Ford-backed EV battery producer to go public via SPAC merger at a $1.2 billion valuation
- Solid Power announced it is going public via a SPAC merger in a deal that would value the entities at $1.2 billion.
- The company is expected to have $600 million in cash, including $165 million from private investors.
- Ford Motors and BMW recently participated in the $135 million Series B funding of Solid Power in May.
Electric-vehicle battery producer Solid Power on Tuesday announced it's going public by merging with blank-check firm Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation III in a deal valued at $1.2 billion.
The company is expected to have approximately $600 million in cash, including $165 million from investors such as Koch Strategic Platforms, Riverstone Energy Limited, Neuberger Berman funds, and Van Eck Associates Corporation. The capital will be used to fund operations and growth.
Ford Motors and BMW recently participated in the $135 million Series B funding of Solid Power in May. The two companies also expanded partnerships with Solid Power to secure all solid-state batteries for future electric vehicles.
Solid Power produces rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and mobile power markets. The company claims its production mirrors lithium-ion manufacturing processes while eliminating certain expensive and timely steps.
Upon closing of the transaction, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021, the combined company will trade under the Nasdaq ticker "SLDP."
Solid Power is expected to have a nine-person board composed of a majority of independent directors and will continue to be led by Solid Power's existing management team.
Other electric vehicle makers went public via SPAC this year such as Lucid Motors and Nikola Corp.
SPACs, shell companies seeking to merge with private companies with the intention of taking them public, have exploded in popularity in the last year.
In 2020, a total of 248 SPACs raised $83.3 billion according to SPAC Analytics. But in the sixth month of 2021 alone, data already show 340 SPACs that have raised $106 billion, comprising 61% of initial public offerings.