TerniEnergia will continue to manage the “O&M” activities of the plants involved in the deal for a period of three years. For the formalisation of all the contracts concerning the transaction and for the closing by Italia T1 Roncolo s.r.l., the approval of the Buyers’ investment committee (“subject to the Investment Committee approval”) is required, while the Board of Directors of TerniEnergia has already approved the green light for the deal.
The agreement provides for the closing of the sale of the assets by 30 November 2019.
The purchase price for 100% of the plants sold is equal to Euro 23.875 million, corresponding to the equity value determined at the reference date of 30 June 2018 (total enterprise value as at 30 June 2018 of approximately Euro 59 million), with the exception of some adjustments that may derive from the evolution of the Net working capital between that date and the closing date.
A consideration of approximately Euro 0.5 million (corresponding to 50% of the equity value of no. 1 Joint Venture) will be paid to the shareholder of the vehicle company owning no. 2 plants. In addition, approximately Euro 4.5 million will be paid to the 2 JVs owning 3 plants for the transfer of the business unit to 2 Newco.
The agreement requires that the closing of the asset sale is subject to the establishment of a certain number of Newco, which will incorporate part of the asset portfolio consisting of a total of 19 plants, of which:
- 16 plants owned by Energia Alternativa S.r.l., Terni Solarenergy S.r.l., Girasole S.r.l., Sol Tarenti S.r.l. and Solter S.r.l. (3 plants of which held by the JV);
- and 3 plants directly owned by TerniEnergia SpA.
The shares of the SPVs will then be transferred to the Buyers as from the signing of the acquisition contract (closing).
The remaining 3 plants held by SPV Guglionesi S.r.l. and Alchimia Energy S.r.l., will, instead, be sold to the Buyers with the formula “Quota Purchase Agreement” (acquisition of the shares of the companies owning the plants subject to the transaction).
The transaction also involves the assumption by the Purchasers of financial debts linked to the plants for approximately Euro 43.3 million, of which Euro 6.8 million related to the plants held in Joint Ventures at 50% with other partners. Part of the purchase price, equal to Euro 2.5 million, will be maintained in an Escrow account as a guarantee of Seller’s obligations and indemnification obligations, and issued upon fulfilment of certain conditions expressly established by the parties.
The closing of the transaction is subject, among other conditions, to obtaining (if necessary) the consent of credit institutions, in the form of waivers, the sale of photovoltaic assets and other conditions of a technical and financial nature, typical of this type of transaction.
The same agreement also provides for the sale of 3 agricultural companies owning further 3 PV plants on greenhouses for a total of 4.6 MW, at a price of Euro 3.3 million and with the assumption of financial debt of Euro 9.4 million. This further agreement is, however, subject to the agreement on the management of ongoing disputes.
For TerniEnergia, this transaction represents a new, fundamental step in the effective implementation of the Recovery and Relaunch Plan aimed at completing the transformation of the firm into a smart company and overcoming the current situation of financial tension of the Group, on the basis of the proposal approved by the Board of Directors. The closing is, in fact, subject to the approval of the Plan for the Recovery and Relaunch of TerniEnergia, aimed at restoring the financial and equity balance of the Company in the long term, whose reasonableness must be certified by a certified advisor pursuant to art. 67, paragraph 3, letter. d) r.d. 267/42 for the period 2018-2022.
TerniEnergia was assisted by Grimaldi Studio Legale, as legal advisor, with a team coordinated by the Partner, lawyer Annalisa Pescatori, and by EnVent Capital Markets as financial advisor. Italia T1 Roncolo S.r.l. and LCF Alliance were assisted by the Energy Team of Rödl & Partner, with a team led by Partner Roberto Pera, as legal advisor.
