Cenntro Electric Group Limited Announces Proposed Re-domiciliation to the United States
12 September 2023 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Cenntro Electric Group Limited (NASDAQ: CENN) (“Cenntro” or “the
Company”), a leading EV technology company with advanced,
market-validated electric commercial vehicles, is pleased to
announce its intention to re-domicile from Australia to the United
States of America ("U.S.") by way of scheme of arrangement
undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Australian
Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ("Scheme").
To implement the re-domiciliation, Cenntro has entered into a
scheme implementation agreement dated September 8, 2023 ("Scheme
Implementation Agreement") with Cenntro Inc. (“HoldCo”),
a new U.S. company incorporated in accordance with the laws of
Nevada for the purpose of effecting its re-domiciliation to the
U.S. Pursuant to the terms of the Scheme which HoldCo will acquire
all of the ordinary shares in Cenntro (“Cenntro Shares”) and
eligible holders of Cenntro Shares ("Cenntro Shareholders")
will receive one share of common stock of HoldCo ("HoldCo
Shares") in exchange for each Cenntro Share held by that
Cenntro Shareholder at the record date for the Scheme and
transferred to HoldCo under the Scheme.
The Scheme is subject to court approval in Australia, as well as
approval by Cenntro Shareholders.
If the Scheme is implemented, Cenntro will become a wholly owned
subsidiary of HoldCo. Cenntro will be de-listed from the Nasdaq
Capital Market (“Nasdaq”). HoldCo will apply for HoldCo to
be listed on Nasdaq, effective upon the implementation of the
Scheme.
Reasons for re-domiciliation
After carefully considering the relative merits of the
re-domiciliation, the directors of Cenntro are of the view that the
advantages materially outweigh the disadvantages. In particular,
the board believes that the re-domiciliation would provide the
following potential benefits:
- Position the Cenntro group more appropriately, as its ultimate
holding company will, following implementation of the Scheme, be
domiciled in the U.S. and listed domestically on the Nasdaq;
- Seek to provide the Cenntro group more opportunities to pursue
future corporate development and strategic growth initiatives while
at the same time seeking to reduce the risk of the Cenntro group's
activities being subject to the approval of the Committee on
Foreign Investment in the United States;
- Improve the attractiveness and awareness of Cenntro to a
broader U.S. investor pool that prefer the familiarity of
domestically domiciled companies;
- Better align Cenntro's corporate structure with its business
operations in the U.S., noting the majority of Cenntro's corporate
senior management team are located in the U.S.; and
- Seek to streamline and reduce costs of the Cenntro group,
particularly in respect of compliance and audit costs associated
with being an Australian incorporated public company operating in
both the U.S. and Australia.
Independent Expert
Cenntro has engaged Lonergan Edwards (“Independent
Expert”) to prepare a report for inclusion in the scheme
booklet, stating whether or not in the Independent Expert's opinion
the Scheme is in the best interests of the Cenntro Shareholders
(“Independent Expert's Report”).
Cenntro board unanimously recommends the Scheme
The directors of Cenntro unanimously recommend Cenntro
Shareholders to vote in favor of the Scheme subject to the
Independent Expert concluding that the Scheme is in the best
interests of Cenntro Shareholders, in the absence of a superior
proposal. The directors of Cenntro intend to vote all Cenntro
Shares they hold in favor of the Scheme, subject to the same
qualifications.
Terms of the Schemes
Implementation of the Scheme is subject to a number of
conditions precedent, including:
- Approval by Cenntro Shareholders by the requisite
majorities;
- The Holdco Shares being authorized for listing on Nasdaq;
- The Independent Expert concluding that the Scheme is in the
best interests of Cenntro Shareholders;
- Australian court approval of the Scheme;
- Cenntro receiving all required regulatory approvals for, and no
regulatory intervention preventing, the Scheme;
- Cenntro and HoldCo receiving all relief, waivers, exemptions,
consents or approvals to implement the Scheme; and
- Cenntro and HoldCo entering into binding agreements with each
option holder, warrant holder and note holder to cancel the options
held by such option holders, the warrants held by such warrant
holders and the notes held by such noteholders on conditions that
are acceptable to Cenntro and HoldCo.
A copy of the Scheme Implementation Agreement is attached to
this announcement.
Indicative timetable and next steps
Cenntro Shareholders do not need to take any action at this
time. A scheme booklet containing, among other things, further
information relating to the Scheme, reasons for the directors’
unanimous recommendation, information on the scheme meetings and
the Independent Expert’s Report is expected to be sent to Cenntro
Shareholders in October 2023. Cenntro is targeting implementation
date for the Scheme by December 31, 2023, with the Nasdaq listing
for HoldCo to be completed shortly thereafter. These dates are
indicative only and subject to change.
Cenntro has retained MinterEllison as its Australian legal
advisor, and Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP as its U.S. legal advisor.
About Cenntro Electric Group Ltd.
Cenntro Electric Group Ltd. (or "Cenntro") (NASDAQ: CENN) is a
leading designer and manufacturer of electric commercial vehicles.
Cenntro's purpose-built ECVs are designed to serve a variety of
organizations in support of city services, last-mile delivery, and
other commercial applications. Cenntro plans to lead the
transformation in the automotive industry through scalable,
decentralized production, and smart driving solutions empowered by
the Cenntro iChassis. For more information, please visit Cenntro's
website at: www.cenntroauto.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements include all statements that are not historical facts.
Such statements may be, but need not be, identified by words such
as "may,'' "believe,'' "anticipate,'' "could,'' "should,''
"intend,'' "plan,'' "will,'' "aim(s),'' "can,'' "would,''
"expect(s),'' "estimate(s),''"project(s),'' "forecast(s)'',
"positioned,'' "approximately,'' "potential,'' "goal,''
"strategy,'' "outlook'' and similar expressions. Examples of
forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements
regarding assembly and distribution capabilities, decentralized
production, and fully digitalized autonomous driving solutions. All
such forward-looking statements are based on management's current
beliefs, expectations and assumptions, and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the results expressed or implied in this
communication. For additional risks and uncertainties that could
impact Cenntro’s forward-looking statements, please see disclosures
contained in Cenntro's public filings with the SEC, including the
"Risk Factors" in Cenntro's Annual Report on Form 10K/A filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2023 and which
may be viewed at www.sec.gov.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911100170/en/
Investor Relations Contact: Chris Tyson MZ North America
CENN@mzgroup.us 949-491-8235
Company Contact:
PR@cenntroauto.com IR@cenntroauto.com
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