FREYR Battery Closes Transformative Acquisition of Trina Solar’s U.S. Manufacturing Assets
24 Dezembro 2024 - 7:30AM
Business Wire
FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY) (“FREYR” or the “Company”) today
announced the closing of the Company’s acquisition of the U.S.
solar manufacturing assets of Trina Solar Co Ltd. (SHA: 688599)
(“Trina Solar”) in accordance with the previously communicated
timeline.
Under the terms of the finalized agreement, FREYR has acquired
Trina Solar’s 5 GW solar module manufacturing facility in Wilmer,
Texas. The facility commenced production on November 1, 2024, and
is expected to ramp up to full production by H2 2025 with 30% of
estimated production volumes backed by firm offtake contracts with
U.S. customers.
Highlights
- The Transaction creates a commercial and operating platform
to establish a leading integrated U.S.-owned and operated solar and
battery storage company with a pathway for value enhancing
growth
- The transaction leverages Trina Solar’s global leadership in
the solar and the renewable energy industries, established U.S.
commercial presence, global supply chains, advantaged technology,
and a strong track record of manufacturing and project execution
for U.S. customers
- Total consideration to Trina Solar at closing comprised of
$100 million of cash, $50 million repayment of an intercompany
loan, $150 million loan note, 9.9% of FREYR outstanding common
stock, and an $80 million convertible loan note that would convert
into an additional 11.5% of FREYR outstanding common stock after
certain conditions are satisfied; in addition, FREYR acquired $235
million in indebtedness in connection with the facility in Wilmer,
Texas
- FREYR reiterates initial 2025 EBITDA guidance of $75 - $125
million. FREYR expects to exit 2025 at full-year run rate EBITDA of
$175 - $225 million and integrated solar module/solar cell
production annual run rate EBITDA of $650 - $700 million
- Ramp up activities at the Wilmer, TX solar module plant
continue as scheduled. Line 1 has been completed and the
commissioning on Line 2 commenced in November 2024; FREYR expects
the seven-line facility to reach full production in H2
2025
- FREYR intends to submit transaction documentation in Q1 2025
to secure U.S. regulatory consents from relevant organizations,
including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
(CFIUS)
- FREYR received $50 million from Encompass Capital Advisors
LLC (“Encompass”) in exchange for the issuance of preferred stock
in connection with this closing, and FREYR may receive an
additional $50 million from Encompass upon the Company proceeding
to start of construction on a solar cell manufacturing
facility
- FREYR is proceeding with its site selection process for a
planned U.S. solar cell facility with a start of construction
anticipated in Q2 2025
FREYR is progressing with the implementation of a multi-phase
strategic plan to establish a vertically integrated U.S. solar
manufacturing footprint. With site selection for the planned 5 GW
U.S. solar cell manufacturing plant underway, the Company is
evaluating and pursuing debt and equity solutions to fund
construction. FREYR is still targeting a start of construction in
Q2 2025 with anticipated first solar cell production in H2 2026.
The creation of a U.S.-owned and operated company that can provide
a turnkey solar technology solution is expected to solve a
bottleneck for developers, create up to 1,800 direct jobs, satisfy
local content requirements for U.S. solar projects, and
competitively differentiate FREYR.
“Today is an exciting day for FREYR. The closing of this
transaction marks the start of a new chapter for the Company as we
execute our strategic plan to build a U.S.-based leader in the
solar and storage markets,” remarked Daniel Barcelo, FREYR’s
Chairman of the Board and CEO. “We are grateful for the continued
support of our shareholders, and we look forward to advancing our
key objectives to create meaningful shareholder value and to
enhance our competitive position in 2025, highlighted by the
planned start of construction of our solar cell manufacturing
facility and other project development opportunities that are
emerging for FREYR and Trina to mutually pursue.”
Transaction details
In accordance with the previously disclosed terms of the
transaction agreement, the total consideration to Trina Solar
consists of $100 million of cash, $50 million repayment of an
intercompany loan, a $150 million loan note, 9.9% of FREYR
outstanding common stock, and an $80 million convertible loan note
that would convert into an additional 11.5% of FREYR outstanding
common stock after certain conditions are satisfied. FREYR has
secured a $100 million commitment for the issuance of preferred
stock to certain funds and accounts managed by Encompass, of which
$50 million in preferred stock has been issued to such certain
funds and accounts managed by Encompass in connection with this
closing, and $14.8 million for a private placement of 7.0% of FREYR
outstanding common stock to Ms. Chunyan Wu, a co-founder and
significant shareholder of Trina Solar, subject to certain
conditions. The funds will be used for general operational and
working capital purposes.
Transaction advisors
Santander served as financial advisor, Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP served as legal advisor, Arnold &
Porter, Ernst & Young, Clean Energy Associates and Rystad
Energy served as advisors to FREYR in support of the transaction.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP served as U.S. legal advisor, CICC served
as financial advisor and Deloitte served as tax advisor to Trina
Solar.
About FREYR
FREYR (NYSE: FREY) is a clean energy solutions provider building
an integrated U.S. supply chain for solar and batteries. In
November 2024, FREYR announced a transformative transaction,
positioning the Company as one of the leading solar manufacturing
companies in the U.S., with a complementary solar and battery
storage strategy. Based in the U.S. with plans to expand its
operations in America, the company is also exploring value
optimization opportunities across its portfolio of assets in
Europe. To learn more about FREYR, please visit
www.freyrbattery.com and follow @FREYRBattery on social media.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
All statements, other than statements of present or historical
fact included in this presentation, including, without limitation,
FREYR Battery, Inc.’s, a Delaware corporation, (“FREYR”) ability to
establish a commercial presence in the U.S. solar market; the
potential benefits of FREYR’s strategic acquisition of Trina Solar
US Holding Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Trina”), including value
enhancing growth; any projected 2025 EBITDA guidance and run-rate
EBITDA figures; the expected timeline of any post-closing
activities or events; FREYR’s ability to secure financing options
for the solar cell manufacturing facility; the projected ramp up to
full production by H2 2025 of Trina’s solar module manufacturing
facility; the estimated production volumes backed by firm offtake
contracts for the solar module manufacturing facility; the
projected start of solar cell manufacturing production in Q2 2025;
the construction of a U.S. solar cell manufacturing facility
targeting start of production in H2 2026; the integration of U.S.
solar module and solar cell capacity; FREYR’s timeline for
obtaining regulatory consents for the transaction; FREYR’s ability
to become a leading U.S. solar module producer; the establishment
of a domestic manufacturing footprint for FREYR’s business; the
creation of 1,800 local jobs; the integration of U.S. solar and
battery energy storage system manufacturing; the monetization of
FREYR’s legacy assets;; the ability for a U.S.-owned and operated
solar technology solution company to solve a bottle neck for
developers and satisfy local content requirements for U.S. solar
projects; and any potential competitive differentiators FREYR may
offer are forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and
uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from the expected results. Factors that may cause such
differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the outcome of any
legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company
following the closing of the transaction; (2) the risk that the
transaction disrupts current plans and operations as a result of
the consummation of the transaction; (3) the ability to recognize
the anticipated benefits of the transaction and inability to timely
secure regulatory consents related to the transaction; (4) costs
related to the transaction; (5) changes in applicable laws or
regulations; (6) the possibility that the Company may be adversely
affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors;
(7) any potential risk that the Chinese equity ownership in the
Company may impact FREYR’s ability to develop a solar cell facility
in the U.S.; (8) any increases to commodity pricing or US tariff
and countervailing duty levels; and (9) potential operational risks
associated with commissioning and ramp-up of production. The
Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not
exclusive. Most of these factors are outside FREYR’s control and
are difficult to predict. Additional information about factors that
could materially affect FREYR is set forth under the “Risk Factors”
section in (i) FREYR’s post-effective amendment no. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 4, 2024, (ii) FREYR’s
Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on September
8, 2023 and subsequent amendments thereto filed on October 13,
2023, October 19, 2023 and October 31, 2023, and (iii) FREYR’s
annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024,
and FREYR’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on
May 8, August 9 and November 12, 2024, and available on the SEC’s
website at www.sec.gov. Except as otherwise required by applicable
law, FREYR disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking
statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements
in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date
of this presentation. Should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results and projections could differ materially
from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.
FREYR intends to use its website as a channel of distribution to
disclose information which may be of interest or material to
investors and to communicate with investors and the public. Such
disclosures will be included on FREYR’s website in the ‘Investor
Relations’ sections. FREYR also intends to use certain social media
channels, including, but not limited to, Twitter and LinkedIn, as
means of communicating with the public and investors about FREYR,
its progress, products and other matters. While not all the
information that FREYR posts to its digital platforms may be deemed
to be of a material nature, some information may be. As a result,
FREYR encourages investors and others interested to review the
information that it posts and to monitor such portions of FREYR’s
website and social media channels on a regular basis, in addition
to following FREYR’s press releases, SEC filings, and public
conference calls and webcasts. The contents of FREYR’s website and
other social media channels shall not be deemed incorporated by
reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241224327270/en/
Investor contact: Jeffrey Spittel Executive Vice
President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development
jeffrey.spittel@freyrbattery.com Tel: (+1) 409 599-5706
Media contact: Amy Jaick Global Head of Communications
amy.jaick@freyrbattery.com Tel: (+1) 973 713-5585
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