Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, references in this quarterly report to (i) the “Company,” “us,” or “we” are to CSLM Digital Acquisition Corp. III, Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company; (ii) “founder shares” are to shares of our Class B ordinary shares initially purchased by our Sponsor in a private placement prior to our Initial Public Offering, and the shares of our Class A ordinary shares issued upon the conversion thereof; and (iii) “Sponsor” are to CSLM Acquisition Sponsor II, Ltd, a Delaware limited liability company. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this 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, including statements under this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. 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 some of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the discussion under the headings “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our final prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 27, 2025. 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, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
We are a blank check company, incorporated on July 26, 2024 as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. We have not selected any specific business combination target, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to a business combination with us. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, shares and debt. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, our common equity or any preferred equity that we may create in accordance with the terms of our charter documents, debt, or a combination of cash, common or preferred equity and debt.
The issuance of additional ordinary shares or the creation of one or more classes of preference shares during our initial business combination:
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may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering who would not have pre-emption rights in respect of any such issue;
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may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if the rights, preferences, designations and limitations attaching to the preference shares are senior to those afforded our ordinary shares;
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could cause a change in control if a substantial number of ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;
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may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our public shares.
Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant indebtedness, it could result in:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after our initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;
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our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if any document governing such debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding;
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our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares;
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using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
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limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
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increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and
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limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements as of September 30, 2025, we had $3,526,414 in cash, $230,876,657 of treasury securities held in the Trust Account, and working capital of $3,482,424. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering that closed on August 28, 2025. Following the Initial Public Offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash, cash equivalents, and treasury securities held in the Trust Account and dividend income on marketable securities held in the Trust Account after the Initial Public Offering. After the Initial Public Offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to the completion of the Initial Public Offering through $25,000 paid by the Sponsor to cover certain of our offering and formation costs in exchange for the issuance of the founder shares to our Sponsor and $300,000 in loans from our Sponsor.
On August 28, 2025, the Company consummated the initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) of 23,000,000 units (the “Units”), including the full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $230,000,000. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share (the “Public Shares”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”).
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 891,250 Private Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit, in a private placement to the Sponsor and CCM, the representative of the underwriter in the Initial Public Offering, generating gross proceeds of $8,912,550. Each Private Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one Private Placement. Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
Transaction costs amounted to $14,245,395, consisting of $4,600,000 of cash underwriting fee, up to $9,200,000 of deferred underwriting fee (based on the percentage of funds remaining in the Trust Account after redemptions of Public Shares in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement between the Company and CCM), and $445,395 of other offering costs.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a Business Combination (less deferred underwriting commissions).
The Company’s Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net balance in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting discounts held and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing an agreement to enter into a Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination 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 of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, an aggregate of $10.00 per Unit sold in the Initial Public Offering, or $230,000,000, from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units and the Private Units, was placed in a Trust Account and is initially invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations 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 which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended Business Combination. To mitigate the risk that the Company might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that the Company holds investments in the Trust Account, the Company may, at any time (based on the management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to the Company’s potential status under the Investment Company Act), instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Company to pay its taxes, if any, the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Units will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of (i) the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of the Company’s Public Shares if the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering or by such earlier liquidation date as the Company’s board of directors may approve (the “Completion Window”), subject to applicable law, or (iii) the redemption of the Company’s Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to (A) modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s Public Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within the Completion Window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of the Company’s public shareholders.
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We may withdraw interest to pay our taxes, if any. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the Trust Account will be sufficient to pay our income taxes. To the extent that our equity 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.
We believe that the amount cash not held in the Trust Account raised in connection with the consummation of the Initial Public Offering and the private placement will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. Over this time period, we will be using these funds for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. We anticipate that we will incur the following approximate expenses to be paid from the amounts not held in the Trust Account:
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$400,000 of expenses for the legal, accounting and other third-party expenses attendant to the structuring and negotiating of our initial business combination;
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$150,000 of expenses for SEC filing and other legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations;
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$720,000 (equal to $30,000 per month for up to 24 months) for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support made available to us;
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$250,000 for directors and officers insurance; and
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$1,368,324 for working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses and general corporate purposes.
These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not being placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.
If our estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is 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 consummate our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon consummation of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. Following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
As of September 30, 2025, we had $3,526,414 in cash and working capital of $3,482,424. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors among others raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
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Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On January 23, 2025 the Sponsor made capital contributions of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share, to cover certain of the Company’s expenses, for which the Company issued 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares (“founder shares”) to the Sponsor. In March 2025, the Company effected a share capitalization pursuant to which the Company issued an additional 1,916,667 founder shares resulting in an aggregate of 7,666,667 founder shares outstanding to the Sponsor, resulting in a price per share of approximately $0.003 per share. Our Sponsor transferred, pursuant to a Securities Transfer Agreement that closed immediately prior to effectiveness of the Initial Public Offering, 20,000 founder shares (or 100,000 in the aggregate) to each of the Company’s directors, Christopher Bradley, Brian Rudick, Mathew August, Danel Calvillo Armendariz and Dr. Jim Kyung Soo Liew, for the sum of $0.003 per share. The Company accounted for the transfer of founder shares to the directors in accordance with ASC 718, “Stock Based Compensation” and recognized the grant date fair value of the 100,000 founder shares as compensation costs upon the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. The fair value of the founder shares at their grant date, July 25, 2025, was $5.59 per founder share, or an aggregate value of $559,000 for the 100,000 transferred founder shares.
The Company’s initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares and any Class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion thereof until the earlier of (i) six months after the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) subsequent to a Business Combination, the date on which the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of the Company’s initial shareholders with respect to any founder shares (the “Lock-up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company consummates a transaction after the initial Business Combination which results in the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the Lock-up.
Promissory Note — Related Party
The
Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the Initial Public
Offering (the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and due at the earlier of (i)
the closing of the Initial Public Offering or (ii) the date which the Company determines not to proceed with the Initial Public
Offering. The Promissory Note was repaid in full on August 28, 2025 from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and
private placement. Prior to repayment, the Company had borrowed $270,394, under the Promissory Note. The Company paid $272,716 to
the Sponsor, resulting in an overpayment of $2,322 that is recorded as a related party receivable. As such, as of September 30, 2025
and December 31, 2024, the Company had $0 and $11,394 outstanding under the Promissory Note, respectively. The Promissory note is no
longer available for drawdown subsequent to the close of the Initial Public Offering.
Administrative Services Agreement
Commencing
on the effective date of the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the Company entered into an agreement
with our Sponsor to pay an aggregate of $30,000 per month for company administration, office space, utilities, and secretarial and
administrative support. Upon completion of the initial Business Combination or the liquidation, the Company will cease paying the
$30,000 per month fee. The Company has recorded $34,839 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and has paid no
amounts under the agreement as of September 30, 2025, resulting in a $34,839 accrual as of September 30, 2025 that is
recorded to accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets. No amounts were accrued as of December 31, 2024 as the agreement was not yet in effect.
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Related Party Loans
In
order to 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 the Company funds as may be required on a
non-interest basis (the “Working Capital Loans”). If we complete an initial Business Combination, the Company would
repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use amounts 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 units of the post business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at
the option of the lender. Such units would be identical to the Private Units. Except as set forth above, the terms of such loans, if
any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, no such
Working Capital Loans were outstanding.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this Quarterly Report as we have not conducted any operations to date.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have not identified any critical accounting estimates as of September 30, 2025.
Recent Accounting Standards
Refer to Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies in Part I. Financial Statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As smaller reporting company, we are not required to make disclosures 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.