Masdar buys key unit of Greek energy major GEK Terna for $3bn
ABU DHABI, 5 hours, 16 minutes ago
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of 70% of the outstanding shares of Terna Energy SA from Greek clean energy champion GEK Terna and other shareholders, and received all regulatory approvals.
The deal, agreed at a price of €20 ($21) per share, valued Terna Energy at an enterprise value of €3.2 billion ($3.37 billion), thus representing the largest ever energy transaction on the Athens Stock Exchange, and one of the largest in the EU renewables industry.
Following the closing of the transaction, Masdar will seek regulatory approvals from the Hellenic Capital Markets Commission (HCNC), for the launch of an all-cash mandatory tender offer (MTO) to acquire the outstanding shares of Terna Energy, said the Abu Dhabi group in a statement.
Terna Energy has been a key player in the renewable energy sector for over two decades, holding the largest and most diversified portfolio in Greece, as well as projects in Bulgaria and Poland.
The company owns and operates clean energy projects across wind, solar, biomass and hydro technologies - Greece's renewable energy leader is also building one of the largest pumped hydro projects in Europe, the 680 megawatts (MW) Amfilochia project.
With Terna Energy currently operating a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts (GW), the acquisition reflects Masdar’s confidence in the company’s impressive growth potential, targeting 6GW by 2029.
Terna Energy will play an important role in enhancing Masdar’s portfolio across Europe as it targets 100GW global capacity by 2030 in support of the energy transition, it stated.
CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said: "Masdar is proud to become the majority shareholder of Terna Energy, bringing together two energy champions. Our committed vision and long-term capital will unlock significant opportunities for further growth in Terna Energy’s expansion as it executes on its strategy to support Greece’s renewable energy goals."
"Masdar’s acquisition strategy has focused on acquiring not just assets, but investing in exceptional teams. Our ambition is to establish Terna Energy as one of our core regional platforms that will help us deliver on our ambitious targets," stated Al Ramahi.
"I look forward to working with Executive Chairman, Georgios Peristeris, and CEO Emmanuel Maragoudakis, in support of the energy transition in Greece and Europe," he added.
Georgios Peristeris, Chairman and CEO of GEK Terna and Executive Chairman of Terna Energy, said: "Our agreement with Masdar is a reflection of Terna Energy’s unparalleled leading role in the green energy transition in Greece as well as in southeastern Europe, a result of our consistent and tireless efforts over the last 25 years to create the largest and fastest growing clean energy platform in our country."
"Sharing the same vision with Masdar for clean, affordable and domestically produced energy, we look forward to working together towards a future of endless growth possibilities for Terna Energy," he stated.
Masdar has retained Rothschild & Co. as sole financial advisor, and Simmons & Simmons, Bernitsas Law, Latham & Watkins as legal advisors, in connection with the transaction and financing.
GEK Terna Group was supported by Reed Smith LLP and Potamitis Vekris, who were the international and Greek legal advisors for the transaction respectively, while Morgan Stanley has been acting as sole financial advisor to Terna Energy.-TradeArabia News Service