Romania's Premier Energy shares surge 8% in stock exchange debut
Updates with bourse, company comments, latest trade data
BUCHAREST, May 28 (Reuters) -Romania-based solar and wind power developer Premier Energy ROPE.BX rose more than 8% in its debut on the Bucharest Stock Exchange on Tuesday, after a flotation the company said would raise funds for further investment.
The shares were trading at 21.1 lei ($4.62) by 1120 GMT, up from their IPO price of 19.50 lei, which had valued the company at 2.4 billion lei ($525 million).
The listing of a 28.75% stake in the company, owned by Czech investment firm Emma Capital, follows the Bucharest listing last year of state-owned hydropower producer Hidroelectrica ROH2O.BX, one of Europe's largest IPOs.
"Premier Energy's listing consolidates the energy and utilities sector proving ... that the bourse is one of the main funding channels for companies with ambitious plans," Bucharest Stock Exchange President Radu Hanga told a news conference.
The company has 1,000 megawatts (MW) of green projects either under ownership, management or in development in Romania and Moldova, and also supplies and distributes natural gas and electricity.
It aims to use the proceeds from the IPO, which totaled roughly 695 million lei before tax, to make further renewable energy acquisitions and projects.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) bought 11% of the company's shares on offer, giving it a 3% stake in the company post-IPO, it said in a statement.
"EBRD participation was important for the success of the IPO, anchoring the issuance and attracting other investors," the statement said.
In March, Premier Energy said it aimed to boost its renewable energy portfolio to 1.5 gigawatts (1,500 MW) over the next two to three years.
"The funds drawn through this IPO will enable us to accelerate investment in renewable energy and expand our operations in Romania and Moldova, thus contributing to the region's energy transition," Chief Executive Jose Garza said.
Citigroup Global Markets Europe, UniCredit Bank (Milan Branch) and Wood & Co acted as joint global coordinators for the offering. Alpha Bank Romania and BT Capital Partners acted as joint bookrunners.
STJ advisors acted as financial adviser to the company while UniCredit acted as ESG (environment, social and governance) adviser.
($1 = 4.5679 lei)
Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Bernadette Baum and David Holmes
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
