MUNICH and SAN FRANCISCO, June 16,
2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lilium GmbH ("Lilium"), positioned to
be a global leader in sustainable regional air mobility, announced
that Advisory Board member Dr. Thomas
Enders will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Lilium N.V. upon completion of Lilium's business
combination with Qell Acquisition Corp ("Qell") (NASDAQ: QELL).
The announcement was made as part of Lilium's inaugural Analyst
Day, held virtually on Tuesday, 15 June
2021.
Lilium's executive team, including team members who worked on
developing some of the most successful aircraft in aviation
history, shared more information on Lilium's technology,
certification plans, manufacturing approach, business model,
commercial relationships with established industry suppliers and
infrastructure developers, as well as a first look into the cabin
experience of the 7-Seater Lilium Jet.
In a video message, Dr. Enders discussed the importance of these
commercial relationships to the future success of Lilium. The video
then highlights four key Lilium relationships -- Honeywell
Aerospace, Palantir, Lufthansa Aviation Training, and Ferrovial –
and the anticipated contribution to development and
commercialization of the 7-seater Lilium Jet from each of:
- Honeywell Aerospace will work with Lilium to reduce
certification schedule risk and cost by providing avionics and
fly-by-wire flight controls for the Lilium 7-Seater Jet;
- Palantir, which along with Honeywell have committed to invest
in Lilium through the previously announced PIPE offering in
connection with Lilium's business combination with Qell, will
provide enterprise-grade intelligence and a data-first approach to
support the manufacturing and delivery of the 7-Seater Lilium
Jet;
- Lufthansa Aviation Training is developing bespoke pilot
sourcing and training programs to qualify pilots to fly the Lilium
Jet;
- Ferrovial is working with Lilium to plan and develop a network
of at least ten vertiports in major cities across Florida, Lilium's planned launch market in the
U.S.
During the analyst day event, Lilium showed a brand-new video
previewing the look, feel, and comfort of the planned 7-Seater
Lilium Jet cabin model. With space for six passengers and one
pilot, spacious window seats, clear views, a central aisle and a
separate hold for luggage, the cabin is designed for comfort
without compromising performance.
Dr. Enders, who served as the CEO of Airbus during a career in
aerospace spanning 30 years, joined Lilium's Advisory Board in
January 2021, and in a statement
highlighted the advantages of Lilium's business model and
technology as the solution to solving the issue of low load factors
in the eVTOL space.
Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder and
CEO of Lilium, said, "Tom Enders is
an aviation industry giant, and we are all delighted to see him
reaffirm his commitment to Lilium by accepting the future role of
Chairman of the Board when Lilium becomes a Nasdaq-listed company.
We will continue to leverage Tom's incredible network across
aerospace, both in the delivery of aircraft and in commercial
development, and together with Barry
Engle and the directors who will serve on the Board of
Directors of Lilium N.V., Tom will provide important counsel and
stewardship as we prepare for a planned commercial launch in
2024."
Barry Engle, Founder and CEO of
Qell, said, "Tom Enders needs no
introduction, having led one of the world's most successful
aerospace companies as part of a successful career. He will bring
enormous industry insights, experience, and foresight in corporate
governance to Lilium, and we are look forward to having Tom serve
as Chairman of the Board as Lilium develops and seeks certification
for the 7-Seater Jet."
Dr. Thomas Enders said: "I would
be honored to lead the first Board of Lilium once the business
combination is completed and am grateful for the confidence my
colleagues put in me. Now, I'm focused on expanding this
world-class board of directors to support CEO Daniel Wiegand and his great management team,
and set the course for success."
About Lilium:
Lilium's vision is to create a sustainable and accessible mode of
high-speed, regional transportation. Using the seven passenger
Lilium Jet, an electric vertical take-off and landing jet, offering
leading capacity, low noise and high performance, Lilium is
building a transport network and service for people and goods.
Working in partnership with world-leading aerospace, technology,
and infrastructure leaders, commercial operations are set to launch
in 2024. Lilium's 650+ strong team includes over 400 aerospace
engineers and a leadership responsible for delivering some of the
most successful aircraft in aviation history. Founded in 2015,
Lilium's headquarters and manufacturing facilities are in
Munich, Germany, with teams based
across Europe and the U.S. To
learn more, visit lilium.com.
About Qell
Formed in San Francisco in
August 2020, Qell Acquisition Corp.
(Nasdaq: QELL) is a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition
company created to invest in a high-growth business in the
next-generation mobility, transportation or sustainable industrial
technology markets. The management team, led by Barry Engle and Sam
Gabbita, has deep experience and networks across both
incumbents and emerging technology companies in their target
sectors.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, but
not limited to, statements regarding Lilium's, Qell's and Lilium
N.V.'s proposed business and business model, the markets and
industry in which Lilium, Qell and Lilium N.V. (collectively, the
"Lilium Group") intend to operate, the anticipated timing of the
commercialization and launch of the Lilium Group's business and
Lilium N.V.'s officers and directors. These forward-looking
statements generally are identified by the words "believe,"
"project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend,"
"strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should,"
"will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result,"
and similar expressions. Such statements are based on management's
belief or interpretation of information currently available.
Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other
statements about future events that are based on management's
current expectations with respect to future events and are based on
assumptions and subject to risk and uncertainties and subject to
change at any time. The Lilium Group will operate in a rapidly
changing emerging industry. New risks emerge every day. Given these
risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on or place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual events or
results may differ materially from those contained in the
projections or forward-looking statements.
Many factors could cause actual future events to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements in this press
release, including, but not limited to, the following risks: (i)
the business combination with Qell may not be completed in a
timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of
Qell's securities; (ii) the business combination may not be
completed by Qell's business combination deadline and the potential
failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline
if sought by Qell; (iii) the parties' failure to satisfy the
conditions to the consummation of the business combination, such as
Qell's shareholders or Lilium's shareholders failing to adopt the
business combination agreement, failing to satisfy the minimum
trust account amount following redemptions by Qell's public
shareholders or an inability to secure necessary governmental and
regulatory approvals; (iv) the impact of COVID-19 on Lilium's
business or the business combination; (v) the Lilium Group's
ability to implement business plans, operating models, forecasts
and other expectations and identify and realize additional business
opportunities after the completion of the proposed business
combination; (vi) the failure of the Lilium Group and its current
and future business partners to successfully develop and
commercialize the Lilium Group's business or significant delays in
its ability to do so; (vii) the Lilium Group's inability to secure
or protect its intellectual property; (viii) the effect of the
announcement or pendency of the proposed business combination on
Lilium Group's business relationships, performance and operations
generally; and (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may
be instituted against Qell or the Lilium Group related to the
proposed business combination. The foregoing list of factors is not
exhaustive. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date
they are made. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, and the Lilium Group assumes no
obligation and does not intend to update or revise these
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. A further list and description of
risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in the
Registration Statement (as defined below), including those risks
outlined in "Risk Factors," and in subsequent U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission filings, all of which are available
at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to
Lilium or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified
in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Important Information About the Business Combination and
Where to Find It
A full description of the terms of the business combination is
provided in the registration statement filed with the SEC by Lilium
B.V. ("Registration Statement"), which will later be converted into
a Netherlands public limited
liability company (naamloze vennootschap) ("Lilium N.V.") that
includes a prospectus with respect to Lilium N.V.'s securities to
be issued in connection with the business combination and a proxy
statement with respect to the shareholder meeting of Qell to vote
on the business combination. Qell urges its investors, shareholders
and other interested persons to read, when available, the
preliminary proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC and
documents incorporated by reference therein because these documents
will contain important information about Qell, Lilium and the
business combination. After the Registration Statement is declared
effective, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be included
in the Registration Statement will be mailed to shareholders of
Qell as of a record date to be established for voting on the
business combination. Shareholders are able to obtain a copy of the
Registration Statement, including the proxy statement/prospectus,
and other documents filed with the SEC without charge by directing
a request to: Qell, info@qellspac.com. These documents will also be
made available on Qell's website. The preliminary and definitive
proxy statement/prospectus to be included in the Registration
Statement may also be obtained, without charge, on the SEC's
website (www.sec.gov).
Participants in the Solicitation Process
Qell, Lilium, Lilium N.V. and their respective directors and
executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation
of proxies from Qell's stockholders with respect to the proposed
business combination. A list of the names of those directors and
executive officers and a description of their interests in Qell has
been filed in the Registration Statement, which includes the proxy
statement/prospectus, for the business combination and is
available, without charge, at www.sec.gov.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a
proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or
in respect of the business combination. This press release shall
also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of
securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a
prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
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SOURCE Lilium