After four years of hard work and dedication to bringing sustainable mobility to riders around the world, I am proud and humbled to announce a new milestone for our company:
Bird is planning to go public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) through a merger with Switchback II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
This is the next significant step on our journey to provide the world with safe, eco-friendly transportation. Since 2017, Bird’s shared micro-EV service has grown from ten vehicles into a global fleet providing tens of millions of trips to riders in over 200 cities annually. Our e-scooters introduced an environmentally friendly and accessible alternative to cars that nearly quadrupled the number of micromobility trips in the US from 35 million in 2017 to 136 million in 2019.
Over this time, we’ve helped reduce carbon emissions in cities by decreasing reliance on gas-powered cars. Of the hundreds of billions of car trips under five miles made every year, tens of millions are now being replaced by electric alternatives. We’ve also served as an essential first- and last-mile solution giving people greater access to healthcare, education and better paying jobs.
While this is a notable start, there’s more work to be done. We must make climate friendly transportation accessible to everyone if we’re to reverse the damage that the current transportation paradigm is doing to our planet. Our merger with Switchback II will enable us to remain steadfast in this mission.
As Bird enters this exciting new chapter, we will continue to put cities, riders and communities front and center in our mission for change. We will offer more diverse vehicles that accommodate the needs of a broader population and the demands of different trip types. We will listen carefully to feedback, seek diverse perspectives and challenge ourselves to develop the next generation of accessible mobility solutions that leave no one behind.
Our progress to date would not be possible without the passion of our team, the support of their families, the encouragement of our riders, the dedication of our Fleet Managers and the trust and collaboration of our city partners. Together, we will achieve our mission—to provide environmentally friendly transportation for everyone.
Travis VanderZanden is the founder and CEO of Bird.
Important Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed business combination, Bird Global, Inc. (“Bird Global”) will file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”) with the SEC. The Form S-4 will include a proxy statement/prospectus of Bird Global. Additionally, Bird Global will file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the business combination. Copies may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Security holders of Switchback II are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting decision with respect to the proposed business combination because they will contain important information about the business combination and the parties to the business combination. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this communication is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this communication.
Participants in the Solicitation
Switchback II and its directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Switchback II’s shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Bird and its officers and directors may also be deemed participants in such solicitation. Security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of Switchback II’s executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading Switchback II’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the business combination when they become available. Information concerning the interests of Switchback II’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of their shareholders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the business combination when it becomes available.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this communication includes “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this communication, regarding Switchback II’s proposed business combination with Bird, Switchback II’s ability to consummate the transaction, the benefits of the transaction and the combined company’s future financial performance, as well as the combined company’s strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this communication, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Switchback II and Bird disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this communication. Switchback II and Bird caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of either Switchback II or Bird. In addition, Switchback II and Bird caution you that the forward-looking statements contained in this communication are subject to the following factors: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could delay the business combination or give rise to the termination of the agreements related thereto; (ii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Switchback II or Bird following announcement of the transactions; (iii) the inability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Switchback II, or other conditions to closing in the transaction agreement; (iv) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts Switchback II’s or Bird’s current plans and operations as a result of the announcement of the transactions; (v) Bird’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of Bird to grow and manage growth profitably following the business combination; (vi) costs related to the business combination; (vii) changes in applicable laws or regulations; and (viii) the possibility that Bird may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this communication occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could different materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in Switchback II’s periodic filings with the SEC, including Switchback II’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and in the Form S-4, when filed. Switchback II’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction. This communication 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.
