v3.26.3
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2026
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the SEC. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2025, as filed with the SEC on March 26, 2026. The interim results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and for the period from June 26, 2025 (inception) through September 30, 2025, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2026 or for any other future periods.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Stepping Stone Merger Sub, Inc. All intercompany transactions and balances, if any, have been eliminated in consolidation.

Risks and Uncertainties

Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Company’s ability to complete an initial Business Combination may be adversely affected by various factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s ability to consummate an initial Business Combination could be impacted by, among other things, changes in laws or regulations, downturns in the financial markets or in economic conditions, inflation, fluctuations in interest rates, increases in tariffs, supply chain disruptions, declines in consumer confidence and spending, public health considerations, and geopolitical instability, such as the military conflicts in Iran, Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East. The Company cannot at this time predict the likelihood of one or more of the above events, their duration or magnitude or the extent to which they may negatively impact the Company’s ability to complete an initial Business Combination.

Emerging Growth Company

Emerging Growth Company

 

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, the Company is eligible 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 requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

Further, 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 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 a 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. This may make comparison of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods.

 

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had $356,941 and $991,532 in cash and no cash equivalents as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

Cash and Securities Held in the Trust Account

Cash and Securities Held in the Trust Account

 

The Company’s portfolio of investments is comprised of cash and U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or investments in money market funds that invest in U.S. government securities and generally have a readily determinable fair value, or a combination thereof. When the Company’s marketable securities held in the Trust Account are comprised of U.S. government securities, the investments are classified as trading securities, which are presented at fair value. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities are included in interest earned on cash and securities held in the Trust Account in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information. As of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the assets held in the Trust Account of $356,365,464 and $346,990,935, respectively, were held in money market funds.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Offering Costs

Offering Costs

 

The Company complies with the requirements of ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A, Expenses of Offering. Deferred offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees that are related to the Initial Public Offering. FASB ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options, addresses the allocation of proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt into its equity and debt components. The Company applies this guidance to allocate Initial Public Offering proceeds from the Units between Class A ordinary shares and warrants, pro rata, allocating the Initial Public Offering proceeds to the assigned value of the warrants and to the Class A ordinary shares. Offering costs allocated to the Class A ordinary shares are charged to temporary equity and offering costs allocated to the Public and Private Placement Warrants are charged to shareholders’ deficit as Public and Private Placement Warrants after management’s evaluation are accounted for under equity treatment. Transaction costs amounted to $21,378,461, consisting of $6,894,000 of cash underwriting fee, $13,788,000 of deferred underwriting fee, and $696,461 of other offering costs.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes (“FASB ASC 740”). FASB ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carryforwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

FASB ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. FASB ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim period, disclosure and transition.

  

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. There are no taxes in the Cayman Islands, and accordingly, income taxes are not levied on the Company. Consequently, income taxes are not reflected in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.

Warrants

Warrants

 

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in FASB ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“FASB ASC 480”), and FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“FASB ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to FASB ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to FASB ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under FASB ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own ordinary shares, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.

 

For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as liabilities at their initial fair value on the date of issuance, and each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Accordingly, the Company evaluated and classified the warrant instruments under equity treatment at their assigned values. As of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, there were 17,235,000 Public Warrants and 8,894,000 Private Placement Warrants outstanding.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with FASB ASC 815. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the condensed consolidated balance sheets date. The underwriters’ over-allotment option is deemed to be a freestanding financial instrument indexed on the contingently redeemable shares and are accounted for as a liability pursuant to FASB ASC 480 if not fully exercised at the time of the Initial Public Offering. On October 28, 2025, the underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option in the amount of 4,470,000 Units as part of the closing of the Initial Public Offering and forfeited the remaining 30,000 Units on October 29, 2025. As such, as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, no over-allotment option liability is recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Share-Based Payment Arrangements

Share-Based Payment Arrangements

 

The Company accounts for share awards in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“FASB ASC 718”), which requires that all equity awards be accounted for at their “fair value.” Fair value is measured on the grant date and is equal to the underlying value of the share.

 

Costs equal to these fair values are recognized ratably over the requisite service period based on the number of awards that are expected to vest, in the period of grant for awards that vest immediately and have no future service condition, or in the period the awards vest immediately after meeting a performance condition becomes probable (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). For awards that vest over time, cumulative adjustments in later periods are recorded to the extent actual forfeitures differ from the Company’s initial estimates; previously recognized compensation cost is reversed if the service or performance conditions are not satisfied and the award is forfeited.

Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption

Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption

 

The Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, or if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination. In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99, the Company classifies Public Shares subject to possible redemption outside of permanent equity as the redemption provisions are not solely within the control of the Company. The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and will adjust the carrying value of redeemable shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Immediately upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company recognized the accretion from initial book value to redemption value. The change in the carrying value of redeemable shares will result in charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available) and accumulated deficit. Accordingly, as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:

 

Gross proceeds   $ 344,700,000  
Less:        
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants     (9,996,300 )
Public Shares issuance costs     (20,741,475 )
Plus:        
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value     33,028,710  
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2025     346,990,935  
Plus:        
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value     3,057,776  
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, March 31, 2026     350,048,711  
Plus:        
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value     3,096,793  
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, June 30, 2026     353,145,504  
Plus:        
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value     3,219,960  
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, September 30, 2026   $ 356,365,464  
Net Income (Loss) per Ordinary Share

Net Income (Loss) per Ordinary Share

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to ordinary shareholders adjusts the basic net income (loss) per share attributable to ordinary shareholders and the weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding for the potentially dilutive impact of outstanding warrants. However, because the warrants are anti-dilutive, diluted income (loss) per ordinary share is the same as basic income (loss) per ordinary share for the periods presented.

 

The calculation of diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and the private placement, which are exercisable to purchase an aggregate of 26,129,000 Class A ordinary shares (17,235,000 Public Warrants and 8,894,000 Private Placement Warrants), because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. Accordingly, these warrants were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per ordinary share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026. No warrants were outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2025 or the period from June 26, 2025 (inception) through September 30, 2025. As a result, diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share is the same as basic net income (loss) per ordinary share for both Class A and Class B ordinary shares for the periods presented. 

 

    For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2026
    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2026
 
    Class A     Class B     Class A     Class B  
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share                        
Numerator:                        
Allocation of net income   $ 1,311,930     $ 437,310     $ 4,465,497     $ 1,488,499  
                                 
Denominator:                                
Basic and diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding     34,470,000       11,490,000       34,470,000       11,490,000  
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share   $ 0.04     $ 0.04     $ 0.13     $ 0.13  

 

    For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2025
    For the Period from June 26, 2025 (Inception) through
September 30, 2025
 
    Class A     Class B     Class A     Class B  
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share                        
Numerator:                        
Allocation of net loss   $        —     $ (49,424 )   $     —     $ (68,198 )
                                 
Denominator:                                
Basic and diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding     —       10,000,000       —       10,000,000  
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share   $ —     $ (0.00 )   $ —     $ (0.01 )
Recent Accounting Standards

Recent Accounting Standards

  

In November 2024, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”), which requires disclosure, in the notes to the financial statements, of specified information about certain costs and expenses included in the expense captions presented on the face of the statement of operations. In January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-01, which clarified the effective date of ASU 2024-03. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2024-03 on its financial statement disclosures.

  

In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-11, Interim Reporting (Topic 270): Narrow-Scope Improvements (“ASU 2025-11”), which makes targeted improvements to the interim reporting guidance in Topic 270 to clarify its application and improve consistency in practice, including the form and content of interim financial statements and interim disclosure requirements. For public business entities, ASU 2025-11 is effective for interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2025-11 on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

  

Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.