ORANGE, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) (“Company,” “Avangrid,” “we” or “our”), a leading sustainable energy company, and a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. (“Iberdrola”), announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Iberdrola will acquire the remaining 18.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Avangrid that it does not currently own for $35.75 per share in an all-cash transaction.
The $35.75 per share price represents a 11.4% premium over the closing price of Avangrid common stock on March 6, 2024, the last unaffected trading day prior to Avangrid’s announcement of receipt of Iberdrola’s unsolicited offer, and a 15.2% premium over the volume-weighted average price of Avangrid common stock over the 30 trading days leading up to the unaffected trading day. Avangrid expects to continue paying regular quarterly cash dividends not to exceed $0.440 per share through the closing of the transaction, including a pro-rated dividend for any partial quarter prior to the closing.
The Board of Directors of Avangrid, acting on the unanimous recommendation of the Unaffiliated Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”) that led the consideration of strategic alternatives and the negotiation of the terms of the transaction, unanimously approved the agreement, which is subject to a number of customary conditions, including affirmative votes of (1) the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock of Avangrid, (2) the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock held by Avangrid’s shareholders other than Iberdrola, its subsidiaries, and their controlled affiliates and (3) the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Avangrid common stock other than Iberdrola, Arizona Merger Sub, Inc., their affiliates, any members of the board of Avangrid who are employed by Iberdrola or its affiliates, any officer of Avangrid and any family members, affiliates or associates of the foregoing.
Pedro Azagra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Avangrid commented, “We are excited about Iberdrola’s continued investment in Avangrid and commitment to the United States. As a wholly-owned member of the Iberdrola Group, we will continue to serve our customers and build our renewable energy assets work to achieve our vision to lead the clean energy transition with a strong commitment to sustainability, community, governance, and our employees.”
Timing
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of the shareholder approvals described above and the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Maine Public Utilities Commission and the New York Public Service Commission. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
Advisors
Moelis & Company LLC is serving as financial advisor to the Special Committee, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal advisor to the Special Committee. Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal advisor to Avangrid. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to Iberdrola, and White & Case LLP and Clifford Chance are serving as legal advisors to Iberdrola.
About Avangrid
Avangrid (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $45 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and was recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens – in 2024 for the fourth consecutive year. In 2024, Avangrid ranked first within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola. For more information, visit https://www.avangrid.com.
About Iberdrola
Iberdrola, Europe’s largest electricity utility by market capitalization and one of the world's top three electricity companies, is a leader in renewables, spearheading the energy transition to a low carbon economy. The group supplies energy to almost 100 million people in dozens of countries. With a focus on renewable energy, smart networks and smart solutions for customers, Iberdrola’s main markets include Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia.
The company has a workforce of over 42,200 and assets in excess of €150 billion. In 2023, Iberdrola posted revenues of nearly €50 billion, net profit of €4.8 billion, with nearly €9.3 billion paid in tax contributions in the countries where it operates. The company helps to support more than 500,000 jobs in communities across its supply chain, and global supplier purchases topped €18.1 billion in 2023. A benchmark in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has invested more than €150 billion over the past two decades to help build a sustainable energy model, based on sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed transaction involving Avangrid and Parent. In connection with the proposed transaction, Avangrid intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and furnish to shareholders a proxy statement and Avangrid and Parent intend to jointly file a transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 (the “Schedule 13E-3”). This communication is not a substitute for the proxy statement, Schedule 13E-3 or any other document that Avangrid may file with the SEC or send to its shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF AVANGRID ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT, THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AVANGRID AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The materials to be filed by Avangrid will be made available to Avangrid’s investors and shareholders at no expense to them and copies may be obtained free of charge on Avangrid’s website at www.avangrid.com. In addition, all of those materials will be available at no charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Participants in the Solicitation
Avangrid and its directors, executive officers, other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Avangrid shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction under SEC rules. Investors and shareholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Avangrid’s executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading Avangrid’s proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of shareholders (the “2023 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement”), the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as amended by the Form 10-K/A filed on April 26, 2024, and the proxy statement, Schedule 13E-3 and other relevant materials that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction when they become available. To the extent holdings of securities by potential participants (or the identity of such participants) have changed since the information printed in the 2023 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, such information has been or will be reflected on Avangrid’s Statements of Change in Ownership on Forms 3 and 4 filed with the SEC. Information concerning the interests of Avangrid’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of the Avangrid’s shareholders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement relating to the proposed transaction when it becomes available.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this report may relate to our future business and financial performance and future events or developments involving us and our subsidiaries that are not purely historical and may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “can,” “expect(s),” “believe(s),” “anticipate(s),” “intend(s),” “plan(s),” “estimate(s),” “project(s),” “assume(s),” “guide(s),” “target(s),” “forecast(s),” “are (is) confident that” and “seek(s)” or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements generally include statements regarding the potential transaction between Avangrid and Parent, including any statements regarding the expected timetable for completing the potential transaction, the ability to complete the potential transaction, the expected benefits of the potential transaction, projected financial information, future opportunities, and any other statements regarding Avangrid’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, or future events or performance. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based upon current reasonable beliefs, expectations and assumptions. Avangrid’s business, financial condition, cash flow, and operating results are influenced by many factors, which are often beyond its control, that can cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of risk factors and other important factors affecting forward-looking statements, please see Avangrid’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filings and the information filed on Avangrid’s Forms 8-K with the SEC as well as its subsequent SEC filings, and the risks and uncertainties related to the proposed transaction with Parent, including, but not limited to: the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed transaction, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required shareholder, governmental and regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction that could reduce the anticipated benefits of, or cause the parties to abandon, the transaction, risks that an event, change or other circumstance could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, risks that competing offers or acquisition proposals for Avangrid could be made, risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction, the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of Avangrid to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers and suppliers, and on its operating results and businesses generally, and litigation or administrative proceedings that may arise in connection with the proposed transaction. Other unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this communication could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Avangrid does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in Avangrid’s reports filed with the SEC and we encourage you to consult such disclosures.
