News Out!
Laidlaw Reaches Agreement for the Financing of its Berlin, NH Biomass-Energy Project
Tuesday April 1, 7:00 am ET
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc. (Ticker Symbol “LLEG”), through its affiliate, Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, LLC, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with HH Capital Advisors, LLC for the financing required for its Berlin, New Hampshire biomass-energy project. Such agreement is structured as a sale-leaseback transaction, in this regard Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, LLC will be selling the project to a newly formed entity affiliated with HH Capital Advisors, LLC and leasing the project back pursuant to a long term net lease.
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The transaction is structured such that there will be two separate closings. The first closing will occur after and if a variety of conditions precedent have occurred, including, without limitation, that Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, LLC has the land on which the project will be constructed under its exclusive control and that HH Capital Advisors, LLC has approved: (i) the lease under which Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, LLC will be leasing the project back from HH Capital Advisors, LLC, (ii) the environmental condition of the property, (iii) the title to the property, (iv) a development budget, (v) a development agreement, and (vi) a letter of intent covering all the major provisions of the proposed power purchase agreement for 100% of the power to be produced by the project. At the first closing $8 million will be funded to be used for the acquisition of the land and working capital in connection with the continued development efforts regarding the project. Laidlaw believes that it has met or can readily meet the foregoing conditions.
The second closing will occur after and if a variety of additional conditions precedent have occurred, including, without limitation, that Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, LLC has obtained in final form and HH Capital Advisors, LLC has received and approved: (i) all of the agreements relating to the project, including, without limitation, the power purchase agreement for 100% of the power to be produced by the project and the contract for the construction of the project, (ii) all permits with respect to the construction and operation of the project, (iii) all reports, studies and financial projections supporting the feasibility of the project. At the second closing sufficient monies will be funded to cover the balance of the estimated total costs for the development, construction and financing of the project.
Commenting on the Agreement with HH Capital Advisors, LLC, Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, LLC President and CEO Michael Bartoszek stated “We are truly excited about entering into this arrangement with HH Capital Advisors, LLC. This Agreement comes after a long courtship between Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, LLC and HH Capital Advisors, LLC and an extended period of deliberation on our part as to what represents the best opportunity for the financing of the project. While we received numerous offers and overtures to finance this project from major institutional investors, including Morgan Stanley, Macquarie Bank and Greystone & Co., we concluded that the structure offered by HH Capital Advisors, LLC presents the best opportunity for us. In addition, they have substantial experience in financing major capital projects, including energy facilities.”
Laidlaw is in the process of finalizing the definitive asset purchase agreement with North American Dismantling Corp, the current owner of the Berlin site, and expects to announce the execution of this document within the next several days.
About the Berlin, NH Biomass-Energy Project:
The Berlin project involves the conversion of the former Fraser Paper pulp mill site into a highly advanced biomass-to-energy project that is expected to export approximately 60 megawatts of renewable energy to the New England power grid and utilize over 700,000 tons of clean wood biomass chips per annum. The project involves a capital investment of approximately $100 million and is expected to employ 40 directly and create over 500 indirect jobs. Once completed, the plant is expected to be among the largest and most environmentally advanced biomass-energy plants in North America.
About HH Capital Advisors, LLC
HH Capital Advisors, LLC is a financial advisory boutique firm that transacts in one-off transactions in various asset classes largely through capital market execution. HH Capital Advisors, LLC is comprised of a management team with unique experience and expertise in the execution of structured finance transactions, focusing on project finance, renewable energy, multimedia entertainment and real-estate ventures. The Company's unique understanding of and expertise in structured finance enables it to transact in any asset class.
About Laidlaw Energy Group
Laidlaw Energy is engaged in the development of independent power plants that generate electricity from renewable resources, with a particular emphasis on biomass power. Laidlaw Energy's mission is to build and manage a profitable portfolio of biomass facilities through the development of new facilities and acquisition of existing facilities, and in so doing become the leading supplier of biomass power in the United States. Laidlaw Energy is headquartered in New York, New York. For more information, please visit our website at
www.LaidlawEnergy.com.
This communication contains statements expressing expectations of future events and/or results which may include, without limitation, statements concerning anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, potential markets, new products, research and development activities and similar matters. Such statements constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements based on future expectations rather than historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and Laidlaw cannot provide assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Laidlaw undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
E&E Communications
Paul Knopick, 949-707-5365
pknopick*eandecommunications.com
or
Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc.
Edward D. Meyers, 212-480-9882
info*laidlawenergy.com
Source: Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc.