Times article - No wonder this is flying11 Dec 2023 08:44
Three former Tesla executives are to take control of DG Innovate, a technology minnow based in Wales that is developing next-generation batteries and electric motors.
The deal, which could be announced as early as this week, will see £2 million injected into the London-listed business to secure the future of the lossmaking company.
Peter Bardenfleth-Hansen, is to join DG Innovate as chief executive. He is chief executive of Zaptec, which provides charging systems for electric vehicles.
Jochen Rudat, who spent ten years with Tesla in Europe and played a key role in setting up Tesla in China will become an executive director alongside Christian Eidem, an early investor in the electric car company who was a classmate of Elon Musk, the Tesla founder, at Wharton business school.
The three executives, who met while working at Tesla in Europe, are said to be excited by DG Innovate’s technology.
The new team plan to expand manufacturing in Caerphilly to build “a leading green technology business”. If successful it will be a boost to the reputation of the London Stock Exchange, which has struggled to attract and retain technology companies.
Nicholas Tulloch will stay as chairman of DG Innovate and Peter Tierney, the current chief executive, will become an executive director.
Under the deal, which has been brokered by the investment firm Patronus Partners, the management team and investors will acquire a stake of about 40 per cent of the business.
DG Innovate, which is valued at £4.6 million, is developing sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, which are touted as a potentially cheaper and safer alternative to widely used lithium batteries if they can be reduced in size.
The group has also developed an electric drive system, alongside the Ministry of Defence, for use in heavy goods vehicles. The drive technology has a greater range, lower manufacturing costs and increased reliability than existing technology, it is claimed.
Part of the £2 million raised will be used to finalise commercial contracts for the electric drive system with a number of large clients.
The new management is expected to appoint a leading City broker within the coming weeks to put in place a long-term capital structure.