---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001802749-23-000143"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0001802749"
company_name: "Lightning eMotors, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-12-18T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-07T11:23:45.164819+00:00"
event_type: "regulatory"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 1.0
calibrated_materiality_score: 1.0
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Lightning eMotors placed into receivership; all directors resign; shareholders unlikely to recover

## Summary
- Colorado court appointed Cordes & Company as receiver on Dec 15, 2023; receiver can sell all assets and distribute proceeds to creditors.
- Shareholders will not receive any distributions from the receivership.
- All seven board members resigned, including Chairman Robert Fenwick-Smith, due to the receiver appointment.
- Receiver's appointment triggers default under senior notes and other financing arrangements.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001802749-23-000143
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0001802749
- company_name: Lightning eMotors, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-12-18T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: regulatory
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 1.0
- calibrated_materiality_score: 1.0
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.03, 2.04, 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1802749/000180274923000143/0001802749-23-000143-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1802749/000180274923000143/zev-20231215.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001802749-23-000143
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001802749-23-000143.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001802749-23-000143.txt

## Key facts
- Distress & Bankruptcy
  Lightning eMotors, Inc. entered receivership in District Court, Larimer County, State of Colorado (petition 2023-12-15).
  - Proceeding: receivership
  - Court: District Court, Larimer County, State of Colorado
  - Petition: 2023-12-15
  source text: On December 15, 2023, the District Court, Larimer County, State of Colorado (the “Court”), appointed Cordes & Company as receiver (the “Receiver”) over Lightning eMotors, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Lightning Systems, Inc. (together, the “Company”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1802749/000180274923000143/0001802749-23-000143-index.htm
- Executive change
  Robert Fenwick-Smith resigned as Chairman of the Board, Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee at Lightning eMotors, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chairman of the Board, Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee
  source text: all members of the Company’s Board of Directors resigned from their respective positions on the Company’s Board and Committees, namely: • Robert Fenwick-Smith, Chairman of the Board, Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1802749/000180274923000143/0001802749-23-000143-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.