Share Issue/Capital Change • May 10, 2021
Share Issue/Capital Change
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Cloudberry Clean Energy ASA | Plans uplisting to the Oslo Stock Exchange's main list and contemplates equity raise to accelerate growth
10 May 2021: Cloudberry Clean Energy ASA ("Cloudberry" or "the Company"), a
Nordic renewable energy company that owns, develops and operates hydro power
plants and windfarms in Norway and Sweden, has resolved to proceed with its plan
to move from Euronext Growth Oslo to the Oslo Stock Exchange's main list. The
Company is following the flexible listing process and is in the process of
preparing a listing application and prospectus.
"We are growing our portfolio of hydro- and wind power assets in the Nordics
substantially, and transferring to the main list is a natural next step for us",
says Anders Lenborg, CEO of Cloudberry. "In the last 15 months, we have secured
assets in production and under construction of more than 100 MW. Our assets with
construction permits are of similar size, and our main priority is to
successfully deliver on all these projects".
In connection with the uplisting, the Company will consider raising new equity
to progress and realize its attractive organic development portfolio. Cloudberry
is also experiencing a high activity level with several new inorganic
opportunities that may also be pursued, subject to access to attractive
financing.
The Company has appointed Carnegie and Pareto Securities as managers (the
"Managers") for the uplisting on the Oslo Stock Exchange, and in connection with
the uplisting the Managers will arrange a roadshow to meet new and existing
investors.
The transfer of the listing to Oslo Stock Exchange is subject to receiving the
relevant approvals from the Oslo Stock Exchange and the Financial Supervisory
Authority of Norway. The uplisting, as well as the Company's consideration of
raising new equity, will also be subject to prevailing market conditions.
Further announcements relating to the transfer of the listing will be made in
due course.
Strategy and business update
The core of Cloudberry's strategy is to progress new projects from early stage
permitting to ready-to-build wind and hydro power assets that deliver
substantial value to the shareholders. The Company has a large and growing
portfolio of permitted projects, backlog and pipeline, and is expecting to be
able to make the final investment decisions related to the Hån windfarm in Q2
-2021 and the Duvhällen windfarm in 2022, subject to financing at such decision
points.
In addition, Cloudberry is in advanced negotiations for both wind and hydro
projects that are ready-to-build where the Company can leverage its unique
positioning to create similar returns as the in-house, organic projects. These
opportunities are strong testaments to Cloudberry's successful strategy; being
local, agile and always on the look-out for attractive opportunities.
The status and progress on the most important near-term projects are as follows:
Hydropower projects
·
· The two hydropower plants Nessakraft (9 MW / 34 GWh) in Balestrand, Norway
and Bjørgelva Kraft (3 MW / 7 GWh) in Sørreisa, Norway, which Cloudberry has
agreed to acquire, were connected to the grid in December 2020, and are
currently undergoing testing and are projected to commence normal production in
June 2021. Following completion of the commissioning, the ownership will be
transferred to Cloudberry.
· The construction of Åmotfoss (5 MW / 23 GWh), a hydropower plant producing
from a reservoir with storage capacity, which Cloudberry has agreed to acquire,
is progressing well and is expected to be completed in H2-2021. Following
completion of the commissioning, the plant will be transferred to Cloudberry.
· In addition, Cloudberry has a portfolio of three hydropower plants (6 MW /
20 GWh) that are expected to be in production from H2-2021. The ownership to one
of these plants has already been transferred to the Company while the ownership
to the last two power plants will be transferred following completion of the
commissioning.
The combined capacity of the hydropower plants that are under construction is 23
MW (84 GWh).
Windfarm projects
· At Hån windfarm in Årjäng, Sweden, civil works is targeted to commence in H2
-2021, following the final ratification of a power export agreement which will
allow the produced power to be exported to Norway. The capacity of the windfarm
is around 21 MW. Production start is planned for 2022 with project capex
estimated to NOK 300 million. The project remains subject to financing and a
final investment decision.
· At Duvhällen windfarm in Eskilstuna, Sweden, civil works is targeted to
commence in 2022, following the expected approval of increased grid capacity to
match the construction permit of 10 turbines (60 MW). Production start is
planned for 2023 with project capex estimated to NOK 620 million. The project
remains subject to financing and a final investment decision.
· Both Hån and Duvhällen are in-house development projects situated in
attractive locations in the SE3 power price area in Sweden. The projects are
viewed as low risk with expected returns on equity around 12% p.a., assuming
50/50% equity and debt financing. Both projects offer return expectations well
above the Company's targets for production assets due to low-cost, in-house
development. Cloudberry's current plan is to construct and operate both Hån and
Duvhällen with 100% ownership; however, an optimized ownership structure may be
considered at the appropriate time to ensure an efficient allocation of
Cloudberry's capital base.
· Cloudberry is developing the large Odal windfarm with 162 MW (527 GWh)
capacity together with its partners KLP and Akershus Energi. The project is
currently under construction. Cloudberry's proportionate share of the production
capacity is currently 24 MW (15% ownership) and will increase to 54 MW if
Cloudberry exercises its option to increase the ownership in Odal Vind AS to
33.4% (option expires on 30 June 2021). Turbine installation and production
start is planned for H2-2021 and H1-2022, respectively. NVE recently approved an
application to extend the deadline to complete the construction to 30 June 2022,
to mitigate the risk for delays that may occur as a result of travel
restrictions under Norway's COVID-19 response. Currently there are no expected
delays. Turbines that are energized after 31 December 2021 will not be eligible
for el-certificates and an accelerated tax depreciation schedule. In March 2021,
Cloudberry and its partners successfully placed EUR 90 million in project debt,
covering 40% of the project cost at attractive terms. Although Cloudberry had
originally planned for 50% debt financing of the project capex, the expected
equity IRR is unchanged at 12% p.a. due to a highly attractive amortization
profile and a low and fixed interest rate with > 20-year maturity. As the
partnership agreed on a somewhat lower leverage level and an increased cash
reserve/buffer, Cloudberry's equity investment related to the project is
approximately NOK 30 million higher (based on the current ownership of 15%) and
will increase to approximately NOK 70 million if the option to increase
Cloudberry's ownership to 33.4% is exercised.
· Cloudberry continues to progress its shallow-water wind project in Lake
Vänern. Earlier this year the Company partnered with Downing LLP, with
Cloudberry keeping a 20% ownership share in the project after commissioning. The
net capacity to Cloudberry is estimated to be 20 MW (around 70 GWh). The
procurement phase, and the project overall, is progressing as planned. The
project remains subject to a final investment decision, expected during 2021.
· Through the Vänern project, Cloudberry is in a unique position to leverage
its knowledge and experience from project development on further shallow-water
developments. Cloudberry is currently working on several project developments in
the Baltic Sea, that are still considered to be at an early phase. Recently the
Company engaged a reputable international consulting company to carry out
feasibility studies. Cloudberry estimates the combined capacity of these
selected projects to be around 1,200 - 1,500 MW.
For further information, please contact:
Anders Lenborg, CEO, +47 934 13 130, [email protected]
Christian Helland, CVO, +47 418 80 000, [email protected]
Suna Alkan, CSO, +47 913 02 907, [email protected]
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5
-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
This stock exchange announcement was published by Suna Alkan, Chief
Sustainability Officer, Cloudberry Clean Energy ASA, on 10 May 2021 at 07:00
CEST.
About Cloudberry Clean Energy:
Cloudberry Clean Energy ASA (CLOUD) is a Nordic renewable energy company. We
own, develop and operate hydro power plants and wind farms in Norway and Sweden.
Our purpose is to provide clean renewable energy for future generations,
developing a sustainable society for the long term and creating value for our
stakeholders. We believe in a fundamental long-term demand for renewable energy
in the Nordics and Europe. Our purpose shapes every aspect of how Cloudberry
operates.
Cloudberry has a strong commitment to local communities. Our integrated value
chain approach ensures local presence and optimization of stakeholder alignment
and value creation. Our long-term growth strategy rests upon our ability to
create value for stakeholders, and our ability to use the best possible
technology available, bring down costs, improve sustainability and make an
important contribution to the necessary European energy transition. We will
realize growth through organic greenfield development and by taking part in
structural development of the Nordic renewable energy industry.
We are a public Euronext Growth Oslo company supported by strong owners and led
by an experienced management team and board. Our offices are in Oslo, Norway
(main office) and Karlstad, Sweden. To learn more about Cloudberry, go
to www.cloudberry.no.
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