Renewable

(SeeNews) - Nov 18, 2014 - US solar energy firm SunEdison Inc (NYSE:SUNE) and its yieldco unit TerraForm Power Inc (NASDAQ:TERP) have agreed to buy First Wind Holdings LLC for up to USD 2.4 billion (EUR 1.9bn).

The definitive deal marks SunEdison's entry into the US wind energy market. The move will make the buyer the “leading global renewable energy development company,” it said in a press release on Monday.

SunEdison now expects to install between 2.1 GW and 2.3 GW of renewable energy capacity in 2015, as compared to 1.6 GW-1.8 GW forecast previously. Meanwhile, TerraForm lifted its 2015 cash available for distribution (CAFD) guidance for 2015 to USD 214 million from USD 156 million, while the 2015 dividend is seen at USD 1.30 per share, or 44% higher than its current dividend rate of USD 0.90 per share.

The purchase will consist of a USD-1.9-billion upfront payment plus an additional USD 510 million in earn-outs dependent on the completion of certain projects in First Wind's backlog.  

The deal is subject to customary conditions and regulatory clearance and is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2015. Following completion, SunEdison will become owner of over 1.6 GW of pipeline and backlog projects that have been added to TerraForm Power's call right project list. The schemes are scheduled for completion in 2016-2017. TerraForm will get 521 MW of contracted wind generation assets to its portfolio for an enterprise value of USD 862 million.

The acquisition, which will be backed by bridge financing, includes an additional 6.4 GW of “project development opportunities,” SunEdison said. For TerraForm, in particular, the deal is expected to be immediately accretive and fetch USD 72.5 million in unlevered CAFD to the company next year.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.802)