12/30/2015, 18:00
| Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
Lausanne – On 30 December 2015, Alpiq successfully closed the sale of its Bayet gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in France to the French energy group Direct Energie for a price of approximately 45 million euros. Alpiq will use the proceeds from the sale to further reduce net debt.
In October 2015, Alpiq decided to sell the Bayet 408-MW gas-fired combined-cycle power plant. The buyer of the plant and hence the company 3CB SAS (Centrale à Cycle Combiné de Bayet) is the energy group Direct Energie with headquarters in Paris. 3CB SAS was founded in 2006 for the purpose of construction and operation of the gas-fired combined-cycle power plant. The divestment takes place within the framework of the transformation of the Alpiq Group, the objectives of which are among other things to achieve a focussed production portfolio and to reduce net debt. Following the fulfilment of conditions precedent, Alpiq successfully closed the sale on 30 December 2015. Alpiq will use the cash inflow of some 45 million euros to further reduce net debt.
The activities of Alpiq Energie France SAS in Paris will not be affected by the sale of the power plant. In France, Alpiq aims to strengthen its position as a leading electricity supplier for large industrial and commercial customers, and to expand its gas sales business.