(UPDATED) VIVOPOWER AND FUTURE AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGIES (FAST) PROFORMA $1.13BN MERGED ENTITY TO BE UK HEADQUARTERED TO QUALIFY FOR $21BN GOVERNMENT CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS
September 26 2024 - 8:50AM
Nasdaq-listed VivoPower International Plc
(“
VivoPower”, the
“Company”)
(Nasdaq: VVPR) previously announced that it entered into a
strategic heads of agreement (the “
Heads of
Agreement”) to merge with Future Automotive Solutions and
Technologies (“
FAST”), a hydrogen conversion
technology company headquartered in Canada (together, the
“
Merger” or the “
Transaction”).
The Heads of Agreement is exclusive for 90 days but is non-binding.
The Company hereby provides further details on
the proposed domicile of the combined entity and the proposed
merger structure.
Domicile and Headquarters in the UK
Upon completion of the Transaction, the combined
entity intends to remain headquartered in the United Kingdom. This
is in an effort to qualify for significant and attractive potential
UK Government incentives that have been announced. The incumbent UK
Government that was elected in July 2024 has announced that clean
energy is one of its top two missions, alongside economic growth.
It has re-affirmed a goal of decarbonising the UK’s electricity
generation to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and has
re-instated a policy to ban the sale of diesel and petrol internal
combustion engine vehicles by 2030. This had previously been
deferred to 2035 under the previous UK Government. It has mandated
for two investment bodies to be capitalised and tasked with driving
investment into clean energy projects and companies, of which green
hydrogen is an investment priority. These bodies are the Great
British Energy unit and the National Wealth Fund, which have been
allocated a combined budget of US$21bn.
In 2023, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF)
noted that investment in the UK clean energy transition sector
increased 84% year on year in the UK, ranking it fourth in the
world. BNEF analysts estimate that this figure would need to be
more than double to meet the UK’s 2030 net zero goal.
Pro Forma Structure
The expected structure of the pro forma combined
company following the Merger is set out in the table below.
It is currently proposed that VivoPower will
acquire FAST and issue restricted shares in VivoPower as
consideration. Following the completion of the merger, VivoPower
will remain a UK PLC corporation that is 49% owned by VivoPower
shareholders and 51% by FAST shareholders.
The Heads of Agreement values the pro forma
combined company at an equity valuation of $1.13bn. This means
VivoPower’s shareholders will hold 49% valued at $556m whilst FAST
shareholders will own 51%, valued at $578m.
It is currently proposed that VivoPower will
acquire FAST and issue restricted shares in VivoPower as
consideration. Following the completion of the merger, VivoPower
will remain a UK PLC corporation that is 49% owned by VivoPower
shareholders and 51% by FAST shareholders. VivoPower insiders and
affiliates will also commit to a lock up of their shares in the
merged entity.
About VivoPower
Established in 2014 and listed on Nasdaq since
2016, VivoPower is an award-winning global sustainable energy
solutions B Corporation company focused on electric solutions for
off-road and on-road customised and ruggedised fleet applications
as well as ancillary financing, charging, battery and microgrids
solutions.
VivoPower’s core purpose is to provide its
customers with turnkey decarbonisation solutions that enable them
to move toward net-zero carbon status. VivoPower has operations and
personnel covering Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United
Kingdom, the United States, the Philippines, and the United Arab
Emirates.
About FAST
FAST is a Canadian headquartered hydrogen
technology company that focuses on developing technologies that
promote the adoption of hydrogen. FAST will be launching several
vehicle models powered by hydrogen powered internal combustion
engines as well as a conversion platform for gasoline and diesel
vehicles to run on hydrogen. FAST has offices and factory
facilities in Toronto (Canada), Tokyo (Japan) and Yamagata
(Japan).
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes certain statements
that may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of
the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to
projections, forecasts or other characterisations of future events
or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words
“anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,”
“predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may
identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words
does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements
about the achievement of performance hurdles, or the benefits of
the events or transactions described in this communication and the
expected returns therefrom. Forward-looking statements in this
press release include statements regarding VivoPower and FAST’s
ability to reach a definitive agreement and to complete the merger
transaction as set out in the heads of agreement. These statements
are based on VivoPower’s management’s current expectations or
beliefs and are subject to risk, uncertainty, and changes in
circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those
expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in
economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, and
other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of
VivoPower’s business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies
include changes in business conditions, fluctuations in customer
demand, changes in accounting interpretations, management of rapid
growth, intensity of competition from other providers of products
and services, changes in general economic conditions, geopolitical
events and regulatory changes, and other factors set forth in
VivoPower’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in
light of such risks. VivoPower is under no obligation to, and
expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
ContactShareholder
Enquiriesshareholders@vivopower.com
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