RMG Acquisition Corporation
PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION: Romeo Power
ESTIMATED CURRENT FUNDS in TRUST: $234.1 million*
CURRENT PER SHARE REDEMPTION PRICE: $10.18*
ENTERPRISE VALUE: $993 million
*SPACInsider estimate
RMG Acquisition Corp. proposes to combine with Romeo Power, an energy technology company focused on designing and manufacturing lithium-ion battery modules and packs for commercial electric vehicles.
Through its industry leading energy dense battery modules and packs, it enables large-scale sustainable transportation by delivering safe, longer lasting batteries with shorter charge times. The company has completed construction and development of a 7 GWh-capable manufacturing facility in Los Angeles, California, with state of the art manufacturing operations designed and scaled for high growth. Romeo Power’s core product offering serves the battery electric vehicle (BEV) medium duty short haul and heavy duty long haul trucking markets, as well as specialty trucking and buses.
Romeo Power has a diversified and high quality customer base today that represents an estimated nearly 70% of the North America Class 8 market. The company has varying forms of agreements with customers, enhancing visibility into the company’s future growth, including over $300 million of currently contracted revenue.
Romeo Power is de-risking commercialization through its strategic partnerships with global leaders in vehicle component technologies, including BorgWarner, a global tier one automotive supplier. In May 2019, BorgWarner made a $50 million strategic investment in Romeo Power and entered into a joint venture, with a goal of amplifying its growing portfolio of alternative propulsion products for hybrid and electric vehicles. The investment and partnership reflect significant third party validation of Romeo Power’s technology, and allow the company to leverage BorgWarner’s customer base, supply chain and manufacturing expertise in order to accelerate growth globally and bolster operational execution in a highly capital efficient manner.
In addition, Romeo Power has a significant partnership with The Heritage Group, a leader in environmental and recycling services. The Heritage Group, through its corporate venture arm, HG Ventures, was an early investor in Romeo Power and a participant in the PIPE, and as part of the partnership, they will support the co-development of a battery reuse and recycle facility for Romeo Power’s batteries near or at end-of-life. The Heritage Group has also committed to a pilot program expected to result in converting 500+ diesel trucks in its fleet to BEVs using Romeo Power’s batteries between 2021 and 2025. Republic Services, the second largest recycling and waste disposal company in the United States with a fleet of more than 16,000 vehicles, is another strategic participant in the PIPE and intends to enter into a strategic alliance with Romeo Power.
Upon completion of the merger, Robert Mancini, along with Philip Kassin, President and Chief Operating Officer of RMG, are expected to join the board of Romeo Power.
TRANSACTION
The business combination values Romeo Power at an approximately $1.33 billion pro forma equity value. The boards of directors of both RMG and Romeo Power have approved the proposed transaction, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2020
The private placement of common stock includes commitments from institutional investors as well as strategic investors The Heritage Group and Republic Services.
Under the Merger Agreement, the stockholders of Romeo will receive a number of shares of RMG common stock based on an exchange ratio (the “Exchange Ratio”), the numerator of which is equal to $900 million (plus net cash of Romeo less debt of Romeo, plus the aggregate exercise price of all Romeo options and warrants (all calculated at the closing of the Merger)) divided by $10, and the denominator of which is equal to the number of outstanding shares of Romeo, including shares issuable upon conversion of outstanding convertible notes. The holders of Romeo options and warrants will receive RMG options and warrants equal to the number of shares of Romeo Common Stock subject to the Romeo options and warrants multiplied by the Exchange Ratio at an exercise price per share divided by the Exchange Ratio.
In connection with the Transactions, RMG Sponsor, LLC (the “Sponsor”), RMG’s sponsor from its initial public offering, agreed to enter into a lock-up agreement, pursuant to which the RMG common stock received upon conversion of the shares of RMG’s Class B common stock held by the Sponsor will be subject to transfer restrictions until the earlier of (i) one year from the closing of the Merger, (ii) the date on which the last sales price of RMG common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing 150 trading days after the closing of the Merger and (iii) the date on which RMG completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of RMG’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, and the warrants held by the Sponsor will be subject to transfer restrictions until the date that is 30 days following the closing of the Merger.
Certain stockholders of Romeo receiving shares of RMG common stock in connection with the Merger will be subject to a 180-day lockup period for all shares of RMG common stock held by such persons.
PIPE
- An aggregate of 16,000,000 shares of Class A common stock of RMG for a purchase price of $10.00 per share, or an aggregate of approximately $160 million, in a private placement.
- Additionally, RMG has granted a Subscription Investor a 30-day option to purchase an additional 2,500,000 shares of Class A common stock at the same purchase price and on the same terms as described in the Subscription Agreements.
SPONSOR FOUNDERS SHARES LOCK-UP
In connection with the Transactions, RMG Sponsor, LLC (the “Sponsor”), RMG’s sponsor from its initial public offering, agreed to enter into a lock-up agreement, pursuant to which the RMG common stock received upon conversion of the shares of RMG’s Class B common stock held by the Sponsor will be subject to transfer restrictions until the earlier of:
- (i) one year from the closing of the Merger,
- (ii) the date on which the last sales price of RMG common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing 150 trading days after the closing of the Merger and
- (iii) the date on which RMG completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of RMG’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, and the warrants held by the Sponsor will be subject to transfer restrictions until the date that is 30 days following the closing of the Merger.
NOTABLE CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
- The amount of cash available to RMG as of immediately prior to the closing shall not be less than $150 million after giving effect to payment of amounts that RMG will be required to pay to redeeming shareholders upon consummation of the Transactions.
NOTABLE CONDITIONS TO TERMINATION
- By either RMG or Romeo if the Transactions are not consummated on or before the later of February 12, 2021 and such later date as RMG’s stockholders may approve
ADVISORS
- Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Romeo Power
- Paul Hastings LLP is serving as legal advisor to Romeo Power
- Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as lead financial advisor to RMG
- Nomura Greentech Capital Advisors, LLC is serving as financial advisor to RMG
- Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal advisor to RMG
- Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as sole placement agent to RMG on the PIPE offering.
- Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is serving as legal advisor to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC.
RMG ACQUISITION CORP. MANAGEMENT & BOARD
Executive Officers
Robert S. Mancini, 61
Chief Executive Officer & Director
From June 2018 to December 2018, Mr. Mancini served as a Senior Advisor to Carlyle Power Partners and was a Partner and a Managing Director with The Carlyle Group and head or co-head of Carlyle’s power investment business from December 2012 until June 2018. Prior to joining Carlyle, from June 1993 to December 2012 Mr. Mancini was an employee of Goldman Sachs & Co., and from November 1999 through December 2012 was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs & Co. From December 2003 to December 2012, Mr. Mancini led or co-led Goldman Sach’s on-balance sheet power asset investment business. During that period Goldman Sachs conducted most of its power asset investment business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cogentrix Energy LLC, where Mr. Mancini served in various capacities, including as the President, co-President and Chief Executive Officer and serving as a member of the board of directors. Mr. Mancini was instrumental in the formation of and Goldman’s entry into the power asset investment business in 2003 and he was also responsible for the creation of Goldman’s proprietary Commodities Principal Investment business in 2006, where he led investments on Goldman’s behalf in companies involved in the processing, production and logistics for a broad range of commodities including base, precious and specialty metals, oil, gas, coal and other energy related raw materials, as well as CO2 offsets and mitigation. Prior to 2003, Mr. Mancini was a member of the legal department where he eventually became the Deputy General Counsel of the Securities Division. During his tenure at Goldman, Mr. Mancini sat on several committees including the firm-wide Risk Committee, Operational Risk Committee, and Divisional Risk Committee, as well as several portfolio company boards. Prior to joining Goldman, Mr. Mancini spent nine years in private practice as a lawyer with Debevoise and Plimpton, where he established that firm’s derivatives practice. Mr. Mancini received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1984, where he was a member of Law Review, and received his B.A. degree from Binghamton University in 1980.
Philip Kassin, 61
President, Chief Operating Officer & Director
From August 2016 to October 2016, Mr. Kassin was a Managing Director and Head of M&A and Financing at M-III Partners and has over 35 years of experience as both an advisor and investor in public and private equity. At M-III Partners, he completed a $345 million SPAC transaction for M-III Acquisition Corp., successfully acquiring Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives (NASDAQ: IEA) from Oaktree Capital Management, and serving on its Board from March 2016 to October 2016. Prior to joining M-III Partners, Mr. Kassin was a Senior Managing Director at Evercore from July 2010 to April 2016, specializing in chemicals and energy. Prior to Evercore, from September 2005 to July 2010, Mr. Kassin was the Head of M&A and Financing for Access Industries, a privately held industrial group which focused on natural resources and chemicals, media and telecommunications, technology and e-commerce and real estate. Mr. Kassin also served as a Supervisory Board Member of Basell Polyolefins from 2005 to 2007 and as a Supervisory Board Member of LyondellBasell Industries from 2007 to 2010, where he also served as Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee and Chairman of the Audit Committee. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kassin held senior investment banking roles at Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and AIG. He was also a Partner at PwC where he was responsible for its energy M&A consulting practice. Mr. Kassin started his career as a utilities analyst at Standard & Poor’s. Mr. Kassin earned an M.P.A. from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a B.A, in Policy Studies from Syracuse University. He also has FINRA Series 24, 63 and 79 Qualifications.
Board of Directors
D. James Carpenter, 51
Chairman
Mr. Carpenter is the Founder and has been a Senior Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Riverside Management Group, LLC (“Riverside”) for 22 years. Riverside is a merchant bank with approximately 45 senior professionals and advisors who have completed billions of dollars of transactions as advisors, principal investors and as management. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Carpenter served as the CEO of Horsehead Industries (renamed American Zinc Recycling), one of the largest zinc recyclers and producers in the U.S. Mr. Carpenter was a founding investor and has served as a longtime advisor, and since 2016 has served as a board member of Allied Resource Corp, a clean water and clean energy company. He is a founder of Mohegan Energy where he led the capital formation for the acquisition of Met Resources, a company with over 40 million tons of steel making coal reserves. Mr. Carpenter earned his B.A. from Boston University in 1989. He also has FINRA Series 24, 63 and 79 licenses.
W. Grant Gregory, 77
Director
Mr. Gregory is the founder, and since December 1987 has served as the Chairman of, Gregory & Hoenemeyer, Inc., a financial advisory firm providing mergers and acquisitions and strategic services to Chinese, U.S. and European firms, including private equity firms. Mr. Gregory’s expertise includes corporate governance and ethical business practices, mergers and acquisitions and tax policy. Mr. Gregory has served successfully in numerous leadership roles as chairman of the board, chief executive officer, investment banker, merchant banker and director of public, private and nonprofit corporations. Mr. Gregory previously served as a corporate director of NYSE member companies, including Chrysler Corporation until 2007, MCI until 2006 and Renaissance Hotels Inc. until 1997, and he has served as the chairman of the audit, governance and compensation committees for a number of NYSE member companies. Mr. Gregory has also served as chairman of Special Independent Directors Committees for numerous NYSE member companies. He was Vice Chairman of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. from 2005 until 2011. Mr. Gregory is also a founder of DoubleClick Inc. Mr. Gregory was previously Chairman of the Board of Touche Ross & Co. (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu), where he worked for 24 years until 1987. At Touche Ross & Co., Mr. Gregory led global teams in a wide range of industries while servicing the firm’s 100 largest clients. He played a leadership role in the opening of the firm’s first office in the People’s Republic of China in Beijing, and while an Advisor to the Ministry of Finance was instrumental in creating the first U.S. Financial Reporting and Accounting now widely used throughout China. Mr. Gregory has served as Executive Co-Chairman of the United States Privatization Council and the U.S. Trade Representative’s Advisory Committee on International Trade in Services. He currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of the National Forest Foundation, Director Emeritus of the Wyoming Wildlife Foundation, Director Emeritus of The National Board of Directors of Junior Achievement, and Director of the Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making at the University of Southern California. Mr. Gregory graduated with distinction from the University of Nebraska in 1964, where he was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, as well as The Builder Award, the University’s highest non-academic recognition.
W. Thaddeus Miller, 69
Director
W. Thaddeus Miller previously served as a member of our Advisory Board. Mr. Miller currently serves as a board member, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Legal Officer of Calpine Corporation, one of the largest independent power producers (IPP) in the U.S. He joined Calpine in 2008 and helped lead its post-bankruptcy transition, numerous corporate and asset acquisitions and divestitures, and the recent public-to-private merger sale of Calpine to a private equity group, one of the largest take-private transaction in U.S. history. Mr. Miller has decades of legal and energy industry experience, including substantial experience over the last two decades in power sector mergers and acquisitions, operations and regulatory oversight. In 2006-7, as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Texas Genco Inc., he helped lead the merger sale of a large privately held IPP to a public company, having also helped lead the acquisition of Texas Genco a year earlier by five major private equity firms, the largest private equity “club” transaction at the time. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Miller was a consultant to Texas Pacific Group (now TPG), a private equity firm. From 1998 to 2002, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Orion Power, an IPP majority owned by Goldman Sachs, that acquired over 90 power plants in various transactions which he helped lead, as well the company’s IPO and subsequent merger sale. From 1994 to 1998, Mr. Miller was Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co., where he focused on wholesale electric and other energy commodity trading. Before joining Goldman Sachs & Co., Mr. Miller was a partner with a New York law firm. Mr. Miller earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where he has served on the board of directors of the alumni association and foundation, and his Juris Doctor from St. John’s School of Law. In addition, he was an officer in the United States Coast Guard.
Steven P. Buffone
Director
Steven P. Buffone is the Founder and Managing Director of Kenilworth Advisors, LLC, a legal and business consulting firm. From October 1984 until December 2017 Mr. Buffone served as an associate (through 1992) and then a partner at the Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP law firm, working in the Firm’s Los Angeles, London and New York offices. He is a member of the New York and California bars and was active in Gibson Dunn’s management, having previously served as Co-Partner in Charge of the New York office, as a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee and as Co-Chair of the Firm’s Corporate Transactions Practice Group and Energy and Infrastructure Practice Group. Mr. Buffone is a corporate transactional lawyer who has represented clients in a wide variety of industries (over 40 different industries, from electric power and waste management to luxury goods and life sciences) in mergers and acquisitions, bank financings, public and private issuances of debt and equity securities, venture capital financings, corporate restructurings and bankruptcies, corporate governance matters and general corporate counseling. Mr. Buffone is a member of the Board of Directors of VOYANT, an automated brand activation marketplace and of CryptoTax, a cryptocurrency tax preparation platform. He is also on the Board of Advisors of Own The Room, a leader in learning and development training programs. He previously served on the Members Advisory Committee of Exclusive Resorts. Mr. Buffone is the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, a member of Georgetown’s Board of Regents and a former member of Georgetown’s Board of Governors. Mr. Buffone is also on the Board of Directors of the not-for-profits Do Something.Org, Echoing Green and Blink Now. He is a Life Member of the Council of Foreign Relations. Mr. Buffone earned his B.S.F.S. in international economics, cum laude, from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and his J.D., cum laude, from the Cornell and Stanford Law Schools.