UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 30, 2021

NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

(212) 818-8800

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☒

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.  ☐

Item 4.02 Non-Reliance on Previously Issued Financial Statements or a Related Audit Report or Completed Interim Review.

On April 12, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) released a public statement (the “Public Statement”) informing market participants that warrants issued by special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) may require classification as a liability of the entity measured at fair value, with changes in fair value each period reported in earnings. Northern Star Acquisition Corp. (the “Company” or “Northern Star”) has previously classified its private placement warrants and public warrants (collectively, the “warrants”) as equity. For a full description of the Company’s warrants, please refer to the Company’s final prospectus filed in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”) on November 12, 2020 (“Final Prospectus”).

On April 30, 2021, management of the Company and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company determined that the Company’s previous quarterly unaudited financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2020 (the “Affected Period”) should no longer be relied upon due to changes required for alignment with the SEC’s Public Statement. The SEC’s Public Statement discussed “certain features of warrants issued in SPAC transactions” that “may be common across many entities.” The Public Statement indicated that when one or more of such features is included in a warrant, the warrant “should be classified as a liability measured at fair value, with changes in fair value each period reported in earnings.” Following consideration of the guidance in the Public Statement, while the terms and quantum of the warrants as described in the Final Prospectus have not changed, the Company concluded the warrants do not meet the conditions to be classified in equity and instead, the warrants meet the definition of a derivative under ASC 815, under which the Company should record the warrants as liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company intends to file an amendment to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 reflecting this reclassification of the warrants for the Affected Period. The Company is working diligently with its auditors and an independent valuation expert to finalize the valuation of the warrants and file the amended filing as soon as practicable. The adjustments to the financial statement items for the Affected Period will be set forth through expanded disclosure in the financial statements included in the amended filings, including further describing the restatement and its impact on previously reported amounts.

Going forward, unless Northern Star amends the terms of its warrant agreement, the Company expects to continue to classify its warrants as liabilities, which would require the Company to incur the cost of measuring the fair value of the warrant liabilities, and which may have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

IN CONNECTION WITH THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED PROPOSED MERGER BETWEEN NORTHERN STAR AND BARKBOX, INC. (“BARK”), NORTHERN STAR HAS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“SEC”) A REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, WHICH INCLUDES A PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND CERTAIN OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS, WHICH IS BOTH THE PROXY STATEMENT TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO NORTHERN STAR’S STOCKHOLDERS IN CONNECTION WITH NORTHERN STAR’S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE VOTE BY NORTHERN STAR’S STOCKHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE MERGER AND CERTAIN OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE MERGER AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY BE DESCRIBED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AS WELL AS THE PROSPECTUS RELATING TO THE OFFER AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES OF NORTHERN STAR COMMON STOCK TO BE ISSUED IN THE MERGER. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF NORTHERN STAR AND BARK ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS CAN OBTAIN FREE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS CONTAINING IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NORTHERN STAR AND BARK THROUGH THE WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY THE SEC AT WWW.SEC.GOV. COPIES OF THE DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BY NORTHERN STAR CAN BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE ON NORTHERN STAR’S WEBSITE AT WWW.NORTHERNSTARIC.COM OR BY DIRECTING A WRITTEN REQUEST TO NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP., C/O GRAUBARD MILLER, 405 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 11^TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10174.

THIS CURRENT REPORT AND THE EXHIBITS HERETO ARE NOT A PROXY STATEMENT OR SOLICITATION OF A PROXY, CONSENT OR AUTHORIZATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY SECURITIES OR IN RESPECT OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS AND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES OF NORTHERN STAR OR BARK, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF ANY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION, OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH STATE OR JURISDICTION.

Participants in the Solicitation

NORTHERN STAR AND BARK AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, UNDER SEC RULES, MAY BE DEEMED TO BE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES OF NORTHERN STAR’S STOCKHOLDERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS MAY OBTAIN MORE DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING THE NAMES AND INTERESTS IN THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS OF NORTHERN STAR’S DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN NORTHERN STAR’S FILINGS WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-1 FOR NORTHERN STAR’S INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING THAT NORTHERN STAR INITIALLY FILED WITH THE SEC ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2020. BARK AND ITS DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS MAY ALSO BE DEEMED TO BE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FROM THE STOCKHOLDERS OF NORTHERN STAR IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER. INFORMATION REGARDING THE PERSONS WHO MAY, UNDER SEC RULES, BE DEEMED PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES TO NORTHERN STAR’S STOCKHOLDERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS IS SET FORTH IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 FOR THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS THAT NORTHERN STAR FILED WITH THE SEC, WHICH INCLUDES A PROXY STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS FOR THE TRANSACTIONS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE INTERESTS OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS IS INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

Forward-Looking Statements

THIS CURRENT REPORT AND THE EXHIBITS HERETO INCLUDE “FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS”. ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER FROM EXPECTATIONS, ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THESE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AS PREDICTIONS OF FUTURE EVENTS. WORDS SUCH AS “EXPECT,” “ESTIMATE,” “PROJECT,” “BUDGET,” “FORECAST,” “ANTICIPATE,” “INTEND,” “PLAN,” “MAY,” “WILL,” “COULD,” “SHOULD,” “BELIEVES,” “PREDICTS,” “POTENTIAL,” “CONTINUE,” AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.

IN ADDITION TO FACTORS PREVIOUSLY DISCLOSED IN NORTHERN STAR’S REPORTS FILED WITH THE SEC AND THOSE IDENTIFIED ELSEWHERE IN THIS COMMUNICATION, THE FOLLOWING FACTORS, AMONG OTHERS, COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS OR HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE: THE INABILITY OF THE PARTIES TO SUCCESSFULLY OR TIMELY CONSUMMATE THE MERGER, INCLUDING THE RISK THAT ANY REQUIRED REGULATORY APPROVALS ARE NOT OBTAINED, ARE DELAYED OR ARE SUBJECT TO UNANTICIPATED CONDITIONS THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE COMBINED COMPANY; FAILURE TO REALIZE THE ANTICIPATED BENEFITS OF THE MERGER; RISKS RELATING TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE PROJECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE BARK; THE RISK THAT SPENDING ON PETS MAY NOT INCREASE AT PROJECTED RATES; THE RISK THAT BARK SUBSCRIPTIONS MAY NOT INCREASE THEIR SPENDING WITH BARK; BARK’S INABILITY TO CONTINUE TO CONVERT SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS AND CONTACTS INTO CUSTOMERS; BARK’S INABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY EXPAND ITS PRODUCT LINES AND CHANNEL DISTRIBUTION; COMPETITION; THE UNCERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC; AND CHANGES IN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN BUSINESS, MARKET, FINANCIAL, POLITICAL AND LEGAL CONDITIONS.

NEITHER NORTHERN STAR NOR BARK UNDERTAKE ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW. IMPORTANT FACTORS, AMONG OTHERS, THAT MAY AFFECT ACTUAL RESULTS INCLUDE BARK’S ABILITY TO EXECUTE ON ITS BUSINESS PLANS AND ACHIEVE BARK’S ESTIMATES OF EXPENSES AND FUTURE REVENUES AND PROFITABILITY. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS DO NOT CLOSE, INCLUDING DUE TO THE FAILURE TO RECEIVE REQUIRED SECURITY HOLDER APPROVALS, OR THE FAILURE OF OTHER CLOSING CONDITIONS.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE AND OTHER RISK FACTORS IS CONTAINED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND NORTHERN STAR’S OTHER FILINGS WITH THE SEC. ALL SUBSEQUENT WRITTEN AND ORAL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONCERNING NORTHERN STAR AND BARK, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS OR OTHER MATTERS AND ATTRIBUTABLE TO NORTHERN STAR AND BARK OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON THEIR BEHALF ARE EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY THE CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS ABOVE. READERS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE UPON ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE MADE. NEITHER NORTHERN STAR NOR BARK UNDERTAKE OR ACCEPT ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING TO RELEASE PUBLICLY ANY UPDATES OR REVISIONS TO ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT TO REFLECT ANY CHANGE IN THEIR EXPECTATIONS OR ANY CHANGE IN EVENTS, CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH ANY SUCH STATEMENT IS BASED, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.