# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001847345
**File Stem:** 0001493152-26-018018
**Filing Date:** 2026-4
**Character Count:** 10530
**Document Hash:** b6077e5f2c29b01a30d94cf73ac2c8e4
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001493152-26-018018.hdr.sgml**: 20260420

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001493152-26-018018

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 14

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260420

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Regulation FD Disclosure

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260420

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260420

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001847345
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 03 Life Sciences
- **EIN:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** E9
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-41293
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26873491

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 23150 FASHION DRIVE, SUITE 232
- **CITY:** ESTERO
- **STATE:** FL
- **ZIP:** 33928
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 561-704-8527

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 23150 FASHION DRIVE, SUITE 232
- **CITY:** ESTERO
- **STATE:** FL
- **ZIP:** 33928

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** PowerUp Acquisition Corp.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20210222

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** PowsedrUp Acquisition Corp.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20210222

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'?

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

**FORM 8-K**

**CURRENT REPORT**

**Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the**

**Securities Exchange Act of 1934**

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): **April 20, 2026**

**Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc.**

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Delaware** | **001-41293** | **33-3467744** |
| (State or other jurisdiction<br> of incorporation) | (Commission<br> File No.) | (I.R.S. Employer<br> Identification No.) |

---

**194 Candelaro Drive, #233**

**Humacao** **, Puerto Rico 00791**

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

**(415) 592-7399**

(Registrant's Telephone Number)

**PowerUp Acquisition Corp.**

**188 Grand Street, Unit #195**

**New York, NY 10013**

(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 of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ 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 |
| **Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share** | **ASBP** | **The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC** |
| **Warrants, each exercisable for one share of common stock** | **ASBPW** | **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 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure**

On April 20, 2026, the Company issued a press release. A copy of the press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

**Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit No.** | **Description** |
| 99.1 | [Press Release dated April 20, 2026](ex99-1.htm) |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded with the Inline XBRL document). |

---

**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.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **ASPIRE BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.** | **ASPIRE BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.** |
|  | By: | */s/ Ernest Scheidemann* |
|  |  | Ernest Scheidemann |
|  |  | Chief Financial Officer |
| Date: April 20, 2026 |  |  |

---

## Exhibit 99.1

**Exhibit 99.1**

![](ex99-1_001.jpg)

**Aspire Biopharma Announces Closing of Second and Final Tranche of $21 Million Private Placement by Select Investors; Secures Commitment Letter for $22.5M Credit Facility to Fund the DCS Acquisition**

● *Company secures Commitment Letter from a leading financial institution of up to $22.5M to finance proposed acquisition of Dura Control Systems (DCS)* 

● *LOI to acquire DCS*, a *leading global automotive supplier with $200M+ in 2025 revenue, is not expected to require new equity raise to consummate the purchase* 

ESTERO, FL / April 20, 2026 / Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASBP) ("Aspire" or the "Company") today announced that it has closed the second and final tranche of the private placement announced on February 11, 2026 (the "Offering") for the purchase and sale of 26,250 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.

Pursuant to the closing of the second and final tranche of the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 12,500 Preferred Shares for gross proceeds of $10.0 million. With the completion of this tranche of the Offering, total aggregate gross proceeds to the Company were $21.0 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses. Based on the total proceeds, the Company's stockholders' equity now exceeds the $2.5 million minimum required to maintain its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the transaction to support working capital, to fund a portion of the cash component of the proposed DCS acquisition, and other general corporate purposes.

Additional information regarding the Offering is available in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 17, 2026 with the SEC.

"Finalizing this $21 million raise is a transformative step for Aspire," said Kraig Higginson, Interim CEO. "These funds solidify our capital position as we advance our sublingual delivery platform and accelerate consumer awareness and retail expansion of BUZZ BOMB™, our innovative caffeine product. Simultaneously, we are executing a dual-track growth strategy, by pursuing a high-revenue, cash-flow-positive acquisition of DCS that, if consummated, could substantially enhance our financial position."

**LOI to Acquire DCS**

The Company announced on April 15, 2026 that it has entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire DCS, a premier designer and manufacturer of automotive driver control systems that also apply to other industrial applications. DCS delivered more than $20M in Adjusted EBITDA on $200M+ Revenue for FY2025 (unaudited). Aspire is expected to acquire 100% of DCS for a total purchase price of $30 million paid in cash.

Commenting on the Company's recently announced intent to acquire DCS, Higginson said, "The potential acquisition of this established automotive systems manufacturer could introduce significant revenue-generating capabilities while allowing us to optimize our drug delivery technology and advance commercial opportunities. Our intent is to acquire DCS without any additional equity capital by utilizing a new senior secured credit facility, once finalized, with a leading financial institution. We believe the combination of significant revenue from the automotive systems business and the potential high margin opportunities from both our drug and supplement product pipeline could strengthen earnings visibility, support a more capital-efficient growth model, and enhance long-term shareholder value."

**Aspire Enters into Commitment Letter for Acquisition of DCS**

The Company entered into a commitment letter with a national financial institution providing for a senior secured credit facility of Aspire in an aggregate principal amount of up $22,500,000 (the "Aspire Credit Facility"). Aspire intends to use the proceeds of the Aspire Credit Facility, if consummated, to finance the acquisition of 100% of DCS. The Company does not anticipate procuring any new equity raise to consummate the purchase.

The Aspire Credit Facility is expected to consist of a senior secured five-year term loan, at an interest rate equal to 325 basis points above the one-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate. The final terms of the Aspire Credit Facility, including the senior secured term loan, will be subject to execution of definitive credit documentation and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

**Offering Agent**

RBW Capital Partners LLC, whose securities and brokerage services are offered through Dawson James Securities, Inc., acted as sole placement agent for the private placement.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these 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 any such state or jurisdiction.

**About Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc.**

Aspire Biopharma has developed a patent-pending sublingual delivery technology that can deliver drugs to the body rapidly and precisely. This technology offers the potential to improve effectiveness and reduce side effects by going directly to the bloodstream and avoiding the gastrointestinal tract. Aspire Biopharma's delivery technology can be applied to many different active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and other bioactive substances, spanning both small and large molecule therapeutics, nutraceuticals and supplements.

For more information, please visit <u>www.aspirebiolabs.com</u>

**Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc.**

**Contact**

PCG Advisory<br> Kevin McGrath<br> +1-646-418-7002<br> kevin@pcgadvisory.com

**Safe Harbor Statement**

SOURCE: Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc.