Arise acquires a majority stake in the Finnish company Pohjan Voima

Arise AB (publ) (“Arise”) has today entered into a strategic partnership with the Finnish onshore wind and solar company Pohjan Voima Oy (“Pohjan Voima”). Arise has agreed to acquire 51% controlling interest in the company and to provide financing to continue developing Pohjan Voima’s project portfolio. In addition, Arise shall also provide advisory services to support the company in preparing for the realisation of the project portfolio. The purchase price for the shares amounts to approx. EUR 12 million at closing with an additional purchase price of up to EUR 18 million payable upon achievement of certain project milestones. The transaction is expected to close in April 2023.

Pohjan Voima has developed a well-diversified portfolio of onshore wind and solar projects across Finland. The current portfolio size is approximately 1.7 GW which includes 1.0 GW of wind projects where land use planning and environmental impact assessment processes are ongoing and 700 MW of wind and solar projects at pre-planning stage. The company is working actively to grow the portfolio and is also actively assessing battery storage opportunities.

“This move marks a very important step in realizing our strategy of diversifying our operations both geographically and technologically. Finland is a very attractive market, and we are eager to develop and realize the numerous high-quality projects together with our new partners at Pohjan Voima. Concluding this transaction has materially increased Arise’s development portfolio, with 600 MW of Pohjan Voima’s portfolio classed as late-stage projects which we are targeting to reach Ready-to-Build status by 2025”, says Arise’s CEO, Per-Erik Eriksson.

“This strategic partnership secures new financing for developing our projects and will enable us to grow our platform. Moreover, we now have access to Arise’s extensive expertise and resources, which will be of critical importance as we get closer to the procurement and realization of the projects. There is a very good fit between our respective teams, and we look forward to learning from each other”, notes Pohjan Voima’s CEO, Tomi Mäkipelto.

Pohjan Voima will continue to be led by the company’s founders Tomi Mäkipelto and Juho Rönni, who will also remain significant shareholders. The Finnish mutual insurance company LocalTapiola invested in Pohjan Voima in 2021 and will also continue as a shareholder.

Arise is already active in the Finnish renewables market through its asset management business and has a 219 MW wind power asset management agreement with BlackRock.

With good wind conditions, flat topography, and a sparse population, Finland is one of the most favourable countries in Europe for new onshore wind power. In the record-breaking year 2022, wind energy capacity increased by 75%, reaching a combined capacity of 5,6 GW.

Halmstad, 14 March 2023

Arise AB (publ)
For further information, please contact:
Per-Erik Eriksson, CEO, Arise, +46 702 409 902

The Board of Directors of Arise AB proposes dividend to the Annual General Meeting

The Board of Directors of Arise AB is proposing a dividend of SEK 1 per share, corresponding to approximately SEK 44.5 million, and will shortly convene the Annual General Meeting for a resolution on this. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 4 May 2023. 

The Board of Directors of Arise has decided to propose a dividend. Through continuous positive earnings from energy sales and project sales as well as good financial strength, the Board proposes a dividend of SEK 1 per share to the upcoming Annual General Meeting. Even after the dividend, we are financially strong and will be able to continue to invest in the business and thus further strengthen our position. The Board of Directors’ ambition is that the company shows long-term profitability that allows annual dividends”, says Chairman of the Board Joachim Gahm.

The record date for participation at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 4 May 2023 is Tuesday 25 April 2023, and the last day for voting rights registration of shares is Thursday 27 April 2023.

If the Annual General Meeting resolves on a dividend in accordance with the Board’s proposal, the first day of trading without dividend rights will be Friday 5 May 2023. The proposed record date for dividend is Monday 8 May 2023. Assuming that the Meeting approves the Board’s proposal, the dividend is expected to be paid by Euroclear Sweden AB on Thursday 11 May 2023.

Halmstad, 8 March 2023

Arise AB (publ)
For further information, please contact:
Joachim Gahm, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Arise AB, +46 708 752 755

Year-end report 1 January – 31 December 2022

FOURTH QUARTER (1 OCTOBER–31 DECEMBER 2022)

  • Net sales for the quarter amounted to MSEK 106 (79).
  • Operating profit before depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled MSEK 52 (46) before items affecting comparability and MSEK 52 (32) after items affecting comparability.
  • Operating profit (EBIT) amounted to MSEK 37 (31) before items affecting comparability and MSEK 37 (17) after items affecting comparability.
  • Profit after tax totalled MSEK 36 (13), corresponding to SEK 0.80 (0.33) per share before and after dilution.
  • Operating cash flow was MSEK -3 (23) and cash flow after investments amounted to MSEK -76 (-10).
  • Production generated 79 GWh (82) of green electricity with an average income of SEK 857 per MWh (812).
  • An extraordinary general meeting on 15 December 2022 resolved to introduce a warrant programme for company employees. Employees of the company acquired a total of 407,360 warrants, of which 370,000 were acquired by members of Group management.

FULL-YEAR (1 JANUARY–31 DECEMBER 2022)

  • Net sales for the period amounted to MSEK 1,164 (341).
  • Operating profit before depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled MSEK 851 (157) before items affecting comparability and MSEK 851 (143) after items affecting comparability.
  • Operating profit (EBIT) totalled MSEK 790 (93) before items affecting comparability, and MSEK 790 (79) after items affecting comparability.
  • Profit after tax amounted to MSEK 772 (57), or SEK 18.60 (1.51) per share before dilution and SEK 18.60 (1.49) after dilution.
  • Operating cash flow was MSEK 923 (143) and cash flow after investments amounted to MSEK 618 (19).
  • Production generated 292 GWh (282) of green electricity with an average income of SEK 720 per MWh (614).
  • In the first half of 2022, Markus Larsson was appointed new CFO, Daniel Cambridge was appointed as the new CCO, responsible for business development and M&A, and Hans Carlsson was appointed as new COO. All of the above have joined Group management.
  • In March 2022, Arise made an investment decision regarding construction of the wind farm project Lebo in Västervik Municipality.
  • In April 2022, Arise signed an asset management agreement with BlackRock regarding wind farms in Finland with an installed capacity of 219 MW.
  • In May 2022, Arise issued green senior unsecured bonds of MEUR 50. The net proceeds were used in accordance with Arise’s green financing framework.
  • The sale of the wind farm project Kölvallen, 42 turbines with a total nominal capacity of 277 MW, was completed in July 2022. The sale is expected to have a positive earnings effect of approximately MEUR 90 between 2022 and 2025, of which approximately MEUR 65 was recognised when the project was sold.
  • In conjunction with the sale of Kölvallen, Arise also acquired a shareholding of about 9% in the project. This is in line with Arise’s ambition to be a more dynamic developer with a focus on maximising value creation for its project portfolio.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD

  • In January 2023, Arise signed an agreement with Persson Invest, one of Sweden’s largest private landowners. The agreement pertains to development rights for potential wind power projects on a large portion of Persson Invest’s land, for which the company sees good potential to realise new wind power. According to the initial assessment from the company, the potential amounts to approximately 500 MW.

Halmstad, 16 February 2023
Arise AB (publ) 

For further information, please contact:
Per-Erik Eriksson, CEO Arise AB, +46 702 409 902
Markus Larsson, CFO Arise AB, +46 735 321 776

Arise has secured rights to develop onshore wind power through an agreement with Persson Invest

Arise AB (publ) (”Arise”) has entered into an agreement with Persson Invest, one of the larger private land owners in Sweden, regarding granting Arise the rights to develop potential wind power projects on Persson Invest’s land. This marks another forward step in Arise’ focus to deepen co-operation with landowners in Sweden with the aim of identifying, developing and constructing new wind power. Arise’ aim is that the co-operation with Persson Invest over time will lead to a material contribution to more renewable power production.

Per-Erik Eriksson, CEO, Arise AB:

”We are very proud that Persson Invest has chosen Arise as partner for the development of wind power on its land, where we see good potential to realize new wind power projects and contribute to the energy supply in Northern Sweden, addressing the increased demand and also contributing to a sustainable future.”

Björn Rentzhog, CEO, AB Persson Invest:

”We are looking forward to a positive and long-term co-operation with Arise to continue identifying and developing wind power projects on our land, thereby contributing to an increased supply of renewable energy.”

Halmstad, 19 January 2022

ARISE AB (publ)

Power production in December 25.3 GWh

Weaker wind conditions than normal in December resulted in a power production of 25.3 GWh, compared to the month’s budget of 41.8 GWh.

In total the Company produced 292 GWh last year, which is approx. 15 percent under budget (343 GWh).

As from now we will publish our production quarterly.

Halmstad, 10 January 2023

ARISE AB (publ)

For further information, please contact:

Per-Erik Eriksson, CEO Arise AB, +46 702 409 902

This information is information that Arise AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU MarketAbuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 17.00 CET on 10 January, 2023.