Agility Robotics expects to raise about $465 million through its merger with Churchill Capital Corp XI and related financing. The deal is due to close on 4 November, ahead of a Nasdaq listing on 5 November under the ticker AGLT.
In their announcement of 30 October, Agility Robotics and Churchill Capital Corp XI updated the amount of capital they expect from the merger. The deal is intended in particular to support the commercial development of the Digit humanoid robot, increase production of Digit 5 and fund future deployments at industrial customers.
Agility Robotics SPAC funding: $465 million, below earlier projections
The gross amount announced is about $465 million, before transaction costs. It also includes funds already received.
In an earlier update to its registration filing, Agility Robotics had expected more than $620 million in gross proceeds. That estimate was based mainly on about $424 million held in the SPAC’s trust account and $200 million from a private PIPE financing, assuming no shareholder requested redemption of their shares.
The new contribution from the trust account is about $260 million lower than that initial assumption. The updated figure of $465 million also includes $100 million already received separately. The two estimates therefore do not rest on exactly the same components.
Redemptions requested by SPAC shareholders allow these investors to recover their share of the cash rather than keep their stake after the merger. The 30 October announcement came after the deadline for these requests.
The companies plan a shareholder vote on 2 November, completion of the merger on 4 November and the start of trading on Nasdaq on 5 November, under the ticker AGLT.
Digit 5 orders: over $300 million in commercial commitments
Agility Robotics has previously identified several intended uses for the funds: fulfilling orders, expanding customer deployments and increasing Digit 5 production.
The manufacturer has reported commercial commitments of more than $300 million for Digit 5, spread over several years. These commitments remain subject to contractual milestones and product requirements. They therefore do not represent revenue already earned.
Digit’s commercial development relies in particular on its presence in logistics operations. GXO plans to extend its use of the robot to two additional facilities in the United States.
According to the announced timeline, this deployment is due to start with Digit 4 in early 2027, before a transition to Digit 5 once the new generation becomes available. The expansion extends an existing commercial relationship. The agreement announced with AGCO in the manufacturing sector, by contrast, covers a pilot project.
Digit 5 onboard computer: NVIDIA IGX Thor
On 22 October, Agility Robotics announced that the version of Digit 5 intended for general commercial availability will use NVIDIA IGX Thor modules. NVIDIA will thus become the exclusive supplier of onboard computing for this version of the humanoid robot.
Agility also plans to integrate Thor and additional NVIDIA Halos models into its own safety system dedicated to detecting people.
The manufacturer is taking part in the Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab programme to support the assessment of safety-related software and cybersecurity, ahead of final certification by a third-party body.
Early access to Digit 5 is expected in the first half of 2027. Agility then plans to ramp up availability gradually over a period of six to nine months. This initial early-access phase is therefore distinct from the general commercial availability planned for later.
New Pittsburgh facility to support Digit deployments
On 21 October, Agility Robotics also announced a new 50,000-square-foot facility in Pittsburgh, in the United States. The project is expected to add about 35,000 square feet to the space the company already occupies locally.
The site will bring together several activities needed to develop and operate humanoid robots: software and artificial intelligence, customer deployment, technical support and repair.
It will also house a service centre for the US East Coast, complementing the maintenance capabilities of RoboFab in Salem, Oregon.
According to the timeline provided by Agility Robotics, the first employees should be able to move into the new facility by the end of 2026.