DUBAI, UAE: Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), an international energy and water company, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sustainable Water Solutions Holding Company (SWS Holding), a newly established entity that owns Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions Company (ADSWS), the main provider of wastewater collection, treatment, and reuse in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The acquisition will create a vertically integrated player with strong capabilities in delivering high-quality water treatment solutions as well as a shared commitment to operational efficiency and customer service excellence. SWS Holding is highly complementary to TAQA’s existing portfolio and will add approximately AED 16 billion to TAQA’s existing regulated asset value of approximately AED 75 billion. This will enhance TAQA’s highly predictable and secure cashflow profile as well as its long-term earnings. The transaction is expected to generate significant synergies which will create value for TAQA and its shareholders.

ADSWS will operate under and benefit from the same regulatory controls set by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) that govern TAQA’s existing UAE transmission and distribution businesses. ADSWS has a network of sewer pipelines extending to over 12,000 km, a sewage treatment capacity of approximately 1.3 million cubic meters per day from its 41 wholly or partially owned treatment plants, and serves over 1.5 million customers in Abu Dhabi.

Under the terms of the agreement, TAQA will acquire all outstanding shares of SWS Holding for AED 1.7bn, with 50% of the consideration to be paid upon completion and the remaining 50% to be paid one year after completion. TAQA will make an additional payment in 2024 linked to net profits generated during 2023.

Jasim Husain Thabet, TAQA’s Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, commented: “The strategic acquisition of SWS Holding is an important step in TAQA’s accelerated delivery of its growth agenda, backed by our shareholders. Two years ago, we set out our growth ambitions in a 2030 strategy, and since then we have been delivering against our promises. This transaction is a logical extension of our regulated asset base into wastewater networks and treatment, which in Abu Dhabi is subject to the same structure of regulation and the same principles as our existing power and water transmission and distribution business. The new business will provide a substantial boost to our regulated asset base and associated stable long-term earnings.”

He added: “The efficient management of water will play a key role in enabling the UAE to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By bringing the management of recycled water together with TAQA’s water desalination activity and our recycled water network, we can do even more to support the net zero target by 2050.”

Eng. Ahmed Al Shamsi, SWS Holding’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, said: “We are proud to join TAQA as a national champion with great sustainability aspirations. We believe that this combination will allow us to leverage our combined strengths, fostering increased collaboration and delivering improved services in sustainable water management for our customers and stakeholders.”

TAQA is an international energy and water company operating in 11 countries across four continents. The Company has a diversified portfolio of power generation, water desalination, oil and gas exploration and production, pipelines and gas storage. TAQA is also developing energy storage solutions through its subsidiary TAQA Energy Storage Solutions (TESS). TAQA is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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