Nordex SE: Nordex SE successfully places green convertible bonds

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH, OR TO PERSONS IN ANY JURISDICTION TO WHOM, SUCH DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE END OF THE PRESS RELEASE

Nordex SE successfully places green convertible bonds

Hamburg, 5 April 2023. Nordex SE (“Nordex” or the “Company”, ISIN DE000A0D6554) announces the successful placement of new unsubordinated, unsecured green convertible bonds due 14 April 2030 in an aggregate principal amount of approximately EUR 333 million with a denomination of EUR 100,000 each (the “Convertible Bonds”). The Convertible Bonds are convertible into new and/or existing no-par value ordinary bearer shares of Nordex (the “Shares”). The pre-emptive rights (Bezugsrechte) of existing shareholders to subscribe to the Convertible Bonds have been excluded.

“Through this convertible bond issuance, we are pleased to enable investors to take part in the improving outlook of the Company, as well as to give them the opportunity to be associated with our environmental commitments. The successful placement demonstrates the high confidence of investors in Nordex’ business model as well as the industry’s long-term prospects. It allows Nordex to strengthen its capital structure while optimising financing costs.”, says Dr Ilya Hartmann, Chief Financial Officer of Nordex SE.

An amount equal to the net proceeds from the Convertible Bonds will be used for Eligible Green Projects, as defined by Nordex’ Green Financing Framework (as defined below) dated 30 March 2023.

The payments of the Convertible Bonds will be guaranteed (Bürgschaft) by Nordex Energy SE & CO. KG, Nordex Energy Spain S.A.U., Nordex Energy Brasil Comércio e Indústria de Equipamentos Ltda., Nordex Enerji A.Ş. and Nordex Blades Spain S.A.U. The Convertible Bonds will be issued and redeemed at 100% of their principal amount, unless previously converted, repurchased or redeemed. The Convertible Bonds will bear a coupon of 4.25% per annum, payable semi-annually. The conversion premium was set at 30% above the reference share price, being the placement price of a Share in the Concurrent Delta Placement (as defined below), resulting in a conversion price of EUR 15.73.

The Convertible Bonds are expected to be issued by Nordex on or around 14 April 2023, and admission to trading on the non-regulated open market segment (Freiverkehr) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is expected shortly thereafter.

The Company will have the option to redeem the Convertible Bonds at their principal amount (plus accrued but unpaid interest) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Convertible Bonds at any time (i) on or after 5 May 2028 if the price of the Shares is equal to or exceeds 130% of the then prevailing conversion price over a specified period or (ii) if 20% or less of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Bonds originally issued remains outstanding.

Holders of the Convertible Bonds will be entitled to require an early redemption of their Convertible Bonds at their principal amount (plus accrued but unpaid interest) on 14 April 2028.

Nordex and Acciona S.A. have agreed not to sell any securities that are substantially similar to the Convertible Bonds or Shares during a lock-up period ending 90 days after the settlement of the Convertible Bond, subject to certain exceptions and waivers by the Joint Global Coordinators.

HSBC acted as Sole Structuring Bank and ESG Coordinator on the transaction. HSBC, UniCredit and Crédit Agricole CIB acted as Joint Global Coordinator, and, together with Commerzbank, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and Intesa Sanpaolo as Joint Bookrunners, while Rabobank acted as Co-Manager.

Concurrent Delta Placement

The Joint Global Coordinators have simultaneously placed existing Shares (the “Concurrent Offering of Existing Shares”) on behalf of buyers of the Convertible Bonds who wished to sell such Shares in short sales to hedge the market risk of an investment in the Convertible Bonds, at a placement price of EUR 12.10. Nordex will not receive any proceeds from the Concurrent Offering of Existing Shares.

Green Financing Framework

Nordex is one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, offering high-yield, cost-efficient wind turbines that enable long-term and economical power generation from wind energy in all geographical and climatic regions.

Demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, the Convertible Bonds have been issued under Nordex’ newly established Green Financing Framework (the “Framework”), which was developed in accordance with the ICMA 2022 Green Bond Principles, LMA Green Loan Principles 2023, and anticipated EU Green Bond Standard.

The net proceeds from the issue of the Convertible Bonds will be used for Eligible Green Projects, as defined in the Framework:

• Electricity generation from wind power,
• Installation, maintenance, and repair of renewable energy technologies.

 
The renewable energy projects captured under the Framework will contribute to the climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives as defined by the EU taxonomy and directly impact on Sustainable Development Goal #7 (Affordable and clean energy) by avoiding CO2 emissions and installing renewable energy capacity.

Moody’s Investors Service provided a Second Party Opinion (SPO) on Nordex’ Green Financing Framework, and assessed the Framework as aligned to best practices. The Framework and SPO will be available on the Company’s website www.nordex-online.com
 

For additional information:
 
Head of Investor Relations
Felix Zander
Phone: +49 152 0902 4029
E-Mail: fzander@nordex-online.com
 
Nordex SE
Langenhorner Chaussee 600, 22419 Hamburg
Fax: +49 (40) 30030 1333
 
Important Note:

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH, OR TO PERSONS IN ANY JURISDICTION TO WHOM, SUCH DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL
This release is for information purposes only and does not constitute, contain or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer or an invitation to sell, or issue or the solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, any securities. In connection with this transaction there has not been, nor will there be, any public offering of the Convertible Bonds. No prospectus will be prepared in connection with the offering of the Convertible Bonds. The Convertible Bonds may not be offered to the public in any jurisdiction under circumstances which would require the issuer of the Convertible Bonds to prepare or register any prospectus or offering document relating to the Convertible Bonds in such jurisdiction.
The distribution of this release and the offer and sale of the Convertible Bonds in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Any persons reading this release should inform themselves of and observe any such restrictions.
This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities in the United States. Any securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the laws of any state within the U.S., and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will be no offering of the Convertible Bonds in the United States. This release and the information contained herein may not be distributed or sent into the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which offers or sales of the securities described herein would be prohibited by applicable laws and should not be distributed to publications with a general circulation in the United States. The Convertible Bonds are being offered and sold outside the United States only in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.
In the United Kingdom, this release is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") and (ii) high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2) of the Order and (iii) persons to whom it would otherwise be lawful to distribute it (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates are only available to, and will be engaged in only with, Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this release or any of its contents.
 
Information to Distributors
Pursuant to EU product governance requirements, the Securities have been subject to a product approval process, under which each distributor has determined that such shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II. Any distributor subsequently offering the Securities is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.
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