Enterprise quantum computing and post-quantum cybersecurity developer KQC Quantum, Inc. (parent entity of Korea Quantum Computing Co., Ltd.) has entered into a definitive business combination agreement with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Charlton Aria Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: CHAR). The transaction values KQC at a pre-money equity valuation of $80 million ($11.00 per share), implying a pro forma equity valuation of approximately $215 million. Upon closing in the first half of 2027, the combined company will trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol “KQC.”
Founded in Busan in 2021, KQC operates as a hardware-agnostic quantum middleware and post-quantum security integrator. The company is engineering its flagship software platform, Qubiteer™—an AI-driven hybrid quantum engine launched in beta in June 2026 that converts business constraints into mathematical models and automatically dispatches workloads across classical, annealing, or gate-model QPUs (including access to D-Wave Leap™ quantum cloud services). On the cybersecurity front, KQC provides hardware security modules (HSMs) and is developing QuantumSpan, a software platform designed to audit cryptographic assets and manage post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration across enterprise networks.
| [ KQC Quantum & Charlton Aria SPAC Transaction Overview ] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Metric | Financial Terms & Valuation Structure | Commercial Focus & Industry Deployments |
| • Transaction Valuation | • Pre-Money Equity Value: $80 Million ($11.00/share) • Implied Pro Forma Equity Value: ~$215 Million | • 100% equity roll-over by existing KQC shareholders (owning ~37% to 47% pro forma) |
| • Capital & Trust Account | • Charlton Aria Trust: ~$93.5 Million (as of Sept 2026) • Minimum Cash Closing Condition: $30 Million | • Funds Qubiteer engineering, QuantumSpan deployment, and KCMVP security certifications |
| • Quantum Computing Platform | • Qubiteer™ AI-driven hybrid solver engine • Hardware-agnostic QPU access (D-Wave Leap™) | • Secondary battery cathode optimization with POSCO; urban rail scheduling with Busan Transit |
| • Quantum-Safe Security | • QuantumSpan cryptographic inventory platform • PQC Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) | • Paid PQC migration proofs-of-concept with Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) and LS ITC |
Net proceeds from the transaction will fund the conversion of enterprise customer pilots into full commercial deployments across financial, industrial, and transportation sectors in South Korea and Southeast Asia. The transaction includes a minimum cash closing condition of $30 million and is subject to shareholder approval and customary closing conditions.
Review the full transaction release on Business Wire here and read our previous coverage on South Korean quantum ecosystem expansion in North America here.
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