Harley-Davidson’s electric bike division is going public through merging with a special acquisition company (SPAC) in a deal valued at approximately $1.77 billion, the iconic global motorcycle brand announced on Monday. The transaction will net the division, Livewire, which has been operating independently since 2019, with proceeds of around $545 million that the company plans on investing in product development and improving on its manufacturing and distribution capabilities. “Today’s announcement is a historic milestone with LiveWire set to become the first publicly traded EV motorcycle company in the U.S. By building on Harley-Davidson’s 118-year lineage, LiveWire’s mission is to be the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world, leading the electrification of the sport,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president, and CEO of Harley-Davidson. According to the deal, AEA-Bridges Impact Corp. (ABIC), a blank-check firm formed by two private equity executives, John Garcia and Michele Giddens, will merge with Livewire …