{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"3064","rtpr_id":"nGNX9hX17R","ticker":"ATII","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["ATII"],"title":"Forge Nano, U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Leader for AI-Era Chips and Defense Batteries, to List on NASDAQ through Merger with Archimedes Tech SPAC Partners II Co.","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-04-21T14:00:14.184Z","article_body":"* Advanced Manufacturing Platform Supporting Critical Industries: U.S.\nadvanced manufacturing company enabling next-generation semiconductors and\nbatteries through its proprietary Atomic Layer Deposition (“ALD”)\nnanocoating platform, backed by 200+ patents and a combination of LOIs,\npipeline of $2B+, $84M binding off-take agreements\n* Multi-Phase Growth Plan with Significant Scale Opportunity: A three-phase\ngrowth plan targeting an estimated $359 billion+ expected addressable market\nby 2034, supported by Tier-1 strategic battery partnership and a $100 million\nU.S. Department of Energy grant\n* Validated by Global Industry Leaders and Policy Tailwinds: Strategic equity\ninvestors include GM Ventures, Hanwha Aerospace, Volkswagen, Air Liquide and\nLG Technology Ventures. Forge Nano technology already deployed\n(https://spacenews.com/us-made-batteries-enhanced-with-atomic-layer-deposition-enter-space/)\nin Spire Global satellites launched via SpaceX, with a 2028 legislative\nmandate that prohibits U.S. defense procurement of foreign-made battery cells,\nfurther catalyzing defense market opportunities\n* Value-Creating Transaction: Business combination implies a $1.2 billion\npre-money equity valuation, providing an attractive entry point alongside\nstrategic investors and capital to expand U.S. semiconductor tool and battery\nproduction into additional high-growth markets\n* Capital Support: With ~$182 million of committed capital raised from the\nPIPE and Series D, the minimum cash condition has been satisfied, and the\ntransaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026\n* Upcoming Webcast: Forge Nano and Archimedes Tech SPAC Partners II Co. to\nhost webcast and conference call on Tuesday, April 28 at 2:00 pm ET to discuss\nproposed transaction and review investor presentation\nDENVER and NEW YORK, April 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forge Nano, Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=rEPNx2yrda8ErSLdaPPLpbODC6vinVbsr4U30NrYgll8ewejoIDraM437kzEv3kxpjCQpfjFIwzE5EJgJTgIy4O3Zx-ZO0SR_1ciijFuukU=)\n(“Forge Nano” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. based semiconductor\nequipment and advanced materials company pioneering Atomic Layer Deposition\n(“ALD”) technology for artificial intelligence (“AI”)-era chip\nmanufacturing and defense battery applications, and Archimedes Tech SPAC\nPartners II Co\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=DT49HzfjtHSIXLclwzFrPlShhnleKgq1r4WpG6p-RcEagasdVzaF2f7Sa9Y6xGywC9DsyIm-iVsWVXWZ7NqxpZvqCLI09hJx2_LPcIz94E0E11i4swj2G_UNXOvJmaUe).\n(“Archimedes II”) (NASDAQ: ATII), a publicly traded special purpose\nacquisition company, announced today that they have entered into a definitive\nbusiness combination agreement (“Transaction”) that would result in Forge\nNano becoming a publicly listed company. Upon closing of the Transaction, the\ncombined company will operate as Forge Nano, Inc. and its common stock and\nwarrants are expected to trade on NASDAQ under the new ticker symbol\n“NANO” and “NANOW” respectively. The Company will continue to be led\nby Forge Nano’s existing management team, which brings deep technological\nand manufacturing experience.\n\nThe Transaction values Forge Nano at approximately $1.2 billion on a\npre-money, pre-merger basis. The Transaction also includes $100 million in new\ncapital committed in a private placement of common stock and warrants (the\n\"PIPE\"). Archimedes II currently holds approximately $242 million in cash in\ntrust (subject to redemption). Assuming no redemptions, the Transaction would\nresult in a total equity value of approximately $1.595 billion.\n\nThe Transaction comes on the heels of Forge Nano’s Series D funding round\nwith $82.2 million funded and committed to date.\n\nCOMPANY AND ANNOUNCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS\n\nVertically Integrated Advanced Manufacturing Platform: With fourteen years of\ntechnology development and over a decade of commercial sales, Forge Nano\ndevelops and produces high-performance materials and devices using its\nproprietary Atomic Armor™ ALD nanocoating platform technology. The company\nmanufactures both ALD nanocoating equipment and lithium-ion batteries in the\nU.S., using a predominantly domestic supply chain to serve critical industries\nincluding energy, defense and high-performance manufacturing.\n\nAtomic-Level Performance Across Industries: Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor™\nplatform technology applies ultra-thin, conformal coatings at the atomic level\nto produce more robust batteries for defense applications, mitigate AI chip\nyield production loss and improve new high growth verticals all while\nintegrating into existing manufacturing processes.\n\nStrategic Market Position: Forge Nano operates at the intersection of\nsemiconductor equipment and lithium-ion batteries, targeting an estimated $359\nbillion+ total addressable market by 2034 and leveraging a growing pipeline of\ncurrent and potential customers.\n\nBacked by Strategic Investors and U.S. Government: Strategic investors include\nVolkswagen, Air Liquide, Hanwha Aerospace, GM Ventures and LG Technology\nVentures, with additional validation through a $100 million U.S. Department of\nEnergy grant.\n\nUse of Funds: Capital is expected to be used to scale U.S. manufacturing of\nsemiconductor tools and lithium-ion batteries and to support expansion into\nhigh-growth markets such as pharmaceuticals, data centers and quantum\ncomputing.\n\nMANAGEMENT COMMENTS\n\n“Over the past decade, we have built a differentiated platform and\nestablished commercial traction across semiconductor and energy storage\nmarkets,” said Paul Lichty, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Forge\nNano. “Domestic manufacturing of critical technologies is increasingly\nimportant to energy security and technology leadership, and our Atomic\nArmor™ platform is designed to improve performance and durability at the\nmaterial level across applications ranging from lithium-ion batteries to\nadvanced semiconductors. This transaction is expected to provide Forge Nano\nwith the capital and market visibility to accelerate the next phase of our\ngrowth as we expand U.S. manufacturing of our nanocoating systems and\nlithium-ion batteries, deepen our role in the domestic battery supply chain\nand continue scaling the platform across additional industries.”\n\nLong Long, Chief Executive Officer at Archimedes II, added, “Forge Nano has\ndeveloped a unique manufacturing technology with real commercial applications\nin two of the most important industrial markets today: semiconductors and\nenergy storage. The Company combines a large patent portfolio, strategic\nindustry partners and a growing domestic manufacturing footprint. We believe\nForge Nano is well positioned to scale its platform and look forward to\nsupporting the team as they enter the public markets.”\n\nTRANSACTION OVERVIEW\n\nThe business combination values Forge Nano at a pre-money, pre-merger equity\nof $1.2 billion. Additionally, the agreement includes a non-transferable\nearnout entitling holders to potential additional payments of up to $900\nmillion in shares of the combined company tied to three specific trading price\nand revenue milestones. In addition to the $82.5 million in Series D\nfinancing, the Transaction could provide up to $342 million gross proceeds to\nForge Nano, including:\n* $242 million of cash held in the Archimedes II trust account as of April 9,\n2026 (assuming no redemptions); and\n* $100 million in capital committed by a leading fundamental institutional\ninvestor (assuming that the investor does not use any of this amount to\ninstead buy SPAC shares in open market transactions).\nProceeds from the Transaction are expected to:\n* Expand the production capacity of both semiconductor tools and battery\ncells;\n* Accelerate Forge Nano’s technology and product roadmap;\n* Expand into new verticals such as pharmaceuticals, data centers and quantum\ncomputing; and\n* Scale customer adoption and establish new ecosystem partnerships.\nThe boards of directors of Forge Nano and Archimedes II have each unanimously\napproved the proposed business combination and the Transaction is expected to\nclose in the second half of 2026, subject to the approval of Archimedes II\nshareholders and other customary closing conditions, including the\neffectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by an\naffiliate of Archimedes II and Forge Nano with the U.S. Securities and\nExchange Commission (the “SEC”), the receipt of required regulatory\napprovals and approval by NASDAQ to list the securities of the combined\ncompany.\n\nCONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION\n\nManagement of Forge Nano and Archimedes II will host an investor conference\ncall to discuss the proposed transaction and review an investor presentation\nat 2:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Interested investors may access a\nrecording of the conference call by visiting\nhttps://events.q4inc.com/attendee/609811192. A transcript of the call will\nalso be filed by Archimedes II with the SEC.\n\nADVISORS\n\nBTIG, LLC is serving as lead capital markets advisor and placement agent to\nForge Nano. Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company\nSecurities, LLC, is serving as financial advisor, capital markets advisor, and\nPIPE placement agent to Forge Nano. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison\nLLP is serving as legal counsel to Forge Nano. Loeb & Loeb LLP is serving as\nlegal counsel to Archimedes II. Alliance Advisors Investor Relations is\nserving as investor relations advisor for the Transaction. Kirkland & Ellis is\nacting as legal counsel to BTIG, LLC and Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a\ndivision of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, in connection with their roles as\nco-placement agents.\n\nABOUT FORGE NANO\n\nForge Nano is a leading U.S. based semiconductor equipment and advanced\nmaterials company pioneering Atomic Layer Deposition (“ALD”) technology\nfor AI-era chip manufacturing and defense battery applications via its\nplatform technology, Atomic Armor™. Atomic Armor™ is a scalable, adaptable\nnano-scale coating system that strengthens America’s most critical systems\n– at the atomic level. The superior surface coatings produced by Forge\nNano’s Atomic Armor™ process allows partners to unlock peak performance.\nLearn more at https://www.forgenano.com.\n\nABOUT ARCHIMEDES II\n\nArchimedes II is a Cayman Islands exempted company led by Chairman Eric R.\nBall and CEO Long Long and is comprised of technology investors, corporate\nfinance veterans, engineers and SPAC specialists. Archimedes II was formed as\na special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, for the purpose of effecting a\nmerger with one or more businesses in the technology industry. Archimedes II\ncompleted its $230 million IPO in February 2025, and its units, ordinary\nshares and warrants currently trade on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbols\n\"ATIIU,\" “ATII” and “ATIIW,” respectively.  The team's prior SPAC,\nArchimedes Tech SPAC Partners Co., successfully closed its merger with\nSoundHound AI, Inc. in April 2022.\n\nIMPORTANT INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT\n\nIn connection with the proposed business combination, an affiliate of\nArchimedes II and Forge Nano will be filing documents with the SEC, including\na registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”), which\nwill include a proxy statement/prospectus of Archimedes II, relating to the\nproposed business combination. The Registration Statement will be mailed to\nArchimedes II’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business\ncombination. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS\nARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE\nFILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION OR\nINCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHEN THEY BECOME\nAVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED\nBUSINESS COMBINATION. Any vote in respect of resolutions to be proposed at\nArchimedes II’s stockholder meeting to approve the proposed business\ncombination or other responses in relation to the proposed transaction should\nbe made only on the basis of the information contained in the Registration\nStatement. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these\ndocuments (when they are available) and other related documents filed with the\nSEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.\n\nPARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION\nEach of Archimedes II, Forge Nano and their respective directors, executive\nofficers, other members of management and employees, under SEC rules, may be\ndeemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from\nstockholders of Archimedes II in favor of the proposed business combination.\nInformation about Archimedes II’s directors and officers is set forth in\nPart III of Archimedes II’s Annual Report on the Form 10-K for the fiscal\nyear ended on December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on March 31,\n2025. Additional information concerning the interests of Archimedes II’s\nparticipants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than\nthose of Archimedes II’s stockholders generally, will be set forth in the\nRegistration Statement relating to the proposed business combination when it\nbecomes available. These documents are available free of charge at the SEC’s\nweb site at www.sec.gov.\n\nNO OFFER OR SOLICITATION\nThis communication is for information purposes only and is not intended to and\ndoes not constitute, or form part of, an offer, invitation or the solicitation\nof an offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell\nor otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or\napproval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the proposed business combination or\notherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in\nany jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.\n\nFORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS\nThis press release includes forward-looking information about, among other\ntopics, the proposed business combination. All statements, other than\nstatements of present or historical fact included in this press release\nregarding the proposed business combination, Archimedes II’s and Forge\nNano’s ability to consummate the proposed business combination, the benefits\nof the proposed business combination and the combined company’s future\nfinancial performance, as well as the combined company’s strategy, future\noperations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues and losses,\nprojected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are\nforward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words\n“could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,”\n“anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,”\nthe negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to\nidentify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking\nstatements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements\nare based on the current expectations and assumptions of Archimedes II’s and\nForge Nano’s management about future events and are based on currently\navailable information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as\notherwise required by applicable law, Archimedes II and Forge Nano disclaim\nany duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly\nqualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or\ncircumstances after the date of this press release.\n\nArchimedes II and Forge Nano caution you that these forward-looking statements\nare subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult\nto predict and many of which are beyond the control of either Archimedes II or\nForge Nano. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things: (i) risks\nrelated to the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that\ncould delay the business combination or give rise to the termination of the\nagreements related thereto; (ii) risks related to the outcome of any legal\nproceedings that may be instituted against Archimedes II or Forge Nano\nfollowing announcement of the transactions; (iii) risks related to the\ninability to complete the proposed business combination due to the failure to\nobtain approval of the shareholders of Archimedes II and Forge Nano, or other\nconditions to closing in the definitive agreement for the business\ncombination; (iv) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts\nArchimedes II’s or Forge Nano’s current plans and operations as a result\nof the announcement of the transactions; (v) risks related to Forge Nano’s\nability to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business\ncombination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the\nability of Forge Nano to grow and manage growth profitably following the\nproposed business combination; (vi) risks related to costs related to the\nproposed business combination; (vii) risks related to changes in applicable\nlaws or regulations; (viii) risks related to Forge Nano’s ability to\nsuccessfully develop and deploy new technologies to address the needs of its\ncustomers, business, financial conditions and results of operations; (ix)\nrisks related to the effects of competition on Forge Nano’s business; (x)\nrisks related to the availability and cost of the raw materials necessary for\nthe production of Forge Nano’s products; (xi) risks related to Forge\nNano’s ability to meet the specifications and requirements of its customers\nor adequately provide them with effective support and services; (xii) risks\nrelated to delays in the construction and operation of production facilities;\n(xiii) risks related to intellectual property infringement, data protection,\nand other losses; (xiv) risks related to the amount of redemption requests\nmade by Archimedes II’s public stockholders; (xv) risks related to Forge\nNano’s ability to operate effectively as a public company, including its\nability to implement controls and procedures required for public companies\nfollowing the business combination; (xvi) risks related to changes in domestic\nand foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions;\n(xvii) risks related to the possibility that Archimedes II or Forge Nano may\nbe adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors\nand (xviii) other risks discussed in the Archimedes II Form 10-K and that will\nbe presented in the Registration Statement, when available. There may be\nadditional risks that Archimedes II or Forge Nano presently do not know or\nthat Archimedes II or Forge Nano currently believe are immaterial that could\nalso cause actual results to differ from those contained in the\nforward-looking statements. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties\ndescribed in this press release, or should underlying assumptions prove\nincorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those\nexpressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Additional information\nconcerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and\nprojections discussed herein can be found in Archimedes II’s periodic\nfilings with the SEC, including the Archimedes II Form 10-K and the\nRegistration Statement, when available. Archimedes II’s SEC filings are\navailable free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.\n\nYou should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and\nuncertainties that affect the businesses of Archimedes II and Forge Nano\ndescribed in the “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements”\nsections of the Registration Statement and other documents filed by either of\nthem from time to time with the SEC, all of which are available at\nwww.sec.gov. These filings identify and address other important risks and\nuncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially\nfrom those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking\nstatements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not\nto put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Archimedes II and\nForge Nano assume no obligation to, and do not intend to, update or revise\nthese forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,\nfuture events, or otherwise, unless required by law. Neither Archimedes II nor\nForge Nano gives any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.\n\nContacts:\n\nMedia Contact\nWill McKenna\nBrand Communications Director, Forge Nano\nwmckenna@forgenano.com\n\nInvestor Relations Contact\nBryan Baritot\nAlliance Advisors IR\nForgeNanoIR@allianceadvisors.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a2a92ba-a7a5-4d2f-a237-98e04f727e4d)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX9hX17R","title":"Forge Nano, U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Leader for AI-Era Chips and Defense Batteries, to List on NASDAQ through Merger with Archimedes Tech SPAC Partners II Co.","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"ATII","created":"2026-04-21T14:00:14.184Z","tickers":["ATII"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"* Advanced Manufacturing Platform Supporting Critical Industries: U.S.\nadvanced manufacturing company enabling next-generation semiconductors and\nbatteries through its proprietary Atomic Layer Deposition (“ALD”)\nnanocoating platform, backed by 200+ patents and a combination of LOIs,\npipeline of $2B+, $84M binding off-take agreements\n* Multi-Phase Growth Plan with Significant Scale Opportunity: A three-phase\ngrowth plan targeting an estimated $359 billion+ expected addressable market\nby 2034, supported by Tier-1 strategic battery partnership and a $100 million\nU.S. Department of Energy grant\n* Validated by Global Industry Leaders and Policy Tailwinds: Strategic equity\ninvestors include GM Ventures, Hanwha Aerospace, Volkswagen, Air Liquide and\nLG Technology Ventures. Forge Nano technology already deployed\n(https://spacenews.com/us-made-batteries-enhanced-with-atomic-layer-deposition-enter-space/)\nin Spire Global satellites launched via SpaceX, with a 2028 legislative\nmandate that prohibits U.S. defense procurement of foreign-made battery cells,\nfurther catalyzing defense market opportunities\n* Value-Creating Transaction: Business combination implies a $1.2 billion\npre-money equity valuation, providing an attractive entry point alongside\nstrategic investors and capital to expand U.S. semiconductor tool and battery\nproduction into additional high-growth markets\n* Capital Support: With ~$182 million of committed capital raised from the\nPIPE and Series D, the minimum cash condition has been satisfied, and the\ntransaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026\n* Upcoming Webcast: Forge Nano and Archimedes Tech SPAC Partners II Co. to\nhost webcast and conference call on Tuesday, April 28 at 2:00 pm ET to discuss\nproposed transaction and review investor presentation\nDENVER and NEW YORK, April 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forge Nano, Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=rEPNx2yrda8ErSLdaPPLpbODC6vinVbsr4U30NrYgll8ewejoIDraM437kzEv3kxpjCQpfjFIwzE5EJgJTgIy4O3Zx-ZO0SR_1ciijFuukU=)\n(“Forge Nano” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. based semiconductor\nequipment and advanced materials company pioneering Atomic Layer Deposition\n(“ALD”) technology for artificial intelligence (“AI”)-era chip\nmanufacturing and defense battery applications, and Archimedes Tech SPAC\nPartners II Co\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=DT49HzfjtHSIXLclwzFrPlShhnleKgq1r4WpG6p-RcEagasdVzaF2f7Sa9Y6xGywC9DsyIm-iVsWVXWZ7NqxpZvqCLI09hJx2_LPcIz94E0E11i4swj2G_UNXOvJmaUe).\n(“Archimedes II”) (NASDAQ: ATII), a publicly traded special purpose\nacquisition company, announced today that they have entered into a definitive\nbusiness combination agreement (“Transaction”) that would result in Forge\nNano becoming a publicly listed company. Upon closing of the Transaction, the\ncombined company will operate as Forge Nano, Inc. and its common stock and\nwarrants are expected to trade on NASDAQ under the new ticker symbol\n“NANO” and “NANOW” respectively. The Company will continue to be led\nby Forge Nano’s existing management team, which brings deep technological\nand manufacturing experience.\n\nThe Transaction values Forge Nano at approximately $1.2 billion on a\npre-money, pre-merger basis. The Transaction also includes $100 million in new\ncapital committed in a private placement of common stock and warrants (the\n\"PIPE\"). Archimedes II currently holds approximately $242 million in cash in\ntrust (subject to redemption). Assuming no redemptions, the Transaction would\nresult in a total equity value of approximately $1.595 billion.\n\nThe Transaction comes on the heels of Forge Nano’s Series D funding round\nwith $82.2 million funded and committed to date.\n\nCOMPANY AND ANNOUNCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS\n\nVertically Integrated Advanced Manufacturing Platform: With fourteen years of\ntechnology development and over a decade of commercial sales, Forge Nano\ndevelops and produces high-performance materials and devices using its\nproprietary Atomic Armor™ ALD nanocoating platform technology. The company\nmanufactures both ALD nanocoating equipment and lithium-ion batteries in the\nU.S., using a predominantly domestic supply chain to serve critical industries\nincluding energy, defense and high-performance manufacturing.\n\nAtomic-Level Performance Across Industries: Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor™\nplatform technology applies ultra-thin, conformal coatings at the atomic level\nto produce more robust batteries for defense applications, mitigate AI chip\nyield production loss and improve new high growth verticals all while\nintegrating into existing manufacturing processes.\n\nStrategic Market Position: Forge Nano operates at the intersection of\nsemiconductor equipment and lithium-ion batteries, targeting an estimated $359\nbillion+ total addressable market by 2034 and leveraging a growing pipeline of\ncurrent and potential customers.\n\nBacked by Strategic Investors and U.S. Government: Strategic investors include\nVolkswagen, Air Liquide, Hanwha Aerospace, GM Ventures and LG Technology\nVentures, with additional validation through a $100 million U.S. Department of\nEnergy grant.\n\nUse of Funds: Capital is expected to be used to scale U.S. manufacturing of\nsemiconductor tools and lithium-ion batteries and to support expansion into\nhigh-growth markets such as pharmaceuticals, data centers and quantum\ncomputing.\n\nMANAGEMENT COMMENTS\n\n“Over the past decade, we have built a differentiated platform and\nestablished commercial traction across semiconductor and energy storage\nmarkets,” said Paul Lichty, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Forge\nNano. “Domestic manufacturing of critical technologies is increasingly\nimportant to energy security and technology leadership, and our Atomic\nArmor™ platform is designed to improve performance and durability at the\nmaterial level across applications ranging from lithium-ion batteries to\nadvanced semiconductors. This transaction is expected to provide Forge Nano\nwith the capital and market visibility to accelerate the next phase of our\ngrowth as we expand U.S. manufacturing of our nanocoating systems and\nlithium-ion batteries, deepen our role in the domestic battery supply chain\nand continue scaling the platform across additional industries.”\n\nLong Long, Chief Executive Officer at Archimedes II, added, “Forge Nano has\ndeveloped a unique manufacturing technology with real commercial applications\nin two of the most important industrial markets today: semiconductors and\nenergy storage. The Company combines a large patent portfolio, strategic\nindustry partners and a growing domestic manufacturing footprint. We believe\nForge Nano is well positioned to scale its platform and look forward to\nsupporting the team as they enter the public markets.”\n\nTRANSACTION OVERVIEW\n\nThe business combination values Forge Nano at a pre-money, pre-merger equity\nof $1.2 billion. Additionally, the agreement includes a non-transferable\nearnout entitling holders to potential additional payments of up to $900\nmillion in shares of the combined company tied to three specific trading price\nand revenue milestones. In addition to the $82.5 million in Series D\nfinancing, the Transaction could provide up to $342 million gross proceeds to\nForge Nano, including:\n* $242 million of cash held in the Archimedes II trust account as of April 9,\n2026 (assuming no redemptions); and\n* $100 million in capital committed by a leading fundamental institutional\ninvestor (assuming that the investor does not use any of this amount to\ninstead buy SPAC shares in open market transactions).\nProceeds from the Transaction are expected to:\n* Expand the production capacity of both semiconductor tools and battery\ncells;\n* Accelerate Forge Nano’s technology and product roadmap;\n* Expand into new verticals such as pharmaceuticals, data centers and quantum\ncomputing; and\n* Scale customer adoption and establish new ecosystem partnerships.\nThe boards of directors of Forge Nano and Archimedes II have each unanimously\napproved the proposed business combination and the Transaction is expected to\nclose in the second half of 2026, subject to the approval of Archimedes II\nshareholders and other customary closing conditions, including the\neffectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by an\naffiliate of Archimedes II and Forge Nano with the U.S. Securities and\nExchange Commission (the “SEC”), the receipt of required regulatory\napprovals and approval by NASDAQ to list the securities of the combined\ncompany.\n\nCONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION\n\nManagement of Forge Nano and Archimedes II will host an investor conference\ncall to discuss the proposed transaction and review an investor presentation\nat 2:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Interested investors may access a\nrecording of the conference call by visiting\nhttps://events.q4inc.com/attendee/609811192. A transcript of the call will\nalso be filed by Archimedes II with the SEC.\n\nADVISORS\n\nBTIG, LLC is serving as lead capital markets advisor and placement agent to\nForge Nano. Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company\nSecurities, LLC, is serving as financial advisor, capital markets advisor, and\nPIPE placement agent to Forge Nano. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison\nLLP is serving as legal counsel to Forge Nano. Loeb & Loeb LLP is serving as\nlegal counsel to Archimedes II. Alliance Advisors Investor Relations is\nserving as investor relations advisor for the Transaction. Kirkland & Ellis is\nacting as legal counsel to BTIG, LLC and Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a\ndivision of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, in connection with their roles as\nco-placement agents.\n\nABOUT FORGE NANO\n\nForge Nano is a leading U.S. based semiconductor equipment and advanced\nmaterials company pioneering Atomic Layer Deposition (“ALD”) technology\nfor AI-era chip manufacturing and defense battery applications via its\nplatform technology, Atomic Armor™. Atomic Armor™ is a scalable, adaptable\nnano-scale coating system that strengthens America’s most critical systems\n– at the atomic level. The superior surface coatings produced by Forge\nNano’s Atomic Armor™ process allows partners to unlock peak performance.\nLearn more at https://www.forgenano.com.\n\nABOUT ARCHIMEDES II\n\nArchimedes II is a Cayman Islands exempted company led by Chairman Eric R.\nBall and CEO Long Long and is comprised of technology investors, corporate\nfinance veterans, engineers and SPAC specialists. Archimedes II was formed as\na special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, for the purpose of effecting a\nmerger with one or more businesses in the technology industry. Archimedes II\ncompleted its $230 million IPO in February 2025, and its units, ordinary\nshares and warrants currently trade on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbols\n\"ATIIU,\" “ATII” and “ATIIW,” respectively.  The team's prior SPAC,\nArchimedes Tech SPAC Partners Co., successfully closed its merger with\nSoundHound AI, Inc. in April 2022.\n\nIMPORTANT INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT\n\nIn connection with the proposed business combination, an affiliate of\nArchimedes II and Forge Nano will be filing documents with the SEC, including\na registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”), which\nwill include a proxy statement/prospectus of Archimedes II, relating to the\nproposed business combination. The Registration Statement will be mailed to\nArchimedes II’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business\ncombination. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS\nARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE\nFILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION OR\nINCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHEN THEY BECOME\nAVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED\nBUSINESS COMBINATION. Any vote in respect of resolutions to be proposed at\nArchimedes II’s stockholder meeting to approve the proposed business\ncombination or other responses in relation to the proposed transaction should\nbe made only on the basis of the information contained in the Registration\nStatement. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these\ndocuments (when they are available) and other related documents filed with the\nSEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.\n\nPARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION\nEach of Archimedes II, Forge Nano and their respective directors, executive\nofficers, other members of management and employees, under SEC rules, may be\ndeemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from\nstockholders of Archimedes II in favor of the proposed business combination.\nInformation about Archimedes II’s directors and officers is set forth in\nPart III of Archimedes II’s Annual Report on the Form 10-K for the fiscal\nyear ended on December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on March 31,\n2025. Additional information concerning the interests of Archimedes II’s\nparticipants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than\nthose of Archimedes II’s stockholders generally, will be set forth in the\nRegistration Statement relating to the proposed business combination when it\nbecomes available. These documents are available free of charge at the SEC’s\nweb site at www.sec.gov.\n\nNO OFFER OR SOLICITATION\nThis communication is for information purposes only and is not intended to and\ndoes not constitute, or form part of, an offer, invitation or the solicitation\nof an offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell\nor otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or\napproval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the proposed business combination or\notherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in\nany jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.\n\nFORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS\nThis press release includes forward-looking information about, among other\ntopics, the proposed business combination. All statements, other than\nstatements of present or historical fact included in this press release\nregarding the proposed business combination, Archimedes II’s and Forge\nNano’s ability to consummate the proposed business combination, the benefits\nof the proposed business combination and the combined company’s future\nfinancial performance, as well as the combined company’s strategy, future\noperations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues and losses,\nprojected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are\nforward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words\n“could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,”\n“anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,”\nthe negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to\nidentify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking\nstatements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements\nare based on the current expectations and assumptions of Archimedes II’s and\nForge Nano’s management about future events and are based on currently\navailable information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as\notherwise required by applicable law, Archimedes II and Forge Nano disclaim\nany duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly\nqualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or\ncircumstances after the date of this press release.\n\nArchimedes II and Forge Nano caution you that these forward-looking statements\nare subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult\nto predict and many of which are beyond the control of either Archimedes II or\nForge Nano. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things: (i) risks\nrelated to the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that\ncould delay the business combination or give rise to the termination of the\nagreements related thereto; (ii) risks related to the outcome of any legal\nproceedings that may be instituted against Archimedes II or Forge Nano\nfollowing announcement of the transactions; (iii) risks related to the\ninability to complete the proposed business combination due to the failure to\nobtain approval of the shareholders of Archimedes II and Forge Nano, or other\nconditions to closing in the definitive agreement for the business\ncombination; (iv) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts\nArchimedes II’s or Forge Nano’s current plans and operations as a result\nof the announcement of the transactions; (v) risks related to Forge Nano’s\nability to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business\ncombination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the\nability of Forge Nano to grow and manage growth profitably following the\nproposed business combination; (vi) risks related to costs related to the\nproposed business combination; (vii) risks related to changes in applicable\nlaws or regulations; (viii) risks related to Forge Nano’s ability to\nsuccessfully develop and deploy new technologies to address the needs of its\ncustomers, business, financial conditions and results of operations; (ix)\nrisks related to the effects of competition on Forge Nano’s business; (x)\nrisks related to the availability and cost of the raw materials necessary for\nthe production of Forge Nano’s products; (xi) risks related to Forge\nNano’s ability to meet the specifications and requirements of its customers\nor adequately provide them with effective support and services; (xii) risks\nrelated to delays in the construction and operation of production facilities;\n(xiii) risks related to intellectual property infringement, data protection,\nand other losses; (xiv) risks related to the amount of redemption requests\nmade by Archimedes II’s public stockholders; (xv) risks related to Forge\nNano’s ability to operate effectively as a public company, including its\nability to implement controls and procedures required for public companies\nfollowing the business combination; (xvi) risks related to changes in domestic\nand foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions;\n(xvii) risks related to the possibility that Archimedes II or Forge Nano may\nbe adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors\nand (xviii) other risks discussed in the Archimedes II Form 10-K and that will\nbe presented in the Registration Statement, when available. There may be\nadditional risks that Archimedes II or Forge Nano presently do not know or\nthat Archimedes II or Forge Nano currently believe are immaterial that could\nalso cause actual results to differ from those contained in the\nforward-looking statements. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties\ndescribed in this press release, or should underlying assumptions prove\nincorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those\nexpressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Additional information\nconcerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and\nprojections discussed herein can be found in Archimedes II’s periodic\nfilings with the SEC, including the Archimedes II Form 10-K and the\nRegistration Statement, when available. Archimedes II’s SEC filings are\navailable free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.\n\nYou should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and\nuncertainties that affect the businesses of Archimedes II and Forge Nano\ndescribed in the “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements”\nsections of the Registration Statement and other documents filed by either of\nthem from time to time with the SEC, all of which are available at\nwww.sec.gov. These filings identify and address other important risks and\nuncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially\nfrom those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking\nstatements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not\nto put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Archimedes II and\nForge Nano assume no obligation to, and do not intend to, update or revise\nthese forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,\nfuture events, or otherwise, unless required by law. Neither Archimedes II nor\nForge Nano gives any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.\n\nContacts:\n\nMedia Contact\nWill McKenna\nBrand Communications Director, Forge Nano\nwmckenna@forgenano.com\n\nInvestor Relations Contact\nBryan Baritot\nAlliance Advisors IR\nForgeNanoIR@allianceadvisors.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a2a92ba-a7a5-4d2f-a237-98e04f727e4d)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-04-21T14:00:14.238802648Z","server_sent_at_ms":1776780014238},"received_at":"2026-04-21T14:00:14.400Z","source_url":"https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/04/21/3278115/0/en/forge-nano-u-s-advanced-manufacturing-leader-for-ai-era-chips-and-defense-batteries-to-list-on-nasdaq-through-merger-with-archimedes-tech-spac-partners-ii-co.html"},"analysis":{"id":"2010","press_release_id":"3064","analysis_json":{"industry":null,"redFlags":["earnout potential of up to $900 million represents significant future dilution","transaction value assumes no redemptions of the $242 million trust cash"],"eventType":"m_and_a","narrative":"Archimedes Tech SPAC Partners II (ATII) agreed to merge with Forge Nano, a U.S. advanced manufacturing platform for AI-era chips and defense batteries, at a $1.2 billion pre-money equity valuation.\n\nThe transaction combines approximately $242 million in trust cash with a $100 million PIPE and existing Series D funding, targeting a total pro-forma equity value of $1.595 billion assuming no redemptions.\n\nForge Nano's proprietary Atomic Armor ALD technology is backed by strategic investors like GM Ventures and Volkswagen, with a potential $900 million earnout tied to future revenue milestones.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":true,"suggestedAngle":"ATII merges with defense battery/AI chip enabler Forge Nano at $1.2B valuation; strategic backing from GM/VW."},"keyFigures":{"dealValueUsd":1200000000,"customDimensions":{"pipe_usd":100000000,"series_d_usd":82200000,"trust_cash_usd":242000000}},"quotedText":"Domestic manufacturing of critical technologies is increasingly important to energy security and technology leadership","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Paul Lichty","role":"Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Forge Nano"},{"name":"Long Long","role":"Chief Executive Officer at Archimedes II"},{"name":"Eric R. 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