Management Commentary
Ajay Kochhar, Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Li-Cycle, commented, “Li-Cycle’s patented technology is proven in the North American market as the leading way to recycle lithium-ion batteries and re-use recovered materials to make new batteries in a truly circular and sustainable manner. The capital raised in this transaction will fully fund our planned global growth. We are excited to partner with the Peridot team and enter the public markets, deliver on our mission and create long-term value for our customers, employees and shareholders.”
Tim Johnston, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Li-Cycle, commented, “We see a tremendous global market opportunity in front of us driven by the exponential growth of the electric vehicle market. Our ‘future proofed’ technology can recycle any battery chemistry economically, and our closed-loop solution provides the essential raw material building blocks for batteries that are in critical demand. The partnership with the Peridot team is an exciting and important milestone in Li-Cycle’s journey, further enabling Li-Cycle to achieve our mission and grow in lockstep with our customers – in North America and globally.”
Alan Levande, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Peridot who will join Li-Cycle’s Board of Directors, said, “Li-Cycle is at the forefront of one of the most crucial and under-penetrated markets in clean technology that is growing in lock-step with the electrification of mobility. As the North American market leader, we believe Li-Cycle is a unique and compelling ESG investment opportunity for investors looking to participate in the global energy transition. We are delighted to partner with Li-Cycle to advance and scale its disruptive technology.”
Transaction Overview
The business combination includes a pre-money equity valuation for Li-Cycle of $975 million and, when combined with the transaction proceeds, represents a combined company pro forma equity value of $1.67 billion. The transaction will provide $615 million in gross proceeds to the Company, assuming no redemption by Peridot shareholders, including a $315 million fully committed, upsized common stock PIPE at $10.00 per share from investors that include Neuberger Berman Funds, Franklin Templeton and Mubadala Capital, as well as Peridot sponsor Carnelian Energy Capital, existing Li-Cycle investors including Moore Strategic Ventures, and global marketing and strategic off-take partner Traxys.
The Boards of Directors of each of Li-Cycle and Peridot have unanimously approved the transaction. The transaction will require the approval of the shareholders of both Li-Cycle and Peridot, and is subject to other customary closing conditions, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021. 100% of Li-Cycle’s shareholders will roll their equity holdings into the new public company.
Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the merger agreement and investor presentation, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Peridot with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and will be available on the Li-Cycle’s Investor Relations page at www.li-cycle.com/investors and at www.sec.gov.
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