Stardust Power Inc. 10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025 ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from __________ to __________ Commission File Number: 001-39875 STARDUST POWER INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 99-3863616 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 15 E. Putnam Ave , Suite 378 Greenwich , CT 06830 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 742-3095 Not applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share SDST The Nasdaq Global Market Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 SDSTW The Nasdaq Global Market Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Date File required to be submitted and pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☒ Smaller reporting company ☒ Emerging growth company ☒ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒ As of May 13, 2025, there were 60,160,824 shares of common stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share, issued and outstanding. STARDUST POWER INC FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED March 31, 2025 Table of Contents Page PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1 Item 1. Financial Statements 1 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024 1 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (unaudited) 2 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (unaudited) 3 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (unaudited) 4 Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) 5 Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 27 Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 44 Item 4. Controls and Procedures 46 PART II – OTHER INFORMATION 47 Item 1. Legal Proceedings 47 Item 1A. Risk Factors 47 Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 47 Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 47 Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 47 Item 5. Other Information 47 Item 6. Exhibits 48 Signature 49 i Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our and our management team’s expectations, hopes, 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,” “can”, “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “leading,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as—and must not be relied on by any investor as—guarantees, assurances, predictions, or definitive statements of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Stardust Power Inc. (the “Company” or “Stardust Power”). Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may include, for example, statements about: ● the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to the Company; ● the substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern and the need to raise capital in the near term in order to maintain the Company’s operations; ● our failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; ● our ability to maintain the listing of the Common Stock and the Public Warrants on the Nasdaq; ● our ability to regain compliance with the Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements and rules, and the risk that the Nasdaq may delist our Common Stock and Public Warrants, which could negatively affect our company, the price of our Common Stock and Public Warrants and our shareholders’ ability to sell our Common Stock and Public Warrants in the event we are unable to list our Common Stock and Public Warrants on another exchange; ● the Company’s ability to issue equity or equity-linked securities, to obtain debt financing, or refinance existing indebtedness on satisfactory terms, or otherwise raise financing in the future; ● the liquidity and trading of the Common Stock and the Public Warrants; ● members of the Company’s management team allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with the Company’s business; ● the Company’s ability to issue equity or equity-linked securities, to obtain debt financing, or refinance existing indebtedness on satisfactory terms, or otherwise raise financing in the future; ● the Company’s future financial performance; ● the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees, or directors; ● the Company’s ability to manage future growth; ● the Company’s ability to operate in the lithium industry; ● the Company’s ability to enter into and deliver products under offtake agreements; ● the Company’s ability to develop new products and services, bring them to market in a timely manner, and make enhancements to its business; ● the effects of competition on the Company’s business; ● market demand for and uses of lithium-based end products; ● changes in domestic and foreign business, financial, political, and legal conditions; ● future global, regional, or local economic and market conditions; ● the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations, and inquiries; ● the development, effects and enforcement of laws and regulations; ● the impact of material weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting; and ● the Company’s other plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions described or referenced in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the heading “ Risk Factors ,” and other documents that the Company files from time to time with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know or that we currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect our expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date hereof. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our assessments to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so except as otherwise required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our assessment as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, actual results or our performance of the Company may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents that we reference in and have filed as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. ii PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (all amounts in USD, except number of shares) As of March 31, 2025 As of December 31, 2024 (unaudited) ASSETS Current assets Cash $ 1,588,135 $ 912,574 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 318,466 606,331 Deferred transaction costs 25,000 116,121 Promissory notes 510,117 502,838 Total current assets $ 2,441,718 $ 2,137,864 Property and equipment, net 1,755,183 1,755,947 Capital project costs 5,101,809 3,320,403 Investment in equity securities 1,507,177 1,496,422 Other long-term assets 640,918 312,501 Total assets $ 11,446,805 $ 9,023,137 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 11,929,161 $ 10,264,117 Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities 4,369,734 4,722,687 Current portion of early exercised shares option liability 1,253 1,814 Short-term loan from related parties (Note 11) 3,875,000 5,875,000 Short-term loans 2,455,638 4,133,552 Total current liabilities $ 22,630,786 $ 24,997,170 Warrant liability 752,060 2,451,237 Advance from PIPE investor 550,000 425,000 Earnout liability 4,700 532,700 Other long-term liability 343,000 - Early exercised shares option liability 1,421 2,814 Total liabilities $ 24,281,967 $ 28,408,921 Commitments and contingencies (Note 3) - Stockholders’ equity (deficit) Preferred stock, $ 0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, Nil shares issued and outstanding as at March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024 - - Common stock, $ 0.0001 par value, 700,000,000 shares authorized, 57,650,480 and 47,736,279 shares issued and outstanding as at March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively 5,624 4,603 Additional paid-in capital 43,587,862 33,228,561 Accumulated deficit ( 56,428,648 ) ( 52,618,948 ) Total stockholders’ deficit $ ( 12,835,162 ) $ ( 19,385,784 ) Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit $ 11,446,805 $ 9,023,137 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. 1 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (all amounts in USD, except number of shares) (Unaudited) March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 Three months ended March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 Revenue $ - $ - General and administrative expenses 5,748,648 1,235,366 Operating Loss ( 5,748,648 ) ( 1,235,366 ) Other income/ (expense) Interest income 7,279 - Interest expense ( 107,841 ) 1 ( 1,289 ) Finance charge ( 198,422 ) - Change in fair value of sponsor earnout shares 528,000 - Change in fair value of warrant liability 1,699,177 - Change in fair value of investment in equity securities 10,755 ( 54,658 ) Change in fair value of SAFE notes - ( 107,900 ) Total other income/ (expense) 1,938,948 ( 163,847 ) Net loss $ ( 3,809,700 ) $ ( 1,399,213 ) Net loss per share Basic $ ( 0.07 ) $ ( 0.04 ) Diluted $ ( 0.07 ) $ ( 0.04 ) Weighted average common shares outstanding Basic 52,978,991 39,899,287 Diluted 52,978,991 39,899,287 (1) Includes related party amounts of $ 58,229 and $ Nil for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, respectively. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. 2 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) (all amounts in USD, except number of shares) (Unaudited) Shares Amount capital Deficit Deficit For three months ended March 31, 2024 Common Stock Additional paid-in Accumulated Total Stockholder’s Shares Amount capital Deficit Deficit Balance as at December 31, 2023 9,017,300 $ 87 $ 58,736 $ ( 3,793,585 ) $ ( 3,734,762 ) Retroactive application of recapitalization 32,482,472 3,936 ( 3,936 ) - - Balance as at December 31, 2023 41,499,772 4,023 54,800 ( 3,793,585 ) ( 3,734,762 ) Net loss - - - ( 1,399,213 ) ( 1,399,213 ) Stock based compensation (Note 5) - - 59,599 - 59,599 Transfer from early exercised stock option liability on vesting - - 100 - 100 Balance as at March 31, 2024 41,499,772 $ 4,023 $ 114,499 $ ( 5,192,798 ) $ ( 5,074,276 ) For three months ended March 31, 2025 Common Stock Additional paid-in Accumulated Total Stockholder’s Shares Amount capital Deficit Deficit Balance as at December 31, 2024 47,736,279 $ 4,603 $ 33,228,561 $ ( 52,618,948 ) $ ( 19,385,784 ) Balance 47,736,279 $ 4,603 $ 33,228,561 $ ( 52,618,948 ) $ ( 19,385,784 ) Net loss - - - ( 3,809,700 ) ( 3,809,700 ) Stock based compensation (Note 5) - - 2,954,279 - 2,954,279 Transfer from early exercised stock option liability on vesting - 6 355 - 361 Issuance of common stock 3,981 - 16,414 - 16,414 Issuance of common stock and warrants from January 2025 public offering, net of offering costs 4,792,000 479 4,590,590 - 4,591,069 Issuance of common stock for settlement of RSU 570,714 57 ( 57 ) - - Issuance of common stock upon warrant inducement, net of offering costs 4,792,000 479 2,797,720 - 2,798,199 Repurchase of unvested early exercised common stock ( 244,494 ) - - - Balance as at March 31, 2025 57,650,480 $ 5,624 $ 43,587,862 $ ( 56,428,648 ) $ ( 12,835,162 ) Balance 57,650,480 $ 5,624 $ 43,587,862 $ ( 56,428,648 ) $ ( 12,835,162 ) The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. 3 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (all amounts in USD) (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2025 Three months ended March 31, 2024 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ ( 3,809,700 ) $ ( 1,399,213 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Stock based compensation 2,954,279 59,599 Change in fair value of investment in equity securities ( 10,755 ) 54,658 Change in fair value of SAFE notes - 107,900 Loss from change in fair value of common stock make-whole obligation 197,930 - Change in fair value of warrant liability ( 1,699,177 ) - Change in fair value of sponsor earnout shares ( 528,000 ) - Depreciation expense 764 185 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Prepaid expenses and other assets 88,934 ( 120,172 ) Accounts payable 290,879 337,262 Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities ( 360,341 ) 25,101 Net cash used in operating activities $ ( 2,875,187 ) $ ( 934,680 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Capital project costs ( 959,644 ) - Land acquisition cost ( 688 ) - Purchase of property and equipment - ( 3,131 ) Net cash used in investing activities $ ( 960,332 ) $ ( 3,131 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from investor for issuance of SAFE notes - 200,000 Proceeds from issuance of common stock 16,414 - Deferred transaction costs paid ( 25,000 ) ( 115,788 ) Repayment of short-term loan from related parties ( 2,000,000 ) - Repayment of short-term loan ( 1,677,914 ) ( 23,824 ) Proceeds from advance received from PIPE investors 125,000 - Proceeds from public offering 5,750,400 - Proceeds from warrant inducement exercises 2,971,040 - Transaction costs associated with public offering and warrant inducement ( 648,860 ) - Repurchase of unvested shares - ( 6,003 ) Net cash provided by financing activities $ 4,511,080 $ 54,385 Net (decrease)/ increase in cash $ 675,561 $ ( 883,426 ) Cash at the beginning of the period 912,574 1,271,824 Cash at the end of the period $ 1,588,135 $ 388,398 Supplemental disclosure for cash flow information: Interest paid $ 141,718 $ 1,342 Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities: Unpaid deferred transaction costs $ - $ 735,427 Unpaid capital project costs 1,545,171 423,968 Reclass of advances to capital project costs 236,235 - Unpaid public offering issuance cost 652,312 - Unpaid warrant inducement issuance costs 29,000 - Unpaid amount for repurchase of unvested shares 1,593 - Pending stock issuance under licensing arrangement 343,000 - Incremental fair value of warrant inducement 2,108,480 - The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. 4 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY Nature of Business Stardust Power Inc. (the “Company”, “Stardust Power”) formerly known as Global Partner Acquisition Corp II, a Delaware corporation, is an American developer of battery grade lithium products, designed to foster energy independence in the United States. While the Company has not earned any revenue yet, the Company is in the process of developing a strategically central, lithium refinery capable of producing up to 50,000 metric tons per annum of battery grade lithium. Business Combination On November 21, 2023, Stardust Power Operating Inc (f/k/a Stardust Power Inc. prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, “Legacy Stardust Power”) entered into a business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Global Partner Acquisition Corp II (“GPAC II”), a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated on November 3, 2020, Strike Merger Sub I, Inc. (“First Merger Sub”), a Delaware corporation and direct wholly owned subsidiary of GPAC II, and Strike Merger Sub II LLC (“Second Merger Sub”), a Delaware limited liability company and direct wholly owned subsidiary of GPAC II. On July 8, 2024, former Stardust Power Inc. was renamed Stardust Power Operating Inc. On July 8, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), Legacy Stardust Power completed the business combination contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination”). GPAC II deregistered as a Cayman Islands exempted company and domesticated in the State of Delaware as a Delaware corporation. As per the Business Combination Agreement, First Merger Sub merged into Legacy Stardust Power, with Legacy Stardust Power being the surviving corporation (the effective time of such merger being the “First Effective Time”). Legacy Stardust Power then merged into Second Merger Sub, with Second Merger Sub being the surviving entity. Upon the completion of the Business Combination, GPAC II was renamed Stardust Power Inc. (also referred to herein as the “Combined Company” or “Stardust Power”). The common stock (the “Common Stock”) and warrants of the Company are currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “SDST” and “SDSTW”, respectively. The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization. Accordingly, Legacy Stardust Power was deemed the accounting acquirer (and legal acquiree) and GPAC II was treated as the accounting acquiree (and legal acquirer). Under this method of accounting, the reverse recapitalization was treated as the equivalent of Legacy Stardust Power issuing stock for the net assets of GPAC II, accompanied by recapitalization. 5 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) NOTE 2 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments (which consist primarily of accruals, estimates and assumptions that impact the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements) considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2025, its unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024, and unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cashflows for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. As such, the information included in this report should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Stardust Power for the year ended December 31, 2024 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2025, which provides a more complete discussion of the Company’s accounting policies and certain other information. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024, has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024, contained in the above referenced form 10-K. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Stardust Power Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Stardust Power LLC and Strike Merger Sub II, LLC. All material intercompany balances have been eliminated upon consolidation. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year or any future periods. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. Use of Estimates The preparation of unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Those estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, useful life of assets, realization of deferred tax assets, and fair valuation of stock based compensation, common shares purchase agreement, warrants, simple agreement for future equity notes (each a “SAFE note”), and sponsor earnout shares. The Company evaluates estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjusts those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ from these estimates, and those differences could be material to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Emerging Growth Company Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when an accounting standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. Going Concern The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been presented on the basis that it is a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As of March 31, 2025, the Company has $ 1,588,135 of unrestricted cash. The Company is a development stage entity having no revenues and has incurred a net loss of $ 3,809,700 and $ 1,399,213 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, respectively. The Company has an accumulated deficit of $ 56,428,648 and stockholders’ deficit of $ 12,835,162 as of March 31, 2025. The Company expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its operating and investment plans. These costs exceed the Company’s existing cash balance and net working capital. These conditions raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. 6 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) On October 7, 2024, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and a related Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (“B. Riley Principal Capital II”) to sell up to $ 50,000,000 of newly issued shares of the Company’s Common Stock to B. Riley Principal Capital II, subject to certain conditions and limitations contained in the Purchase Agreement, from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company issued 3,981 shares of Common Stock aggregating to net proceeds of $ 15,922 . (See Note-4). On January 27, 2025, the Company consummated a public offering of 4,792,000 shares of Common Stock and accompanying warrants to purchase up to 4,792,000 shares of Common Stock at a public offering price of $ 1.20 per share and warrant with an exercise price of $ 1.30 , generating aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $ 5,750,400 before offering expenses. (See Note-4) On March 16, 2025, the Company entered into an inducement letter agreement (the “Inducement Letter”) with a warrant holder (the “Exercising Holder”) providing for the immediate cash exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase 4,792,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a reduced exercise price of $ 0.62 per share, generating aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $ 2,971,040 before related expenses. In connection with such exercise, the Company agreed to issue new common stock purchase warrants (the “Inducement Warrants”) to purchase up to 9,584,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $ 0.70 per share, subject to shareholder approval and Nasdaq rules. (See Note 4) As of the date on which these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued, we believe that the cash on hand, and additional investments available through issuance of new Common Stock, will be inadequate to satisfy the 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. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. 7 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The significant accounting policies applied in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2025, are applied consistently in these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements. Net Loss per Share The Company adopted ASC 260, “Earnings per Share” , at its inception. Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of Common Stock outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing the Company’s net loss available to common stockholders by the diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding is the basic weighted number of shares adjusted as at the first of the year for any potentially dilutive debt or equity. Potential common shares from unvested restricted stock options, earnouts and common stock warrants are computed using the treasury stock method. Contingently issuable shares are included in basic EPS only when there is no circumstance under which those shares would not be issued. The following table sets forth the computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share: SCHEDULE OF BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS PER SHARE March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 Three months ended March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 Numerator: Net loss $ ( 3,809,700 ) $ ( 1,399,213 ) Denominator: Weighted average shares outstanding 52,978,991 39,899,287 Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ ( 0.07 ) $ ( 0.04 ) The following potentially dilutive shares were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods presented, because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect: SCHEDULE OF ANTI-DILUTIVE EFFECT March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 Unvested common stock – restricted shares (Note 5) - 1,562,460 Restricted Stock options 410,128 - Restricted Stock Units 2,770,950 - Performance Stock units 506,596 - Sponsor Earnout Shares (Note 4) * - - Public warrants 4,864,133 - Private warrants 5,566,667 - Inducement warrants 9,584,000 - Potentially dilutive shares 9,584,000 - * The Sponsor Earnout Shares (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) were not included for purposes of calculating the number of diluted shares outstanding as of March 31, 2025, as the Sponsor Earnout Shares remain contingently forfeitable, as the conditions have not been met. 8 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) Deferred Transaction Costs In accordance with ‘Codification of Staff Accounting Bulletins – Topic 5: Miscellaneous Accounting A. Expenses of Offering’ (“SAB Topic 5”), public offering related costs, including legal fees and advisory and consulting fees, are deferred until consummation/completion of the proposed public offering. The Company deferred $ 116,121 of related costs incurred towards the proposed public offering which are presented within current assets in the audited consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2024. The Company consummated the public offering on January 27, 2025. After the consummation of the public offering, costs allocated to equity-classified instruments amounting to $ 86,121 were recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital. The remaining deferred costs of $ 30,000 attributable to a separate proposed offering was expensed as the transaction did not materialize during the three months ended March 31, 2025. The Company has deferred $ 25,000 of costs incurred towards potential future debt arrangement which is presented within current assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as at March 31, 2025. If the transaction does not materialize, the deferred offering costs will be expensed. Capital Project Costs and Property and Equipment, Net The Company had an exclusive option purchase agreement with the City of Muskogee, Oklahoma for 66 acres of undeveloped tract (excluding wetlands and creeks). On January 10, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to exercise the option and purchase the land for an amount of $ 1,662,030 . The Company capitalized an additional $ 78,535 as land for costs incurred for obtaining permits and title. On December 16, 2024, title to the land was transferred in the Company’s name. The Company capitalized $ 3,320,403 towards capital project costs related to front-end loading and environmental studies done for setting up the refinery during the year ended December 31, 2024. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company capitalized an additional amount of $ 1,781,406 towards capital project costs. The construction of the Facility is still in progress and hence no depreciation is charged on capital project costs. Property and equipment, net is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment loss. The Company depreciates computer and equipment using the straight-line method over the estimated economic useful lives of the asset, which are generally 3 three to five years . Land is a non-depreciable asset and is stated at cost. 9 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) Recent Accounting Pronouncements From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), under its ASC or other standard setting bodies, and adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. The Company has reviewed the accounting pronouncements issued during the three months ended March 31, 2025, and concluded they were either not applicable or not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. NOTE 3 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Certain conditions may exist as at the date the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. The Company monitors the arrangements that are subject to guarantees in order to identify if the obligor who is responsible for making the payments fails to do so. If the Company determines it is probable that a loss has occurred, then any such estimable loss would be recognized under those guarantees. The methodology used to estimate potential loss related to guarantees considers the guarantee amount and a variety of factors, which include, depending on the counterparty, the latest financial position of the counterparty, actual defaults, historical defaults, and other economic conditions. Management does not believe, based upon information available at this time, that these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, there is no assurance that such matters will not materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, and results of operations or cash flows. On March 13, 2024, Legacy Stardust Power and IGX Minerals LLC (“IGX”), entered into an exclusive letter of intent (the “IGX LOI”) to potentially acquire interests in certain mining claims (the “IGX Claims”). The contemplated transaction is subject to the entering into of a definitive agreement, due diligence by the Company, and other factors. In connection with the entering into the non-binding IGX LOI, the Company has paid a non-refundable payment of $ 30,000 in connection with obtaining a binding exclusivity right. Further, Stardust Power has agreed to binding provisions relating to (i) a right of first refusal in favor of Stardust Power and (ii) the delivery of a form promissory note in favor of IGX. On August 19, 2024, Legacy Stardust Power entered into a promissory note arrangement with IGX (the “IGX Note”) for $ 176,000 to allow the Company to potentially be able to enter into related agreements and partnerships with IGX. The IGX Note carries an interest rate of 6 % with a maturity date of February 28, 2025 . The IGX Note is secured by a letter of intent for possible acquisition, including through a potential joint venture, of IGX’s mining claims. The payment is made solely for the payment of all 2024 Bureau of Land Management fees and county land maintenance fees, notice of intent and associated filing fees for the claims owned by IGX. If the Company acquires an interest in any of the IGX Claims, the balance of the promissory note shall be credited as part of the Company’s investment and IGX shall not be required to repay the note. The promissory note including interest amounting to $ 182,481 and $ 179,877 is outstanding as on March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively, and presented as Promissory notes issued under current assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company is actively negotiating the terms for repayment and evaluating multiple options including a possible strategic investment and based on current information, does not believe an allowance for credit losses is necessary. The Company will continue to monitor these balances and reassess if conditions change. On March 15, 2024, Legacy Stardust Power and Usha Resources Ltd. (“Usha Resources”) entered into a non-binding Letter of Intent (the “Jackpot LOI”), except for certain binding terms such as those relating to the exclusivity period until June 30, 2025, as extended, to acquire an interest in Usha Resources’ lithium brine project, situated in the United States. Usha Resources is an established lithium developer with multiple projects in development. The Jackpot Lake Lithium Brine Project is a flagship asset of Usha Resources and is a lithium brine asset located in the United States, comprising of 8,714 acres of property. The project is currently engaged in its maiden drill program. The Jackpot LOI provides Stardust Power with the exclusive option to agree to acquire up to 90% of the interests held by Usha Resources in the Jackpot Lake project, based on an indicative earn-in schedule. As part of a definitive agreement, Stardust Power would be required to invest into the development of the Jackpot Lake project. The Company has made a non-refundable payment of $ 25,000 upon execution of the Jackpot LOI in connection with securing exclusivity and a further $ 50,000 payment (the “Second Payment”) was made by the Company on May 14, 2024; provided that the Second Payment shall be non-refundable except if Usha Resources breaches the terms of the Jackpot LOI at which point Usha Resources shall refund the Second Payment together with all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and expenses of legal counsel, accountants and other advisors hereof) incurred by the Company. The Second Payment of $ 50,000 is presented as Other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheet as on March 31, 2025. 10 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) On October 10, 2023, Legacy Stardust Power entered into a non-binding (except for the confidentiality provision) letter of intent with QX Resources Limited, an Australian limited liability company (“QXR”), to negotiate an agreement to work together collaboratively and in good faith to assess the lithium brines contained in QXR’s Liberty Lithium Brine Project (the “Project”). QXR is earning into 75% of the Project situated in Inyo County, California, by way of an earn-in agreement with IG Lithium LLC (“IGL”) and QXR intends to use either evaporation or direct extraction technology to produce a concentrated lithium product or other lithium products. On August 16, 2024, the Company entered into a promissory note arrangement with IGL (the “IGL Note”) for $ 316,000 to allow the Company to enter into related agreements and future partnerships with IGL on the Project. The IGL Note carries an interest rate of 6 % with a maturity date of July 1, 2025 . The IGL Note is secured by first priority in all rights, title, interest, claims and demands of IGL related to the Project and other assets of IGL. The promissory note including interest amounting to $ 327,636 and $ 322,961 is outstanding as on March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively, and presented as Promissory notes issued under current assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. On August 4, 2024, the Company entered into an engineering agreement (the “Primero Agreement”) with Primero USA, Inc. (“Primero”) pursuant to which Primero agreed to provide certain engineering, design and consultancy professional services, including to assist in procurement of major equipment, engage relevant third parties for construction and provide a Front End Loading-3 report of the Company’s Lithium Facility at Southside Industrial Park, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The total amount due pursuant to the Primero Agreement, assuming full performance, is approximately $ 4,724,690 in the aggregate, subject to customary potential adjustments. As at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the total performance pending to be performed and billed by Primero is $ 85,624 and $ 1,855,911 , respectively. On February 7, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), the Company executed an exclusive license agreement (the “License Agreement”) with KMX Technologies, Inc. a Delaware corporation. Under the terms of the License Agreement, KMX agreed to irrevocably license to the Company the use of KMX’s vacuum membrane distillation technology (“VMD Technology”) and associated processes and systems (including units incorporating the VMD Technology (“KMX VMD Units”)) for the purpose of the Company’s use of the technology in its refining and upstream operations. Among other obligations set forth in the License Agreement, the Company shall be required to exclusively purchase all KMX VMD Units from the Licensor during the term of the Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth therein. Legal Proceedings We are also subject to certain routine legal and regulatory proceedings, as well as demands and claims that arise in the normal course of our business. We make a provision for a liability relating to legal matters when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These provisions are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the impact of negotiations, estimated settlements, legal rulings, advice of legal counsel and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. In our opinion, resolution of any pending claims (either individually or in the aggregate) is not expected to have a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, nor is it possible to provide an estimated amount of any such loss. However, depending on the nature and timing of any such dispute, an unfavorable resolution of a matter could materially affect our future financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, or all in a particular period. NOTE 4 – COMMON STOCK On July 8, 2024, the Common Stock and warrants began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “SDST” and “SDSTW”, respectively. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote. The holders of Common Stock are also entitled to receive dividends whenever funds are legally available and when declared by the board of directors (the “Board”), subject to prior rights of the convertible preferred stockholders. Shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and unaudited condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ deficit includes shares related to restricted stock that are subject to repurchase. The Company is authorized to issue 700,000,000 and 100,000,000 shares, par value of $ 0.0001 per share, of Common Stock and Preferred stock, respectively. At March 31, 2025, the Company had 57,650,480 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Not reflected in the shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025, is approximately 192,584 shares of Common Stock related to restricted stock units that vested in 2024 and 2025 but have not yet been settled and issued. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had 47,736,279 shares of common stock, issued and outstanding. 11 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) Sponsor Earnout Shares As part of the closing of the Business Combination, the Company issued 1,000,000 shares to Global Partner Sponsor II, LLC (the “Sponsor”). These shares are subject to vesting (or forfeiture) based on achieving certain trading price thresholds following the closing (“Sponsor Earnout Shares”). Fifty percent of the Sponsor Earnout Shares will vest when the VWAP of the Common Stock price equals or exceeds $12.00 per share for a period of 20 trading days in a 30 trading day period, and the remaining fifty percent of the Sponsor Earnout Shares will vest when the VWAP of the Common Stock price equals or exceeds $14.00 per share for a period of 20 trading days in a 30 trading day period. There are no service conditions or any requirement for the participants to provide goods or services in order to vest in the Sponsor Earnout Shares. Accordingly, we determined that the Sponsor Earnout Shares are not within the scope of ASC 718. The accounting for the Sponsor Earnout Shares was evaluated under ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity”, and ASC Subtopic 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”, to determine if the Sponsor Earnout Shares should be classified as a liability or within equity. As part of the analysis, it was determined that the Sponsor Earnout Shares subject to vesting are freestanding from other shares of Combined Company Common Stock held by the Sponsor and do not meet the criteria in ASC 815-40 to be considered indexed to the Combined Company Common Stock, due to the settlement provisions including a change in control component which could impact the number of the Sponsor Earnout Shares are ultimately settled for, which is not an input to a fixed-for-fixed option pricing model. As a result, the Sponsor Earnout Shares were classified as a liability. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the Sponsor Earnout shares will be reflected in the consolidated statement of operations . Upon the occurrence of a change in control, any remaining unvested Sponsor Earnout Shares become vested. Unvested Sponsor Earnout Shares will be forfeited if vesting does not occur prior to the eighth anniversary of the Closing Date. The Company assesses the fair value of expected earnout consideration at each reporting period using the Monte Carlo Method, which is consistent with the initial measurement of the expected earnout consideration. As at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the fair value of Sponsor Earnout Shares amounted to $ 4,700 and $ 532,700 , respectively. The Sponsor Earnout Shares were valued using the following assumptions under the Monte Carlo Model that assumes optimal exercise of the Company’s redemption option at the earliest possible date: SCHEDULE OF ASSUMPTIONS UNDER THE MONTE CARLO MODEL March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 Market price of public stock $ 0.4716 $ 3.58 Expected term (years) 7.27 years 7.52 years Volatility 75.00 % 65.00 % Risk-free interest rate 4.10 % 4.50 % Dividend rate 0.00 % 0.00 % Common Stock Purchase Agreement On October 7, 2024, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement and a Registration Rights Agreement (collectively referred to as the “Purchase Agreement”) with B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to sell to B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC up to the lesser of (i) $ 50.0 million of newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock, and (ii) the Exchange Cap (as defined below) (subject to certain conditions and limitations), from time to time during the 36-month term of the Purchase Agreement. Under the applicable Nasdaq rules, the Company may not issue to B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC under the Purchase Agreement more than 9,569,701 shares of common stock, which number of shares is equal to 19.99% of the common shares outstanding immediately prior to the execution of the Purchase Agreement unless certain exceptions are met (the “Exchange Cap”). The purchase price of the shares of common stock will be determined by reference to the VWAP of the common stock during the applicable purchase date, less a fixed 3% discount to such VWAP. Additionally, B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC cannot acquire shares that would result in its beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% of Stardust Power’s outstanding shares. The Exchange Cap does not apply if the average share price exceeds $7.7020 per share but will remain in place if this threshold is not met and stockholder approval is not obtained. The Company evaluated this common stock purchase agreement to determine whether they should be accounted for considering the guidance in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts on an Entity’s Own Equity” (“ASC 815-40”) and concluded that it is an equity-linked contract that does not qualify for equity classification, and therefore requires fair value accounting as a derivative. The Company has analyzed the terms of the freestanding purchased put right and has concluded that it had insignificant value as of December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025 . 12 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) Upon executing the Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, the Company also issued 63,694 shares of Common Stock called Commitment Shares to B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC as a consideration for this agreement. These shares, valued at $ 7.85 each (based on Nasdaq’s closing price on October 4, 2024), represent 1.0% of B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC’s $ 50 million purchase commitment under the agreement. The cost of this on the effective date of the purchase agreement was $ 500,000 and included as a component of finance charges in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024. Regarding the aforementioned commitment shares, the Purchase Agreement specifies the following: a) If B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC’s resale of the Commitment Shares yields less than $500,000 by specified dates, the Company may need to pay up to $500,000 in cash (the “make-whole obligation”) b) No cash payment will be made if B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC’s net proceeds from reselling the shares meet or exceed $500,000. c) If B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC’s resale proceeds exceed $500,000, it will pay the Company 50% of the amount above $500,000. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, if the aggregate proceeds received by B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC from its resale of the Commitment Shares is less than $ 500,000 then, upon notice by B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC, the Company must pay the difference between $ 500,000 , and the aggregate proceeds received by B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC from its resale of the Commitment Shares. On December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025, the fair market value of the Commitment Shares was $ $ 227,989 and $ 30,059 , respectively. Therefore, the Company’s make-whole obligation was $ $ 272,011 and $ 469,941 as of December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025, respectively, and this amount was recorded in Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2024 and unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as at March 31, 2025, respectively. The change in the fair value of the make-whole obligation of $ 272,011 and $ 197,930 is recorded as a component of finance charges in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025, respectively. The Company agreed to reimburse B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC an amount of $ 75,000 for legal fees related to the Purchase and Registration Rights Agreements, with $ 25,000 paid upfront and $ 50,000 withheld by B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC from 50 % of the purchase price of shares acquired in initial and subsequent purchases under the agreement until the full amount is covered. Additionally, the Company will reimburse up to $ 5,000 per fiscal quarter for B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC’s legal fees related to due diligence and related matters. The Company issued 3,981 shares of Common Stock during the three months ended March 31, 2025, aggregating to net proceeds of $ 15,922 under the Common Stock Purchase Agreement. Public Offering and Warrant Inducement On January 27, 2025, the Company consummated a public offering of 4,792,000 shares of Common Stock and accompanying warrants to purchase up to 4,792,000 shares of Common Stock at a public offering price of $ 1.20 per share and warrant, generating aggregate gross proceeds of $ 5,750,400 before offering expenses of $ 1,159,331 . The common stock purchase warrants, exercisable at $ 1.30 per share and expiring five years from issuance, were issued under an effective registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-284298) filed by the Company with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) that became effective on January 23, 2025. The Company evaluated the common stock purchase warrants issued under this public offering to determine whether they should be accounted for considering the guidance in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts on an Entity’s Own Equity” (“ASC 815-40”) and concluded that the warrants are freestanding and are indexed to the Company’s own stock and are classified as equity. 13 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) On March 16, 2025, the Company entered into a letter agreement (the “Inducement Letter”) with a warrant holder (the “Exercising Holder”) providing for the immediate cash exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase 4,792,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a reduced exercise price of $ 0.62 per share. In order to further incentivize the early exercise of these outstanding warrants, the Company also agreed to issue additional common stock purchase warrants (the “Inducement Warrants”) to purchase up to 9,584,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $ 0.70 per share, subject to shareholder approval and Nasdaq rules. Pursuant to this inducement letter, the warrant holders exercised the outstanding warrants on March 18, 2025, and the Company received gross proceeds of $ 2,971,040 before cash offering expenses of $ 172,841 . The Company intends to use the net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes. In connection with the Inducement Letter, the Company entered into a financial advisory services agreement with the placement agent, pursuant to which the company agreed to pay a cash fee of 4 % of the cash proceeds raised in the offering, in addition to reimbursement for certain expenses. No exercises of the Inducement Warrants have occurred as of the date on which these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. The Company evaluated the common stock purchase warrants issued under this inducement offer to determine whether they should be accounted for considering the guidance in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts on an Entity’s Own Equity” (“ASC 815-40”) and concluded that the warrants are freestanding and are indexed to the Company’s own stock and are classified as equity. The Company recognized the incremental fair value due to effect of the modification of approximately $ 2,108,480 as an equity issuance cost and charged the same against proceeds. The incremental fair value of the warrants resulting from the modification (comprising of decrease in exercise price from $ 1.30 to $ 0.62 per share and the issue of additional 9,584,000 warrants) was measured as the excess of the fair value of the modified warrants over the fair value of the original warrants immediately before modification. The Company estimated the fair value of the warrants immediately before the modification and the fair value of the New Inducement Warrants after the modification using the Black-Scholes valuation model with an expected term of 5.00 years, expected volatility of 75 %, dividend yield of 0 %, and risk-free interest rate of 4.11 %. KMX Licensing Agreement On February 7, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), the Company executed an exclusive license agreement (the “License Agreement”) with KMX Technologies, Inc. a Delaware corporation. Under the terms of the License Agreement, KMX agreed to irrevocably license to the Company the use of KMX’s vacuum membrane distillation technology (“VMD Technology”) and associated processes and systems (including units incorporating the VMD Technology (“KMX VMD Units”)) for the purpose of the Company’s use of the technology in its refining and upstream operations. Among other obligations set forth in the License Agreement, the Company shall be required to exclusively purchase all KMX VMD Units from the Licensor during the term of the Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth therein. The License Agreement grants the Company the exclusive right to sub license, use, market, sell and operate KMX’s VMD Technology across the United States, Canada and select international markets. As a consideration for this license, the Company agreed to pay KMX a royalty comprised of 500,000 shares of Company Common Stock. The securities are being offered and sold by the Company pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder, as a transaction not involving a public offering. As on the effective date of the License Agreement, the license does not meet the recognition criteria for an intangible asset under U.S. GAAP, as it does not presently provide probable future economic benefits independent of the KMX VMD Units, which are expected to be acquired only once the Company’s Facility becomes operational. No Common Stock has been issued as of March 31, 2025. The Company has a present obligation to issue the Common Stock as of the License Agreement’s effective date and accordingly has recognized a liability of $ 343,000 and presented as other long-term liability on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as on March 31, 2025, with a corresponding debit recorded as other long-term asset, until the license meets the recognition criteria for an intangible asset. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company issued 500,000 shares of Common Stock to KMX. 14 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) NOTE 5 – STOCK BASED COMPENSATION As the Business Combination has been accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the merged entity reflect the continuation of Legacy Stardust Power, Inc. financial statements. Legacy Stardust Power’s equity has been retroactively adjusted to the earliest period presented to reflect the legal capital of the legal acquirer, GPAC II. As a result, the number of shares was also retrospectively adjusted for periods ended prior to the Business Combination. Shares Issued at Inception At March 16, 2023 (inception of Legacy Stardust Power), certain employees and service providers participated in the purchase of restricted Common Stock of Legacy Stardust Power aggregating to 2,531,232 shares. Out of the total, certain restricted stock vested immediately and remaining unvested restricted stock aggregating to 1,191,980 shares vests over 24 months subject to service conditions and accelerated vesting upon certain events. The agreements also contain a repurchase option noting that if the employee or service provider is terminated, for any reason, the Company has the right and option to repurchase the service provider’s unvested restricted Common Stock. Since all shareholders purchased the shares at par value and the shares had no incremental value beyond the par value as at that date, during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the stock based compensation expense impact is insignificant. As at March 31, 2025, all the shares had been fully vested. Any shares subject to repurchase by the Company are not deemed, for accounting purposes, to be outstanding until those shares vest. The amount to be recorded as liabilities associated with shares issued with repurchase rights were immaterial as at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Restricted stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and balances as at the end of March 31, 2025, were as follows: SCHEDULE OF RESTRICTED STOCK ACTIVITY Restricted Stock Number of shares Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value Unvested as of December 31, 2024 62,706 0.000002 Granted - - Vested ( 62,706 ) 0.000002 Forfeited - - Unvested as of March 31, 2025 - $ - 2023 Equity Incentive Plan At March 16, 2023 (inception), the Legacy Stardust Power stockholders approved the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan and 2,301,120 shares of the Company’s Common Stock were reserved for issuance thereunder. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Board adopted a resolution to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan by 1,150,560 shares of Common Stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, there were no grants under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan. 15 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) Stock Options During October and November 2023, Legacy Stardust Power granted options for 2,278,108 shares of stock options under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan: 2,186,064 options were granted to employees, and 92,045 options were granted to a consultant. The employee grants vest over a period of 3 to 5 years, and the consultant grant vests over 18 months. The options granted to both employees and the consultant were exercisable at the exercise price of $ 0.0065 . All the options under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan were early-exercised by grantees. Accordingly, the Company received a total amount of $ 14,850 towards the early exercise of these options during the period from March 16, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, and recorded a liability against the early exercise of these options. On December 14, 2023, the Company repurchased 920,448 unvested shares that were granted to an employee under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan at the original exercise price of $ 0.0065 . The Company repaid a total amount of $ 6,000 for the repurchase of these early exercised shares from the employee in January 2024. The amount was charged against the ‘Early exercised shares option liability’. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company repurchased 25,575 unvested shares that were granted to a consultant and 230,112 unvested shares that were granted to an employee under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan at the original exercise price of $ 0.0065 . During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company repurchased 244,494 unvested shares that were granted to an employee under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan at the original exercise price of $ 0.0065 . The early exercised shares liability amounting to $ 2,674 and $ 4,628 is outstanding as at March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively, and is presented under “Early exercised shares option liability” on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. Stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and balances as at the end of March 31, 2025, were as follows: SCHEDULE OF STOCK OPTION ACTIVITY Number of shares Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value Unvested as at December 31, 2024 709,992 0.56 Granted - - Vested ( 55,370 ) 0.53 Forfeited ( 244,494 ) 0.58 Unvested as at March 31, 2025 410,128 0.54 16 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) The total compensation expense for stock options recognized in the General and administrative expenses of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations was $ 25,809 and $ 59,599 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, respectively. As at March 31, 2025, total unvested compensation cost for stock options granted to employees not yet recognized was $ 218,383 . The Company expects to recognize this compensation over a weighted average period of approximately 2.20 years. Restricted Stock Units During April and June 2024, Legacy Stardust Power granted 2,024,985 restricted stock units (“2023 Plan RSUs”) to employees under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan. These 2023 Plan RSUs are subject to a service-based vesting requirement, and a liquidity plus service-based vesting requirement, which is defined as completion of a go public transaction or change in control. In order for any shares to vest, both the service-based vesting requirement and the liquidity plus service-based vesting requirement must be satisfied with respect to such shares. The liquidity conditions were met on July 8, 2024 upon consummation of the Business Combination, and therefore compensation expenses related to these awards began to be recognized in the year ended December 31, 2024 using a graded vesting method over the requisite service period. Given the absence of a public trading market prior to the closing of the Business Combination, the Legacy Stardust Power board of directors considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of its common stock at each grant date. These factors included, but were not limited to: (i) independent contemporaneous third-party valuations of common stock; (ii) the prices for the Company’s convertible notes sold to outside investors; (iii) the rights and preferences of convertible preferred stock relative to common stock; (iv) the lack of marketability of its common stock; (v) developments in the business; and (vi) the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an IPO, given prevailing market conditions. Subsequent to the closing of the Business Combination, the fair value of common stock is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock, as reported on Nasdaq on the date of grant. RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and balances as at the end of March 31, 2025, were as follows: SCHEDULE OF RESTRICTED STOCK ACTIVITY Number of shares Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value Unvested as at December 31, 2024 1,004,822 $ 8.67 Granted - - Vested ( 82,456 ) 8.41 Forfeited - - Unvested as at March 31, 2025 922,366 8.69 The total compensation expense for RSU recognized in the General and administrative expenses of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations was $ 1,297,888 and $ Nil for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, respectively. As at March 31, 2025, total unvested compensation cost for RSUs granted to employees not yet recognized was $ 4,017,094 . The Company expects to recognize this compensation over a weighted average period of approximately 2.27 years. 17 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) 2024 Equity Incentive Plan The Board adopted, and the stockholders of the Company approved, the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan in September 2024. The maximum number of shares with respect to one or more awards that may be granted to any one participant during any calendar year shall be 4,673,665 shares of Common Stock. The 2024 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock options, RSUs, PSUs share appreciation rights, restricted shares, dividend equivalents, substitute awards, and other share or cash-based awards (such as cash bonus awards and performance awards) for issuance to employees or consultants of the Company (or any of the Company’s parents or subsidiaries), or directors of the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company granted (a) 1,524,296 RSUs to independent directors, officers, employees and consultants which are subject to a service based vesting requirement, (b) 74,000 RSUs fully vested as of the date of grant to consultants and (c) 506,596 PSUs to employees with a service and market condition. During the period ended March 31, 2025, the Company granted to employees (a) 408,719 RSUs which are subject to a service based vesting requirement and (b) 20,000 RSUs fully vested as of the date of grant. The PSUs cliff vest at the end of a three-year term subject to share price-based market condition (i.e., the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock is greater than or equal to $ 12.00 per share for a period of 20 trading days in any 30 trading day period or there is a change of control, or the PSUs are otherwise forfeited). The compensation expense for these RSUs and PSUs were recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the award. The grant date fair value of RSUs is based on the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock, as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of grant. RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and balances as at the end of March 31, 2025, were as follows: SCHEDULE OF RESTRICTED STOCK ACTIVITY Number of shares Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value Unvested as at December 31, 2024 1,482,081 11.51 Granted 428,719 0.47 Vested ( 62,216 ) 8.04 Forfeited - - Unvested as at March 31, 2025 1,848,584 9.07 The total compensation expense for RSUs recognized in the General and administrative expenses of the Company’s consolidated statements of operations was $ 1,350,513 and $ Nil for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, respectively. As at March 31, 2025, total unvested compensation cost for RSUs granted to employees and non-employee directors not yet recognized was $ 5,816,441 . The Company expects to recognize this compensation over a weighted average period of approximately 3.09 years. As at March 31, 2025, total unvested compensation cost for RSUs granted to the consultants not yet recognized was $ 8,996,626 . We expect to recognize this compensation over a period of approximately 3.46 years. The estimated grant date fair value of the PSUs was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model. Assumptions used in the valuation were as follows: SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATED GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE OF PSU Assumptions Fair value of Common Stock $ 11.62 Selected volatility 60 % Risk-free interest rate 3.42 % Contractual terms (years) 3.0 PSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and balances as at the end of March 31, 2025, were as follows: SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCE SHARES UNITS ACTIVITY Number of shares Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value Unvested as at December 31, 2024 506,596 6.73 Granted - - Vested - - Forfeited - - Unvested as at March 31, 2025 506,596 6.73 The total compensation expense for PSUs recognized in the General and administrative expenses of the Company’s consolidated statements of operations was $ 280,069 and $ Nil for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, respectively. As at March 31, 2025, total unvested compensation cost for PSUs granted to employees not yet recognized was $ 2,797,567 . The Company expects to recognize this compensation over a weighted average period of approximately 2.46 years. 18 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) NOTE 6 – ACCOUNTING FOR WARRANTS LIABILITY The Company established the initial fair value of the Private and Public Warrants on July 8, 2024, the date of consummation of the Business Combination, and revalued the warrants on March 31, 2025. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at $ 11.50 per share. For additional terms refer to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed with the SEC on May 8, 2024. As at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, there were 10,430,800 warrants outstanding, including 4,864,133 Public Warrants and 5,566,667 Private Warrants outstanding at March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at $ 11.50 per share. Once the Public Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants in whole and not in part at a price of $0.01 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, only in the event that the last sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within the 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the Public Warrant holders, and that certain other conditions are met. Once the Public Warrants become exercisable, the Company may also redeem the outstanding Public Warrants in whole and not in part at a price of $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, only in the event that the closing price of the common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share on the trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption, and that certain other conditions are met. If the closing price of the common stock is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders, the Private Warrants must also concurrently be called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding Public Warrants. The Company, in no event later than twenty (20) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within sixty (60) Business Days following the closing of its initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration or redemption of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the sixtieth (60th) Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, to exercise such warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption) for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the lesser of: (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the Fair Market Value less the warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value and (B) 0.361 per warrant (“a settlement cap” for accounting purposes). The Private Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the Public Warrants. However, the Private Warrants are not redeemable by the Company as long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees. If the Private Warrants are held by holders other than the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, the Private Warrants will be redeemable by the Company in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants. 19 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) The Company’s warrants are not indexed to the Company’s Common Stock in the manner contemplated by ASC Section 815-40-15 because the holder of the instrument is not an input into the pricing of a fixed-for-fixed option on equity shares. Further, there is a settlement cap for Public Warrants, and Private Warrants upon transfer from Sponsor or permitted transferees to other holders, if the holder elects to exercise warrants on a cashless basis if the Company fails to maintain an effective registration statement covering the Common Stock issuable upon warrant exercises throughout the term of the warrants. Maintenance of an effective registration statement is not an input to the fair value option model for a fixed-for-fixed option or forward. As such, the Company’s warrants are accounted for as derivative warrant liabilities which are required to be valued at fair value at each reporting period. The following tables present information about the Company’s warrant liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2025 and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value: SCHEDULE OF WARRANT LIABILITIES THAT ARE MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE ON A RECURRING BASIS Description At March 31, 2025 Quoted price in active markets (level 1) Significant other observable input (level 2) Significant other unobservable input (level 3) Warrant liabilities Public warrants $ 350,704 $ 350,704 $ - $ - Private warrants 401,356 - 401,356 - Warrant liability $ 752,060 $ 350,704 $ 401,356 $ - Description At December 31, 2024 Quoted price in active markets (level 1) Significant other observable input (level 2) Significant other unobservable input (level 3) Warrant liabilities Public warrants $ 1,143,071 $ 1,143,071 $ - $ - Private warrants 1,308,166 - 1,308,166 - Warrant liability $ 2,451,237 $ 1,143,071 $ 1,308,166 $ - At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company valued its Public Warrants by reference to the publicly traded price of the Public Warrants. The Company valued its Private Warrants based on the closing price of the Public Warrants since they are similar instruments. The warrant liabilities are not subject to qualified hedge accounting. The Company’s policy is to record transfers between levels at the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers during the three months ended March 31, 2025. NOTE 7 – INVESTMENT IN EQUITY SECURITIES In October 2023, Legacy Stardust Power subscribed to and purchased 13,949,579 ordinary shares ( 1.26 % of the total equity) of QXR, an Australian limited liability company whose ordinary shares are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”), for $ 200,000 . This investment in the ordinary shares of QXR has been made for strategic purposes and specifically with an intention to gain access for conducting feasibility studies for the production of lithium products from the lithium brine surface anomaly identified over the 102 square-kilometer Liberty Lithium Brine Project in SaltFire Flat, California, for which QXR has a binding option to purchase agreement and operating agreement to earn a 75% interest from IGL (“the Earn-in Venture”). The Company is not a direct party to the Earn-in Venture and accordingly has no direct or indirect economic or controlling interest either in the Project or in any of the associated rights originating from the Earn-in Venture held by QXR. The Company will conduct feasibility studies to assess the lithium brine at its own cost and if successful, will have the option to execute a commercial off-take agreement with QXR for the supply of brine from the Project. No formal off-take agreement has been executed as at March 31, 2025. Further, no material expenses have been incurred towards the feasibility studies during the three months ended March 31, 2025. All costs associated with the feasibility studies would be expensed as incurred. 20 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) The Company neither has a controlling financial interest nor does it exercise significant influence over QXR. Accordingly, the investment in QXR’s ordinary shares does not result in either the consolidation or application of equity method of accounting for the Company. QXR’s ordinary shares are listed on the ASX with a readily determinable fair value and change in fair value is recognized in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations. Accordingly, the investment in these securities has been recorded at cost at initial recognition and at fair value of $ 30,676 and $ 34,707 as at March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively. The Company recognized a loss of $ 4,031 and $ 54,658 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and March 31, 2024, respectively, due to change in fair value of securities in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations. Further, this investment in securities has been disclosed outside of current assets on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet in accordance with ASC 210-10-45-4 because the investment has been made for the purpose of affiliation and continuing business reasons as described above. In December 2024 Stardust Power subscribed to and purchased 10,000,000 ordinary shares (approximately 6 % of the total equity) of IRIS Metals Limited (“IRIS Metals”), an Australian limited company whose ordinary shares are listed on the ASX for $ 1,600,000 . This investment in the ordinary shares of IRIS Metals allows the Company to explore strategic partnership with, or investment in, IRIS Metals, including without limitation, a commercial off take arrangement for battery grade lithium production, financing or other investments in IRIS Metals or its affiliates. No formal off take agreement has been executed as at March 31, 2025. Further no material expenses have been incurred towards due diligence during the three months ended March 31, 2025. All cost associated would be expensed as incurred. The Company neither has a controlling financial interest nor does it exercise significant influence over IRIS Metals. Accordingly, the investment in IRIS Metals’ ordinary shares does not result in either the consolidation or application of equity method of accounting for the Company. Additionally, the Company has the option to acquire a second tranche of 10,000,000 shares on similar terms as the initial investment, plus 20,000,000 free attaching warrants to acquire ordinary shares of IRIS Metals at an exercise price of $ 0.40 per share. This second tranche investment is subject to approval by the Company and IRIS Metals shareholders and other conditions precedent. IRIS Metals’ ordinary shares are listed on the ASX with a readily determined fair value and change in the fair value is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. Accordingly, the investment in these securities has been recorded at cost at initial recognition and at fair value of $ 1,476,501 and $ 1,461,715 as at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The company recognized a gain of $ 14,786 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, due to change in fair value of securities in the consolidated statements of operations. Further, this investment in securities has been disclosed outside of current assets on the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with ASC 210-10-45-4 because the investment has been made for the purpose of affiliation and continuing business reasons as described above. NOTE 8 – SIMPLE AGREEMENT FOR FUTURE EQUITY (SAFE NOTES) On June 6, 2023, Legacy Stardust Power received $ 2,000,000 in cash from a single investor and funded a SAFE note on August 15, 2023. The funds were received from an unrelated third party, through its entity which is currently being managed under the purview of an investment management agreement between them and VIKASA Capital Advisors, LLC (a related party) in consideration for which VIKASA Capital Advisors, LLC is paid-investment management fees. On November 20, 2023, Legacy Stardust Power received an additional $ 2,000,000 in cash from a single investor, which, along with the $ 1,000,000 deposit received in September 2023, funded a new $ 3,000,000 SAFE note. On February 23, 2024, the Company entered into a third SAFE note and received an additional $ 200,000 in cash from a single investor. The SAFE notes were classified as a liability based on evaluating characteristics of the instrument and is presented at fair value as a non-current liability in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. The SAFE notes provide the Company an option to call for additional preferred stock up to $ 25,000,000 based on the contingent event of SAFE note conversion and notice issued by the Board, and achievement of certain milestones, for up to 42 months following such conversion. This feature was determined to be an embedded feature and is valued as part of the liability value associated with the instrument as a whole. The terms for SAFE notes were amended on November 18, 2023 for both the original and new issuance to introduce a discount rate of 20 % to the lowest price per share of preferred stock sold or the listing price of the Company’s Common Stock upon consummation of a SPAC transaction or IPO. Additionally, the SAFE notes provide the investor certain rights upon an equity financing, change in control or dissolution. On March 21, 2024, Legacy Stardust Power entered into a financing commitment and equity line of credit agreement with American Investor Group Direct LLC (“AIGD”). The agreement replaced the above contingent commitment feature of the SAFE notes, granting the Company an option to drawdown up to an additional $ 15,000,000 on terms similar to the SAFE notes prior to the First Effective Time. On April 24, 2024, the Company amended and restated the August 2023 SAFE note and the November 2023 SAFE. On May 1, 2024, the Company amended and restated the February 2024 SAFE note. These amendments clarify the conversion mechanism in connection with the Business Combination. The estimated fair value of the SAFE notes considered the timing of issuance and whether there were changes in the various scenarios since issuance. Pursuant to the consummation of the Business Combination, the SAFE notes converted into 636,916 Common Stock shares of the Company and therefore no further fair valuation was required as at March 31, 2025 and at December 31, 2024. The SAFE notes had no interest rate or maturity date, description of dividend and participation rights. The liquidation preference of the SAFE notes was junior to other outstanding indebtedness and creditor claims, on par with payments for other SAFE notes and/or preferred equity, and senior to payments for other equity of the Company that is not SAFE notes and/or pari preferred equity. 21 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) NOTE 9 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS The following tables summarize the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements: SCHEDULE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES ARE MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Fair Value Measurements as at December 31, 2024 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Other noncurrent assets: Investment in equity securities ( a ) $ 1,496,422 $ - $ - $ 1,496,422 Total financial assets $ 1,496,422 $ - $ - $ 1,496,422 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Fair Value Measurements as at March 31, 2025 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Other noncurrent assets: Investment in equity securities ( a ) $ 1,507,177 $ - $ - $ 1,507,177 Total financial assets $ 1,507,177 $ - $ - $ 1,507,177 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Fair Value Measurements as at December 31, 2024 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Liabilities Sponsor earnout shares ( b ) $ - $ - $ 532,700 $ 532,700 Total financial liabilities $ - $ - $ 532,700 $ 532,700 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Fair Value Measurements as at March 31, 2025 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Liabilities Sponsor earnout shares ( b ) $ - $ - $ 4,700 $ 4,700 Total financial liabilities $ - $ - $ 4,700 $ 4,700 ( a ) These represent equity investments with a readily determinable fair value. The Company has measured its investments to fair value in accordance with ASC 321, Investments-Equity Securities, based on quoted prices in active markets. (b) For Level 3 earnout liability, the Company assesses the fair value of expected earnout liability at each reporting period using the Monte Carlo Method, which is consistent with the initial measurement of the expected earnout consideration. This fair value measurement is considered a Level 3 measurement because the Company estimates projections during the earnout period utilizing various potential pay-out scenarios. The Monte Carlo simulation method repeats a process thousands of times in an attempt to predict all the possible future outcomes. At the end of the simulation, several random trials produce a distribution of outcomes that are then analyzed to determine the average present value of earnout. Change in the fair value of earnout liability is reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The make-whole obligation liability related to the Purchase Agreement is measured at fair value categorized within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 4. 22 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) The following table provides a reconciliation of activity and changes in fair value for the Company’s SAFE notes and Sponsor earnout liability: SCHEDULE OF RECONCILIATION OF ACTIVITY AND CHANGES IN FAIR VALUE SAFE notes at fair value Sponsor Earnout liability at fair value Balance as at December 31, 2023 $ 5,212,200 $ - Issuance of notes 200,000 - Change in fair value 107,900 - Balance as at March 31, 2024 5,520,100 - Issuance of notes - - Change in fair value 847,100 - Balance as at June 30, 2024 6,367,200 - Issuance of common stock upon conversion ( 6,367,200 ) - Sponsor earnout liability recognized on closing of Business Combination - 4,608,900 Change in fair value - ( 1,636,100 ) Balance as at September 30, 2024 - 2,972,800 Change in fair value - ( 2,440,100 ) Balance as at December 31, 2024 - 532,700 Change in fair value - ( 528,000 ) Balance as at March 31, 2025 $ - $ 4,700 The valuation of the Level 3 measurement for SAFE notes considered the probabilities of the occurrence of the scenarios as discussed in Note 2 of the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the period March 16, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed with the SEC on May 8, 2024. The Company valued the SAFE notes based on the occurrence of the preferred financing or a SPAC transaction. As of the date of initial measurement and December 31, 2023, the management has assigned zero probability for a change in control event or a dissolution event. Pursuant to the consummation of the Business Combination and in accordance with the terms of the SAFE note agreements, the SAFE notes converted into 636,916 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. NOTE 10 – SEGMENT REPORTING The Company reports segment information in the same way management internally organizes the business in assessing performance and making decisions regarding allocation of resources in accordance with ASC 280, “ Segment Reporting” . The Company has a single reportable operating segment which operates as a single business platform. In reaching this conclusion, management considered the definition of the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), how the business is defined by the CODM, the nature of the information provided to the CODM, how the CODM uses such information to make operating decisions, and how resources and performance are assessed. The Company has a single, common management team and our cash flows are reported and reviewed with no distinct cash flows. In addition to the significant expense categories included within net loss presented on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations, see below for disaggregated amounts that comprise general and administrative expenses. SCHEDULE OF SEGMENT REPORTING CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Three months ended March 31, 2025 Three months ended March 31, 2024 Professional and consulting fees 1,222,673 523,624 Legal fees 212,935 84,653 Payroll and related taxes 3,556,648 470,853 Insurance 145,038 26,994 Marketing and events 315,326 11,356 Other 296,028 117,886 Total 5,748,648 1,235,366 23 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) NOTE 11 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS On September 18, 2024, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with DRE Chicago LLC, whose principal is Paramita Das. Ms. Das was onboarded as a Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Advisor to CEO of the Company. Additionally, in December 2024, the Company entered into a binding term sheet with DRE Chicago LLC, providing for loan in the principal amount of $ 250,000 , bearing interest at a rate of 15 % per year, and maturing in March 2025 . (the “Maturity Date”). Pursuant to the Term Sheets, an aggregate of approximately 470,000 shares of Common Stock, owned by Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, were pledged as collateral. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to DRE Chicago an aggregate of $ 375,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker. In addition, DRE Chicago will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, of up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $ 11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company has repaid the principal amount of $ 250,000 and the accrued interest of $ 9,166 . Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued 104,748 shares of common stock and 52,374 warrants to DRE Chicago on April 24, 2025. In December 2024, the Company entered into a binding term sheet (“Term Sheet”) with Endurance Antarctica Partners II, LLC (“Endurance”) an affiliate of a director at the time and a shareholder, providing for a loan (the “Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount of $ 1,750,000 , bearing interest at a rate of 15 % per year, and maturing in March 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). Pursuant to the Term Sheet, 5,500,000 shares of Common Stock, owned by Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, were pledged as collateral. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to Endurance $ 3,500,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker. In addition, Endurance will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date of up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $ 11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company repaid the principal amount of $ 1,750,000 and the accrued interest of $ 70,000 . Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued 977,653 shares of Common Stock and 488,826 of warrants to Endurance on April 24, 2025. The Company incurred the following expenses with related parties, which were all affiliates of the Company: SCHEDULE OF EXPENSES WITH RELATED PARTIES Expense type Three months ended March 31, 2025 Three months ended March 31, 2024 Expenses under contract due to: DRE Chicago LLC Interest 7,187 - Endurance Antarctica Partners II, LLC Interest 51,042 - Total expenses $ 58,229 $ 0 24 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) The Company entered into notes payable agreements of $ 5,875,000 in 2024 with related parties, all of whom were affiliates. SCHEDULE OF RELATED PARTIES As of March 31, 2025 As of December 31, 2024 DRE Chicago LLC Interest Accrued - 1,979 Endurance Antarctica Partners II, LLC Interest Accrued - 18,958 DRE Chicago LLC * Short-term loan* 375,000 625,000 Endurance Antarctica Partners II, LLC * Short-term loan* 3,500,000 5,250,000 Notes obtained from related parties $ 3,875,000 $ 5,895,937 * Short-term loan includes Equity Kicker payable as per the terms of the loan agreement. In March 2025, the Company repaid the loan principal amount of $250,000 and $1,750,000 and interest of $9,166 and $70,000 to DRE Chicago LLC and Endurance Antarctica Partners II, LLC, respectively. NOTE 12 - ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES : SCHEDULE OF ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 Accrued expenses $ 1,603,107 $ 1,787,985 Capital market advisory fees 1,500,000 1,500,000 Personnel related liabilities 1,265,943 1,400,141 Accrued Interest 684 34,561 Total $ 4,369,734 $ 4,722,687 NOTE 13 – SHORT-TERM LOANS Insurance funding borrowing On July 18, 2024, the Company entered into a financing agreement of $ 510,000 for the purchase of an insurance policy with AFCO Insurance Premium Finance. The Company made a downpayment of $ 44,162 , which was applied to the loan amount at the time of the loan agreement. The debt is payable in monthly installments of $ 44,162 per month for 11 months. Payments include a stated interest rate of 8.46 % and are secured against a lien on the insurance policy. The carrying amount of $ 130,638 and $ 258,552 is included as Short-term Loan Liability on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as on March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024. The Company recognized interest expense of $ 3,903 on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025. On November 19, 2023, the Company entered into a financing agreement of $ 80,800 for the purchase of an insurance policy with First Insurance Funding. The debt is payable in monthly installments of $ 8,389 per month for 10 months. Payments include a stated interest rate of 8.25 % and are secured against lien on the insurance policy. The debt was fully repaid on September 1, 2024 and there was no balance outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025. The Company recognized interest expense of $ 1,289 on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024. 25 Stardust Power Inc. and Subsidiaries NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) Other short-term loans In December 2024, the Company entered into a binding Term Sheet (“Term Sheet”) with Endurance Antarctica Partners II, LLC (“Endurance”), a related party, providing for a loan (the “Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount of $ 1,750,000 , bearing interest at a rate of 15 % per year, and maturing in March 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). The Term Sheet contained customary representations and warranties and customary events of default. Pursuant to the Term Sheet, 5,500,000 shares of Company’s Common Stock, owned by Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, were pledged as collateral. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to Endurance $ 3,500,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker, with the price of each share being determined based on terms per the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of a private placement offering of Company securities (in which case such issuance shall be on no less favorable terms than the terms of such private placement) and (ii) the Maturity/ Repayment Date, provided that the minimum number of shares of Common Stock shall be no less than 500,000 shares. The Company recorded the short-term loan as a liability and evaluated embedded features in accordance with the accounting guidance and determined that bifurcation is not required for any embedded feature. By analyzing the economic characteristics of the Equity Kicker terms, the unconditional obligation to transfer variable number of shares where the monetary value of the obligation is a fixed monetary amount known at inception is akin to a traditional debt arrangement with a principal of $ 1,750,000 , which will be settled in cash along with a premium of $ 3,500,000 in the form of variable number of shares. The Equity Kicker $ 3,500,000 was triggered by the private placement that occurred on December 31, 2024. Upon such occurrence, the Company has recorded the accretion impact of this premium of $ 3,500,000 as finance charges in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024, and has reported the obligation (which will be settled through issuance of variable number of shares) as short-term loan. In addition, Endurance will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, of up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $ 11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company repaid the principal amount of $ 1,750,000 and the accrued interest of $ 70,000 . Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued 977,653 shares of Common Stock and 488,826 warrants to Endurance on April 24, 2025. In December 2024, the Company entered into binding Term Sheets (“Term Sheets”) with several lenders including DRE Chicago LLC, a related party (collectively, the “Lenders”), providing for loans (the “Loans”) in the aggregate principal amount of $ 1,800,000 , bearing interest at a rate of 15 % per year, and maturing in March 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). The proceeds of the Loans are expected to be used by the Company for general corporate and working capital purposes. The Term Sheets contained customary representations and warranties and customary events of default. Pursuant to the Term Sheets, an aggregate of approximately 3,400,000 shares of Company’s Common Stock, owned by Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, were pledged as collateral. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to the Lenders an aggregate of $2,700,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker, with the price of each share being determined based on terms per the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of a private placement offering of Company securities (in which case such issuance shall be on no less favorable terms than the terms of such private placement) and (ii) the Maturity/ Repayment Date, provided that the minimum number of shares of Common Stock issued to the Lenders shall be no less than an aggregate of 360,000 shares. The Company recorded the short-term loan as a liability and evaluated embedded features in accordance with the accounting guidance and determined that bifurcation is not required for any embedded feature. By analyzing the economic characteristics of the Equity Kicker terms, the unconditional obligation to transfer variable number of shares where the monetary value of the obligation is a fixed monetary amount known at inception is akin to a traditional debt arrangement with a principal of $1,800,000, which will be settled in cash along with a premium of $ 2,700,000 in the form of variable number of shares. The Equity Kicker $ 2,700,000 was triggered by the private placement that occurred on December 31, 2024. Upon such occurrence, the Company has recorded the accretion impact of this premium of $ 2,700,000 as finance charges in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024, and has reported the obligation (which will be settled through issuance of variable number of shares) as short-term loan. In addition, the Lenders will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, of up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $ 11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company repaid the principal amount of $ 1,800,000 and the accrued interest of $ 67,146 . Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued 754,187 shares of Common Stock and 377,092 warrants to the investors on April 24, 2025. The Company recognized interest expense of $ 103,938 towards other short-term loans on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The following table summarizes the Company’s outstanding short-term loan arrangements: SCHEDULE OF SHORT TERM LOAN ARRANGEMENTS March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 Insurance funding loan $ 130,638 $ 258,552 Short-term loans from related parties (See Note 11) 3,875,000 5,875,000 Other short-term loans 2,325,000 3,875,000 Total $ 6,330,638 $ 10,008,552 NOTE 14 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On April 16, 2025 and April 17, 2025, Roshan Pujari, the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, transferred an aggregate of 2,880,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for no consideration to an irrevocable trust for the benefit of a member of his family, for estate planning purposes and with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. As a result of the transfer, Mr. Pujari ceased to have voting or dispositive power over such shares. Consequently, Mr. Pujari no longer holds more than 50 % of the voting power for the election of directors of the Company. Therefore, the Company no longer qualifies as a “controlled company” under the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq. The Company had not availed itself of any of the corporate governance exemptions available to controlled companies and thus, is not required to make any changes to its existing corporate governance practices. On April 3, 2025, the Company received written notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that, based on the market value of listed securities for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the listing of the Company’s common stock was not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(A) to maintain a minimum market value of listed securities of at least $ 50 million (the “MVLS Requirement”). In accordance with Nasdaq rules, the Company has a period of 180 calendar days (or until September 30, 2025) to regain compliance with the MVLS Requirement. To regain compliance, the Company’s market value of listed securities must meet or exceed $ 50 million for a minimum of ten consecutive business days. The notification received has no immediate effect on the listing of Stardust’s securities on The Nasdaq Global Market. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued and there are no other items that would have had a material impact on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. 26 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and the related notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section to “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”, “Stardust” or “Stardust Power” refer to Stardust Power Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries at or after the consummation of the business combination (the “Business Combination”). Terms otherwise not defined herein, have the meaning given to such terms in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Certain Defined Terms” beginning on page iii thereof, and such definitions are incorporated herein by reference. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including information with respect to plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors described or referenced in this Quarterly Report under the heading “Risk Factors,” our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. You should carefully read the section titled “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report to gain an understanding of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Please also see the section titled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Quarterly Report. Company Overview and History On December 5, 2022, Stardust Power LLC was organized as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware. On March 16, 2023, Stardust Power Operating Inc. (f/k/a Stardust Power Inc. prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, “Legacy Stardust Power”) was organized as a corporation in the State of Delaware with operations commencing on March 16, 2023. The ownership interests of Stardust Power LLC were subsequently transferred to Stardust Power Inc. On July 8, 2024, former Stardust Power Inc. was renamed Stardust Power Operating Inc. Stardust Power is a U.S.-based development stage battery grade lithium manufacturer designed to foster clean energy independence for America. The Company is in the process of creating capacity to manufacture battery grade lithium products, primarily for the electric vehicle (“EV”) market, by developing a large-scale lithium refinery in the United States. Stardust Power seeks to become a sustainable, cost-effective supplier of battery grade lithium products, by its innovative approach in the development of a large central refinery optimized for multiple inputs of lithium brine inputs (the “Facility”) in Oklahoma. Stardust Power intends to source lithium brine feedstock from various suppliers and may make investments upstream to secure additional feedstock. We seek to sell our products to EV manufacturers as our primary market, with potential applications in other areas such as battery manufacturers, the U.S. military, and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”). Some of the key driving factors are the demand for battery grade lithium products, fueled largely by the demand and production of electric vehicles and automotive OEMs and battery manufacturers seeking domestic supply options, leading to demand for minerals used in battery cells, such as lithium, governmental incentives for American manufacturing and evolving geopolitical climate that is creating a national security priority for the U.S. market. In February 2023, Stardust Power LLC received an illustrative incentive analysis for up to $257 million in performance-based incentives from the State of Oklahoma and potential federal incentives, which also contained potential for further eligible federal grants. The state incentives were based on initial job creation, equipment procurement, training and recruitment incentives, property tax exemptions, sales tax exemptions, and capital expenditure projections submitted to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce in the first quarter of 2023 and could be subject to changes as the Company would progress in setting up the Facility and commercial production of battery grade lithium in the future. These incentives may change based on the actual financial metrics of the Company in the future, which may be lower or higher. 27 Stardust Power believes that it is well poised to address these opportunities by emerging as a leading, fully integrated domestic lithium supplier, and contribute to restoring American energy independence, thereby bridging the gap in the domestic supply of battery grade lithium products. Recent Developments Purchase and Sale Agreement for Site On January 10, 2024, Stardust Power entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the City of Muskogee to purchase the site in Southside Industrial Park, Muskogee, Oklahoma for a total of $1,662,030. On December 16, 2024, the agreement was finalized and the title to the land was transferred in the Company’s name. Recent financing activity On December 31, 2024, the Company entered into binding term sheets with certain investors pursuant to which the Company has agreed to sell, and the Investors have agreed to purchase, Company securities for an aggregate amount of $550,000 (the “Private Placement”). The proceeds of the Private Placement are expected to be used by the Company for capital expenditures, working capital and general corporate purposes. The Investors have agreed to purchase, and the Company has agreed to issue and sell, up to $550,000 in shares of Common Stock at a price equal to 95% of the closing bid price of the Common Stock on the last trading day prior to the closing date for the Private Placement. In addition, each Investor will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, to purchase up to 50% of the shares of Common Stock purchased by such Investor in the Private Placement, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50. The Company received proceeds of $425,000 in December 2024 and additional proceeds of $125,000 in January 2025 from investors. The Company has accounted for this as Advance from PIPE investor for shares and warrants to be issued based on purchase agreement to be entered on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued 128,504 shares of Common Stock and 64,251 Warrants to the investors. On January 27, 2025, the Company consummated a public offering of 4,792,000 shares of common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase up to 4,792,000 shares of common stock at a combined public offering price of $1.20 per share and warrant, generating aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5,750.000 before offering expenses. The common stock purchase warrants, exercisable at $1.30 per share and expiring five years from issuance, were issued under an effective registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-284298), filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), that became effective on January 23, 2025. On March 16, 2025, the Company entered into a letter agreement (the “Inducement Letter”) with a warrant holder (the “Exercising Holder”) providing for the immediate cash exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase 4,792,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a reduced exercise price of $0.62 per share. In connection with such exercise, the Company agreed to issue new common stock purchase warrants (the “Inducement Warrants”) to purchase up to 9,584,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.70 per share, subject to shareholder approval and Nasdaq rules. The Company received gross proceeds of approximately $3 million on March 18, 2025, and intends to use the net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes. No exercises of the Inducement Warrants have occurred as of the date on which these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. Engineering Agreement On August 4, 2024, the Company entered into an engineering agreement (the “Primero Agreement”) with Primero USA, Inc. (“Primero”) pursuant to which Primero agreed to provide certain engineering, design and consultancy professional services, including to assist in procurement of major equipment, engage relevant third parties for construction and provide a Front End Loading-3 report of the Company’s Lithium Facility at Southside Industrial Park in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The total amount due pursuant to the Primero Agreement, assuming full performance, is approximately $4.7 million, in the aggregate, subject to customary potential adjustments and is due for completion in the first half of 2025. Investment in IRIS Metals Limited In December 2024 Stardust Power subscribed to and purchased 10,000,000 ordinary shares (approximately 6% of the total equity) of IRIS Metals Limited (“IRIS Metals”), an Australian limited company whose ordinary shares are listed on the Australian securities exchange (“ASX”) for $1,600,000. This investment in the ordinary shares if IRIS Metals allows the Company to explore strategic partnership with, or investment in, IRIS Metals, including without limitation, a commercial off take arrangement for battery grade lithium production, financing or other investments in IRIS Metals or its affiliates. No formal off take agreement has been executed as at March 31, 2025. Further no material expenses have been incurred towards due diligence during the year ended March 31, 2025. The Company neither has a controlling financial interest nor does it exercise significant influence over IRIS Metals. Accordingly, the investment in IRIS Metals ordinary shares does not result in either the consolidation or application of equity method of accounting for the Company. Offtake and licensing agreements On January 28, 2025, the Company entered into a non-binding letter agreement with Sumitomo, contemplating a long-term commercial offtake agreement, pursuant to which Sumitomo would agree to acquire 20,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate per year from the Company’s first line of production, with the potential to increase to 25,000 metric tons based on mutual agreement. The initial contract term would span 10 years starting from the date of the first qualification of the Company’s lithium carbonate for sale to any of Sumitomo’s customers, with an option for Sumitomo to renew for an additional five years under mutually agreed terms, provided written notice is given to the Company at least twelve months prior to the end of the initial term. On February 7, 2025, the Company executed an exclusive license agreement with KMX. Under the terms of the License Agreement, KMX agreed to irrevocably license to the Company the use of KMX’s VMD Technology and associated processes and systems (including the KMX VMD Units) for the purpose of the Company’s use of the technology in its refining and upstream operations. Among other obligations set forth in the Agreement, the Company shall be required to exclusively purchase all KMX VMD Units from KMX during the term of the Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth therein. The License Agreement grants the Company the exclusive right to sub license, use, market, sell and operate KMX’s VMD Technology across the United States, Canada and select international markets. The Company agreed to pay KMX a royalty comprised of 500,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Royalty Shares”). The securities are being offered and sold by the Company pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder, as a transaction not involving a public offering. As on the effective date of the agreement, the Company received the contractual right to access and purchase KMX VMD Units. No Common Stock has been issued as of March 31, 2025. The Company has a present obligation to issue the common stock as of the effective date and accordingly has recognized a liability of $343,000 and presented as other long-term liability on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as on March 31, 2025, with a corresponding debit recorded as other long-term asset, until the license meets the recognition criteria for an intangible asset. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company issued 500,000 shares of Common Stock to KMX. 28 Short-term loans In December 2024, the Company entered into a binding term sheet (“Term Sheet”) with Endurance Antarctica Partners II, LLC (“Endurance”) a related party, providing for a loan (the “Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,750,000, bearing interest at a rate of 15% per year, and maturing in March 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). The Term Sheet contained customary representations and warranties and customary events of default. Pursuant to the Term Sheet, 5,500,000 shares of Company’s Common Stock, owned by Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, were pledged as collateral. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to Endurance $3,500,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker, with the price of each share being determined based on terms per the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of a private placement offering of Company securities (in which case such issuance shall be on no less favorable terms than the terms of such private placement) and (ii) the Maturity/ Repayment Date, provided that the minimum number of shares of Common Stock shall be no less than 500,000 shares. In addition, Endurance will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company has fully repaid the principal amount and the accrued interest. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued the equity shares and warrants to Endurance on April 24, 2025 In December 2024, the Company entered into binding term sheets (“Term Sheets”) with several lenders including DRE Chicago, LLC, a related party (collectively, the “Lenders”), providing for loans (the “Loans”) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,800,000, bearing interest at a rate of 15% per year, and maturing in March 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). The proceeds of the Loans are expected to be used by the Company for general corporate and working capital purposes. The Term Sheets contained customary representations and warranties and customary events of default. Pursuant to the Term Sheets, an aggregate of approximately 3,400,000 shares of Company’s Common Stock, owned by Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, were pledged as collateral. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to the Lenders an aggregate of $2,700,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker, with the price of each share being determined based on terms per the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of a private placement offering of Company securities (in which case such issuance shall be on no less favorable terms than the terms of such private placement) and (ii) the Maturity/ Repayment Date, provided that the minimum number of shares of Common Stock issued to the Lenders shall be no less than an aggregate of 360,000 shares. In addition, the Lenders will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company has fully repaid the principal amount and the accrued interest. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued the equity shares and warrants to the lenders on April 24, 2025 Notices from Nasdaq On March 18, 2025, we received a notice (the “MVPHS Notice”) from the Nasdaq that the Company was not in compliance with the continued listing standards set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(C), as the Company’s market value of publicly held shares closed below $15,000,000 for the previous 30 consecutive business days. On March 19, 2025, we received a subsequent notice (the “Minimum Bid Price Notice”) from the Nasdaq that the Company was not in compliance with the continued listing standards set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1), as the minimum bid price of the Company’s Common Stock closed below $1.00 per share for the previous 30 consecutive business days. On April 3, 2024, we received a subsequent notice (the “MVLS Notice”) from the Nasdaq that the Company was not in compliance with the continued listing standards set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b) (2)(A), as the market value of the Company’s listed securities fell under $50 million for the previous 30 consecutive business days. The MVPHS Notice, Minimum Bid Price Notice and MVLS Notice have no present impact on the listing of the Company’s securities on the Nasdaq Global Market. Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has a period of 180 calendar days, or until September 15, 2025, to regain compliance with the Minimum Price Rule. To regain compliance with the Minimum Price Rule, during the 180-day compliance period, the minimum bid price of the Company’s listed securities must close at $1.00 per share or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days. To regain compliance with the MVPHS Rule, during the 180-day compliance period, the market value of publicly held shares must close at $15,000,000 or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days. If compliance is not achieved with both rules by September 15, 2025, Nasdaq will provide written notification to the Company that its securities are subject to delisting. At such time, the Company may appeal the delisting determination to a Hearings Panel. Separately, the Company has a period of 180 calendar days, or until September 30, 2025, to regain compliance with the MVLS Rule. To regain compliance with the MVLS Rule, during this 180-day compliance period, the market value of the Company’s listed securities must close at $50,000,000 or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days. If compliance is not achieved with this rule by September 30, 2025, Nasdaq will provide written notification to the Company that its securities are subject to delisting. At such time, the Company may appeal the delisting determination to a Hearings Panel. Key Factors Affecting Our Performance We believe that our performance and future success depend on a number of factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including competition from other lithium brine and other brine producers, changes to existing federal and state level incentive framework, changes in regulations, and other factors discussed under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and this Quarterly Report. We believe the factors described below are key to our success. Commencing Commercial Operations We are a development stage company, and have purchased the site in Southside Industrial Park, Muskogee, Oklahoma. The critical issue analysis, phase I ESA, geotechnical study, and readiness assessment of the site in Southside Industrial Park, Muskogee, Oklahoma has been conducted, and we may be required to conduct other relevant studies. Stardust Power is developing a large central refinery in a phased approach. The first phase is the construction of a production line with up to 25,000 metric tons per annum (“tpa”). The second phase is to add a second production line with up to 25,000 tpa, to create a total capacity of up to 50,000 tpa. A technological innovation of Stardust Power’s planned refinery is the ability for the Facility to refine different sources of lithium brine inputs. The Facility is being designed to accept lithium brines, of a certain approved chemical composition. It is Stardust Power’s intention that the Facility will be able to dilute and pre-treat feedstock as necessary, to ensure that various lithium feedstock can be blended, in order to produce a consistent feedstock. Stardust Power’s strategy is to differentiate itself by screening for a broader set of contaminants, in comparison to other lithium refineries. Partnership Ecosystem Our success will depend on whether we can execute and expand our ecosystem of commercial arrangements with additional suppliers of brine and executing agreements with them at favorable terms. The availability of brine for the purpose of extracting lithium is still in a nascent stage and we would require access to multiple sources as we start commercial production and grow our business. Our management team frequently evaluates current and future sources of supplies for reliability of supply and geographic locations for logistics and cost efficiency. We would also have to maintain technology arrangements with existing strategic affiliations on whose patented and proprietary processes we depend on, as well as forge new technology affiliations as exploration, extraction and purification processes evolve, to obtain raw materials required to manufacture high-quality lithium suitable for consumption by the EV industry, and other potential usages. These affiliations will enable us to refine and sell battery grade lithium at competitive prices, which in turn helps secure the growth and profitability of our business operations in the long term. Adequate Capital Raise The success of our refinery’s activities relating to producing battery grade lithium from brine and the success of our ability to obtain relevant permits in a timely manner require significant capital investment and financing to fund the initial investment in all aspects of setting up the operations, and may subsequently be impacted by our operating losses, competition from substitute products and services from larger companies, protection of proprietary technology of our strategic partners, and dependence on key individuals. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been presented on the basis that the Company is a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has not earned any revenue and has been operating at a loss since inception. The Company has an accumulated deficit and stockholders’ deficit. We believe that the cash on hand and additional investments available through issuance of new Common Stock will be inadequate to satisfy the Company’s working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the issuance of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. As a development stage company, Stardust Power needs to raise additional capital to realize its business objectives. Our long-term success and ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to successfully raise additional capital or financing, or successfully enter into strategic partnerships. Until commercial production is achieved from our planned operations, we will continue to incur operating and investing net cash outflows associated with, among other things, maintaining and acquiring exploration properties and undertaking ongoing exploration activities. 29 Limited Operating History We have a limited operating history and there is limited historical financial information upon which to base an evaluation of our performance. Our business and financial condition must be considered in light of the uncertainties, risks, expenses, and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early stages of operation. Key Business Metrics, Non-GAAP Measure Since we have yet to start the construction of our Facility and associated commercial production, we do not have financial information on key business metrics. However, based on our experience and industry knowledge, we expect the following would be key business metrics: ● Raw Material Cost/ton : This includes the input cost of lithium chloride for the plant. As this may be obtained from various sources, the weighted average cost will be calculated to arrive at the raw material cost per ton and reflects the Company’s ability to procure high-quality raw materials at an appropriate price. The weighted average method also helps in calculating the gross margin on a per-ton basis. The technology implemented and the efficiency of the operations are also reflected on the gross margin per ton. ● Selling Price/ton : This multiple is driven by the demand and supply of the lithium price as well as the efficient operations of the plant. The computation of the selling price may be based on the output sold per long-term contract, which is expected to have a floor and a cap, as well as the spot price on the date of placing a purchase order by the customer, with the Company and the customer sharing the difference between the floor and spot price. ● Capex/ton : This reflects the Capex incurred on a per-ton basis. It includes both direct and indirect costs. It also has contingency costs built in for any impact on Capex, to account for unforeseen events. The key is to optimize plant efficiency in long-term operations with the appropriate technology and set-up. ● Opex/ton : This includes the ongoing expenses incurred from the day-to-day running of the operations. It helps in measuring how much profit a company makes on a dollar of sales after paying for variable costs of production, such as wages and raw materials, but before paying interest or tax. The lower multiple reflects the efficient functioning of the management. ● Capacity Utilization : This measures how much output a plant is producing, compared to its maximum potential output, which is dependent on two key factors: (a) design capacity, which impacts the operational efficiency of the plant, and (b) the plant’s downtime for its maintenance. Timely maintenance is also the key to running any efficient operations. Further, since we are yet to generate revenue, non-GAAP measures such as EBITDA and EBITDA margins, cannot be captured currently, but will be stated once we have commenced commercial production and selling of battery grade lithium to our intended customers. 30 Business and Macroeconomic Conditions Our business and financial condition has been, and we believe will continue to be, impacted by adverse and uncertain macroeconomic conditions and events, including higher inflation, higher interest rates, supply chain and logistics challenges, banking crises, and fluctuations or volatility in capital markets. Components of Results of Operations Revenue We have not generated any revenue to date. We expect to generate a significant portion of our future revenue from the sale of battery grade lithium primarily to the EV market. We expect that we will enter into long-term contracts (typically 10 years), driven by industry dynamics of the EV industry, with a pricing structure at cap and ceiling, and sharing of variable price between customers and the Company. Cost of Goods Sold We have not sourced any raw material to date. We expect to source brine from lithium producing suppliers including the oil and gas industry as a byproduct of their exploration and extraction processes. We are in the process of negotiating with multiple suppliers for brine feedstock, including producers from the oil and gas industry. The length, tenure and pricing of these contracts will depend largely on the type of supply and is expected to vary from supplier to supplier. Expenses General and administrative General and administrative expense consists of costs to maintain our daily operations and administer the business that are not directly attributable to generating revenue or cost of goods or raw material. These consist primarily of consulting services (including advisory services for organization setup and administrative related services from contractors, consultants), professional services such as accounting advisory, statutory auditor fees, technical consultants, and business consulting, as well as personnel related expenses (including stock based compensation), legal and book-keeping services, insurance expenses (including director and officer’s insurance), investor relations activities and marketing expenses. We expect our general and administrative expenses will increase in absolute dollars over time as we continue to invest in initially setting up our Facility, hire additional employees, and subsequently invest in the growth of our business and incur costs associated with being a publicly traded company with respect to compliance with the regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq Global Market. Other Income (Expenses) Interest income Interest income is comprised of interest earned on promissory notes. During the year 2024, the Company issued promissory notes of $176,000 and $316,000 to IGX Minerals LLC and IG Lithium LLC respectively. These notes carry an interest rate of 6% with maturity date of February 28, 2025, and July 1, 2025, respectively. The Company is actively negotiating the terms for repayment of the promissory note issued to IGX and is evaluating multiple options including a possible strategic investment. Interest expense Interest expense is comprised of interest payable on the Insurance Funding loans and short-term loans. The Company entered into a financing agreement of $510,000 for the purchase of a director and officer’s insurance policy with AFCO Insurance Premium Finance in 2024. The Company made a downpayment of $44,162, which was applied to the loan amount at the time of the loan agreement. The debt is payable in monthly installments of $44,162 per month for 11 months. Payments include a stated interest rate of 8.46% and are secured against a lien on the insurance policy. The Company issued a Term Sheet to Endurance in the aggregate principal amount of $1,750,000, bearing interest at a rate of 15% per year, and maturing in March 2025. The Company issued Term Sheets to several lenders, providing for loans in the aggregate principal amount of $1,800,000, bearing interest at a rate of 15% per year, and maturing in March 2025. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 included interest on a Legacy Stardust Power financing agreement of $80,800 for the purchase of an insurance policy with First Insurance Funding. Payments include a stated interest rate of 8.25% and are secured against a lien on the insurance policy. The debt was fully paid off as of March 31, 2025. 31 Finance charges Finance charges includes the change in fair value of the Company’s make-whole provision related to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement and the costs incurred on sale of common stock pursuant to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement. Change in fair value of investment in equity securities Change in fair value of investment in equity securities relates to movements in fair value of investment in equity securities of strategic investments such as the investment in QXR and IRIS Metals, that need to be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations for each reporting period, based on readily available quoted prices for such investment. Change in fair value of SAFE notes Change in fair value of SAFE notes relates to movements in fair value of SAFE notes that have been classified as liability instruments in the financial statements, which need to be recorded in the statement of operations for each reporting period, based on third party valuations carried out at period end. Upon consummation of the Business Combination on July 8, 2024, the SAFE notes were converted into Common Stock of the Company and hence the balance is $Nil in the unaudited condensed balance sheet as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024. Change in fair value of sponsor earnout shares Change in fair value of sponsor earnout shares relates to movements in fair value of earnout shares issued to the Sponsor which have been classified as liability instruments in the financial statements, that need to be recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for each reporting period, based on third party valuations carried out at period end. Change in fair value of warrant liability Change in fair value of warrant liability relates to movements in fair value of Public Warrants and Private Warrants which have been classified as liability instruments in the financial statements, that need to be recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for each reporting period, based on fair value at period end. Provision for income taxes We are constituted as a Delaware corporation and are subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes based on enacted rates, as adjusted for allowable credits, deductions, uncertain tax positions, changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes in tax law. 32 Results of Operations The following table sets forth our unaudited condensed statements of operations information for the period indicated: Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 Changes Revenue General and administrative expenses 5,748,648 1,235,366 4,513,282 Operating loss (5,748,648 ) (1,235,366 ) (4,513,282 ) Other income (expenses) Interest income 7,279 - 7,279 Interest expense (107,841 ) (1,289 ) (106,552 ) Finance charge (198,422 ) - (198,422 ) Change in fair value of earnout shares 528,000 - 528,000 Change in fair value of warrant liability 1,699,177 - 1,699,177 Change in fair value of investment in equity securities 10,755 (54,658 ) 65,413 Change in fair value of SAFE notes - (107,900 ) 107,900 Total other income (expenses) 1,938,948 (163,847 ) 2,102,795 Net loss (3,809,700 ) (1,399,213 ) (2,410,487 ) Revenues We have not earned any revenue since inception. Cost of Goods Sold We did not manufacture any products, and hence did not incur any direct costs related to production or carrying inventory, since inception. 33 General and Administrative Expenses General and administrative expenses primarily attributable to fees for professional and consulting fees, mainly comprising marketing advisory services and other consulting, legal services and advisory services with respect to the Company’s organization, fees for strategic investments evaluation and employee related compensation expenses representing base salary, benefits and stock based compensation expense. The details of these expenses are as follows: Three months ended March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 Changes Professional and consulting fees 1,222,673 523,624 699,049 Legal fees 212,935 84,653 128,282 Payroll and related taxes 3,556,648 470,853 3,085,795 Insurance 145,038 26,994 118,044 Marketing and events 315,326 11,356 303,970 Other 296,028 117,886 178,142 Total 5,748,648 1,235,366 4,513,282 For the three months ended March 31, 2025, general and administrative expenses increased compared to three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to higher employee related costs driven by an increase in stock based compensation expense and increase in number of employees, increase in legal fees, professional and consulting fees including stock based compensation expense for consultants, accounting advisory, statutory auditor fees, technical consultants and business consulting and an increase in marketing, conferences and events expenses and other administrative expenses in line with growth in operations. Other Income (Expenses) Interest income For the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, the Company recorded interest income of $7,279, compared to $Nil for the same period in 2024. The increase of $7,279 is attributable to interest earned on promissory notes issued during August 2024. 34 Interest expense For the three months ended March 31, 2025, interest expenses increased compared to three months ended March 31, 2024 primarily due to interest expense incurred on the financing agreement for the Company’s purchase of directors and officers and other insurance policies. Additionally, the Company entered into finance agreements for short-term loans with various lenders during December 2024, resulting in an increase in interest expense of $106,552. The Company had only a director and officer’s insurance financing agreement taken in November 2023 during the comparative prior period. Finance charges Finance charges for the three months ended March 31, 2025, amounted to $198,422, compared to $Nil finance charges during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Finance charges for the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily comprise of the change in fair value of the Company’s make-whole provision related to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement. Change in fair value of investment in equity securities For the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, the Company recognized an increase of $10,755 in the fair value of its investment in equity securities, compared to a decrease of $54,658 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. The net change of $65,413 is primarily attributable to fluctuations in the quoted market prices of the Company’s investments in QXR and IRIS Metals. Change in fair value of SAFE notes For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company did not recognize any change in the fair value of SAFE notes, compared to a loss of $107,900 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The variance of $107,900 is due to changes in estimates related to inputs used in the valuation of SAFE notes, which have been classified as liability instruments, based on third party valuations, prior to the conversion of the instruments into Common Stock. The SAFE notes, which had previously been classified as liability instruments, were converted to equity following the consummation of the Business Combination with GPAC II on July 8, 2024. The Company had not issued any such SAFE notes post business combination consummation. Change in fair value of earnout shares The income from change in fair value of earnout shares increased by $528,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, related to movements in fair value of earnout shares issued to the Sponsor. The earnout shares have been classified as liability instruments in the financial statements, and the fair value adjustment is recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for each reporting period, based on third party valuations carried out at period end. The Company had not issued any such earnout shares in the comparative period. 35 Change in fair value of warrant liability Change in fair value of warrant liability which was an increase in income of $1,699,177 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, relates to movements in fair value of Public and Private Warrants which have been classified as liability instruments in the financial statements, that need to be recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for each reporting period, based on fair value at period end. The Company had not issued any such warrants in the comparative period. Tax expenses For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 the tax expense is Nil, due to net losses incurred during these periods. We do not carry any deferred tax assets on the balance sheet as at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, primarily due to net operating loss carryforwards resulting from historically incurred net operating losses and full valuations allowance of those losses, as our ability to realize future tax benefits related to these assets is largely dependent upon operational profitability, which is uncertain. As a result of this uncertainty, we have established a full valuation allowance, and have not recognized a net provision or benefit for income taxes in the periods reported. Net loss For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and March 31, 2024, the Company incurred a net loss of $3,809,700 and $1,399,213 respectively. Since the Company is yet to start commercial production of battery grade lithium, the operating expenses are expected to increase, as the Company starts to recruit more personnel to perform general operational tasks and set up the Facility and execute supply agreements. Liquidity and Capital Resources Overview We have devoted substantial efforts and financial resources to raising capital and organizing and staffing the Company, and as a result, have incurred significant operating losses. As of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $56,428,648 and $ 52,618,948 respectively. We have not earned any revenue and have been operating at a loss since inception. We have an accumulated deficit and stockholders’ deficit. Liquidity Requirements Our primary requirements for liquidity and capital are investment in new facilities, new technologies, working capital and general corporate needs. Specifically, in this regard, the total refinery cost, which includes all direct and indirect costs and contingencies needed to build the refinery, has been estimated at $1,165 million. We intend to finance our project cost through a mix of debt, equity and potential government grants. We expect our operational expenditures to increase for the foreseeable future in connection with ongoing and future activities. Specifically, expenditures will increase as we: ● Secure and build facilities; ● invest in research and development activities to advance the development of our technologies; and ● incur additional expenses associated with transitioning to, and operating as, a public company. Our current and ongoing liquidity requirements will depend on many factors, including: our launch cadence, the timing and extent of spending to support additional development efforts, the introduction of new and enhanced offerings, the continuing market adoption of our offerings, the timing and extent of additional capital expenditures to build and invest in the Facility. In addition, we may, in the future, enter into arrangements to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, business offerings and technologies. However, we do not have agreements or commitments to enter into any such acquisitions or investments at this time. 36 Sources of Liquidity and Going Concern We have funded our operations with proceeds from sales of Legacy Stardust Power Common Stock, promissory notes, SAFE notes, debt financing, equity financing and convertible equity agreements. To continue as a going concern, we anticipate funding our near-term operations through the sale of equity securities, promissory notes, debt financing or from other capital sources. 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. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been presented on the basis that the Company is a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company is a development stage entity having no revenues, has incurred net loss since inception of $56,428,648 and has stockholders’ deficit of $12,835,162 as at March 31, 2025. The Company expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its operating and investment plans. These costs exceed the Company’s existing cash balance and net working capital. As discussed above: ● On October 7, 2024, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and a related Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (“B. Riley Principal Capital II”) to sell up to $50,000,000 of newly issued shares of the Company’s Common Stock to B. Riley Principal Capital II. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company issued 3,981 shares of common stock pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, aggregating to net proceeds of $15,922. ● On January 27, 2025, the Company consummated a public offering of 4,792,000 shares of Common Stock and accompanying warrants to purchase up to 4,792,000 shares of Common Stock at a public offering price of $1.20 per share and warrant with an exercise price of $1.30, generating aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5,750,400 before offering expenses. ● On March 16, 2025, the Company entered into a letter agreement (the “Inducement Letter”) with a warrant holder (the “Exercising Holder”) providing for the immediate cash exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase 4,792,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a reduced exercise price of $0.62 per share, generating aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $3 million, before related expenses, on March 18, 2025. In connection with such exercise, the Company agreed to issue new Common Stock purchase warrants (the “Inducement Warrants”) to purchase up to 9,584,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.70 per share. We believe that the cash on hand, and additional investments available through issuance of new Common Stock, will be inadequate to satisfy the 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 the issuance of equity or receive additional borrowings to fund the Company’s operating and investing activities over the next year. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable 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 of the Company. Insurance funding borrowing On November 19, 2023, Legacy Stardust Power borrowed $80,800 from First Insurance Funding to finance its insurance policies. The total of premium, taxes and fees aggregated to $101,000, of which an initial down payment of $20,200 was paid by Stardust Power, and the balance financed through First Insurance Funding. The loan has an annual percentage rate of 8.25% and is payable in 10 installments through September 21, 2024. As at December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025, the loan was fully repaid and the balance was $Nil. 37 On July 18, 2024, the Company entered into a financing agreement of $510,000 for the purchase of an insurance policy with AFCO Insurance Premium Finance. The Company made a downpayment of $44,162, which was applied to the loan amount at the time of the loan agreement. The debt is payable in monthly installments of $44,162 per month for eleven months. Payments include a stated interest rate of 8.46% and are secured against a lien on the insurance policy. SAFE notes On February 23, 2024, Legacy Stardust Power signed the February 2024 SAFE note for an amount of $200,000. In accordance with the terms of the February 2024 SAFE note, the SAFE notes converted into shares of Legacy Stardust Power Common Stock, immediately prior to the First Effective Time on similar terms to the other SAFE notes. The SAFE notes are classified as liabilities based on evaluating characteristics of the instruments and are presented at fair value as non-current liabilities in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. The SAFE notes provided Legacy Stardust Power an option to call for additional preferred stock up to 25,000,000 based on the contingent event of SAFE note conversion and notice issued by the Stardust Power board of directors (the “Board”), and achievement of certain milestones, for up to 42 months following such conversion. This feature was determined to be an embedded feature and is valued as part of the liability value associated with the instrument as a whole. Additionally, the SAFE notes provided the investor certain rights upon an equity financing, change in control or dissolution as described in Note 4 of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company. The estimated fair value of the SAFE notes considered the timing of issuance and whether there were changes in the various scenarios since issuance. As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of the SAFE notes was $5,212,200 and were classified as a non-current liability. The SAFE notes had no interest rate or maturity date, description of dividend and participation rights. The liquidation preference of the SAFE notes was junior to other outstanding indebtedness and creditor claims, on par with payments for other SAFE notes and/or preferred equity, and senior to payments for other equity of the Company that were not SAFE notes and/or pari preferred equity. On March 21, 2024, Legacy Stardust Power entered into a financing commitment and equity line of credit agreement with AIGD. The agreement replaced the above contingent commitment feature of the SAFE notes with granting Legacy Stardust Power an option to drawdown up an additional $15,000,000 on terms similar to existing SAFE notes prior to the First Effective Time. On April 24, 2024, Legacy Stardust Power amended and restated the August 2023 SAFE note and the November 2023 SAFE note. On May 1, 2024, Legacy Stardust Power amended and restated the February 2024 SAFE note. These amendments clarified the conversion mechanism in connection with the Business Combination. In accordance with the terms of the convertible equity agreements, immediately prior to the First Effective Time, the cash received pursuant to the SAFE note agreements automatically converted into 636,916 shares of Combined Company Common Stock. Short-term loans In December 2024, the Company entered into a binding Term Sheet (“Term Sheet”) with Endurance Antarctica Partners II, LLC (“Endurance”), a related party, providing for a loan (the “Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,750,000, bearing interest at a rate of 15% per year, and maturing in March 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). The Term Sheet contained customary representations and warranties and customary events of default. Pursuant to the Term Sheet, 5,500,000 shares of Company’s Common Stock, owned by Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, were pledged as collateral. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to Endurance $3,500,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker, with the price of each share being determined based on terms per the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of a private placement offering of Company securities (in which case such issuance shall be on no less favorable terms than the terms of such private placement) and (ii) the Maturity/ Repayment Date, provided that the minimum number of shares of Common Stock shall be no less than 500,000 shares. In addition, Endurance will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, of up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company has fully repaid the principal amount and the accrued interest. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued the equity shares and warrants to Endurance on April 24, 2025 In December 2024, the Company entered into binding Term Sheets (“Term Sheets”) with several lenders including DRE Chicago, LLC, a related party (collectively, the “Lenders”), providing for loans (the “Loans”) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,800,000, bearing interest at a rate of 15% per year, and maturing in March 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). The proceeds of the Loans are expected to be used by the Company for general corporate and working capital purposes. The Term Sheets contained customary representations and warranties and customary events of default. Pursuant to the Term Sheets, an aggregate of approximately 3,400,000 shares of Company’s Common Stock, owned by Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, were pledged as collateral. In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to the Lenders an aggregate of $2,700,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker, with the price of each share being determined based on terms per the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of a private placement offering of Company securities (in which case such issuance shall be on no less favorable terms than the terms of such private placement) and (ii) the Maturity/ Repayment Date, provided that the minimum number of shares of Common Stock issued to the Lenders shall be no less than an aggregate of 360,000 shares. In addition, the Lenders will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, of up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company has fully repaid the principal amount and the accrued interest. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued the equity shares and warrants to the lenders on April 24, 2025. 38 Cash Flow Summary The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods presented: Three months ended March 31, 2025 Three months ended March 31, 2024 Change Net cash used in operating activities (2,875,187 ) (934,680 ) (1,940,507 ) Net cash used in investing activities (960,332 ) (3,131 ) (957,201 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 4,511,080 54,385 4,456,695 Net change in cash 675,561 (883,426 ) 1,558,987 Cash Flows Used in Operating Activities For the three months ended March 31, 2025, net cash used in operating activities was $2,875,187, consisting of a $3,809,700 net loss, adjusted for $ 915,041 non-cash charge for stock based compensation, change in fair value of investments, warrant liability, sponsor earnout shares, common stock make-whole obligation, and depreciation and a $19,472 net change in operating assets and liabilities, primarily driven by a decrease of $69,462 in accounts payable and other current liabilities which represent the various costs that are expected to be incurred as we set up operations during this period, partially offset by an increase of $88,934 in prepaid expenses and other assets. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash used in operating activities was $934,680, consisting of a $1,399,213 net loss, adjusted for $222,342 non-cash charge for change in fair value of SAFE notes, investment in equity securities, stock based compensation and depreciation and $242,191 net change in operating assets and liabilities, primarily driven by an increase of $362,363 in accounts payable, other current liabilities which primarily represent the various costs that are expected to be incurred as we set up operations during this period partially offset by decrease of $120,172 in prepaid expenses and other assets. Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities For the three months ended March 31, 2025, net cash used in investing activities was $960,332, primarily representing $959,644 on account of capital project costs related to construction of the refinery. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $3,131 for the purchase of property and equipment. Cash Flows from Financing Activities For the three months ended March 31, 2025, net cash provided by financing activities was $4,511,080, related primarily to gross proceeds from consummation of a public offering in January 2025 of $5,750,400, Warrant Inducement gross proceeds of $2,971,040 in March 2025, advance from PIPE investors of $125,000, common stock issuance proceeds of $16,414 partially offset by repayment of short-term loans of $3,677,914, payment of transaction costs associated with public offering and warrant inducement of $648,860, and deferred transaction costs payment of $25,000. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash provided by financing activities was $54,385, related primarily to proceeds of $200,000 received for issuance of SAFE notes, partially offset by payment of deferred transaction costs of $115,788, repayment of short-term loan of $23,824 and repurchase of unvested shares of $6,003. Operating and Capital Expenditure Requirements The Company has not earned any revenue and has been operating at a loss since inception. The Company has an accumulated deficit and stockholders’ deficit. These conditions raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue to finance operations over the next twelve months and 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 one year. Our intended capital requirements depend on many factors including the capital expenditures required to set up our Facility, and undertake all activities necessary to start commercial production, prices of capital equipment, and preliminary costs. In the future, it will depend on our expansion of acquiring new assets/sites to have access and potential ownership of raw material. We may in the future enter into arrangements to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, services and technologies, including intellectual property rights. We may be required to seek additional equity or debt financing. If additional financing is required from outside sources, over and above what we are intending to raise currently, we may not be able to raise it on acceptable terms or at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital when desired, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected and may not be able to continue our intended operations as a going concern. Commitments and Contractual Obligations We have entered into an engineering agreement with Primero USA, Inc. for $4,724,690 to provide a FEL-3 report. See Note 3 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for additional details regarding other contractual obligations and commitments. While the Company has not entered into any other binding commitments, other strategic partnerships are being evaluated which could lead to future contractual obligations. Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates We believe that the following accounting policies and estimates involve a high degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our unaudited condensed consolidated financial condition and results of our operations. See Note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for a description of our other significant accounting policies. The preparation of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in those financial statements and accompanying notes. Although we believe that the estimates we use are reasonable, due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making those estimates, actual results reported in future periods could differ from those estimates. 39 Deferred Transaction Costs In accordance with ‘Codification of Staff Accounting Bulletins – Topic 5: Miscellaneous Accounting A. Expenses of Offering’ (“SAB Topic 5”), public offering related costs, including legal fees and advisory and consulting fees, are deferred until consummation/completion of the proposed public offering. The Company has deferred $116,121 of related costs incurred towards the proposed public offering which are presented within current assets in the audited consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2024. The Company consummated the public offering on January 27, 2025. After the consummation of the Public Offering, costs allocated to equity-classified instruments amounting to $86,121 were recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital. The remaining deferred costs of $30,000 attributable to a separate proposed offering was expensed as the transaction did not materialize during the three months ended March 31, 2025. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company deferred $25,000 of costs incurred towards potential future debt arrangement which is presented within current assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as at March 31, 2025. If the transaction does not materialize, the deferred offering costs will be expensed. Income Taxes Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We account for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, we recognize the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit would more likely than not be realized assuming examination by the taxing authority. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. We recognize any interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. Earnout Share Liability, SAFE Notes, and Convertible Notes We account for the earnout share liability, SAFE notes, and convertible notes in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” and ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging,” whereby it is accounted for as a liability which requires initial and subsequent measurements at fair value. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until a triggering event, equity financing, change in control or dissolution occurs, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The fair value estimate includes significant inputs not observable in market, which represents a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The valuation uses probabilities considering pay-offs under various scenarios as follows: (i) an equity financing where the SAFE notes and convertible note will convert into certain preferred stock; (ii) a change in control where the SAFE note and convertible note holders will have an option to receive a portion of the cash and other assets equal to the purchase amount; (iii) a dissolution event where the SAFE notes and convertible note holders will be entitled to the purchase amount subject to liquidation priority and (iv) achievement of Combined Company Common Stock price targets, where the earnout share liability will convert into certain number of shares of Common Stock. The value of the instrument is likely to vary significantly based on the probability of each of the conversion scenarios that occurs, and management will reassess such probability at each reporting period. These probabilities will ultimately be factored into the valuation of the instrument and will require third party valuation experts to assist in the determination of this value. The changes in value of the instrument could impact the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements materially and therefore constitute a critical estimate. 40 Fair Value of Common Stock Due to the absence of an active market for our Common Stock prior to consummation of the business combination, and in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accounting and Valuation Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, the fair value of our Common Stock was previously estimated based on valuation carried out by third party appraisers and approved by our Board based on current available information and after exercising reasonable judgment. This estimate requires significant judgment and considers several factors, including: ● independent third-party valuations of our Common Stock; ● estimated probabilities of future liquidation scenarios; ● projected future cash flows provided by management; ● guideline public company information; ● discount rates; ● our actual operating and financial performance; ● current business conditions and projections; ● our stage of development; ● U.S. and global capital markets conditions; and ● expected volatility based on comparable public company stock performance over the time period being measured. Probability weightings assigned to potential liquidity scenarios were based on management’s expected near-term and long-term funding requirements and assessment of the most attractive liquidation possibilities at the time of the valuation. In the most heavily weighted scenarios, the enterprise valuation was calculated using a valuation approach based on a combination of the guideline public company approach, an income approach analysis with an option pricing model and a cost approach, to determine the amount of aggregate equity value allocated to our Common Stock. In all scenarios, a discount for lack of marketability (“DLOM”) was applied to arrive at a fair value of common shares. A DLOM accounts for the lack of marketability of shares that are not publicly traded. Application of these approaches and methodologies involves the use of estimates, judgment and assumptions that are complex and subjective, such as those regarding our expected future revenue, expenses, operations and cash flows, discount rates, industry and economic outlook, and the probability of and timing associated with potential future events. Changes in any or all estimates and assumptions or the relationships between those assumptions impact our valuations as of each relevant valuation date and may have a material impact on the valuation of our Common Stock. Estimates of the fair value of the Common Stock are used in the measurement of stock based compensation. Following the Business Combination, it is no longer necessary to determine the fair value of our business as the Stardust Power Common Stock is now publicly traded. Recent Accounting Pronouncements See Note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for additional details regarding recent accounting pronouncements. Segment Reporting The Company reports segment information in the same way management internally organizes the business in assessing performance and making decisions regarding allocation of resources in accordance with ASC Topic 280, “ Segment Reporting .” The Company has a single reportable operating segment which operates as a single business platform. In reaching this conclusion, management considered the definition of the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), how the business is defined by the CODM, the nature of the information provided to the CODM, how the CODM uses such information to make operating decisions, and how resources and performance are accessed. The Company has a single, common management team and our cash flows are reported and reviewed with no distinct cash flows. 41 Related Party Transactions On September 18, 2024, the Company entered into a consulting agreement in the amount of $500,000 with DRE Chicago LLC, whose principal is Paramita Das. Ms. Das was onboarded as the Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Advisor to CEO of the Company. Additionally, as discussed above, in December 2024, the Company entered into a binding term sheet with DRE Chicago LLC and other lenders, providing for loan in the principal amount of $250,000 to DRE Chicago, bearing interest at a rate of 15% per year, and maturing in March 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to DRE Chicago an aggregate of $375,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker. In addition, DRE Chicago will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, of up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company has fully repaid the principal amount and the accrued interest. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued the equity shares and warrants to DRE Chicago on April 24, 2025. As discussed above, in December 2024, the Company entered into a binding term sheet with Endurance Antarctica Partners II, LLC (“Endurance”), an affiliate of a director at the time and a shareholder, providing for a loan (the “Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,750,000, bearing interest at a rate of 15% per year, and maturing on March 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). In addition, the Company has agreed to issue to Endurance $3,500,000 in Common Stock as an Equity Kicker. In addition, Endurance will receive warrants representing the right, exercisable within five years of the closing date, of up to 50% of Common Stock issued as Equity Kicker, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 in accordance with the Private Placement terms. During the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company has fully repaid the principal amount and the accrued interest. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued the equity shares and warrants to Endurance on April 24, 2025. Private Warrants The Sponsor purchased from GPAC II an aggregate of 5,566,667 warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the completion of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Private Warrants”). At closing of the Business Combination, Stardust Power acquired the net liabilities for GPAC II including the Private Warrants. Each Private Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at $11.50 per share. At March 31, 2025 there were 5,566,667 Private Warrants outstanding. As at March 31, 2025, the fair value of Private Warrants amounted to $401,356. The Company valued its Private Warrants based on the closing price of the Public Warrants since they are similar instruments. 42 Sponsor Earnout Shares As part of the closing of the Business Combination, the Company issued 1,000,000 shares to the Sponsor. These shares are subject to vesting (or forfeiture) based on achieving certain trading price thresholds following the closing (“Sponsor Earnout Shares”). Fifty percent of the Sponsor Earnout Shares will vest when the VWAP of the Combined Company Common Stock price equals or exceeds $12.00 per share for a period of 20 trading days in a 30 trading day period, and the remaining fifty percent of the Sponsor Earnout Shares will vest when the VWAP of the Combined Company Common Stock price equals or exceeds $14.00 per share for a period of 20 trading days in a 30 trading day period. Upon the occurrence of a change in control, any remaining unvested Sponsor Earnout Shares become vested. Unvested Sponsor Earnout Shares will be forfeited if vesting does not occur prior to the eighth anniversary of the Closing Date. The Company assesses the fair value of expected earnout consideration at each reporting period using the Monte Carlo Method, which is consistent with the initial measurement of the expected earnout consideration. As at March 31, 2025, the fair value of Sponsor Earnout Shares amounted to $4,700. Recent Events See Note 14 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for additional details regarding subsequent events. Stardust Power’s Risk Management Framework Commodity Price Risk Global commodity prices, especially for lithium hydroxide and, or lithium carbonate and other “battery metals” changes may impact the margins and produce less revenue or losses for the Company. Global lithium commodities market are still somewhat nascent and as the global supply chain changes this could impact the prices of commodities. The costs of lithium inputs could be affected as well further impacting margins and profitability. In order to address this risk, the Company is negotiating fixed price off take agreement with suppliers of raw material required. Also, we seek to enter into long-term partnerships to limit potential volatility in pricing. Additionally, in the future, we intend to enter into strategic partnerships that would create long-term alignment with buyers. While there has been significant recent softness and reduced demand in respect of EVs and a significant decrease in the price of lithium, we believe that the long-term prospects for both remain positive. Global Demand and Product Pricing Risk New supplies of lithium and the emergence of new refiners both here in the United States and globally, could impact the global supply chain and product prices. Existing companies may be seeking to increase their capacity to provide lithium products and new companies seek to bring capacity online further increasing supply. Other companies may seek to enter the market. Also, the demand for lithium may be impacted by emerging technologies and other battery chemistries that may decrease the reliance on lithium and could result in reducing product prices. In order to address fluctuations in product price, and in lines with industry norms, the Company is intending to enter into 10-year long-term sales contracts with EV manufacturers, whereby we expect to have a cap and floor pricing strategy, and both, customer and the Company, sharing the difference between actual price and cap or floor pricing. We may further limit chemistry risk by refining to lithium carbonate prior to potentially refining to lithium hydroxide so we can meet market demands for either product. We stay informed on current trends in battery chemistry to project market demand. Insurance Risk The nature of these risks is such that liabilities could exceed any applicable insurance policy limits or could be excluded from coverage. There are also risks against which we cannot insure or against which we may elect not to insure. The potential costs, which could be associated with any liabilities not covered by insurance or in excess of insurance coverage, or compliance with applicable laws and regulations may cause substantial delays and require significant capital outlays, adversely affecting our future earnings and competitive position and potentially our financial viability. We may limit insurance risk by being proactive in our policies for environmental impact and climate change impact. Through strict adherence to company protocols we may limit certain types of risk. Also, we intend to work only with best-in-class providers, who are adept at assessing various risks in our line of business adequately. 43 Strategic Risk Strategic risk represents the risk associated with executive management failing to develop and execute on the appropriate strategic vision which demonstrates a commitment to our culture, leverages our core competencies, appropriately responds to external factors in the marketplace, and is in the best interests of our clients, employees, and members. By working with best-in-class partners and consultants who are industry experts, as well as by leveraging the knowledge of our senior executive team, we expect to be able to limit or address strategic risk and execution risk. ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Market Risk Framework Market risk represents the risk of losses, or financial volatility, that may result from the change in value of our products due to fluctuations in its market price. The scope of our market risk management policies and procedures includes all market-sensitive data related to input and selling prices. We expect to be able to limit this risk by using third parties to finance acquisition of feedstock and logistics, as required. We may enter into long-term arrangements for supply to limit impacts of market risk. The Company’s different types of market risk include: Interest rate risk Interest rate risk represents the potential volatility from changes in market interest rates. We are exposed to interest rate risk arising from changes in the level and volatility of interest rates, changes in the slope of the yield curve, changes in credit spreads, and the rate of prepayments on our interest-earning assets (e.g., inventories) and our funding sources (e.g., short-term financing) which finance these assets. Project finance and loan facilities are a key component of our financing strategy. Volatility in the interest rate market could impede our plans for growth. Liquidity risk Liquidity risk is the risk that we are unable to timely access necessary funding sources in order to operate our business, as well as the risk that we are unable to timely divest securities that we hold in connection with our sales and trading activities. The Company has been successful in equity financing in the past but there is no assurance that it will continue to be able to finance the Company with equity financing. The Company does not have substantial credit lines for financing the Company. Credit risk Credit risk refers to the potential for loss due to the default or deterioration in credit quality of a counterparty, customer, borrower, or issuer. The nature and amount of credit risk depends on the type of transaction, the structure and duration of that transaction and the parties involved. Credit risk also results from an obligor’s failure to meet the terms of any contract with us or otherwise fail to perform as agreed. This may be reflected through issues such as settlement obligations or payment collections. 44 Operational risk The success of our plan requires us to be able to operationally deliver on the project plan and timelines as projected by management. In order to mitigate and control operational risk, we will develop policies and procedures that are designed to identify and manage operational risk at appropriate levels throughout the organization. We will also have business continuity plans in place that we believe will cover critical processes on a company-wide basis, and redundancies are built into our systems as we deem appropriate. These control mechanisms will be designed to ensure that operational policies and procedures are being followed and that our various businesses are operating within established corporate policies and limits. We are leveraging and intend to continue implementing established best practices for our industry to reduce operational risk. Human Capital Risk The success of our business is dependent upon the skills, expertise, industry knowledge and performance of our employees. Human capital risks represent the risks posed if we fail to attract and retain qualified individuals, particularly those having specialized technical knowledge in the exploration, extraction, and purification of brine from varying sources to produce battery-grade lithium, and employees who are motivated to serve the best interests of our clients, thereby serving the best interests of our Company. Attracting and retaining employees depends, among other things, on our Company’s culture, management, work environment, geographic locations and compensation. There are risks associated with the proper recruitment, development and rewards of our employees to ensure quality performance and retention. We offer competitive compensation and benefits to retain human capital, intend to offer educational opportunities to allow advancement, and promote balance in work life conditions by offering hybrid work-from-home options. Legal and regulatory risk Legal and regulatory risk includes the risk of non-compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and loss to our reputation we may suffer as a result of failure to comply with laws, regulations, rules, related self-regulatory organization standards and codes of conduct applicable to our business activities. We are generally subject to extensive regulation in the various jurisdictions in which we conduct our business. We are in the process of setting up procedures that are designed to ensure compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, such as public company reporting obligations, regulatory net capital requirements, sales practices, potential conflicts of interest, anti-money laundering, privacy and recordkeeping. We will also establish procedures that are designed to require that our policies relating to ethics and business conduct are followed. Market Risk Exposure Interest Rate Risk As of March 31, 2025, the Company did not have any significant risk for changes in interest rates. Credit Risk We are subject to credit risk with respect to our cash balances for those amounts in excess of the FDIC insured amount of $250,000. The Company has only one financial banking institution. Inflation Risk We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations, other than its impact on the general economy. However, we are currently operating in a more volatile inflationary environment due to macroeconomic conditions and have limited data and experience doing so in our history, particularly as we continue to invest in growth in our business. The principal inflationary factor affecting our business is higher costs. Our inability or failure to address challenges relating to inflation could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 45 ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures We are required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the period ending December 31, 2021 and thereafter. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company would we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement. Disclosure controls are procedures with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act, such as this report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls are designed with the objective of ensuring that information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Background and Remediation of Material Weaknesses During the period from March 16, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023, the Company’s management identified material weaknesses in the implementation of the COSO 13 Framework (which establishes an effective control environment), lack of segregation of duties and management oversight, and control surrounding maintenance of adequate repository of contracts, appropriate classifications of expenses and complex financial instruments. We designed and implemented measures to improve our controls over financial reporting process and remediated these material weaknesses. Our ability to comply with the annual internal control report requirements will depend on the effectiveness of our financial reporting controls across our Company. We expect these systems and controls to involve significant expenditures and may become more complex as our business grows. To effectively manage this complexity, we will need to continue to improve our operational, financial and management controls, and our reporting systems and procedures. For more information, please refer to “ Risk Factors - We identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to remediate these material weaknesses, or if we experience additional material weaknesses or other deficiencies in the future, or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately or timely report our financial results, which could result in loss of investor confidence and adversely impact our stock price ” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with SEC on March 27, 2025. Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting Other than the material weakness remediation efforts undertaken during 2024, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. 46 PART II — OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS None. ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS Please refer to Part I, Item 1A—Risk Factors of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and Part I, Item 3—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, or financial condition. There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors since its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Additional risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems immaterial may also impair its business, results of operations, or financial condition. ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS None. ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES None. ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES None. ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION None. 47 ITEM 6. EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description 2.1† Business Combination Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2023, by and among Global Partner Acquisition Corp., Strike Merger Sub I, Inc., Strike Merger Sub II, LLC., and Stardust Power Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 21, 2023). 2.2 Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2024, by and among Global Partner Acquisition Corp II, Strike Merger Sub I, Inc., Strike Merger Sub II, LLC, and Stardust Power Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Global Partner Acquisition Corp II’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 24, 2024). 2.3 Amendment No. 2 to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2024, by and among Global Partner Acquisition Corp II, Strike Merger Sub I, Inc., Strike Merger Sub II, LLC, and Stardust Power Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 21, 2024). 3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Global Partner Acquisition Corp II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 12, 2024). 3.2 Bylaws of Global Partner Acquisition Corp II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 12, 2024). 4.1 Form of Common Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 15, 2025). 4.2 Form of Pre-Funded Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 15, 2025). 4.3 Form of Common Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 28, 2025). 4.4 Form of Common Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 2025). 10.1 At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment and Arbitration Agreement between Stardust Power Inc. and Chris Edward Celano, effective January 1, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2025). 10.2 At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment and Arbitration Agreement between Stardust Power Inc. and Paramita Das, effective January 1, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2025). 10.3 Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 15, 2025). 10.4 Form of Placement Agency Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of the Company ’ s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 15, 2025). 10.5 Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2025, by and among Stardust Power Inc. and a certain investor (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company ’ s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2025). 10.6 Placement Agency Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2025, by and among Stardust Power Inc. and A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company ’ s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2025). 10.7 Exclusive License Agreement between KMX Technologies, Inc. and Stardust Power Inc. dated February 7, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company ’ s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 10, 2025). 10.8 Form of Inducement Letter Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company ’ s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 17, 2025). 31.1* Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. 31.2* Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. 32.1** Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. 32.2** Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. 101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document. 101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. 101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. 101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. 101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. 101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). * Filed herewith ** Furnished herewith † Schedules and exhibits to this Exhibit omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2). The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request. 48 SIGNATURE In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. STARDUST POWER INC. Dated: May 14, 2025 /s/ Udaychandra Devasper Name: Udaychandra Devasper Title: Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 49