OSLO: BW Offshore Limited has signed a share purchase agreement to become a strategic owner of Ideol S.A., a global pure player in floating offshore wind technology. BW Offshore to invest EUR 60 million to attain a strategic stake in BW Ideol.
BW Ideol is planning to seek admission to trading on Euronext Growth Oslo by the end of March 2021. Carnegie A/S and Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge have been appointed sole advisers for the admission process and a planned private placement of new shares to fund development of the project pipeline.
BW Offshore will participate in the planned private placement as an anchor investor.
“We see solid opportunities for developing offshore power production solutions to drive energy transition at global scale,” said Marco Beenen, the CEO of BW Offshore.
“We are combining our four decades of offshore development, financing and operational experience with Ideol’s proven floating offshore wind technology and expertise. Together we are creating a champion in this emerging market with significant long-term growth and value creation potential.”
Ideol is a leading provider of floating foundations for offshore wind with more than 10 years of experience from engineering and supporting floating offshore wind projects from conception to installation.
The company has over 60 employees, of which 90% are engineers covering the disciplines required for floating offshore wind technology and project development.
The company has installed two full-scale demonstration wind turbines based on its patented floater design and is currently building up a sizeable pipeline of projects as co-developer in Japan, Europe and the US. Ideol is a privately held company, based in La Ciotat, France.
“Our established position in floater design and engineering, coupled with BW Offshore’s track-record of project development and deep-water expertise, provides a strong platform for accelerated growth as a leader in floating offshore wind technology and growing developer of offshore renewable energy projects,” said Paul Dupin de la Guérivière, the CEO of Ideol.
Ideol S.A. will become a wholly owned subsidiary of a new entity named BW Ideol, as a globally leading fully integrated developer of large-scale floating offshore wind projects. BW Ideol will have clear strategic targets; growth as a technology and EPC services provider, expanding and maturing a significant portfolio of development projects and becoming a long-term asset owner and operator.
The company signed a share purchase agreement to acquire shares outstanding in Ideol S.A. via the separate entity BW Ideol AS (“BW Ideol”).
Ideol founders and employees, will remain shareholders and transfer their holdings to BW Ideol, and continue to lead the company backed by BW Offshore as a long-term industrial partner.
BW Offshore expects to hold approximately 50% of the shares outstanding in BW Ideol post the contemplated capital raise and listing. The share acquisition and participation in the capital raise will be funded from BW Offshore’s existing liquidity reserves. Ideol management and employees are expected to own about 20% of the shares post listing.
The transaction and listing are expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. In the event of a delay to the planned capital raise and admission to trading, BW Offshore will provide a convertible shareholder loan of up to EUR 10 million to finance BW Ideol’s current development plans and working capital requirements through 2021.
BW Offshore is a leading provider of floating production services to the oil and gas industry. The company also participates in developing proven offshore hydrocarbon reservoirs.
BW Offshore is represented in all major oil and gas regions world-wide with a fleet of 15 owned FPSOs. The company has more than four decades of production track record, having executed 40 FPSO and FSO projects. BW Offshore is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
Ideol is a global leader and pure player in floating foundations for offshore wind and has been engineering and accompanying floating offshore wind projects from conception to installation since 2010.
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