KippsDeSanto & Co. Advises Ballard Power Systems Inc.

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KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the sale of the Power Manager business from Protonex (“Protonex”), a subsidiary of our client, Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: BLDP, “Ballard”) to Revision Military Ltd. (“Revision”).

Protonex designs and manufactures efficient, flexible power solutions for portable, remote, and military applications.  Protonex has deployed thousands of portable power solutions globally.  The Company’s products include both squad-based power manager systems, which can power any gear from any battery or charge any battery from any source, as well as man-wearable products which extend uptime of mission-critical devices and provide soldiers with full-power situational awareness.  In 2017, Protonex’s Squad Power Manager received signature approval for full rate production status, commonly known as “Milestone C” for the Mobile Soldier Power Program of Record.  This Program of Record includes a number of new devices focused on improving power and energy management on and around the soldier, including Protonex’s Squad Power Manager Kit (SPM-622), conformal wearable batteries, and man-worn power and data distribution devices, such as Protonex’s Vest Power Manager family.  Revision develops and supplies leading-edge protective equipment, including innovations in power management and integrated systems, for mission-critical military and tactical use.  The addition of Protonex to the Revision platform, along with planned increases in U.S. defense spending and achievement of Milestone C, creates significant synergies and a compelling growth opportunity for the combined business.

We believe this transaction demonstrates several key trends in the aerospace and defense M&A environment:

  • Companies continue to employ M&A to shape and refine their portfolios to better align their capabilities along core competencies
  • Buyers are focused on leveraging acquisitions to rapidly expand their existing product and solutions offerings
  • Buyers are seeking to gain a foothold in programs of record with access to well-funded and difficult-to-penetrate customers

KippsDeSanto & Co. is an investment bank focused on delivering exceptional M&A and financing transaction results for leading aerospace, defense, and technology companies.  For more information on KippsDeSanto & Co., please visit www.kippsdesanto.com.

Press Release

VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA and SOUTHBOROUGH, MA, USA – Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to divest certain non-core assets of its subsidiary, Protonex, related to the Power Manager business to Revision Military Ltd. (www.revisionmilitary.com), a private U.S.-based company, for up to $16.0 million in cash. Ballard will retain certain assets related to fuel cell propulsion systems for military and commercial unmanned vehicles.

Terms of the transaction include upfront consideration of $4.75 million to Ballard – payable in cash and note – subject to a customary working capital adjustment, and up to a further $11.25 million, based on achievement of specific sales objectives during a 12-month earn-out period. The transaction is expected to close within the next 60 days, subject to customary closing conditions.

Randy MacEwen, Ballard President and CEO said, “This divestiture is consistent with our strategy of continuous portfolio optimization. We decided to divest Protonex assets that are no longer aligned with Ballard’s strategic fuel cell focus, while retaining assets related to the unmanned vehicle market, under the Ballard brand. The divestiture reduces complexity while adding fuel for us to invest in our core fuel cell business.”

Mr. MacEwen continued, “We originally acquired Protonex to provide strategic diversification and to engage the U.S. military complex as a potential customer for portable fuel cell products. With the developing value proposition and attractive market opportunities for fuel cell electric vehicles or FCEVs in Heavy- and Medium-Duty Motive markets, including bus, truck, rail, marine and other applications, we are divesting the Power Manager business to focus on core fuel cell market opportunities. The Power Manager business is a good long-term business that better complements the Revision strategy.”

Jonathan Blanshay, CEO of Revision Military commented, “Revision is in the business of developing and supplying leading-edge protective equipment, along with innovations in power management and integrated systems, for mission critical military and tactical use. We are confident that our corporate platform, along with planned increases in U.S. defense spending and achievement of Milestone C, create a compelling growth opportunity for the Protonex Power Manager business.”

In 2015 Ballard paid approximately $17.5 million in shares and cash to acquire Protonex, which included the Power Manager business, a Solid Oxide Fuel Cells business which was divested in January 2018, and the unmanned vehicle business.

For additional information regarding unmanned vehicles, please visit http://www.ballard.com/markets/uav.

About Ballard Power Systems

Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) provides clean energy products that reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in power and energy. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements concerning future events or developments, anticipated product performance, customer benefits and market demand for our products. These forward-looking statements reflect Ballard’s current expectations as contemplated under section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such forward-looking statements are based on Ballard’s assumptions relating to its financial forecasts and expectations regarding its product development efforts, manufacturing capacity, and market demand.

These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause Ballard’s actual results to be materially different, including general economic and regulatory changes, detrimental reliance on third parties, successfully achieving our business plans and achieving and sustaining profitability. For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors that could affect Ballard’s future performance, please refer to Ballard’s most recent Annual Information Form. Readers should not place undue reliance on Ballard’s forward-looking statements and Ballard assumes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward looking statements, other than as required under applicable legislation.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy  securities. The Ballard Common Shares have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.