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 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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) 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 Quarterly Report, 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 and Recent Developments 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. On July 8, 2024, we completed our Business Combination with Stardust Power. All activity from our formation through June 30, 2024 relates to our formation and our initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), and subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination and consummating the Business Combination with Stardust. We will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial Business Combination, at the earliest. 17 Results of Operations For the period from November 3, 2020 (date of inception) to June 30, 2024, 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. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Sponsor waived the administrative fee payable. Costs for such Sponsor provided administrative services aggregate approximately ($350,000) and ($275,000) respectively for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and approximately $75,000 and $150,000 respectively for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Costs associated with our governance and public reporting have increased since the Public Offering and were approximately $194,000 and $353,000, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and approximately $135,000 and $241,000, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Professional costs for work associated with reviewing potential Business Combinations as well as with the January 2024 and 2023 proxy and Extension Meetings was approximately $1,618,000 and $3,475,000 respectively, in the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and approximately $96,000 and $840,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company negotiated settlement and release agreements with various creditors in exchange for certain payments made and resulting in the reversal of accruals totaling approximately $2,961,000 which is included as a credit to operating expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. 18 Other income (expense) includes both interest income and the change in the fair value of the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants at each reporting date. Interest income was approximately $215,000 and 488,000 respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and approximately $471,000 and 1,392,000 respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. The variation in interest income reflects market conditions as well as changing Trust Account balances due to redemptions. The Company is required to measure the fair value of the Public Warrants and Private Placement 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. The change in fair value of warrants was item of other expense of an aggregate of approximately $928,000 and $1,569,000, respectively in the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and was an item of other income of approximately $1,964,000 and other expenses of $56,000, respectively in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. There were no income tax expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 or 2023 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 six months ended June 30, 2024 or 2023. 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. At June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the proceeds in the Trust Account were invested in cash. 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 June 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, we had approximately $0 and $22,000, respectively, of cash available outside of the Trust Account to fund our activities until we consummate an initial Business Combination. On January 11, 2023, certain shareholders elected to redeem 26,068,281 Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.167 per share, approximately $265,050,000, from the Trust Account following the 2023 Extension Meeting. On January 9, 2024, in connection with the 2024 Extension Meeting, holders of 2,137,134 Class A Ordinary Shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $11.05 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $23,615,331. Following the redemptions, 1,794,585 Class A Ordinary Shares remain outstanding. Further, in connection with the 2024 Extension Meeting, the Company entered into Non-Redemption Agreements with holders of 1,503,254 Class A Ordinary Shares in exchange for the transfer of 127,777 shares. On June 27, 2024, in connection with the shareholder meeting to approve the Business Combination and other related matters, the holders of 1,660,035 Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $11.38 per share for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $18,893,209 reducing the number of Class A Ordinary Shares from 1,794,585 to 134,550. Subsequently on July 3, 2024 holders of 2,877 GPAC II Class A Ordinary Shares reversed their redemptions , resulting in a total of 137,427 GPAC II Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding as of July 3, 2024 . 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 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 June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. 19 Going Concern: At June 30, 2024, the Company had approximately $0 in cash and approximately $11,389,000 in working capital deficit. The Company has incurred significant costs and expects to continue to incur additional costs in pursuit of its Business Combination. Until June 30, 2024, and through the closing date, the Company used the funds from Sponsor loans in connection with consummating the Business Combination with Stardust. Upon completion of the Business Combination with Stardust Power Inc. on July 8, 2024, the Company’s consolidated cash balance increased due to the PIPE investments of $10,075,000, and $1,481,835 of trust account proceeds, net of redemptions and related fees. The combined company is also required to make various payments including SPAC transaction costs incurred upon the close of the Business Combination. As of the date on which the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued, we believe that the cash on hand and additional investments obtained through the Business Combination will be inadequate to satisfy Company’s working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon management’s plan to raise additional capital from issuance of equity or receive additional borrowings to fund the Company’s operating and investing activities over the next year. Management intends to finance operations over the next twelve months through additional issuance of equity or borrowings. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to curtail, delay, or eliminate some or all of our planned activities, or raise additional financing to continue to fund operations, and may not be able to continue as a going concern. No assurance can be given that any future financing will be available or, if available, that it will be on terms that are satisfactory to us. Even if we are able to obtain additional financing, it may contain undue restrictions on our operations, in the case of debt financing, or cause substantial dilution for our stockholders, in the case of equity financing. Failure to secure adequate financing could have a material adverse effect on the business, operations and financial performance. 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 June 30, 2024, 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 the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company pays the Sponsor $25,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Sponsor waived the administrative fees. 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 in connection with an initial Business Combination. 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 compensation) 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. 20 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 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 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the 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 Public Offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier. Critical Accounting Estimates The requirement under 229.303 (Item 303) Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is: Critical accounting estimates. Critical accounting estimates are those estimates made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the financial condition or results of operations of the registrant. Critical accounting estimates provide qualitative and quantitative information necessary to understand the estimation uncertainty and the impact the critical accounting estimate has had or is reasonably likely to have on financial condition or results of operations to the extent the information is material and reasonably available. This information should include why each critical accounting estimate is subject to uncertainty and, to the extent the information is material and reasonably available, how much each estimate and/or assumption has changed over a relevant period, and the sensitivity of the reported amount to the methods, assumptions and estimates underlying its calculation. The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. 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 financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. Management has determined that the Company has no critical accounting estimates. 21