EVgo, An LS Power Company, To Publicly List Through Business Combination

January 22, 2021

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Copyright 2010-21 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

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EVgo Services LLC ('EVgo'), which is described as the nation’s largest electric vehicle (EV) public fast charging network in the U.S. and a wholly-owned subsidiary of LS Power, and Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation ('Climate Real Impact Solutions' or 'CRIS') announced today a definitive agreement for a business combination that would result in EVgo becoming a publicly listed company.

Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will be named EVgo Inc. and publicly listed under the symbol 'EVGO'.

The companies said that anticipated net cash proceeds are approximately $575 million, which will be used to fully fund and accelerate EVgo’s growth strategy and network buildout. This includes a $400 million fully committed private placement of common stock in EVgo (the 'PIPE'). The PIPE is anchored by institutional investors including private funds affiliated with Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO), funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Wellington Management, Neuberger Berman Funds and Van Eck Associates Corporation.

The pro forma implied market capitalization of the combined company is $2.6 billion at the $10 per share PIPE subscription price, assuming no CRIS shareholders exercise their redemption rights.

CRIS is a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) formed to identify and acquire a scalable company making significant contributions to the fight against the climate crisis. CRIS is co-sponsored by private funds affiliated with Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO), which has more than $640 billion in sustainability investments across its portfolios.

More specifically, the $575 million net cash proceeds are comprised of $400 million from the PIPE and approximately $230 million of cash held in trust by CRIS before any adjustments due to redemptions by CRIS shareholders and payment of deferred underwriting compensation, less transaction expenses.

LS Power and EVgo management, who together own 100% of EVgo today, will be rolling 100% of their equity into the new company, which is estimated to represent approximately 74% of the company upon transaction close.

EVgo’s leadership will remain intact, with Cathy Zoi continuing as Chief Executive Officer of the combined company, overseeing its strategic growth initiatives and expansion. Cathy will work alongside other existing executive team members, including Olga Shevorenkova, Chief Financial Officer, Ivo Steklac, Chief Operating and Chief Technology Officer, and Jonathan Levy, Chief Commercial Officer.

The Board of Directors of the combined company will include representation from EVgo, LS Power and CRIS, as well as independent directors. David Nanus of LS Power will serve as Chairman and will be joined by Cathy Zoi of EVgo and Beth Comstock, Chief Commercial Officer of CRIS; other Board appointments will be made prior to closing.

The transaction has been approved by the EVgo board of directors and the CRIS board of directors. Completion of the proposed transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the stockholders of CRIS, and is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2021.

EVgo has more than 800 locations in 67 major metropolitan markets across 34 states, EVgo’s network serves a customer base that currently exceeds 220,000 customers.

EVgo noted its strategic relationship with General Motors, which selected EVgo for a nationwide EV charging infrastructure buildout, whereby EVgo expects to add more than 2,700 additional fast chargers to its network over the next 5 years. Corporate partners also include Uber and Lyft, which selected EVgo as one of their first charging providers. EVgo has also worked with Tesla, to enable native fast charging on EVgo’s network.

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