ZAP Electric gets up to $25 million (give or take) in fresh funding
For a company whose reputation such as it is has more often been made on the frequency of its press releases than the actual products it sells Zap has been relatively quiet of late. The last big news relating to the Santa Rosa, CA company was the collapse of plans for a venture to build a plant in Kentucky.
This week however, Zap claimed it received "up to $25 Million" in new funding. Watch out for that "up to" part. Venture capital firm Cathay Capital is reportedly putting in $5 million up front for 20 million shares of Zap common stock. An additional $10 million loan will be available if Zap meets certain unspecified conditions. Cathay also got warrants for up to 16 million shares at $0.50 per share, which puts the total amount at $23 million. What's a couple of million between friends? The money will apparently fund long term contracts for production, which probably means Zap's contract manufacturers in China want payment up front. No mention is made of the three wheeled Alias and the legendary Zap-X 640 hp CUV seems to have been consigned to the dustbin of history. Zap's press release is after the jump.
[Source: Zap]
PRESS RELEASE:
ZAP Secures up to $25 Million in New Financing.
SANTA ROSA, California (August 10, 2009) – Electric vehicle pioneer ZAP (OTC BB: ZAAP) announced today that it has secured up to $25 million in new financing with Cathaya Capital, L.P. With offices in Silicon Valley, Cathaya, L.P. is backed by financier Jacques de Chateauvieux's Paris-based Jaccar Holdings and intends to manage the investment through its affiliate Better World International, Ltd.
ZAP will use a portion of the funding to pursue longer-term contract production and assembly commitments, and to accelerate deliveries of trucks and vans to fill current fleet and government orders.
Leveraging its expertise in the design and manufacture of electric vehicles, as well as its fifteen years of experience in the distribution and sale of 100% electric vehicles, ZAP also plans to further broaden and accelerate its development of power train technology that improves overall performance of its vehicles while achieving cost reductions.
In making the announcement, ZAP CEO Steven Schneider commented: "This is a critical juncture for ZAP as we now have the means and resources to begin addressing the opportunities at hand on a global basis and to fully realize the leadership position possible in the electric vehicle marketplace."
Financing includes a private placement of twenty million shares of common stock for aggregate proceeds of $5 million and a secured loan facility of up to $10 million that will be advanced to ZAP provided certain conditions are met. In connection with the financing, the investor also was issued warrants exercisable for up to sixteen million shares of common stock at $0.50 per share For a more detailed description of the financing agreement, see Zap's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 10, 2009.
Dr. Priscilla Lu, General Partner of the investor and founder of Better World International Ltd., commented: "We made this investment in ZAP based on the belief that the new focus and resources now available to the company will allow it to become a market leader, fully realizing its potential and leveraging its long history and experience. We believe ZAP's experienced management team has the in-depth, practical know-how in the electric vehicle industry that will provide the foundation to succeed in markets and partnerships in Europe and China."
The proceeds of this financing also will enable ZAP to expand its vehicle distribution network into the European Union (EU) where recent government incentives supporting the adoption of electric vehicles have increased demand for practical models at affordable prices. In addition to targeting market opportunities in the EU, ZAP intends to pursue automotive opportunities in China. Last month, the China Daily called for government incentives on the purchase of vehicles that reduce pollution and minimize dependency on oil. ZAP believes calls for a proposed mandate of this nature, together with the subsidies that are now available in China to electric vehicle manufacturers, have created opportunities for increased volume production and sales. In parallel, Better Worlds, a company affiliated with the investor, intends to pursue the development of a charging network infrastructure for electric vehicles in China, by partnering with industry and technology companies that can offer practical solutions for fast recharging.
Today's announcement brings a total of up to $31 million in new financing for ZAP's electric vehicle capital expansion since June. In addition to the Cathaya package, up to $6 million in financing was placed by the Banks Group in June consisting of $2 million in cash and $4 million in warrants at $0.50 per share.
For more news and information on ZAP, visit wwwIRGnews.com/coi/ZAAP where you can find the CEO's video, a fact sheet on the company, investor presentation, and more.
About ZAP
ZAP has been a leader in electric transportation since 1994, delivering over one hundred thousand vehicles to consumers in more than seventy-five countries. ZAP manufactures a line of electric vehicles, including electric city-cars and trucks, motorcycles, scooters, and ATVs. ZAP sells some of the only electric city-speed cars, trucks and vans in production today and is developing a freeway capable electric vehicle. For product, dealer and investor information, visit www.zapworld.com.
About Cathaya Capital L.P.
Cathaya Capital L.P. is wholly owned by Cathaya Funds Ltd., a cross border fund focused on investing in cross border businesses that have synergies between China and international markets. The organization leverages technological strengths and business know-how of the companies in China and in the U.S. and Europe.
About Better Worlds Ltd.
Better World International Ltd., a BVI company with headquarters in Hong Kong, is focused on investing in developing electric car technologies and service businesses. It is working on joint partnerships in China that can build out the infrastructure electric power grid networks for electric cars, and on opportunities with companies that provide the core technologies to enhance electric power train conversion as well as improving fast charge pumps for recharge stations.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Please refer to the risk factors contained in the company's SEC filings including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2009, Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q on May 20, 2009 and subsequent filings with the SEC.
ZAP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Robert 10:14AM (8/12/2009)
I didn't realize creating renderings and dropping them onto some unlikely backdrop in Photoshop required $25 million in funding. People do that for free on the Internet all the time.
I wish I had approached Cathay Capital for $5 million. I'd have given them 40 million shares in common stock in my electric scooter company that I just made up. I think that would have been a better investment on their part.
Reply
yabun 10:37AM (8/12/2009)
Is it just me or does this company seem like an ongoing joke that will never deliver anything substantial? That money could be better spent.
What ever happened to that little Obvio from Brazil or that Lotus cross-over anyway?
Reply
Chris M 3:01AM (8/13/2009)
Well, Zap does make and sell electric scooters, though the quality went downhill after they kicked out the founder, and they sell a 3 wheel NEV called the Xebra made in China, but that's it for legitimate products. All their attempts to go "bigtime" with a freeway capable vehicle have fallen through.
Their attempt to get the Obvio from Brazil fell through for the same reason their attempts to get the Smart Car - they made a big announcement without a formal contract, then failed to put in the effort needed for meeting local codes and get the cars imported through customs. The "Zap-X" was nothing more than showing off a single Lotus AP-X prototype, but they failed to do any development and it didn't go beyond "concept". The "Alias" seems to be little more than computer renderings and a styling buck, we've yet to see a working prototype, let alone any valid production plan.
I think the critics may be right, these other "projects" weren't serious production attempts, they were created just to pump up the stock price for sale, then dropped when they wanted to push down the stock price for purchase. Buy low, sell high.
Of course, sooner or later the investors are going to realize that in spite of the legitimate side to their business, Zap will never have a full sized freeway capable vehicle, and this parade of "never to be built" concepts will come to an end.
Nick P. 11:07AM (8/12/2009)
According to this WIRED article, Zap is run as a vehicle to sell penny stocks (pump & dump):
http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/16-04/ff_zapped?currentPage=all
In such operation, the product doesn't matter. What matter is to find as many hopeful investors as possible and then (legally) convert that stock to cash before it's value goes down again.
It's the underbelly of the stock market and people are always surprised to learn of its existence.
Reply
Andrewlcox1 11:44AM (8/12/2009)
Agreed, after the Wired article and never seeing any real quantity of electric cars come out of ZAP, I would never invest a dime into their company.
yabun 12:10PM (8/12/2009)
I hope the government reads Wired magazine.
Hopefully, they are not be eligible for any public assistance.
Reply
Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com 1:03PM (8/12/2009)
Terrible Photoshop.
Reply
kert 2:16PM (8/12/2009)
Zap is the anti-Tesla.
Reply
Mike Z 4:19PM (8/12/2009)
And by anti-Tesla I think that means that Tesla's problems are in civil court; whereas Zap's will likely be in criminal court.
rrfreetrain 1:52PM (8/14/2009)
wow I went to that link and started reading and realized it was over a year old
is that right?
I did see that they have been doing well with fleets. and trucks.
This is pretty recent stuff at least
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/FAA-Orders-Fleet-of-Electric-iw-4087407763.html?x=0&.v=1
Cheers
Robert
Reply