Stardust Power Inc.

No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORMS-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

15 E. Putnam Ave, Suite 378

Greenwich, CT 06830

(800) 742 3095

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Roshan Pujari

Chief Executive Officer

Stardust Power Inc.15 E. Putnam Ave, Suite 378

Greenwich, CT 06830

(800) 742 3095

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date hereof.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box: ☒

If this Form is filed to registered additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.☐

The registrant hereby amends this Registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, Dated January 15, 2025

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

Up to 4,646,840 Shares of Common Stock

Up to 4,646,840 Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase up to 4,646,840 Shares of Common Stock

Up to 4,646,840 Common Warrants to Purchase up to 4,646,840 Shares of Common Stock

Up to 4,646,840 Shares of Common Stock Underlying the Pre-Funded Warrants

Up to 4,646,840 Shares of Common Stock Underlying the Common Warrants

We are offering on a “reasonable best efforts” basis up to 4,646,840 shares of our common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and common warrants to purchase 4,646,840 shares of Common Stock (the “Common Warrants”) based on an assumed combined public offering price of $2.69 per share and accompanying Common Warrant, which is equal to the closing price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) on January 13, 2025. Each share of Common Stock is being sold together with a Common Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock. This prospectus also relates to the offering of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Common Warrants. The combined public offering price per share and accompanying Common Warrants will be fixed for the duration of this offering.

We are also offering to those investors, if any, whose purchase of shares of our Common Stock in this offering would result in such investor, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the investor, 9.99%) of our outstanding Common Stock following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase, in lieu of the Common Stock that would otherwise result in the investor’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% (or, at the election of the investor, 9.99%), pre-funded warrants each to purchase one share of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.0001 (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”). Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable upon issuance and will expire when exercised in full. Each Pre-Funded Warrant is being sold with a Common Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock, and such Common Warrant will have the same terms as the Common Warrants being sold together with each share of our Common Stock. The public offering price for each Pre-Funded Warrant and the accompanying Common Warrant is equal to the price per share of Common Stock and the accompanying Common Warrant being sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.0001. The combined public offering price per Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Common Warrant will be fixed for the duration of this offering. This prospectus also relates to the offering of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and the Common Warrants being issued to the purchasers of the Pre-Funded Warrants.

For each Pre-Funded Warrant we sell, the number of shares of Common Stock we sell in this offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis. The shares of Common Stock and/or Pre-Funded Warrants and the accompanying warrants can only be purchased together in this offering but will be issued separately and will be immediately separable upon issuance.

Each Common Warrant will have an exercise price per share of $2.69 (100% of the assumed public offering price per share), and will be immediately exercisable beginning on the effective date of stockholder approval of the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Stockholder Approval”); provided however, if (i) the Offering is deemed a public offering or (ii) the Pricing Conditions (as defined below) are met, the Warrant Stockholder Approval will not be required and the Common Warrant will be exercisable upon issuance (the “Initial Exercise Date”). As used herein “Pricing Conditions” means that the combined public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Common Warrants is such that the Warrant Stockholder Approval is not required under the rules of Nasdaq because either (i) the offering is an at-the-market offering under Nasdaq rules and such price equals or exceeds the sum of (a) the applicable “Minimum Price” per share under Nasdaq Rule 5635(d) plus (b) $0.125 per whole share of Common Stock underlying the Common Warrants or (ii) the offering is a discounted offering where the pricing and discount (including attributing a value of $0.125 per whole share underlying the Common Warrants) meet the pricing requirements under Nasdaq’s rules. The Common Warrants will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance (the “Issuance Date”).

Our Common Stock is listed on Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “SDST”. On January 14, 2025, the last quoted sale price for our Common Stock as reported on Nasdaq was $2.64. There is no established public trading market for the Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants being offered hereby, and we do not expect a market to develop. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Pre-Funded Warrants and the Common Warrants will be limited. In addition, we do not intend to list the Pre-Funded Warrants or Common Warrants on Nasdaq, or any other national securities exchange or any other trading system.

This offering will terminate on March 18, 2025, unless we decide to terminate the offering (which we may do at any time in our discretion) prior to that date. We will have one closing for all the securities purchased in this offering, however, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants may be issued from time to time in accordance with their terms. Investors purchasing securities offered hereby will have the option to execute a securities purchase agreement with us. We expect that the closing of the offering will occur one trading day after all closing conditions have been satisfied and we price the securities offered. When we price the securities, we will simultaneously enter into securities purchase agreements relating to the offering with those investors who so choose.

We have engaged A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (“A.G.P.”)to act as our placement agent in connection with this offering (the “Placement Agent”). The Placement Agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus. The Placement Agent is not purchasing or selling any of the securities we are offering, and the Placement Agent is not required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities. We have agreed to pay to the Placement Agent the Placement Agent fees set forth in the table below, which assumes that we sell all of the securities offered by this prospectus. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in escrow, trust or similar arrangement. There is no minimum number of shares of securities or minimum aggregate amount of proceeds that is a condition for this offering to close. We may sell fewer than all of the securities offered hereby, which may significantly reduce the amount of proceeds received by us, and investors in this offering will not receive a refund if we do not sell all of the securities offered hereby. Because there is no escrow account and no minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds, investors could be in a position where they have invested in us, but we have not raised sufficient proceeds in this offering to adequately fund the intended uses of the proceeds as described in this prospectus. We will bear all costs associated with the offering. Certain of our officers, directors and employees may also elect to participate in this offering on the same terms and conditions as other purchasers. See “*Plan of Distribution”*starting on page 134 of this prospectus for more information regarding these arrangements.

The actual combined public offering price for our securities in this offering will be determined at the time of pricing and may be at a discount to the then current market price. The recent market price used throughout this prospectus may not be indicative of the final offering price. The final public offering price will be determined through negotiation between us and investors based upon a number of factors, including our history and our prospects, the industry in which we operate, our past and present operating results, the previous experience of our executive officers and the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering.

You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement together with the additional information to which we refer you in the sections of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined under the federal securities laws, and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for future filings.

Additionally, we are a “controlled company” as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules, because our existing controlling shareholder Roshan Pujari is able to exercise a majority of the total voting power of our Common Stock.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before buying any securities, you should carefully read the discussion of the risks of investing in our securities in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 16 of this prospectus.

(1) Represents a cash fee equal to 6.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by investors in this offering. We will also pay the Placement Agent a reduced cash fee of 3.0% of the aggregate purchase price for the price paid by each non-institutional investor that the Company introduces into this offering. We have also agreed to reimburse the Placement Agent for certain of its offering-related expenses. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 134 of this prospectus for a description of the compensation to be received by the placement agent.

(2) Does not include proceeds from the exercise of the Common Warrants and/or Pre-Funded Warrants in cash, if any.

Neither the Securities Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The delivery of the shares of Common Stock, the pre-funded warrants and the Common Warrants to purchasers is expected to be made on or about , 2025.

Sole**Placement Agent

A.G.P.

The date of this prospectus is , 2025.

TRADEMARKS

This document contains references to trademarks and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this Registration Statement may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. The Company does not intend its use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of the Company by, any other companies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i

FREQUENTLY USED TERMS

As used in this prospectus, unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise requires, references to:

“Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement” means the amended and restated registration rights agreement, dated July 8, 2024, by and among GPAC II, the Sponsor and certain equity holders of Stardust Power.

“Business Combination” means the Transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

“Business Combination Agreement” means the business combination agreement, dated as of November 21, 2023 (as further amended by the First Amendment and Second Amendment), by and among GPAC II, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and Stardust Power, as it may be amended and supplemented from time to time.

“business day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

“Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Company that became effective upon the Domestication.

“Certificate of Incorporation” means the certificate of incorporation of the Company that became effective upon the Domestication.

“Change in Control” means (i) a purchase, sale, exchange, merger, business combination or other transaction or series of related transactions in which substantially all of the GPAC II Common Stock is, directly or indirectly, converted into cash, securities or other property or non-cash consideration, (ii) a direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (regardless of the form of the transaction) in one transaction or a series of related transactions of a majority of the Surviving Company’s assets, as determined on a consolidated basis, to a third party or third parties acting as a “group” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) or (iii) any transaction or series of transactions that results, directly or indirectly, in the stockholders of the Surviving Company as of immediately prior to such transactions holding, in the aggregate, less than 50% of the voting equity interests of the Surviving Company (or any successor of the Surviving Company) immediately after the consummation thereof, in the case of each of clause (i), (ii) or (iii), whether by amalgamation, merger, consolidation, arrangement, tender offer, recapitalization, purchase, issuance, sale or transfer of equity interests or assets, or otherwise.

“Class A Ordinary Shares” or “Public Shares” means the Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of GPAC II.

“Class B Ordinary Shares” means the Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of GPAC II.

“Closing” means the closing of the Business Combination.

“Closing Date” means the date of the Closing or July 8, 2024.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Company” means the post-combination company at Closing when GPAC II changed its name from “Global Partner Acquisition Corp II” to “Stardust Power Inc.”

“Controlled Company Event” are to such time that the Company is no longer a “Controlled Company” pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5615I(1).

“Convertible Equity Agreements” means, collectively, the Convertible Equity Agreement, dated April 24, 2024, by and between Stardust Power and American Investor Group Direct LLC (“AIGD”) for $2,000,000, the Convertible Equity Agreement, dated April 30, 2024 with an individual for $50,000, and the Convertible Equity Agreement, dated April 23, 2024 with an individual for $50,000, all of which automatically converted into 55,889 shares of the Common Stock immediately prior to the First Effective Time.

“DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended.

“DLLCA” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended.

“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“First Amendment” means Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2024, by and among GPAC II, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and Stardust Power, as amended and supplemented from time to time.

“First Effective Time” means the time at which the First Merger became effective.

“First Merger” means the merger of First Merger Sub with and into Stardust Power, with Stardust Power being the surviving company and continuing as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of GPAC II.

“First Merger Sub” means Strike Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly-owned subsidiary of GPAC II.

“GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, provincial, municipal, local, or foreign government, governmental authority, regulatory or administrative agency, governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency, or instrumentality, arbitrator, arbitral body (public or private), court or tribunal.

“Governing Documents” means the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws.

“Government Official” means any official or employee of any directly or indirectly government-owned or controlled entity, and any officer or employee of a public international organization, as well as any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any such entity or for or on behalf of any such public international organization.

“GPAC II” means Global Partner Acquisition Corp II, a Cayman Islands exempted company, prior to the consummation of the Domestication, and a Delaware corporation after the Domestication.

“GPAC II Common Stock” means, collectively, following the Domestication, the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of GPAC II.

“GPAC II Public Shareholders” means the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares that were sold in the initial public offering (whether they were purchased in the initial public offering or thereafter in the open market).

“GPAC II Shareholder” means a holder of Ordinary Shares.

“initial business combination” means a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

“initial public offering” is GPAC II’s initial public offering, which GPAC II completed on January 14, 2021.

“IR Act” means the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

“JOBS Act” means the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012.

“KNAV” means KNAV CPA LLP, the Company’s auditor as of September 17, 2024.

“Material Adverse Effect” means any event, change, circumstance or development that has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, results of operations or financial condition of the Company; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following (or the effect of any of the following), alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a “Material Adverse Effect”: (i) any change or development in applicable laws or GAAP or any official interpretation thereof, (ii) any change or development in interest rates or economic, political, legislative, regulatory, business, financial, commodity, currency or market conditions generally affecting the economy or the industry in which the Company operates, (iii) the announcement or the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the pendency or consummation of the Mergers or the performance of the Business Combination Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, licensors, distributors, partners, providers and employees (provided, that the exceptions in this clause (iii) any change generally affecting any of the industries or markets in which the Company operates or the economy as a whole), (iv) any earthquake, hurricane, tsunami, tornado, flood, mudslide, wild fire or other natural disaster, epidemic, disease outbreak, pandemic, weather condition, explosion fire, act of God or other force majeure event, (v) any national or international political or social conditions in countries in which, or in the proximate geographic region of which, the Company operates, including the engagement by the United States or such other countries in hostilities or the escalation thereof, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence or the escalation of any military or terrorist attack upon the United States or such other country, or any territories, possessions or diplomatic or consular offices of the United States or such other countries or upon any United States or such other country military installation, equipment or personnel and (vi) any failure of the Company to meet any projections, forecasts or budgets; provided, that clause (vi) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any change or effect underlying such failure to meet projections or forecasts has resulted in, or contributed to, or would reasonably be expected to result in or contribute to, a Material Adverse Effect (to the extent such change or effect is not otherwise excluded from this definition of Material Adverse Effect), except in the case of clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) to the extent that such change has a disproportionate impact on the Company, as compared to other industry participants.

“Merger Consideration” means the aggregate number of shares of GPAC II Common Stock equal to (a) $447.50 million (subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, including with respect to certain transaction expenses and the cash and debt of Stardust Power) divided by (b) $10.00.

“Mergers” means the First Merger and the Second Merger.

“Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Global Market.

“Non-Redemption Agreements” means those agreements between the Sponsor and several unaffiliated third parties, who were GPAC II Public Shareholders, pursuant to which such third parties agreed not to redeem (or to validly rescind any redemption requests on) an aggregate of 1,503,254 Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with the 2024 Extension Amendment Proposal. In exchange for the foregoing commitments not to redeem such Class A Ordinary Shares, at Closing 127,777 shares (the “Non-Redemption Shares”) of Common Stock were issued to such unaffiliated third parties for no consideration.

“Ordinary Shares” means, collectively, the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Class B Ordinary Shares.

“Per Share Consideration” means the number of shares of GPAC II Common Stock equal to the Merger Consideration divided by the number of shares of Stardust Power Fully-Diluted Shares.

“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, Government Official, Governmental Authority or other entity of any kind.

“Private Warrants” means warrants representing the right to purchase shares of Stardust Power Common Stock.

“Public Warrants” or “Redeemable Warrants” means our detachable redeemable warrants and our distributable redeemable warrants.

“SAFEs” means, collectively, (i) the Simple Agreement of Future Equity (“SAFE”), dated August 15, 2023 (as amended on November 18, 2023 and as further amended and restated on April 24, 2024, the “August 2023 SAFE”), that provided $2,000,000 from AIGD, (ii) the SAFE, dated November 18, 2023, that provided $3,000,000 from AIGD (as amended and restated on April 24, 2024, the “November 2023 SAFE”), and (iii) a SAFE with an individual, dated February 23, 2024 (as amended on May 1, 2024, the “February 2024 SAFE”), that provided $200,000. Immediately prior to the First Effective Time, the SAFEs automatically converted into the number of shares of Stardust Power Common Stock equal to 138,393 shares of Stardust Power Common Stock immediately prior to Closing.

“SAFE Conversion” means the automatic conversion of the SAFEs into the number of shares of Stardust Power Common Stock equal to 138,393 shares of Stardust Power Common Stock immediately prior to the First Effective Time in accordance with the terms of the SAFEs.

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Second Effective Time” means the time at which the Second Merger becomes effective.

“Second Amendment” means Amendment No. 2 to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2024, by and among GPAC II, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and Stardust Power, as amended and supplemented from time to time.

“Second Merger” means the merger of Stardust Power with and into Second Merger Sub, with Second Merger Sub being the Surviving Company and continuing as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of GPAC II.

“Second Merger Sub” means Strike Merger Sub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct and wholly owned subsidiary of GPAC II.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“SPAC” is one or more special purpose acquisition companies, including, when required by the context, Stardust Power.

“Sponsor” means Global Partner Sponsor II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the managers of which are Chandra R. Patel, Richard C. Davis and Jarett Goldman.

“Sponsor Earnout Shares” refers to the 1,000,000 shares of GPAC II Common Stock held by Sponsor that are subject to forfeiture pursuant to the Sponsor Letter Agreement.

“Sponsor Letter Agreement” means the agreement, dated November 21, 2023, as amended, by and among the Sponsor and the directors and officers of GPAC II, pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor agreed to, among other things, (a) vote, in their capacity as shareholders of GPAC II, in favor of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions, (b) be bound by certain transfer restrictions with respect to its Ordinary Shares prior to Closing, (c) terminate certain lock-up provisions included in that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2021, as amended by that certain Letter Agreement Amendment, dated as of January 13, 2023, by and among Sponsor and GPAC II, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sponsor Letter Agreement, (d) fully vest 3,000,000 of its Class B Ordinary Shares immediately upon the Closing (and convert into GPAC II Common Stock), (e) subject 1,000,000 of its Class B Ordinary Shares to vesting (or forfeiture) on the basis of achieving (or failing to achieve) certain trading price thresholds following the Closing, (f) forfeit 3,500,000 of its Class B Ordinary Shares (reduced by any Non-Redemption Shares) for no consideration, and (g) waive any anti-dilution adjustment to the conversion ratio set forth in GPAC II’s governing documents or similar protection with respect to the GPAC II Common Stock.

“Stardust Power” or**“Stardust”**means Stardust Power Inc., a Delaware corporation, and includes its wholly owned subsidiary, Stardust Power LLC, a Delaware corporation.

“Stardust Power Common Stock” means the common stock of Stardust Power, par value $0.00001 per share.

“Stardust Power Fully-Diluted Shares” means the sum of (without duplication) (a) the aggregate number of shares of Stardust Power Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time, including without limitation any Stardust Power Restricted Stock whether vested or unvested,plus(b) the aggregate number of shares of Stardust Power Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all vested and unvested Stardust Power Options as of immediately prior to the First Effective Time but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any unissued Stardust Power Optionsplus(c) the number of shares of Stardust Power Common Stock issuable upon the SAFE Conversion.

“Stardust Power Option” means an option to purchase Stardust Power Common Stock.

“Stardust Power Restricted Stock” means (a) shares of Stardust Power Common Stock acquired by the holder thereof pursuant to a “Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement” or (b) pursuant to an award under the Stardust 2023 Plan, including pursuant to an early exercise of a Stardust Power Option, and which shares of Stardust Power Common Stock remain unvested under the terms of the “Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement” or the “Stock Option Agreement - Early Exercise,” as applicable.

“Stardust 2023 Plan” means the Stardust Power’s 2023 Equity Incentive Plan and each other plan that provides for the award, to any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, individual independent contractor or other service provider of Stardust Power, of rights of any kind to receive equity securities of Stardust Power or benefits measured in whole or in part by reference to securities of Stardust Power.

“Stardust Power 2024 Equity Plan” means the Stardust Power 2024 Equity Plan, which became effective at Closing.

“Stockholder Agreement” means the agreement, dated July 8, 2024, by and among the Sponsor, Roshan Pujari and his affiliates, providing the Sponsor with the right to designate one nominee to the Stardust Power Inc. board of directors until the date upon which the Sponsor’s and it’s affiliates’ aggregate ownership interest of the issued and outstanding Common Stock decreases to one-half of their aggregate initial ownership interest as of the Closing.

“sustainability” or “sustainable” as used in this prospectus refers to business operations and processes that Stardust Power believes generally have a positive environmental and/or social impact.

“Trading Day” means a day on which Stardust Power’s Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange.

“Warrant Agreement” means that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2021, by and between GPAC II and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent.

“Withum” means WithumSmith+Brown, PC, the Company’s auditor prior to September 17, 2024.

“2024 Extension Amendment Proposal” means the proposal presented at the 2024 Extension Meeting to extend the date by which GPAC II must complete its initial business combination from January 14, 2024 to a date no earlier than July 14, 2024.

“2024 Extension Meeting” means the extraordinary general meeting of GPAC II Shareholders held on January 9, 2024 to consider the 2024 Extension Amendment Proposal.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this prospectus 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,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “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, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement 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. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:

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 prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, of which this prospectus is a part, 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.