Stardust Power Inc. 10-Q

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this report. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this section and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Form 10-Q, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or the Company’s management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company’s management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in our filings with the SEC. Overview We are a blank check company incorporated on November 3, 2020 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 intend to effectuate our Initial Business Combination using cash from the proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, equity and debt. The issuance of additional shares in a Business Combination: ➤ may significantly dilute the equity interest of existing investors, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B ordinary shares resulted in the issuance of Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares; ➤ may subordinate the rights of holders of Class A ordinary shares if preference shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded our Class A ordinary shares; ➤ could cause a change in control if a substantial number of our Class A 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; ➤ 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; ➤ may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A ordinary shares and/or warrants; and may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants. 18 Similarly, if we issue debt or otherwise incur significant debt, it could result in: ➤ default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an Initial Business Combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations; ➤ 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; ➤ our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding; ➤ our inability to pay dividends on our Class A ordinary shares; ➤ 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 Class A ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; ➤ limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate; ➤ increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and 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 condensed financial statements, as of September 30, 2022, we had $247,000 of cash and negative working capital of approximately $3,514,000. Further, we may incur additional costs in the pursuit of our Initial Business Combination and if we cannot complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, we could be forced to wind up our operations and liquidate unless we receive an extension approval from our shareholders. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete our Initial Business Combination will be successful. Results of Operations For the period from November 3, 2020 (date of inception) to September 30, 2022 our activities consisted of formation and preparation for the public offering and, subsequent to completion of the public offering on January 14, 2021, identifying and completing a suitable Initial Business Combination. As such, we had no operations or significant operating expenses until after the completion of the Public Offering in January 2021. Our normal operating costs since January 14, 2021 include costs associated with our search for an Initial Business Combination (see below), costs associated with our governance and public reporting (see below), and a charge of $25,000 per month from our Sponsor for administrative services for an aggregate of $75,000 for each of the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and $225,000 and $213,000, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. Costs associated with our governance and public reporting have increased since the Public Offering and were approximately $128,000 and $354,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and approximately $115,000 and $365,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. General and administrative costs also include approximately $1,006,000 and $1,151,000, respectively, of professional and consulting fees in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and approximately $802,000 and $2,765,000, respectively, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, associated with our review of Business Combination candidates. Our costs may increase as we continue to investigate and evaluate potential Initial Business Combination candidates, as well as additional professional, due diligence and consulting fees and travel costs that will be required and professional and other costs associated with negotiating and executing any definitive agreement and related agreements and related required public reporting and governance matters. 19 Other income (expense) includes both interest income and the change in the fair value of the public and private warrants at each reporting date. Interest income was approximately $1,466,000 and $1,946,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and approximately $8,000 and $68,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. The variations in interest income reflect market conditions occurring in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath. The Company is required to measure the fair value of the public and private warrants at the end of each reporting period and recognize changes in the fair value from the prior period in the Company’s operating results for each current period. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, other income from change in fair value of the warrant liability of approximately $1,868,000 and $11,986,000 respectively, and approximately $2,490,000 and $8,250,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. Other income (expense) in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 also includes charges to other expense aggregating approximately $-0- and $800,000, respectively, for warrant liability issuance costs. Income taxes were $-0- and $-0-, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 because we are a Cayman Islands exempted company and are not subject to income tax in the United States or in the Cayman Islands. We did not withdraw any interest from the Trust Account in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 or 2021. Liquidity and Capital Resources On January 14, 2021, we consummated the Public Offering of an aggregate of 30,000,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per unit generating gross proceeds of approximately $300,000,000 before underwriting discounts and expenses. Simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering, we consummated the Private Placement of 5,566,667 Private Placement Warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A ordinary shares at $11.50 per share, to the Sponsor, at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds, before expenses, of approximately $8,350,000. At that time, the proceeds in the Trust Account were initially invested in cash. On January 15, 2021, the Company purchased U.S. government treasury bills that matured in April 2021. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the proceeds in the Trust Account are invested in a money market fund that invests solely U.S. government treasury bills. The net proceeds from the Public Offering and Private Placement were approximately $301,471,000, net of the non-deferred portion of the underwriting commissions of $6,000,000 and offering costs and other expenses of approximately $904,000 (including approximately $554,000 of offering expenses and approximately $350,000 of insurance that is accounted for as prepaid expense). $300,000,000 of the proceeds of the Public Offering and the Private Placement have been deposited in the Trust Account and are not available to us for operations (except certain amounts to pay taxes, if any). At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had approximately $247,000 and $842,000, respectively, of cash available outside of the Trust Account to fund our activities until we consummate an Initial Business Combination. Until the consummation of the Public Offering, the Company’s only sources of liquidity were an initial purchase of our Class B ordinary shares for $25,000 by the Sponsor, and the availability of loans to us of up to $300,000 by our sponsor under an unsecured promissory note (the “Note”), a total of $199,000 was actually loaned by the Sponsor against the issuance of the Note. The Note was non-interest bearing and was paid in full on January 14, 2021 in connection with the closing of the Public Offering, accordingly, no amounts are available or were outstanding under the Note at September 30, 2022. At September 30, 2022, the Company has approximately $247,000 in cash and approximately $3,514,000 in negative working capital. The Company has incurred significant costs and may incur additional costs in pursuit of its Business Combination. Further, if the Company cannot complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, it could be forced to wind up its operations and liquidate unless it receives an extension approval from its shareholders. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of time within one year after the date that the condensed financial statements are issued. The Company’s plan to deal with these uncertainties is to preserve cash by deferring payments with anticipated cooperation from its service providers, to draw down as required under the Note (see below), and to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period or to dissolve if it is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The proximity to January 14, 2023 increases the difficulty of completing a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to consummate a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the Combination Period. The condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. 20 On August 1, 2022, the Company issued a promissory note (the “Note”) in the principal amount of up to $2,000,000 to its Sponsor. The Note was issued in connection with advances the Sponsor may make to the Company for expenses reasonably related to its business and the consummation of the Business Combination. The Note bears no interest and is due and payable upon the earlier to occur of (i) January 14, 2023 and (ii) the effective date of a merger, capital share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). As of September 30, 2022, the outstanding principal balance under the note was $400,000. We expect our principal liquidity requirements during this period to include legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses associated with structuring, negotiating and documenting successful business combinations; legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations; payment for investment professionals’ services and support services; Nasdaq continued listing fees; and general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses and reserves. Our estimates of expenses 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. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing to complete our Initial Business Combination, either because the transaction requires more cash than is available from the proceeds held in our trust account, or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of the Business Combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination. If we have not consummated our Initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. The Company has the time until the end of the Combination Period to complete an Initial Business Combination, or until the expiration of any extension period that may be proposed to and approved by our shareholders in the form of an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “Initial Business Combination”). If the Company does not complete an Initial Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible, but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public Class A ordinary shares for a pro rata portion of the Trust Account, including interest earned on funds held in the trust account and not previously released to pay income taxes, but less up to $100,000 of such interest to pay dissolution expenses and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, dissolve and liquidate the balance of the Company’s net assets to its creditors and remaining shareholders, as part of its plan of dissolution and liquidation. The initial shareholders have waived their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares; however, if the initial shareholders or any of the Company’s officers, directors or their affiliates acquire Class A ordinary shares in or after the Public Offering, they will be entitled to a pro rata share of the trust account upon the Company’s redemption or liquidation in the event the Company does not complete an Initial Business Combination within the required time period. In the event of such liquidation, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be less than the price per unit in the Public Offering. 21 Off-balance sheet financing arrangements We have no obligations, assets or liabilities which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements. 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 entered into any agreements for non-financial assets. Contractual obligations At September 30, 2022, we did not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities. In connection with the Public Offering, we entered into an Administrative Support Agreement with Global Partner Sponsor II LLC, our Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company pays Global Partner Sponsor II LLC $25,000 per month for office space and investment support services. In connection with identifying an Initial Business Combination candidate and negotiating an Initial Business Combination, the Company may enter into engagement letters or agreements with various consultants, advisors, professionals and others. The services under these engagement letters and agreements can be material in amount and in some instances can include contingent or success fees. Contingent or success fees (but not deferred underwriting commission) would be charged to operations in the quarter that an Initial Business Combination is consummated. In most instances (except with respect to our independent registered public accounting firm), these engagement letters and agreements are expected to specifically provide that such counterparties waive their rights to seek repayment from the funds in the Trust Account. JOBS Act The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our condensed financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the condensed financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis) and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our IPO or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier. 22 Critical Accounting Estimates The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. The Company has identified the following as its critical accounting estimates: Warrant Liability A critical accounting estimate made in our condensed financial statements is the estimated fair value of our warrant liability. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid for transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The tiers include: ● Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets; ● Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and ● Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. In some circumstances, the inputs used to measure fair value may be categorized within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The estimated fair value of our warrant liability at January 14, 2021 was determined using Level 3 inputs. At January 14, 2021, the Company utilized an independent valuation consultant that used a binomial lattice simulation methodology to value the Warrants. Inherent in a binomial options pricing model are assumptions related to expected share-price volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The Company estimates the volatility of its shares based on historical volatility that matches the expected remaining life of the Warrants. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve on the grant date for a maturity similar to the expected remaining life of the Warrants. The expected life of the Warrants is assumed to be equivalent to their remaining contractual term. The dividend rate is based on the historical rate, which the Company anticipates to remain at zero. Beginning on June 30, 2021 and for periods thereafter, the fair value of the warrant liability was determined based on public trading information as discussed below. At September 30, 2021, our public warrants were trading in an active market. As such, at September 30, 2021 and thereafter, the Company valued its public warrants based on publicly observable inputs (Level 1 inputs) from the trading in the public warrants in an active market ($0.06 per public warrant on September 30, 2022). Since the private placement warrants are substantially similar to the public warrants but do not trade, the company valued them based on the value of the public warrants (significant other observable inputs – Level 2). For reference, each $0.10 change in fair value of our warrants translates to approximately $1,557,000 gain or loss.