TPG Pace Beneficial Finance Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, agreed to acquire EV Charged BV, a unit of French utility Engie SA that specializes in EV charging technology.
The deal will create a combined entity, EVBox Group, with a valuation of about $1.4 billion, the companies said Thursday. It will give EV Charged, which does business as EVBox, an implied enterprise value of $969 million. Engie, which acquired EVBox in 2017, will retain a stake of more than 40 percent.
Founded in 2010, Amsterdam-based EVBox makes hardware and software, and operates a network of more than 190,000 EV charge ports in 70 countries. The transaction with Fort Worth, Texas-based TPG Pace is set to provide the company with the means to broaden its technology offerings and expand globally. TPG Pace shares surged 116 percent Friday to close at $24.
“We’ve built out a dominant pan-European position and are convinced that joining forces with a strong American sha…