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Aker Horizons — M&A Activity 2022
Mar 30, 2022
3530_iss_2022-03-30_e59f9c33-949f-4d80-882c-2b8754a07be2.html
M&A Activity
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Aker Horizons Announces Merger Plans With Aker Offshore Wind and Aker Clean Hydrogen
Aker Horizons Announces Merger Plans With Aker Offshore Wind and Aker Clean Hydrogen
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION
WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY OF THE
SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN.
Aker Horizons ASA (the "Company" or "Aker Horizons") today announces merger
plans with Aker Offshore Wind AS ("Aker Offshore Wind" or "AOW") and Aker Clean
Hydrogen AS ("Aker Clean Hydrogen" or "ACH"):
· Aker Horizons and Aker Offshore Wind to combine in an all-stock merger that
will reposition AOW as a privately held subsidiary of Aker Horizons, with the
intention to combine AOW with its portfolio company Mainstream Renewable Power
("Mainstream"). Strong industrial logic for combining AOW and Mainstream,
including complementary footprint and capabilities, increased scale, and
improved access to financing for AOW projects
· Shareholders in Aker Offshore Wind (other than Aker Horizons) will receive
0.1304 merger consideration shares in Aker Horizons for each share owned in AOW.
The exchange ratio is based on the 30 day volume weighted average share price
for each of AOW and Aker Horizons
· Aker Horizons and Aker Clean Hydrogen to combine in an all-stock merger that
will reposition ACH as a privately held subsidiary of Aker Horizons to
accelerate the development of large-scale hybrid decarbonization projects,
integrating hydrogen production with downstream applications such as green iron
· Shareholders in Aker Clean Hydrogen (other than Aker Horizons) will receive
0.2381 merger consideration shares in Aker Horizons for each share owned in ACH.
The exchange ratio is based on the 30 day volume weighted average share price
for each of ACH and Aker Horizons
Strengthening Aker Horizons' capacity to accelerate the energy transition
Aker Horizons today announces merger plans with Aker Offshore Wind and Aker
Clean Hydrogen, repositioning both companies as privately held subsidiaries in
the Aker Horizons portfolio. The mergers will strengthen Aker Horizons' capacity
to accelerate the energy transition and maximize impact and value creation.
The proposed merger with Aker Offshore Wind facilitates a combination of AOW and
Mainstream Renewable Power, another subsidiary of Aker Horizons, to create an
industrially and financially stronger renewable energy developer, subject to
customary conditions including agreement with Mainstream's minority
shareholders. The consolidation of Aker Horizons' interests in renewable energy
will provide improved access to financing for AOW's projects and accelerate
Mainstream's transformation into a global renewable energy major with leading
floating and fixed offshore wind capabilities. Combining AOW's strong technical
and engineering capabilities and early mover position in floating offshore wind
with Mainstream's proven project development methodology, execution track record
and global presence unlocks new opportunities worldwide.
The proposed merger with Aker Clean Hydrogen will accelerate the development of
large-scale hybrid decarbonization projects integrating hydrogen production with
downstream applications. Combining the strengths of Aker Clean Hydrogen with the
financial and broader industrial skillset of Aker Horizons, the merger will
facilitate partnerships across value chains, expand the opportunity set in new
adjacent industries such as green iron, and improve access to competitive
capital, including from Aker Asset Management.
Repositioning AOW as a private subsidiary by means of a triangular merger
The Company has today agreed a merger plan with Aker Offshore Wind that will
reposition AOW as a privately held subsidiary of Aker Horizons. The transaction
will be carried out as a triangular merger between AOW, Aker Horizons'
subsidiary AH Tretten AS as the surviving entity, and Aker Horizons as the
issuer of merger consideration shares (the "AOW Merger"). Shareholders in AOW
will receive 0.1304 merger consideration shares in Aker Horizons for each share
owned in AOW at the effective date of the AOW Merger. Aker Horizons has an
indirect shareholding in AOW of approximately 51.02% and no consideration shares
will be issued for such shareholding. The exchange ratio is based on the 30 day
volume weighted average share price for each of Aker Offshore Wind and Aker
Horizons and implies a share price of NOK 3.01 per AOW share, representing a
premium of 6.9% to the closing price of AOW on 29 March 2022.
It is contemplated that the consideration shares to be issued by Aker Horizons
will be issued by the Board of Directors pursuant to the authorization proposed
to be granted to the board by the Company's annual general meeting to be held on
22 April 2022. Fractions of shares will not be allotted, and for AOW
shareholders consideration shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole
number. Excess shares, which as a result of this round down will not be
allotted, will be issued to and sold by DNB Markets, a part of DNB Bank ASA.
In preparation for the AOW Merger, Aker Horizons and AOW have conducted limited,
customary due diligence reviews of certain business, financial, commercial and
legal information related to their respective businesses. Completion of the AOW
Merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the
shareholders of AOW and the Board of Directors of Aker Horizons, but is not
subject to any conditions with respect to financing, due diligence or material
adverse change. Aker Horizons has undertaken to vote in favour of the AOW Merger
at AOW's annual general meeting expected to be held on or about 4 May 2022.
Repositioning ACH as a private subsidiary by means of a triangular merger
The Company has today agreed a merger plan with Aker Clean Hydrogen that will
reposition ACH as a privately held subsidiary of Aker Horizons. The transaction
will be carried out as a triangular merger between ACH, Aker Horizons'
subsidiary AH Seksten AS as the surviving entity, and Aker Horizons as the
issuer of merger consideration shares (the "ACH Merger", and together with the
AOW Merger, the "Mergers"). Shareholders in ACH will receive 0.2381 merger
consideration shares in Aker Horizons for each share owned in ACH at the
effective date of the ACH Merger. Aker Horizons has an indirect shareholding in
ACH of approximately 77.25% and no consideration shares will be issued for such
shareholding. The exchange ratio is based on the 30 day volume weighted average
share price for each of Aker Clean Hydrogen and Aker Horizons and implies a
share price of NOK 5.49 per ACH share, representing a premium of 16.7% to the
closing price of ACH on 29 March 2022.
It is contemplated that the consideration shares to be issued by Aker Horizons
will be issued by the Board of Directors based on the authorization proposed to
be granted to the board by the Company's annual general meeting to be held on 22
April 2022. Fractions of shares will not be allotted, and for ACH shareholders
consideration shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole number. Excess
shares, which as a result of this round down will not be allotted, will be
issued to and sold by DNB Markets, a part of DNB Bank ASA.
In preparation for the ACH Merger, Aker Horizons and ACH have conducted limited,
customary due diligence reviews of certain business, financial, commercial and
legal information related to their respective businesses. Completion of the ACH
Merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the
shareholders of ACH and the Board of Directors of Aker Horizons, but is not
subject to any conditions with respect to financing, due diligence or material
adverse change. Aker Horizons has undertaken to vote in favour of the ACH Merger
at ACH's annual general meeting expected to be held on or about 4 May 2022.
Assuming that both Mergers are completed, the shareholders of AOW and ACH will
receive up to a total of 80,612,586 consideration shares in Aker Horizons,
constituting approximately 13.22% of Aker Horizons' current total outstanding
shares.
Preliminary timetable
30 March 2022 Merger plans signed and approved by the
respective company's Board of Directors
4 May 2022 General meetings in AOW and ACH to approve
respective merger plan
May - June 2022 Creditor notice periods
June 2022 Completion of Mergers
Advisors
DNB Markets, a part of DNB Bank ASA and Carnegie AS, are engaged as financial
adviser to the Company and Advokatfirmaet BAHR AS is acting as legal counsel to
the Company.
Contact information
Investor contact:
Christian Yggeseth, +47 915 10 000, [email protected]
Media contacts:
Ivar Simensen, +47 464 02 317, [email protected]
About Aker Horizons
Aker Horizons ASA is a planet-positive investment company dedicated to
developing companies within renewable energy and other technologies that reduce
emissions or promote sustainable living. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock
Exchange and majority-owned by Aker ASA. Aker Horizons' investment portfolio
includes Aker Carbon Capture, Aker Clean Hydrogen, Aker Offshore Wind and
Mainstream Renewable Power.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU
Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant
to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This announcement was
published by Ivar Simensen, Communication, Aker Horizons ASA, on 30 March 2022
at 07:30 (CEST).
This announcement is issued for information purposes only and does not
constitute notice to a general meeting or a merger plan, nor does it form a part
of any offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities
in any jurisdiction. Neither this announcement nor the information contained
herein is for publication, distribution or release, in whole or in part,
directly or indirectly, in or into or from the United States (including its
territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of
Columbia), Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, South Africa or any other
jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of
such jurisdiction. The publication, distribution or release of this announcement
may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose
possession any document or other information referred to herein should inform
themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with
these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction.
The securities mentioned herein, including the consideration shares expected to
be issued as part of the AOW Merger and the ACH Merger, have not been, and will
not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "US Securities Act"). The securities may not be offered or sold in the
United States except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements
of the US Securities Act or in a transaction not subject to the US Securities
Act.
Any decision with respect to the proposed Mergers should be made solely on the
basis of information to be contained in the actual notices to the general
meetings of AOW and ACH, respectively, and the merger plans (with pertaining
documents) related to the Mergers. You should perform an independent analysis of
such information when making any investment decision.
Matters discussed in this announcement may constitute forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts and may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate",
"strategy", "intends", "estimate", "will", "may", "continue", "should" and
similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk
and uncertainty because they reflect the Company's current expectations and
assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A
number of material factors could cause actual results and developments to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been
correct. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in
this announcement speak only as at its date and are subject to change without
notice. Neither Aker Horizons nor Aker Offshore Wind AS or Aker Clean Hydrogen
AS undertakes any obligation to review, update, confirm, or to release publicly
any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or
circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this announcement or
otherwise.
DNB Markets and Carnegie are acting exclusively for Aker Horizons in connection
with the Mergers and for no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other
than Aker Horizons for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for
providing advice in relation to the Mergers.
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not to be relied upon
in substitution for the exercise of independent judgment. It is not intended as
investment advice and under no circumstances is it to be used or considered as
an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a
recommendation to buy or sell any securities of Aker Horizons or otherwise.