Lordstown Motors Corp. (“Lordstown Motors” or “LMC”) (Nasdaq:
RIDE), an original equipment manufacturer of electric vehicles
focused on the commercial fleet market, and Foxconn Ventures Pte.
Ltd., an affiliate of global technology company Hon Hai Technology
Group (“Foxconn”) (TWSE: 2317), today announced that they reached
an agreement pursuant to which Foxconn agreed to make additional
equity investments in LMC (collectively, the “Investment
Transactions”) in the form of $70 million of LMC’s Class A common
stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), and up to
$100 million of a newly created Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock,” and
together with the Common Stock, the “Securities”). Upon completion
of the Investment Transactions, Foxconn is expected to hold all of
LMC’s outstanding Preferred Stock and 18.3% of its Common Stock on
a pro-forma basis, and will have the right to designate two members
of LMC’s Board of Directors.
Lordstown Motors will use the proceeds from the sale of the
Common Stock for general corporate purposes and the proceeds from
the sale of the Preferred Stock to fund development and design
activities for a new electric vehicle program in collaboration with
Foxconn (the “EV Program”). The $100 million direct Preferred Stock
investment replaces the joint venture funding previously announced
by Foxconn and LMC.
Pursuant to the agreements governing the Investment
Transactions, at an initial closing expected to be held on or about
November 22, 2022 (the “Initial Closing”), subject to customary
conditions, Foxconn will purchase an aggregate of approximately
12.9 million shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $1.76
per share, resulting in total proceeds of $22.7 million, and
300,000 shares of Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $100 per
share, resulting in total proceeds of $30 million. The remaining
shares of Preferred Stock will be purchased by Foxconn based on
achieving certain EV Program funding milestones to be agreed-upon
by the parties. Following receipt of applicable regulatory
approvals, including a review by the Committee on Foreign
Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), and subject to other
customary conditions, Foxconn will purchase an additional 26.9
million shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $1.76 per
share, resulting in total proceeds of approximately $47.3 million
(the “Subsequent Common Closing”). Pursuant to the transaction
agreements, Foxconn has also been granted the right to participate
in future equity offerings by LMC to prevent dilution of its
ownership interest.
The agreements governing the Investment Transactions provide,
among other things, that:
- Conversion Rights and Limitations: Upon certain terms and
conditions, Foxconn can convert the Preferred Stock into shares of
Common Stock and LMC can force a conversion of the Preferred Stock
into shares of Common Stock, in each case, at a conversion price of
$1.936, subject to customary adjustments. Conversion of the
Preferred Stock is subject to the following ownership limitations
(the “Ownership Limitations”): the Preferred Stock cannot be
converted if Foxconn would own in excess of 9.99% of LMC’s
outstanding Common Stock at any time prior to CFIUS clearance and
the Subsequent Common Closing, or 19.99% of LMC’s outstanding
Common Stock at any time prior to LMC obtaining stockholder
approval.
- Voting Rights and Limitations: The
Preferred Stock is generally entitled to vote with the Common Stock
as a single class on an as-converted basis. However, Foxconn is not
entitled to vote its Preferred Stock to the extent that Foxconn
would have the right to vote in respect of its Common Stock,
Preferred Stock, or other capital stock an amount that would exceed
the Ownership Limitations.
- Standstill: Until at least December 31, 2024, without approval
of LMC’s Board of Directors, Foxconn is prohibited from acquiring
any equity securities of LMC if after any such acquisition Foxconn
and its affiliates would own in excess of the following amounts of
LMC’s voting stock:
- 9.99%, at any time prior to CFIUS clearance and the Subsequent
Common Closing;
- 19.99%, at any time prior to LMC obtaining stockholder
approval; and
- 24%, at all times following the Subsequent Common Closing and
after receipt of the requisite stockholder approval.
- Board Representation: Foxconn will have the right to appoint
two designees to LMC’s Board of Directors after receiving CFIUS
clearance and consummation of the Subsequent Common Closing.
Foxconn will relinquish its Board seats if it does not maintain a
certain level of ownership of LMC’s capital stock.
- Voting Agreement: Until at least December 31, 2024, Foxconn has
agreed to vote all of its shares of Common Stock and Preferred
Stock (to the extent then entitled to vote) in favor of each
director recommended by the Board and in accordance with any
recommendation of the Board on all other proposals (other than any
action related to any merger or business combination or other
change of control transaction or sale of assets).
- Participation Rights: Following the Subsequent Common Closing,
other than with respect to certain excluded issuances, Foxconn has
the right to participate in securities offerings proposed to be
made by LMC, provided, that LMC is not required to sell Foxconn
securities if LMC would be required to obtain stockholder approval
under any applicable law or regulation.
- Termination of Existing JV Arrangement: LMC and Foxconn have
agreed to terminate the existing joint venture arrangement between
Lordstown EV Corporation and Foxconn EV Technology, Inc. The EV
Program and future vehicle development are expected to take place
within LMC.
Daniel Ninivaggi, Executive Chairman of LMC commented, “Since
announcing our first transaction with Foxconn more than a year ago,
it has been our objective to develop a broad strategic partnership
that leverages the capabilities of both companies. Foxconn’s latest
investment is another step in that direction. Our Board of
Directors and management team strongly believe that deep
collaboration with the Foxconn EV ecosystem, including the
Mobility-in-Harmony (MIH) open-source platform, offers tremendous
opportunities to meet our mutual ambition to accelerate EV adoption
globally. I look forward to welcoming Foxconn representatives to
our Board and exploring other ways to deepen our partnership.”
Edward Hightower, CEO and President of LMC commented: “Over the
last year, the LMC and Foxconn teams have worked collaboratively to
bring the Endurance into commercial production, despite numerous
external challenges. We acknowledge and appreciate the confidence
in our team that is shown by this investment. The combination of
LMC’s experienced vehicle development team, Foxconn’s growing EV
ecosystem, the MIH platform, and our asset-light business model
will allow us to bring great EVs to market faster and more
efficiently.”
About Lordstown Motors Corp.
Lordstown Motors is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of
electric vehicles focused on the commercial fleet market, with the
Endurance all electric pick-up truck as its first vehicle being
launched at the Foxconn EV plant in the Lordstown, Ohio facility.
Lordstown Motors has engineering, research and development
facilities in Farmington Hills, Michigan and Irvine, California.
For additional information visit www.lordstownmotors.com.
Contacts:
Investors
Carter W. Driscoll, CFA
IR@lordstownmotors.com
Media
Colleen Robar
crobar@robarpr.com
313-207-5960
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements. These
statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
may be identified by words such as "feel," "believes," expects,"
"estimates," "projects," "intends," "should," "is to be," or the
negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could
cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements contained herein due to many factors, including, but not
limited to: the need to raise substantial additional capital to
execute our business plan, achieve our production targets for the
Endurance, achieve scaled production of the Endurance, develop
additional vehicles, to continue ongoing operations and remain a
going concern, and our ability to raise such funding including
under current arrangements on a reasonable timeline and with
suitable terms; the cost and other impacts of contingent
liabilities such as litigation, regulatory proceedings,
investigations, stockholder letters and claims and availability of
insurance coverage and/or adverse publicity with respect to these
matters, which may have a material adverse effect, whether or not
successful or valid, on our liquidity position, market price of our
stock, cash projections, business prospects and ability and
timeframe to obtain financing; our limited operating history and
our ability to execute our business plan, including through our
expanding relationship with Foxconn; our ability to raise
sufficient capital in order to invest in the tooling that we expect
will enable us to eventually lower the Endurance bill of materials
cost, continue design enhancements of the Endurance and fund future
vehicles that we may develop; the rollout of our business and the
timing of expected business milestones, including the ability to
ensure the completion of tooling, to establish and maintain
appropriate supplier relationships, to successfully complete
testing, homologation and certification, and to continue ramp up of
commercial production (which is currently expected to be slow)
and start delivery of the Endurance in accordance with our
projected timeline; our ability to successfully identify and
implement actions that will lower the Endurance bill of materials
cost; supply chain disruptions, inflation and the potential
inability to source essential components and raw materials,
including on a timely basis or at acceptable cost, and their
consequences on testing, production, sales and other activities;
our ability to obtain binding purchase orders and build customer
relationships; the risk that our technology, including our hub
motors, does not perform as expected and our overall ability to
deliver on the expectations of customers with respect to the
pricing, performance, quality, reliability, safety and efficiency
of the Endurance and to provide the levels of warranty coverage,
service and support that they will require; our ability to conduct
business using a direct sales model, rather than through a dealer
network used by most other OEMs; the effects of competition on our
ability to market and sell vehicles; our inability to retain key
personnel and to hire additional personnel; the ability to protect
our intellectual property rights; the failure to obtain required
regulatory approvals; changes in laws or regulatory requirements or
new or different interpretations of existing law; changes in
governmental incentives and fuel and energy prices; the impact of
health epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on our business;
cybersecurity breaches and threats and compliance with privacy and
data protection laws; failure to timely implement and maintain
adequate financial, information technology and management processes
and controls and procedures; our ability to remain in compliance
with our existing financial obligations; and the possibility that
we may be adversely affected by other economic, geopolitical,
business and/or competitive factors, including rising interest
rates and the direct and indirect effects of the war in
Ukraine.
In addition, the Investment Transactions and other relationships
entered into with Foxconn are subject to risks and uncertainties.
No assurances can be given that we will successfully implement or
that we will realize the anticipated benefits from the Investment
Transactions or other recently completed transactions with Foxconn,
including the contract manufacturing agreement. The funding
transactions under the Investment Agreement are subject to closing
conditions including regulatory approvals and further negotiation
of development milestones. The EV Program will require additional
funding and the establishment and implementation of the program
requirements, among other matters, and may not be consummated,
sufficiently implemented or provide the benefits we expect, which
could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating
results, financial condition and prospects. The success of the EV
Program depends on many variables, which could include our ability
to utilize the designs, engineering data and other foundational
work of Foxconn, its affiliates, and other members of the MIH
consortium as well as other parties to commercialize,
industrialize, homologate and certify a vehicle in North America,
along with variables that are out of the parties' control, such as
technology, innovation, adequate funding, supply chain and other
economic conditions, competitors, customer demand and other factors
that impact new vehicle development. If we are unable to develop
new vehicles for ourselves and potentially other customers, our
business prospects, results of operations and financial condition
may be adversely affected. If the Investment Transactions are
consummated, Foxconn will own a significant percentage of our
equity securities and have rights that enable it to influence our
actions, operation of the Board and actions requiring stockholder
approval. If we are unable to maintain our relationship with
Foxconn or effectively manage outsourcing the production of the
Endurance to Foxconn, we may be unable to ensure continuity,
quality, and compliance with our design specifications or
applicable laws and regulations, which may ultimately disrupt and
have a negative effect on our production and operations.
We will need additional funding and will seek strategic
partnerships to execute our business plan and to achieve scaled
production of the Endurance and development of other
vehicles. There can be no assurance that such financing or
partnerships would be available to us on favorable terms or at all,
due to several factors, including market and economic conditions,
the significant amount of capital required, the fact that our bill
of materials cost is currently, and expected to continue to be,
substantially higher than our anticipated selling price,
uncertainty surrounding regulatory approval and the performance of
the vehicle, meaningful exposure to material losses related to
ongoing litigation and the SEC investigation, our performance and
investor sentiment with respect to us and our business and
industry. Additional information on potential factors that could
affect the financial results of the Company and its forward-looking
statements is included in its most recent Form 10-K and subsequent
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All
forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement.
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