Altech - Launch of German Project Equity Strategy
Perth, July 18, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Altech Chemicals Limited (Altech/the Company) (
ASX:ATC) (A3Y:FRA) is pleased to announce that it has initiated a European equity strategy whereby investors will be provided a means to acquire a shareholding in up to a 49% direct interest in the Company's high purity alumina (HPA) project via subscribing to shares in a German domiciled public company that is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Altech was recently approached with the concept on an unsolicited basis and following consultation with German advisors, potential investors and various others has decided to pursue the opportunity on the basis of a valuation (sale price) of US$100 million for a 49% direct HPA project interest.
Advantages of the concept for shareholders are that it provides an enhanced overall project and Company valuation; it will be significantly less dilutionary compared to a capital raising of this magnitude by Altech at its current share price; and it should positively impact project financial close.
Transaction Details
A. Altech to acquire 29% of Frankfurt listed Youbisheng Green Paper AG
Altech has executed an agreement to acquire 29% of Youbisheng Green Paper AG (YAG), a German domiciled public company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (YB1A:FRA). The total consideration is EUR2,729,000, payable by Altech as a combination of cash and shares.
The acquisition of YAG is conditional on the satisfaction of various conditions precedent, which include: YAG's name being changed to Altech Advanced Materials AG; the appointment of various Altech nominees to YAG's supervisory and management boards; YAG's shareholders approving an increase in its issued share capital to enable it to initially raise up to EUR70 million in new equity; the completion of legal due diligence to the satisfaction of Altech; the receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals; and final approval of the acquisition by the Altech board. The agreement also provides that Altech may sell-back the 29% interest in YAG (if it is acquired) by 30 June 2020 if YAG does not raise more than a minimum of EUR20 million in new equity.
B. Sale to YAG of a right to acquire up to 49% of Altech's HPA project for US$100 million
Altech has executed a subscription, sell-back and sell-back put option deed with YAG that affords YAG the non-exclusive right to acquire up to a 49% direct interest in Altech's HPA project for US$100 million. YAG will pay Altech a non-refundable fee of EUR500,000 in cash for the right. The right must be executed on or before the earlier of project financial close or 1 January 2021.
Under the terms of the deed:
- YAG has the right to acquire a minimum 10% direct HPA project interest (for a pro-rata amount of US$20.4 million) up to a maximum of 49% direct HPA project interest for US$100 million, by subscribing to shares in Altech's wholly-owned subsidiary Altech Chemicals Australia Pty Ltd (see Figure 1 below);
- At the end of year 6 after project financial close, YAG must sell-back to Altech all of the HPA project interest that it acquired for a price that would deliver YAG a return of 15% p.a. on its initial acquisition cost (the sell-back);
- Altech has the option to trigger a YAG sell-back at any time prior to the 6th anniversary of project financial close at a purchase price for YAG's interest that would deliver the same annual return (15%); and
- YAG may cancel its sell-back obligation at any time by paying a cancellation fee to Altech thereby retaining its HPA project interest.
The deed is subject to the completion of Altech's acquisition of the 29% interest in YAG (i.e. all conditions precedent being satisfied).
Altech has previously stated that it is prepared to sell up to 49% of its HPA project to a joint venture partner as part of its project financing strategy. The Company continues to exchange project information via its data room and progress discussions with a number of potential partners.
Altech also continues to work with Macquarie Bank towards finalising a project mezzanine debt facility. This proposal to offer up to a 49% project equity interest via a Frankfurt listed public company does not stop the joint venture partner initiative or the work with Macquarie Bank, it may complement these initiatives, or it could be an alternative depending on the various outcomes.
Background
In Germany and throughout Europe generally there is heightened awareness and corresponding investment interest in the battery materials and green energy sectors (LEDs for example). There is an ever increasing focus on the transition from vehicles powered by internal combustion engines to those powered by lithium-ion batteries and the corresponding investment opportunities that this transition presents.
Germany and France have led the way and unveiled details of a strategy to support the creation of a major battery industry in Europe. In addition, the stringent 2020 EU CO2 emission standards (95g per kilometre) are paving the way for the rapid displacement of internal combustion engine vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs). To meet the new standards, European automotive manufacturers have announced plans for new EV models releases - both fully electric and/or hybrids. A range of companies have recently committed to constructing or expanding battery cell plants in the EU - by 2023/2024 the expected effective capacity is 147GWh. Global battery capacity is likely to be greater than 800GWh in 2023.
Europe has correctly identified risks along the EV supply chain and has outlined the need for regional integration of the battery/EV production process. The current reliance on Asian suppliers has been identified as a concern. Importantly, the EU has a co-ordinated strategy - offering incentives to buyers, setting strict CO2 emission standards, revealing new grants and subsidies for battery companies to secure production facilities and raw materials within Europe. Volkswagen has stated that it would like to see all of its EV manufacturing supply chain steps established in Europe.
Altech's HPA project continues to attract significant interest in Germany and Europe due to the US$190m of committed senior debt funding from German government-owned KfW IPEX-Bank; the support of Euler Hermes - the German government export credit agency; the award of the contract for construction of the HPA plant to SMS group of Dusseldorf, Germany; and the Company's already significant German shareholder base (approximately 20%) comprising Deutsche Balaton, Delphi, SMS Investments and various other German and European retail shareholders.
Altech's view that supply shortfalls of battery grade 4N+ HPA (used in lithium-ion battery separators) is likely in the medium term has been recently supported with the release of CRU's HPA market outlook report (refer ASX announcement of 3 July 2019). Altech's proposed investment in Frankfurt-listed YAG and the sale to YAG of the right to acquire up to a 49% interest in the Company's HPA project is an important first step in a longer-term strategy for the Company to increase its exposure to European investors and to service the growing European EV/battery market with 4N HPA.
About YAG
YAG's shares are listed on the regulated market in the General Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (YB1A:FRA).
The company has 1,577,552 shares on issue and its shares have recently traded in the range of EUR1.60 - EUR1.90. YAG holds net cash and liquid securities of approximately EUR0.7 million and has no business activities other than its holdings of liquid securities.
The total acquisition cost for the 29% YAG interest (458,000 shares) is EUR2,729,000 and comprises:
- EUR1,729,000 payable in cash, EUR500,000 of which is to be paid within 30 days of the satisfaction of all conditions precedent (see below), with the balance (EUR1,229,000) payable by 31 March 2020; and
- EUR1,000,000 payable in Altech shares upon satisfaction of all conditions precedent; the shares will be issued at a 15% discount to the 10-day VWAP at the date of exercise of the agreement.
The acquisition of the YAG shares is subject to the following conditions precedent, which are expected to be satisfied at or shortly after the general meeting of YAG shareholders held on 17 July 2019:
1. Altech being satisfied with the outcome of all due diligence and other investigations in relation to YAG;
2. Approval of the Altech board of directors for the transaction;
3. Receipt of any required regulatory approvals and/or third party consents in Germany and Australia;
4. YAG shareholder approval for a change of company name to Altech Advanced Materials AG (AAM);
5. YAG shareholders resolving to increase the share capital of the company by not less than 63,102,080 new shares with a contemplated issue price of EUR1.10 per share; and
6. Appointment of various Altech nominees to the supervisory board and management board of YAG.
Altech's sale of the right to AAM (formerly YAG) to acquire up to a 49% interest in the Company's HPA project via the subscription of shares in Altech's wholly-owned subsidiary Altech Chemicals Australia Pty Ltd is subject to Altech purchasing the AAM (formerly YAG) shares and delivering the initial consideration due within 30 days of conditions precedent satisfaction. Under the terms of the subscription, sell-back and sell-back put option deed, AAM may exercise its right to acquire a direct project interest via a subscription of shares in Altech Chemicals Australia Pty Ltd in whole or in parts for the duration of the exercise period, which expires at the earlier of project financial close or 1 January 2021 with a minimum subscription amount equivalent to a 10% equity interest. The subscription amount payable by AAM in the case of a partial exercise will be calculated on a direct pro-rata basis, based on the price of US$100 million for a 49% HPA project interest.
Both agreements are binding but remain subject to satisfactory due diligence, conditions precedent and final approval by the Altech board.
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About Altech Batteries Ltd
Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS ("Fraunhofer") to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY(R) Sodium Alumina Solid State (SAS) Battery. CERENERGY(R) batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY(R) batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.
The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY(R) battery, with plans to construct a 100MWh production facility on Altech's land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce CERENERGY(R) battery modules to provide grid storage solutions to the market.
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