimately prohibited by CFIUS or another U.S. government entity, we may be required to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public stockholders may only receive an amount per share that will be determined by when we liquidate and our warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose the investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.

If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), we would be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities would be severely restricted and, as a result, we may abandon our efforts to consummate an initial business combination and liquidate.

On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules relating to certain activities of SPACs (the “SPAC Rule Proposals”), relating to, among other things, circumstances in which SPACs could potentially be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. The SPAC Rule Proposals would provide a safe harbor for such companies from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided that a SPAC satisfies certain criteria, including a limited time period to announce and complete a de-SPAC transaction. Specifically, to comply with the safe harbor, the SPAC Rule Proposals would require a company to file a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing that it has entered into an agreement with a target company for an initial Business Combination no later than 18 months after the effective date of its registration statement for its initial public offering (the “IPO Registration Statement”). The company would then be required to complete its initial Business Combination no later than 24 months after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement.

There is currently uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a SPAC. It is possible that a claim could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company. This risk may be increased if we continue to hold the funds in the trust account in short-term U.S. government treasury obligations or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, rather than instructing the trustee to liquidate the securities in the trust account and hold the funds in the trust account in cash.

If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities would be severely restricted. In addition, we would be subject to burdensome compliance requirements. We do not believe that our principal activities will subject us to regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. However, if we are deemed to be an investment company and subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds. As a result, unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we would expect to abandon our efforts to complete a business combination and instead to liquidate. If we are required to liquidate, our stockholders would not be able to realize the benefits of owning stock in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our stock and warrants following such a transaction, and our warrants would expire worthless.

If we instruct the trustee to liquidate the securities held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account in an interest-bearing demand deposit account at a national bank in order to seek to mitigate the risk that we could be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the trust account, which would reduce the dollar amount the public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.

The funds in the trust account have, since our IPO, been held only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. However, to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time, instruct the trustee with respect to the trust account to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in an interest-bearing demand deposit account at a national bank until the earlier of consummation of an initial business combination or liquidation of the Company. Following such liquidation of the securities held in the trust account, we would likely receive minimal interest, if any, on the funds held in the trust account. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the trust account still may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, and certain other expenses as permitted. As a result, any decision to liquidate the securities held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in an interest-bearing demand deposit account at a national bank would reduce the dollar amount the Public Stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.

The longer that the funds in the trust account are held in short-term U.S. government treasury obligations or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, the greater the risk that we may be considered an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate the Company. Accordingly, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the trust account at any time and instead hold all funds in the trust account in an interest-bearing demand deposit account at a national bank, which would further reduce the dollar amount the public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company. As of the date of this proxy statement, we are currently holding the funds in our trust account in U.S. government treasury obligations.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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

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

You should carefully consider these risks, in addition to the risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC, including our 2022 annual report and our other filings with the SEC. The documents we file with the SEC, including those referred to above, also discuss some of the risks that could cause actual results to differ from those contained or implied in the forward-looking statements. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for additional information about our filings.

BACKGROUND

Our Company

We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on October 1, 2020, whose business purpose is to enter into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as our “initial business combination.” While we may pursue an initial business combination in any region or sector, we initially focused our efforts on a biotech company that has demonstrated success and is primed to thrive in the rapidly evolving biotech industry for our initial business combination. In connection with our Management Transition and rebrand, described below, we expanded our acquisition strategy to include a broader universe of disruptive technology targets.

On September 18, 2020, Chardan Monterey purchased 5,000,000 shares of common stock from us for $25,000, or $0.005 per share. On May 20, 2021, Chardan Monterey transferred 687,500 founder shares back to us for no consideration, which shares were cancelled. On May 21, 2021, Chardan Monterey transferred 3,315,625 founder shares to NorthStar at a price of $0.006 per share. On May 21, 2021, NorthStar transferred 150,000 founder shares to Dr. Satyal, our former Chief Executive Officer, and transferred 35,000 founder shares to each of our directors at a price of $0.006 per share. On September 1, 2021, NorthStar transferred 1,078,125 founder shares back to us and Chardan Monterey transferred 359,375 founder shares back to us, in each case for no consideration, which shares were cancelled. As a result, following our IPO, NorthStar held a balance of 1,912,500 founder shares and Chardan Monterey held a balance of 637,500 founder shares. The founder shares included an aggregate of up to 375,000 shares that were subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriter’s over-allotment option was not exercised in full or in part, so that our initial stockholders would collectively own 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after our IPO. The over-allotment option was exercised in full on October 6, 2021; thus, these shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.

In connection with the Management Transition, on March 9, 2023, NorthStar transferred 478,125 founder shares to Chardan Monterey and 30,625 founder shares to each of our newly appointed directors, in each case, at a price of $0.006 per share. In addition, our former Chief Executive Officer transferred 75,000 founder shares back to NorthStar. On March 9, 2023, Chardan Monterey transferred 4,375 founder shares to each of our newly appointed directors, in each case, at a price of $0.006 per share. As a result, following the Management Transition, NorthStar holds a balance of 1,417,500 founder shares and Chardan Monterey holds a balance of 1,102,500 founder shares.

The registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-259378) for our IPO was declared effective by the SEC on September 30, 2021. On October 5, 2021, we consummated our IPO of 10,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $100,000,000. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and one redeemable warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. On October 6, 2021, the underwriter exercised its over-allotment option in full, resulting in our issuance of an additional 1,500,000 units at a public offering price of $10.00 per unit. After giving effect to the exercise and close of the option, an aggregate of 11,500,000 units have been issued in the IPO, with aggregate gross proceeds of $115,000,000.

Simultaneously with the consummation of our IPO, we consummated the private placement of 3,750,000 private warrants to NorthStar and 1,250,000 private warrants to Chardan Monterey, in each case at a price of $1.00 per private warrant, generating gross proceeds of $5,000,000. In connection with the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, NorthStar purchased an additional 337,500 private warrants and Chardan Monterey purchased an additional 112,500 private warrants, in each case, at a price of $1.00 per private warrant, generating additional gross proceeds of $450,000.

A total of $116,150,000 from the net proceeds of the sale of the units in our IPO and the sale of the private placements, including as a result of the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, was placed in a trust account established for the benefit of our public stockholders (the “trust account”), with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and has been invested only in U.S. government treasury bills, notes and bonds with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”) and which invest solely in U.S. Treasuries. Except for all interest income that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations and for dissolution expenses up to $100,000, as applicable, none of the funds held in the trust account will be released from the trust account until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of our initial business combination by July 5, 2023 (or the Extended Date if the Charter Amendment Proposal is approved by our stockholders) and (ii) a redemption to public stockholders prior to any voluntary winding-up in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination within the applicable period.

Our units began trading on October 1, 2021 on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “MTRYU.” Commencing on November 22, 2021, the shares of common stock and warrants comprising the units began separate trading on Nasdaq under the symbols “MTRY” and “MTRYW,” respectively. Those units not separated continue to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol “MTRYU.”

First Extension

On September 29, 2022, we held a special meeting of stockholders to (i) amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “ First Charter Amendment”), which became effective upon filing on September 29, 2022, and (ii) amend the trust agreement (the “First Trust Amendment”), in each case to allow us to extend the Combination Period for an additional three months, from October 5, 2022 to January 5, 2023, by depositing into the trust account $350,000 for the three-month extension, and thereafter to extend the Combination Period up to six (6) times by an additional month each time (or up to July 5, 2023) by depositing into the trust account $120,000 for each additional month extension. Pursuant to the trust agreement, on October 4, 2022, the Co-Sponsors deposited $350,000 into the trust account to extend the Combination Period to January 5, 2023 and, thereafter, deposited an aggregate of $600,000 into the trust account to extend the Combination Period to June 5, 2023. As of the date of this filing, the Co-sponsors intend to deposit an additional Extension Payment of $120,000 on or prior to June 5, 2023 in order to extend the Combination Period to July 5, 2023.

In connection with the vote on the First Charter Amendment, our stockholders had the right to redeem their shares of common stock. The holders of 9,480,616 shares of common stock elected to redeem their shares at a per share redemption price of $10.13. As a result, approximately $96.1 million was removed from the trust account on October 3, 2022 to pay such holders, leaving approximately $20.5 million in the trust account, immediately following redemptions.

Management Transition and Rebrand

On March 9, 2023, Dr. Satyal tendered his resignation as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and William McKeever tendered his resignation as Chief Financial Officer and director of the Company. Murat Omur was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Sean McGann was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company to replace Dr. Satyal and Mr. McKeever, respectively. Also on March 9, 2023, Chris Coleman, Jory Des Jardins and Roderick Hardamon, were appointed as directors. Mr. Hardamon and Mr. Coleman were appointed to the audit committee of the Company, and Mr. Hardamon was also designated as the “audit committee financial expert.” Jonas Grossman was appointed to Executive Chairman. The foregoing board and management changes are collectively referred to as the “Management Transition.”

On March 10, 2023, we filed an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware to change our corporate name from “Monterey Bio Acquisition Corporation” to “Monterey Innovation Acquisition Corp.” We also expanded our acquisition strategy to include a broader universe of disruptive technology targets, which was further enabled by key additions to the Board and changes to the management team.

We intend to capitalize on the extensive relationships of our board and management team with the goal of identifying and acquiring a disruptive technology business to bring to the public markets.

As of March 31, 2023, we had $21,492,174 (including interest but less the funds used to pay taxes) in the trust account.

The mailing address of our principal executive office is 17 State Street, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10004, and our telephone number is (917) 267-0216.

The Special Meeting

Date, Time and Place. The special meeting of stockholders will be held on June 30, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., local time, at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, located at 1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1000, McLean, VA 22102.

Voting Power; Record Date. You will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the special meeting, if you owned shares of our common stock at the close of business on June 9, 2023, the record date for the special meeting. You will have one vote per proposal for each share you owned at that time. Our warrants do not carry voting rights.

Votes Required. Approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least 65% of our outstanding shares of common stock.

Approval of the Trust Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock.

Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the special meeting.

With respect to the Charter Amendment Proposal and the Trust Amendment Proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as “AGAINST” votes. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established, but abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the approval of the Adjournment Proposal.

At the close of business on the record date, there were 4,894,384 outstanding shares of common stock, including 2,019,384 public shares, each of which entitles its holder to cast one vote per proposal.

If you do not want the Charter Amendment Proposal or the Trust Amendment Proposal approved, you should vote against the proposals or abstain from voting on the proposals. If you want to obtain your pro rata portion of the trust account in the event the Extensions are implemented, which will be paid shortly after the special meeting scheduled for June 30, 2023, you must demand redemption of your shares. Holders of public shares may redeem their public shares regardless of whether they vote for or against the Charter Amendment Proposal and Trust Amendment Proposal or abstain.

Proxies; Board Solicitation. Your proxy is being solicited by the Board on the proposals being presented to stockholders at the special meeting to approve the proposals. No recommendation is being made as to whether you should elect to redeem your shares. Proxies may be solicited in person or by telephone. If you grant a proxy, you may still revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person at the special meeting.

We have retained Morrow Sodali LLC to aid in the solicitation of proxies. Morrow Sodali LLC will receive a fee of approximately $15,000, as well as reimbursement for certain costs and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with their services, all of which will be paid by us. In addition, our officers and directors may solicit proxies by mail, telephone, facsimile, and personal interview, for which no additional compensation will be paid, though they may be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses. We will bear the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the enclosed form of proxy, this proxy statement and other material which may be sent to stockholders in connection with this solicitation. We may reimburse brokerage firms and other nominee holders for their reasonable expenses in sending proxies and proxy material to the beneficial owners of our shares.