Ncondezi Energy Limited is pleased announce the signing of a term sheet with binding exclusivity ("Term Sheet") between Ncondezi's wholly owned renewable energy subsidiary, Ncondezi Green Power ("NGP") and Nesa Capital (Pty) Ltd ("Nesa Capital") and Nesa Engineering (Pty) Ltd ("Nesa Engineering") (collectively "NESA") detailing the proposed formation of a new joint venture company ("JVCo") to create a leading regional Southern African champion in the Commercial and Industrial ("C&I") renewable energy and storage sector:
· NESA comes with an experienced management team with a proven track record developing and managing a 15.5MWp solar PV plus 0.2MWh battery storage C&I portfolio across 66 sites in South Africa (the "NIH Portfolio")
· Term Sheet key highlights:
o Outlines proposed structure to create a regional champion in the southern African C&I renewable energy sector;
o Provides NGP and NESA mutual exclusivity until 30 November 2021 to form JVCo and raise capital for its activities; and
o Outlines the plan for JVCo to acquire a controlling stake in the NIH Portfolio, currently under separate ownership by Nesa Investment Holdings ("NIH")
· JVCo to be a newly incorporated company with assets from NGP and NESA, including:
o NGP's 400kWp solar PV and 0.9MWh battery storage project currently under construction
o NGP's project pipeline in Mozambique
o NESA's C&I renewable energy management team
o NESA's EPC business
o NESA's pipeline in South Africa
· The term sheet provides that NGP will acquire a minimum 40% equity stake in JVCo pre new equity capital with various options to increase its equity stake subject to certain terms.
· NESA, NIH and NGP have entered into a binding agreement granting NESA and NGP exclusive rights to negotiate terms on which they would acquire, through the proposed JVCo, a minimum 51% interest in the NIH Portfolio by 30 November 2021 with a subsequent option to acquire up to 100% within a 5 year period.
· Following the proposed capital raise and transaction, JVCo will have a combined operational portfolio of 15.9MWp solar PV and 1.1MWh battery storage across 67 sites in South Africa and Mozambique, subject to funding and acquisition of the NIH Portfolio
o Projected CO2 savings up to 22,000t per annum
o Projected US$40m in contracted EBITDA with average contract life of 17 years
· Current combined project pipeline of JVCo if successfully implemented would lead to 94.5MWp solar PV and 13.5MWp battery storage across a further 47 potential sites
o Potential CO2 savings up to 130,000t per annum
· The Board is pleased to announce that discussions regarding capital raising are already underway targeting a fund-raise directly into JVCo for working capital purposes and towards its acquisition and long term growth strategy:
o Non-binding offers have been received from multiple parties to provide equity funding into JVCo
o Term sheets have been received from debt providers to leverage the combined operational portfolio
o JVCo capital structure expected to be finalised in Q3 2021
· Optimal ownership structure for the Company's coal baseload and renewable energy projects are being reviewed given changing investor appetite for renewable versus fossil fuel projects
Ncondezi Chief Executive Officer, Hanno Pengilly said : " We are delighted to announce entering into the Term sheet with NESA to give the parties a period of exclusivity to negotiate an exciting JV. The proposed JV with NESA would create a Southern African champion with a cash generative project portfolio, enabling us to rapidly increase our presence in the sector with a clear pathway towards 100MWp solar PV and 13.5MWp battery storage over the next 3 years.
The transition to renewables and carbon neutrality is accelerating, and Africa stands out as a key market with the highest energy costs and lowest energy access rates. The proposed JV would be established with a proven management team, track record and project execution platform. Its strong presence in South Africa, Africa's largest energy market, where the maximum C&I project size has recently increased from 1MW to 100MW, provides a strategic position in a key market with additional expansion opportunities into neighbouring countries.
Finally, as we continue to progress the baseload and renewable energy C&I sides of our business it is becoming increasingly clear that they attract different investors. The Company has initiated an internal review to identify the optimal strategy to ensure both the baseload power and renewable energy C&I businesses are able to achieve their full value for shareholders."
Nesa Engineering Executive Director, Peter Frolich said : "We are excited to progress the JV with Ncondezi Green Power, as this fits our strategy to create a leading C&I renewable energy utility in the SADC region. The proposed JV will provide NESA with potential access to institutional capital to meet funding requirements to scale fast, and we are already seeing attractive investment appetite from our capital raising process for the JVCo. With an expanded regional focus, there will be greater opportunities to grow and diversify the C&I asset portfolio whilst also reducing exposure to country specific risks, such as local currency risk, with additional US$ denominated cash flows. We look forward to finalising terms of the transaction."
Whilst a period of exclusivity has been granted, there remains significant work to be completed before definitive documentation can be agreed with either NESA and/or NIH, including agreement of detailed commercial terms, completion of the due diligence and arranging transaction funding. Discussions are ongoing and there is no certainty that the JV will proceed and if it does, the commercial terms on which it will proceed and similarly if the NIH Portfolio will be acquired and if it is, on what terms. Further announcements will be made when required by market rules.
