Mitsui Joins Aker Horizons as Long-Term Strategic Investor in Mainstream Renewable Power to Accelerate Growth
PR95151
DUBLIN, March 24, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
- Mitsui & Co., Ltd. invests EUR 575 million in Mainstream Renewable Power to
accelerate growth of Mainstream's renewable energy portfolio globally,
including across the Americas, Africa and Asia-Pacific
- Mainstream will issue new common shares, giving Mitsui a 27.5 percent
ownership interest
- Mitsui to strengthen Mainstream's transformation into Renewable Energy Major
through complementary geographic footprint, global customer network and
industrial capabilities
Mainstream Renewable Power ("Mainstream", the "Company"), the global
renewable energy company, is pleased to announce that Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
("Mitsui") has agreed to invest EUR 575 million in Mainstream in the form of
new common shares, corresponding to a 27.5 percent equity stake in the Company.
Mitsui will take a long-term active role in the growth of the Company,
alongside Aker Horizons, which will own 54.4 percent of Mainstream following
the transaction.
This transaction values Mainstream at approximately EUR €2.1 billion on a
100 percent basis.
Accelerating Mainstream's transformation to a Renewable Energy Major
Mitsui and Mainstream's portfolios are focused and complementary, with both
companies having significant assets in operation or under development in Latin
America, Africa and Asia. Mitsui will leverage its global business network
across industries and its wide-ranging industrial capabilities, including
global independent power producer (IPP) competence from 22 countries.
Mitsui is one of the leading Japanese general trading and investment firms,
with approximately 45,000 employees in 63 countries. Mitsui's business
activities span across mineral and metal resources, iron and steel,
infrastructure, chemicals and energy.
Mitsui's global presence, deep experience in the power sector and global
strategic alliances, coupled with Aker Horizons' industrial capabilities, will
have significant strategic implications for Mainstream's transformation into a
renewable energy major, including:
- Accelerating the Company's geographic expansion into high-growth markets
- Broadening its routes to market, particularly in the Corporate Power Purchase
Agreement (PPA) sector
- Accelerating the increase in its construction and operations capacity across
multi-gigawatt platforms
- Augmenting its energy solutions capabilities including battery storage and
power trading
- Spurring its leadership position in green ammonia and green hydrogen
production, thereby rapidly advancing its Power to X offering
Delivering significant operational progress
Mainstream is a pure-play renewable energy company with a 14-year track
record in developing, building and operating wind and solar generation assets
across global markets, including in Latin America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. It
is one of the most successful developers of gigawatt-scale renewables platforms
across onshore wind, offshore wind, and solar power generation, having
successfully delivered 6.5 GW of assets to financial close-ready including the
Hornsea zone, the world's largest offshore wind farm in operation today.
Since Aker Horizons announced the acquisition of a 75 percent stake in
Mainstream in January 2021, the company has delivered material operational
progress, including:
- Advancing the construction of its wholly-owned 1.4 GW Andes Renovables wind
and solar generation platform in Chile which is on track to be fully
operational next year
- Increasing its global portfolio by 5.2 GW, bringing it to 16.6 GW
- Obtaining preferred bidder status for 1.27 GW of wind and solar projects in
South Africa
- Launching the 1 GW Nazca Renovables platform in Chile, including the signing
of a private PPA with a strategic partner
- Securing an investment decision from regional authorities for the first 200
MW of the 1.4 GW Phu Cuong Soc Trang offshore wind project in Vietnam
- Acquiring an initial 50 percent ownership stake in an 800 MW floating
offshore wind project in Japan, alongside with Aker Offshore Wind
- Successfully completing the planned divestment of Chilean power producer Aela
Energia, Chile's largest independent producer of renewable energy, for USD 686
million, and progressing the divestment of one of Africa's largest independent
power producers, Lekela Power, with targeted completion by the end of this year
Mary Quaney, Group Chief Executive of Mainstream Renewable Power said,
"There has never been a more critical time in the history of our planet to
accelerate the global transition to renewable energy. Today's transformational
announcement reinforces Mainstream's leadership position in the global race to
net zero as well as enabling nations to rapidly reduce their dependence on oil
and gas imports through the large-scale deployment of renewables. We are
delighted to welcome Mitsui as our new strategic partner alongside Aker
Horizons. Together, we are fully focused on expediting our ambitious growth
plans and leveraging our collective expertise and resources to transform
Mainstream into a global renewable energy major this decade."
Kristian Røkke, Chief Executive of Aker Horizons and Chairman of Mainstream
said, "Mitsui is the perfect partner for Mainstream to accelerate the company's
growth to become a renewable energy major. I have known Mitsui for many years
and am certain that their rich industrial heritage, global presence and
like-minded approach to sustainability will bring substantial value to
Mainstream. We see Mainstream as an integral part of Aker Horizons' plans to
develop mega-scale green industrial hubs, drawing on synergies between Mitsui,
the Aker Horizons portfolio and other strategic partners."
Kazumasa Nakai, Chief Operating Officer of Mitsui said, "We are delighted
to participate in Mainstream jointly with Aker Horizons to boost growth and
expansion of development and construction/operation activities of Mainstream,
by leveraging our global business networks with customers across industries and
its wide-ranged industrial capabilities including deep expertise in the global
power sector. We are convinced that the participation in Mainstream will
further strengthen the strategic partnership between the Aker group and Mitsui,
driving forward our renewable energy transition and greenhouse gas reduction in
response to global climate change."
Global partnership to develop strong business clusters in the Renewable
Energy sector
Mitsui, Aker Horizons and Mainstream aim to promote and develop strong
business clusters in the Renewable Energy space, building on years of
successful cooperation between Mitsui and the Aker group. Mitsui's investment
in Mainstream will further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two
industrial groups, paving the way for collaborations in new business areas such
as energy trading, energy management, battery storage, as well as green
hydrogen and ammonia. Mitsui aims to develop business clusters of scale within
renewable energy assets by leveraging integrated functions of its various
business units.
Details on the transaction
The transaction will be completed as a private placement of common shares
in Aker Mainstream Renewables AS, the holding company of Mainstream Renewable
Power, towards Mitsui, raising EUR 575 million in gross proceeds to the
Company. Following the transaction, Mitsui will hold a 27.5 percent share in
Mainstream, Aker Horizons will hold 54.4 percent and Mainstream's founder,
Eddie O'Connor, along with Irish retail investors hold the remaining 18.1
percent. Closing of the transaction is expected in April 2022.
Mitsui, Aker Horizons and Mainstream intend to continue developing
Mainstream towards an initial public offering, although the transaction secures
flexibility with regards to the timing of future funding of Mainstream.
DNB Markets, a part of DNB Bank ASA, has acted as financial advisor and
Advokatfirmaet BAHR AS has acted as legal advisor to Mainstream and Aker
Horizons in connection with the transaction.
Contact:
Emmet Curley, Head of Communications & Positioning
Phone: +353 86 2411 690
Email: emmet.curley@mainstreamrp.com
Elizabeth Adams , FTI Consulting
Phone: +44 20 3727 1000
Email: mainstreamRP@fticonsulting.com
About Mainstream Renewable Power
Mainstream Renewable Power is a leading pure-play renewable energy company,
with wind and solar assets across global markets, including in Latin America,
Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Mainstream is one of the most successful developers
of gigawatt-scale renewables platforms, across onshore wind, offshore wind, and
solar power generation. It has successfully delivered 6.5 GW of wind and solar
generation assets to financial close-ready. In May 2021, Aker Horizons acquired
a 75% equity stake in the company, accelerating its plans to deliver its
high-quality pipeline of over 16 gigawatts of renewable energy.
Mainstream has raised more than EUR3.0bn in project finance to date and
employs 485 people across five continents.
About Mitsui
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. is one of the leading Japanese general trading and
investment firms, established in 1947, with global presence in the various
business fields and 63 countries/regions with approximately 45,000 employees.
Mitsui's core strategic aim is to pursue sustainable growth, and through its
business activities contribute to the development of countries and regions
around the world while addressing climate change and other global issues. As
part of this, Mitsui has set a target to reduce GHG impact by 2030 to half of
what it was in 2020 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Mitsui currently
has 65 power assets in 22 countries, with gross capacity of 39.6GW and net
capacity (Mitsui's share) of 10.8GW.
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 holdings in Aker Clean Hydrogen, Aker Offshore Wind, Aker
Carbon Capture and Mainstream Renewable Power.
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Source: Mainstream Renewable Power
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