Sakuu Corporation, a transformative additive manufacturing and solid-state battery company, and inventor of the disruptive Kavian platform for the commercial-scale production of next-generation SwiftPrint batteries and other complex active devices, and Plum Acquisition Corp. I, a special purpose acquisition company formed by Ursula Burns, Kanishka Roy, and Mike Dinsdale, have entered into a definitive business combination agreement – providing for a merger that will result in Sakuu becoming a publicly traded company. Upon the closing of the proposed transaction, the combined company will be renamed Sakuu Holdings Inc., and is expected to be listed on a US national exchange under the ticker symbol “SAKU.” The transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately USD 705 million.
Sakuu intends to license its battery chemistries and sell its Kavian platforms to companies seeking to deploy cleaner, better, and more cost-effective energy at scale. Samples of Sakuu’s safe, non-flammable high energy density Li-metal anode battery have undergone evaluation and testing by customers in multiple markets since the third quarter of 2021. With the Kavian platform, and across its battery product lines, Sakuu intends to first serve the next-generation solid-state battery needs for broad industries, such as e-mobility, grid energy storage, aerospace, industrial, consumer electronics, and electric vehicles.
“The arrival of transformative additive manufacturing will have profound implications across global legacy manufacturing. Our high-volume Kavian solution for printing batteries can potentially leapfrog decades of manufacturing stagnation. We believe Kavian is the only known solution for producing heavily in-demand products, such as solid-state batteries, that can be custom-printed rapidly and cost-effectively – taking next-generation battery manufacturing to realms never imagined. Since 2016, our talented team, with deep and diverse industry expertise, has worked diligently to develop Kavian, along with our next-generation battery products. We are not a concept company – we have successfully and consistently printed high-performance batteries since December 2022 and, with this progress, we have entered the first stages of commercialization. With this proposed merger, the strong support of the exceptional leadership team at Plum, and our dedicated investors, we feel Sakuu is well-positioned to create a paradigm shift in complex manufacturing, starting first with batteries,” said Robert Bagheri, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of Sakuu.
“I’ve always been fascinated by fundamental step changes in approach that unlock significant value in otherwise incrementally evolving industries. Sakuu represents an opportunity for such a fundamental step change in manufacturing through its high-volume, multi-material, additive manufacturing Kavian platform – something that has impressed even a printing industry veteran like me. Solid-state batteries, and the massive addressable market associated with it, could just be Act 1 for the Company. We believe its technology has already allowed it to leapfrog many more highly capitalized battery suppliers. Plum is honored and excited to partner with Sakuu for its long-term journey in the public markets,” said Ursula Burns, Chairwoman of Plum.
Sakuu investment highlights
Sakuu has existing purchase orders totaling over USD 300 million in 2023-2025, and a world-class management team with exceptional collective experience in the technology space, successfully scaling complex commercial manufacturing, and a proven track record of driving innovation, growth, revenue, and capital stewardship.
Manufacturing on Demand
Transaction overview
The proposed business combination transaction is anticipated to result in gross proceeds of approximately USD 100 million in cash to the company’s post-combination balance sheet after the payment of transaction expenses, even in a 95% redemption scenario, through a combination of private and public capital, including from structured debt and equity solutions, secured debt, and Plum Acquisition Corp. I’s cash in trust.
The business combination values the combined company at an approximate pro forma enterprise value of USD 705 million, including the impact of the anticipated financing sources. Funds from the transaction are expected to fully support the company through its commercialization process. Sakuu’s current equity holders are expected to own approximately 80% of the pro forma company.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023 and remains subject to approval by Plum stockholders representing a majority of the outstanding Plum voting power, the effectiveness of a registration statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the transaction, the expiration of the HSR Act waiting period, and other customary closing conditions. The Boards of Directors of both Sakuu and Plum have unanimously approved the contemplated transaction.
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 Plum with the SEC, and will be available at www.sec.gov. Plum will file a registration statement (which will contain a proxy statement/prospectus) with the SEC in connection with the transaction.
Advisors
Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC is serving as the exclusive financial advisor to Plum. Lane & Waterman LLP is serving as its legal advisor.
Fenwick & West LLP is serving as Sakuu’s legal advisor. Blueshirt Capital Advisors is serving as Sakuu’s investor relations advisor.
You might also like:
Neotech AMT expands to North America: An important goal of this partnership is to support the advancement of 3D Printed Electronic applications development and manufacturing capability in North America, by working together on the necessary infrastructure in terms of equipment, technology, and people resources. The partnership will focus on North American-based customers and their applications, from product concept incubation through high-volume manufacturing. As part of this strategic partnership, Advanced Printed Electronic Solutions will be developing its services offering and adding additional manufacturing capabilities to its U.S. operation, supported by Neotech AMT 3D Printed Electronic system solutions.
* This article is reprinted from 3D Printing Media Network. If you are involved in infringement, please contact us to delete it.
Author: Edward Wakefield
Leave A Comment