UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 8, 2023
GLOBAL
PARTNER ACQUISITION CORP II
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Cayman
Islands |
|
001-39875 |
|
N/A |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
|
(Commission File Number) |
|
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
200
Park Avenue 32nd Floor
New York, NY |
|
10166 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) |
|
(Zip Code) |
(646)
585-8975
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code
Not
Applicable
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation to the registrant under
any of the following provisions:
| ☒ | Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title
of each class |
|
Trading
Symbol(s) |
|
Name
of each exchange on
which registered |
| Units, each consisting of one Class A ordinary
share, $0.0001 par value, and one-sixth of one redeemable warrant |
|
GPACU |
|
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
| Class A Ordinary Shares included as part
of the units |
|
GPAC |
|
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
| Redeemable Warrants included as part of the
units |
|
GPACW |
|
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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. ☐
Item
1.01 Entry Into A Material Definitive Agreement.
On
December 8, 2023, Global Partner Acquisition Corp II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company” and “GPAC
II”), Global Partner Sponsor II LLC (the “Sponsor”), Stardust Power Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Stardust
Power”), and certain individuals party thereto (collectively, the “Parties”), entered into an amendment
(the “Sponsor Letter Amendment”) to that certain Sponsor Letter Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2023 (the “Sponsor
Letter Agreement”), by and among the Parties, pursuant to which the Parties have agreed that, among other things, Sponsor shall
not be prohibited from transferring (in lieu of forfeiting) up to a maximum aggregate of 170,000 Forfeited Shares (as defined in the
Sponsor Letter agreement) in connection with any non-redemption agreement and assignment of economic interest (or other similar agreement)
(the “Non-Redemption Agreement”) entered into by the Company and Sponsor prior to the closing of the transactions
contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Non-Redemption Shares”) and that any such transfer shall
reduce the number of Forfeited Shares on a one-for-one basis. The Parties further agreed that Sponsor shall not be prohibited from Transferring
the Non-Redemption Shares pursuant to a Non-Redemption Agreement and Assignment of Economic Interest during the Lock-up Period.
The
defined terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Sponsor Letter Agreement, as
filed in a Current Report with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 21, 2023. In addition, the foregoing description is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Sponsor Letter Amendment, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report as Exhibit
10.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
Forward-Looking
Statements
The
information included herein include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, regarding
the proposed business combination, GPAC II’s and Stardust Power’s ability to consummate the transaction, the benefits of
the transaction, GPAC II’s and Stardust Power’s future financial performance following the transaction, as well as GPAC II’s
and Stardust Power’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects,
plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection
herewith, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,”
“intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying
words.
These
forward-looking statements are based on GPAC II’s and Stardust Power’s management’s current expectations and assumptions
about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. GPAC II and Stardust
Power caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict
and many of which are beyond the control of GPAC II and Stardust Power. These risks include, but are not limited to, (i) the risk that
the proposed business combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of GPAC II’s
securities; (ii) the risk that the proposed business combination may not be completed by GPAC II’s business combination deadline
and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by GPAC II; (iii) the failure to satisfy
the conditions to the consummation of the proposed business combination, including the approval of the proposed business combination
by GPAC II’s shareholders and Stardust Power’s stockholders, the satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following
redemptions by GPAC II’s public shareholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iv) the effect
of the announcement or pendency of the proposed business combination on Stardust Power’s business relationships, performance, and
business generally; (v) risks that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans of Stardust Power and potential difficulties
in Stardust Power’s employee retention as a result of the proposed business combination; (vi) the outcome of any legal proceedings
that may be instituted against GPAC II or Stardust Power related to the agreement and the proposed business combination; (vii) changes
to the proposed structure of the business combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations
or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the business combination; (viii) the ability to maintain the listing of GPAC II’s
securities on the Nasdaq; (ix) the price of GPAC II’s securities, including volatility resulting from changes in the competitive
and highly regulated industries in which Stardust Power plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws
and regulations affecting Stardust Power’s business and changes in the combined capital structure; (x) the ability to implement
business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed business combination, and identify and realize
additional opportunities; (xi) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic; and (xii) other risks and uncertainties related to the transaction
set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”
in GPAC II’s prospectus relating to its initial Public Offering (File No. 333-351558) declared effective by the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 11, 2021 and other documents filed, or to be filed with the SEC by GPAC II,
including GPAC II’s periodic filings with the SEC, including GPAC II’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March
31, 2023 and any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. GPAC II’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s
website at http://www.sec.gov.
The
foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that neither GPAC II nor Stardust Power presently know or
that GPAC II or Stardust Power currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in
the forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be
described in GPAC II’s proxy statement contained in the registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”),
including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and other documents filed by GPAC II from time to time with the SEC. These
filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially
from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are
cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and GPAC II and Stardust Power assume no obligation and, except as
required by law, do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events,
or otherwise. Neither GPAC II nor Stardust Power gives any assurance that either GPAC II or Stardust Power will achieve its expectations.
Important
Information About the Business Combination and Where to Find It
In
connection with the proposed business combination, GPAC II will file a Registration Statement with the SEC that will include a preliminary
prospectus with respect to GPAC II’s securities to be issued in connection with the proposed transactions and a preliminary proxy
statement with respect to the shareholder meeting of GPAC II to vote on the proposed transactions (the “proxy statement/prospectus”).
GPAC II may also file other documents regarding the proposed business combination with the SEC. The proxy statement/prospectus will contain
important information about the proposed business combination and the other matters to be voted upon at an extraordinary general meeting
of GPAC II’s shareholders to be held to approve the proposed business combination and other matters and may contain information
that an investor may consider important in making a decision regarding an investment in GPAC II’s securities. BEFORE MAKING ANY
VOTING DECISION, SHAREHOLDERS OF GPAC II AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
(INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION THAT WILL BE FILED
WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GPAC II,
STARDUST POWER AND THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus
to be included in the Registration Statement will be mailed to shareholders of GPAC II as of a record date to be established for voting
on the proposed transaction. Once available, shareholders of GPAC II will also be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement,
including the proxy statement/prospectus, and other documents containing important information about GPAC II and Stardust Power once
such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Global
Partner Acquisition Corp II, 200 Park Avenue 32nd Floor, New York, New York 10166, attention: Global Partner Sponsor II LLC.
Participants
in the Solicitation
GPAC
II, Stardust Power and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of
proxies from GPAC II’s shareholders with respect to the proposed business combination. A list of the names of those directors and
executive officers of GPAC II and a description of their interests in GPAC II is set forth in GPAC II’s filings with the SEC (including
GPAC II’s prospectus relating to its initial public offering (File No. 333-251558) declared effective by the SEC on January 11,
2021, GPAC II’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023 and subsequent filings on Form 10-Q and Form 4).
Additional information regarding the interests of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed business
combination may be obtained by reading the Registration Statement. The documents described in this paragraph are available free of charge
at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Global Partner Acquisition Corp II, 200 Park Avenue 32nd Floor,
New York, New York 10166, attention: Global Partner Sponsor II LLC. Additional information regarding the names and interests of such
participants will be contained in the Registration Statement for the proposed business combination when available.
No
Offer or Solicitation
This
Current Report is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect
of the potential transaction and is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the
securities of GPAC II, Stardust Power or the combined company or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale
of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus
meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.
Item
9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibit.
(d) Exhibits
SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to 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 hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: December
13, 2023
| |
GLOBAL PARTNER ACQUISITION CORP II |
| |
|
| |
By: |
/s/ Chandra R.
Patel |
| |
Name: |
Chandra R. Patel |
| |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
3
Exhibit 10.1
Execution Version
AMENDMENT TO SPONSOR LETTER
AGREEMENT
This Amendment (this
“Amendment”), dated as of December 8, 2023, to the Sponsor Letter Agreement (as defined below) is entered into
by and among Global Partner Sponsor II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Global Partner
Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Acquiror” and, following the Closing, the “Public
Company”), Stardust Power Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and, solely for purposes
of Sections 1, 3, 8 and 9 (and the other sections of this Agreement solely to the extent relating to Sections
1, 3, 8 and 9), certain individuals, each of whom is a member of Acquiror’s board of directors and/or management
(the “Insiders”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Sponsor Letter Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS,
reference is made to that certain Business Combination Agreement (as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified, the “BCA”),
dated as of November 21, 2023, by and among, Acquiror, the Company, Strike Merger Sub I Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger
Sub I”) and Strike Merger Sub II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Merger Sub II”);
WHEREAS, Acquiror,
Sponsor, the Company and, solely for purposes of Sections 1, 3, 8 and 9 (and the other sections of the Sponsor
Letter Agreement solely to the extent relating to Sections 1, 3, 8 and 9) the Insiders, are parties to that
certain Sponsor Letter Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2023 (the “Sponsor Letter Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the
parties hereto desire to amend the Sponsor Letter Agreement as set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, Section
12 of the Sponsor Letter Agreement provides that the Sponsor Letter Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed by all parties
thereto.
NOW, THEREFORE,
for good and valuable consideration, the undersigned each agree as follows:
1.
Amendments.
(a) The
following shall be added after the last sentence of Section 4(a) of the Sponsor Letter Agreement:
“Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, Sponsor shall not be prohibited from Transferring (in lieu of forfeiting) up to a maximum aggregate
of 170,000 Forfeited Shares in connection with any Non-Redemption Agreement and Assignment of Economic Interest (or other similar agreement)
entered into by Acquiror and the Sponsor (for which the company shall have a reasonable time to review prior to signing) prior to Closing
(the “Non-Redemption Shares”) and any such Transfer shall reduce the number of Forfeited Shares for all purposes
of the Agreement (including the last sentence of Section 5(f)) on a one-for-one basis, and shall in no event reduce the number of Immediately
Vesting Shares or Trading Price Vesting Shares.”
(b) The
following shall be added after the last sentence of Section 4(b) of the Sponsor Letter Agreement:
“Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the Non-Redemption Shares shall not be subject to the Lock-Up and the Sponsor shall not be
prohibited from Transferring the Non-Redemption Shares pursuant to a Non-Redemption Agreement and Assignment of Economic Interest during
the Lock-Up Period.”
(c) The
last sentence of Section 5(f) shall be amended and restated as follows:
“Subject to,
conditioned upon the occurrence of and effective immediately after the Closing, the Forfeited Shares (excluding, for the avoidance of
doubt, the Non-Redemption Shares that will be or have been Transferred pursuant to a Non-Redemption Agreement and Assignment of Economic
Interest) shall be immediately and automatically forfeited.”
2.
Miscellaneous. Other than as expressly set forth herein, the Side Letter shall remain in full force and effect and shall from the
date hereof be read together with this Amendment. Section 12 of the Side Letter shall be incorporated herein and shall apply to this
Amendment mutatis mutandis.
[The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the
Parties has caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf as of the day and year first above written:
| |
GLOBAL PARTNER SPONSOR II LLC |
| |
|
| |
By: |
/s/ Chandra R. Patel |
| |
Name: |
Chandra R. Patel |
| |
Title: |
Authorized Signatory |
| |
|
| |
GLOBAL PARTNER ACQUISITION CORP. II |
| |
|
| |
By: |
/s/ Chandra R. Patel |
| |
Name: |
Chandra R. Patel |
| |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
| |
|
| |
STARDUST POWER INC. |
| |
|
| |
By: |
/s/ Roshan Pujari |
| |
Name: |
Roshan Pujari |
| |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
and, solely for purposes of Sections 1, 3, 8
and 9 (and the other sections of this Agreement solely to the extent relating to Sections 1, 3, 8 and 9),
| |
INSIDERS: |
| |
|
| |
By: |
/s/ Gary DiCamillo |
| |
Name: |
Gary DiCamillo |
| |
|
| |
By: |
/s/ Claudia Hollingsworth |
| |
Name: |
Claudia Hollingsworth |
| |
|
| |
By: |
/s/ William Kerr |
| |
Name: |
William Kerr |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT TO
SPNOSOR LETTER AGREEMENT
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