Chinese solar developer GCL New Energy has added a 109 MW, second phase of project capacity it aims to sell to state-owned power company China Huaneng Group and public peer the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).
Details of the first phase of the planned project sale, published on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in January and April, stated two solar project company subsidiaries would be sold by GCL, subject to a shareholder vote, transferring seven Chinese solar farms with a total 294 MW of generation capacity.
A new phase of the proposed deal – which will be subject to a vote by shareholders of GCL New Energy and near-63% controlling shareholder GCL-Poly – on Tuesday stated two more target companies will be sold to Huaneng and ICBC, transferring ten solar projects with 403 MW of generation capacity.
The financial benefits of the proposed transactions for the seller appear to have worsened between the first and second phases of the sell-off, with GCL New Energy set to bank a net RMB1.38 billion (US$203 million) from the phase two sale – at a RMB205 million loss on the book value of the solar plants – whilst reducing its liabilities by RMB1.81 billion. The first phase deal, it was reported, would bank GCL RMB1.08 billion and reduce its debts RMB2.66 billion.
The latest Hong Kong stock market update indicated GCL New Energy has RMB15.5 billion of liabilities due for settlement by June 30. Selling off the latest ten solar projects proposed would chip RMB380 million off that current debt pile.
GCL New Energy and GCL-Poly stated, in a joint market update, their shareholders would be given details of when and where votes on the proposed deal would take place, by October 30.
This copy was amended on 07/12/20 to indicate the latest proposed project sell-off is a second phase of sales to Huaneng/ICBC, not a modification of the previous sale terms, as was previously reported. The copy was also edited to indicate ICBC would be among the purchasers, alongside Huaneng.
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