Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
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 Charlton
Aria Acquisition Corporation. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and
directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to ST Sponsor II Limited. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s
financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and the notes thereto
contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Special
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange
Act”) that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report including, without
limitation, statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”
regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations,
are forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,”
“potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and variations thereof
and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to
future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number
of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed
in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section of the Company’s final prospectus
for its initial public offering (the “IPO” described below) filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
on October 24, 2024 (File No. 333-282313) (the “Prospectus”). The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the
EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims
any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
Overview
Charlton
Aria Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands on March 22, 2024
as an exempted company with limited liability. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition,
share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company, with one or more businesses or
entities (the “initial business combination”). We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the
proceeds of our IPO (as defined below), Private Placement (as defined below), and the sale of our shares, debt or a combination of cash,
equity and debt. We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that
our plans to complete an initial business combination will be successful.
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Our
Initial Public Offering
On
October 25, 2024, we consummated our IPO of 7,500,000 units (the “Public Units”), each Public Unit consisting of one Class
A ordinary share (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Public Shares”),
and one right (the “Rights”) of the Company, each right entitling the holder to receive one-eighth of one Class A Ordinary
(the “Public Rights”). The Public Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, and the IPO generated gross proceeds of
$75,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we consummated a private placement (the “Private Placement”) with
ST Sponsor II Limited, our sponsor (the “sponsor”), of an aggregate of 240,000 units (the “Private Placement Units”)
at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $2,400,000. Each Private Placement Unit
consists of one Class A ordinary share (the “Private Placement Shares”), and one Right (the “Private Placement Rights”).
The terms and provisions of the Private Placement Shares and Private Placement Rights in the Private Placement Units are identical to
the Public Shares and Public Rights, respectively, except that, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Private Placement Shares are
subject to transfer restrictions until the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination. On October 25, 2024, a total
of $75,187,500 of the net proceeds from the IPO and the Private Placement was deposited in a trust account (the “trust account”)
established for the benefit of the Company’s Public Shareholders at a U.S. based trust account, with Continental Stock Transfer& Trust Company, acting as trustee.
We
also issued to Clear Street LLC, the representative of the underwriters of the IPO (the “Representative”), 75,000 Class A
Ordinary Shares as part of the underwriting compensation (the “Representative Shares”) on the closing of the IPO. The Representative
Shares are identical to the Class A Ordinary Shares included in the Units, with certain exceptions.
The
underwriters have been granted a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,125,000 units offered by the Company to cover over-allotments,
if any. On November 19, 2024, the Representative exercised the Over-allotment Option in part, and purchased 1,000,000 Units (the “Option
Units”), generating gross proceeds of $10,000,000. Simultaneously with the issuance and sale of the Option Units, the Company completed
a private placement sale of 15,000 Private Placement Units (the “Additional Private Placement Units”) to the sponsor at a
purchase price of $10.00 Private Placement Units, generating gross proceeds of $150,000. The Company also issued additional 10,000 Representative
Shares to the Representative.
Since
our IPO, our sole business activity has been identifying, evaluating suitable acquisition transaction candidates and preparing for consummation
of an initial business combination. We presently have no revenue and have had losses since inception from incurring formation and operating
costs. We have relied upon the sale of our securities and loans from the sponsor and other parties to fund our operations.
In
connection with the offering of the Option Units and the sale of Additional Private Placement Units, the proceeds of $10,025,000 from
the proceeds of the offering of the Option Units and the sale of Additional Private Placement Units were placed in the trust account
established for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders and the underwriters of the IPO, with Continental Stock Transfer& Trust Company acting as trustee.
The
sales of the Private Placement Units issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities
Act. No commissions were paid in connection with such sales.
Separation
of Units
On
November 25, 2024, the Company announced that holders of the Company’s Public Units may elect to separately trade the Public Shares
and Public Rights from the Public Units, commencing on or about November 26, 2024.
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The
Class A ordinary shares and rights trade on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbols “CHAR” and
“CHARR”, respectively. Units not separated continue to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol “CHARU.”
Cancellation
of Founder Shares
On
December 9, 2024, after the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option, pursuant to the IPO Prospectus and the founder share purchase agreement
between the Company and the sponsor, the Company and the sponsor agreed to cancel 31,250 Class B ordinary shares of the Company so that
our insiders would collectively own 20.0% of our issued and outstanding shares after the IPO. As a result, 2,125,000 founder shares remained
issued and outstanding as a result.
Change
in Control of Sponsor
On
May 13, 2025, Sunny Tan Kah Wei, the sole shareholder of our sponsor closed upon the transaction provided for by a Share Purchase Agreement
(the “Sponsor Sale SPA”), dated as of May 12, 2025, with Sovereign Global Trust LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“Buyer”).
Pursuant
to the Sponsor Sale SPA, Mr. Wei sold all of his shares in the sponsor, representing a 100% interest therein, to Buyer, and Buyer became
the sole shareholder of our sponsor. The purchase price was $4,000,000 consisting of funds held by Buyer for investment purposes, paid
in cash at closing, plus customary transaction costs. This transaction is referred to below as the “Sponsor Transaction.”
Buyer’s
sole member and sole manager is Valley Point Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation (“Valley Point”). Accordingly,
Valley Point is now the sole shareholder of the sponsor and as such is deemed to have sole voting and investment discretion with respect
to our shares and other securities held by the sponsor. Valley Point’s sole member and sole manager is Chen Siak Chan, a resident
and citizen of Singapore. Accordingly, Chen Siak Chan, in his capacity as sole member and sole manager of Valley Point, the sole shareholder
of the sponsor, is also deemed to have sole voting and investment discretion with respect to our shares and other securities held by
the sponsor.
Results
of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues
to date. Our only activities from March 22, 2024 (inception) to March 31, 2026 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare
for the IPO, described below, and, after the IPO, identifying a target company for an initial business combination. We do not expect to
generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination. We may generate non-operating income in
the form of interest and dividends earned on cash and investments held in trust account. We incur expenses as a result of
being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses in
connection with completing an initial business combination.
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, we had a net income of $699,872,
which consisted of interest and dividends earned on cash and investments held in trust account of $786,480 and interest income
of $1, which was partially offset by formation and operating costs of $86,609.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, we had a net income of $731,257,
which consisted of interest and dividends earned on investments held in trust account of $899,202 and interest income of $2,307, which
was partially offset by formation and operating costs of $170,252.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
Company’s liquidity needs up to March 31, 2026 had been satisfied through a payment from the sponsor of $25,000 for the founder
shares to cover certain offering costs and the proceeds from the public offering and private placements.
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Following
the closing of the IPO and sale of the Private Placement Units on October 25, 2024 and the exercising of over-allotment option in part
on November 19, 2024, a total of $85,212,500 was placed in the trust account, and we had $564,299 of cash held outside of the trust account,
after payment of costs related to the IPO, and available for working capital purposes. In connection with the IPO, we incurred $3,408,558
in transaction costs, consisting of $1,275,000 of underwriting fees, $1,700,000 of deferred underwriting fees, $92,195 of the Representative
Shares (as discussed below), and $341,363 of other offering costs.
In
conjunction with the IPO and the exercising of over-allotment option in part, the Company issued to the underwriter 85,000 Class A ordinary
shares for no consideration (the “Representative Shares”). The fair value of the Representative Shares accounted for as compensation
under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718, “Compensation
– Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”) is included in the offering costs. The estimated fair value of the Representative
Shares as of the IPO date totaled $92,195.
As of March 31, 2026, the Company had cash of $4,597 and working capital
deficit of $271,825. The Company expects to incur significant professional costs to remain as a publicly traded company and to incur significant
transaction costs in pursuit of the consummation of an initial business combination. In connection with the Company’s assessment
of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties
about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that these conditions raise substantial
doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the unaudited financial
statements are issued. Management’s plan in addressing this uncertainty is through the Working Capital Loans, as defined in Note
5 of the financial statements. In addition, if the Company is unable to complete an initial business combination within the Combination
Period by July 25, 2026, unless further extended, the Company’s board of directors would proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation
and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to consummate an initial business
combination will be successful within the Combination Period. As a result, management has determined that such additional condition also
raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the unaudited
financial statements are issued. The unaudited financial statement does not include any adjustments that might result from
the outcome of this uncertainty.
For
the three months ended March 31, 2026, there was $42,538 of cash used in operating activities resulting from interest and dividends earned
on cash and investments held in trust account of $786,480 and the decrease in due to related parties of $62,540. The changes were partially
offset by net income of $699,872, the decrease in prepaid expenses of $695, and the increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses
of $105,915.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, there was $261,187 of cash
used in operating activities resulting from interest and dividends earned on cash and investments held in trust account of $899,202 and
the increase in prepaid expenses of $95,920. The changes were partially offset by net income of $731,257 and the increase
in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $2,678.
For
the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, there were no investing activities.
For
the three months ended March 31, 2026, there was $42,000 of cash provided by financing activities resulting from the proceeds from working
capital loan from a related party.
For
the three months ended March 31, 2025, there were no financing activities
We
intend to use the funds held outside the trust account to primarily 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, structure, negotiate
and complete an initial business combination.
In order to fund working
capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination, our directors, officers and the
sponsor (together, the “insiders”) or their affiliates or designees may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be
required. If the Company completes the initial business combination, it would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the 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 $3,000,000 of such loans (the “Working Capital Loans”)
may be convertible into Units of the Company, at a price of $10.00 per Unit (the “Working Capital Units”) at the option of
the lender. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company had borrowings of $142,881 and $100,881 under the Working Capital
Loans, respectively.
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We
believe we will need to raise additional funds in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. If our estimate
of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are
less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial
business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our initial business combination or because
we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our Public Shares upon completion of our initial business combination in which
case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such initial business combination. In addition, if we are unable
to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period by July 25, 2026, unless further extended, the board of directors
would proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution. There is no assurance that our plans to consummate
an initial business combination will be successful within the Combination Period. As a result, management has determined that such additional
condition also raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Off-Balance
Sheet Financing Arrangements
We
have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2026. We do not
participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable
interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered
into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other
entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
Contractual
Obligations
Registration
Rights
The
holders of the founder shares and Private Placement Units, including any Working Capital Units of those issued upon conversion of Working
Capital Loans will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed on October 24, 2024 by and among
the Company and the insiders. 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 after the completion of our initial business combination and rights to require the Company to register
for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company will bear the costs and expenses of filing any
such registration statements.
Underwriting
Agreement
We
granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of the IPO to purchase up to 1,125,000 additional Public Units to cover over-allotments,
if any, at the IPO price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters had
exercised the over-allotment option in part and purchased 1,000,000 Public Units on November 19, 2024.
The
underwriters received a cash underwriting discount of $0.15 per Public Unit, or $1,275,000 in the aggregate and paid at the closing of
the IPO and the exercising of over-allotment option in part. In addition, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred fee of $0.20
per Public Unit, or approximately $1,700,000 in the aggregate upon the consummation of an initial business combination. 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
its initial business combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement dated October 24, 2024, by and between the Company
and Clear Street LLC.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
The
preparation of unaudited financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America (the “US 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 financial statements and the
reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. 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 financial statements, which management
considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. We did not
identify any critical accounting estimates.
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Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
November 2024, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive
Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses”, requiring public entities
to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to the unaudited financial statements on an interim
and annual basis. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods beginning after
December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03.
Management
does not believe that any recently issued, but not effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect
on our unaudited financial statements.
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.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.