Fortum and a consortium comprising Swedish national pension funds Första AP-Fonden (AP 1) (12.5%) and Tredje AP-Fonden (AP 3) (20.0%), Swedish mutual insurance and pension savings company Folksam (17.5%) and the international infrastructure investor, Borealis Infrastructure Management Inc. (50%), have today signed a binding agreement for the sale and purchase of Fortum Distribution AB, which operates and owns Fortum's electricity distribution business in Sweden.
The total consideration is approximately SEK 60.6 billion on a debt- and cash-free basis (corresponding to approximately EUR 6.6 billion). Fortum expects to complete the divestment process during the second quarter of 2015 subject to the necessary regulatory approvals as well as customary closing conditions.
Fortum expects to book a one-time sales gain of approximately EUR 4.4 billion corresponding to approximately EUR 5 per share in its second quarter 2015 results. In the first quarter 2015 Interim Report the Distribution Segment will be presented as discontinued operations.
"A competent and experienced buyer with a long-term commitment to infrastructure and customer service is a very good solution for our 906,000 distribution customers in Sweden. At the same time, this is very good for our some 390 distribution employees, who will transfer with the business at closing with the existing terms of employment. The business is financially and operationally in a very good shape. It will now have a new owner that will develop the business as a core business," says Timo Karttinen, Fortum's Interim President and CEO.
Fortum's focus on power generation and electricity sales
The transaction concludes the divestment of Fortum's distribution business activities. The total consideration from divestments in Finland, Sweden and Norway will be approximately EUR 9.3 billion on a debt- and cash-free basis with approximately EUR 6.3 billion sales gain booked during 2014 and 2015. The strategic assessment of the future alternatives of Fortum's electricity distribution business was originally made in 2013.
"After the divestment of its distribution businesses Fortum will concentrate on the growth and development of our core businesses, based on our competences: CO2-free hydro and nuclear power generation and efficient combined heat and power (CHP) production. We will also continue to develop electricity sales and related customer solutions to our 1.3 million electricity retail customers," says Timo Karttinen. "We continue to have a strong presence in Sweden, and remain committed to develop our business in the Nordic countries while looking for growth opportunities in line with our strategy."
Fortum's purpose is to create energy that improves life for present and future generations. The company provides sustainable solutions for society and delivers excellent value to its shareholders. The company’s strategy is based on building strong Nordic core, creating solid earnings growth in Russia, and building a platform for future growth. At the core of Fortum's strategy is its strong competence in CO2-free hydro and nuclear power, efficient combined heat and power (CHP) production and in operating in the energy markets.
Electricity distribution business in Sweden
Fortum's electricity distribution business in Sweden owns and operates approximately 71,000 km of electricity distribution and regional networks and distributes electricity to some 906,000 customers. The transaction as such has no immediate effect on the customers. The volume of distributed electricity in distribution network was 13.7 TWh in 2014. Fortum's market share of the local electricity distribution in Sweden is approximately 17%.
Key figures in 2014 for Fortum's Distribution business in Sweden:
- Sales EUR 634 million
- Comparable operating profit EUR 235 million
- Comparable EBITDA EUR 365 million
- Net assets (at period-end) EUR 2,615 million
- Capital expenditure EUR 134 million
The consortium: Over 20 years of experience and strong presence in Sweden
The consortium members have over 20 years of combined experience in the acquisition and management of infrastructure assets. The Consortium has a strong Swedish presence with AP 1, AP 3 and Folksam owning 50% of the shares. The Consortium is committed to a long-term, stable and supportive ownership of the Distribution business.
Fortum Corporation
Helena Aatinen Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Distribution:
Nasdaq Helsinki
Media
Further information:
Timo Karttinen, Interim President and CEO, tel. +358 10 45 36555
Analysts and investors:
Sophie Jolly, Vice President, Investor Relations, tel. +358 10 45 32552
Communications contacts:
Helena Aatinen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications,
+358 10 45 20480,
Fortum Media Desk +358 40 1982 843
Press conference on Saturday, 14 March, 2015
A press conference in English will be held on Saturday, 14 March 2015 at 12.00 CET in Nordic Light Hotel, Vasaplan 7, Stockholm. The press conference will be webcasted on Fortum’s Corporate website (www.fortum.com). In the press conference in Stockholm, please show your press card and photo ID.
Teleconference for investors and analysts on Monday, 16 March, 2015
An international teleconference in English for analysts and investors will be held on Monday, 16 March 2015 at 16.00 CET. The dial-in numbers are: European callers: +44(0)20 3427 1907, US callers: +1212 444 0896, Swedish callers: +46(0)8 5352 6408, Finnish callers: +358(0)9 6937 9543. Confirmation code: 3608999.
There will be a replay facility available for one week after the teleconference: European callers: +44(0)20 3427 0598, US callers: +1 347 366 9565, Swedish callers: +46(0)8 5051 3897, Finnish callers: +358(0)9 2310 1650. Confirmation code: 3608999. A live audio webcast of the call will be available together with the slide presentation on Fortum’s website at www.fortum.com/investors.
Further information on the consortium members:
AP1 is one of five buffer funds in the Swedish national income pension system. The capital reserves in the AP funds are used to cover the deficit when disbursements from the pension system exceed contributions to the system. The AP Funds strive to manage the fund capital so as to deliver attractive long-term investment returns while maintaining an appropriate level of risk for current and future pensioners.
AP1 has assets under management of SEK284 billion (at 31 December 2014) in a global portfolio consisting of equities, fixed income securities and alternative investments that include real estate, private equity funds and hedge funds. AP1’s strategic allocation focus is around 50% of the fund capital invested in equities, 30% in fixed income securities and around 20% in alternative investments. The allocation to alternatives, and in particular infrastructure, is targeted to grow further as AP1 seeks to further enhance its risk factor diversification.
AP3 is one of the five buffer funds in the national income pension system in Sweden and manages a diversified global portfolio of listed equities, fixed income assets and alternative investments. Alternative investments consist of real estate, private equity, timberland and infrastructure assets. The value of the portfolio stood at approximately SEK288 billion on 31 December 2014.
Folksam is a Swedish mutual insurance and pension savings company and has approximately SEK350 billion of assets under management (as at 31 December 2014) and with a strong market position in both life and non-life insurance. Folksam has today more than 4 million customers, or almost every second person in Sweden. www.folksam.se
Borealis Infrastructure has 16 years of experience originating, structuring and actively managing infrastructure investments on behalf of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (“OMERS”), a large defined benefit Canadian pension plan with over 450,000 members, with C$72.0 billion (SEK487 billion) of net assets (as at 31 December 2014) and a AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor’s. OMERS was one of the first large Canadian pension plans to invest in private markets, including infrastructure and has earmarked more than 20% of its portfolio to be allocated to infrastructure investments. Borealis has sourced and currently manages over 20 infrastructure investments in Canada, Europe and the United States, representing over C$12.7 billion (SEK86 billion) of OMERS’s invested equity.
Further information on Fortum:
Fortum’s purpose is to create energy that improves life for present and future generations. Catering to the versatile needs of our customers, we generate, distribute and sell electricity and heat, and offer related expert services. Our operations focus on the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia and Poland. In 2014, Fortum’s sales totalled EUR 4.75 billion and comparable operating profit was EUR 1.35 billion. We employ approximately 8,800 people. Fortum’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Helsinki.