JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT FOR THE LONGFORD PROJECT
11 March 2024
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Hydrogen Utopia International PLC ("HUI" or the "Company")
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via the Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
Hydrogen Utopia International PLC, a company specialising in turning non-recyclable mixed waste plastic into hydrogen and other carbon-free fuels, new materials or distributed renewable heat, refers to its announcement of 30 October 2023. That announcement advised that Powerhouse Energy Group Plc (AIM:PHE) ("PHE") decided to defer its investment in the proposed joint development of a non-recyclable plastic waste-to-hydrogen facility site at Longford, County Longford in the Republic of Ireland ("Longford Project").
HUI is now pleased to announce that:
(1) its Irish subsidiaries, Alister Future Technologies (AFT) Limited ("AFT") and Eranova Longford Limited ("Eranova") have entered into a subscription and shareholder agreement with PHE and its subsidiary, Powerhouse Energy International Limited ("PHE International") (the "Subscription and Shareholder Agreement") in connection with the building of a waste plastic to hydrogen plant on a greenfield site at Fisherstown Energy Park in County Longford, Ireland; and
(2) AFT, PHE International, HUI and Fisherstown Property Holdings Limited ("FPHL") have agreed to amend and restate the option agreement dated 10 March 2023 entered into between HUI and FPHL, pursuant to which FPHL (as freeholder of the land on which the Longford Project would be developed) granted an option to Eranova to lease the site for 25 years ("Option For Lease"). Up to €150,000 is payable by Eranova to FPHL under the Option For Lease, with the timing for payment dependent on the date on which planning permission for the Longford Project is obtained.
Under the amended terms of the Subscription and Shareholder Agreement, AFT and PHE International will now each own 50% of Eranova and development costs will be contributed to on a 50:50 basis. Eranova will be the developer of the Longford Project, and each party will have the right to appoint up to two members to the board of Eranova.
Initial financing is being provided by AFT and PHE International by way of shareholder loans (for a maximum of € 200,000 each) under separate loan agreements. Any future financing will be raised in accordance with the Subscription and Shareholder Agreement through further loans or (with the consent of the shareholders only) subscription for shares.
HUI will now receive a payment of £100,000 upon signing of the Subscription and Shareholder Agreement. This is in addition to the £100,000 received when the heads of terms were signed on 13 March 2023. A further payment of £100,000 in cash will be made to HUI once planning permission has been granted for the Longford Project.
Under the terms agreed between the parties, FPHL has also been granted an option to acquire shares in Eranova ("FPHL Shares Option"). Under the terms of the FPHL Shares Option, FPHL may, within 10 days of anticipated financial closure of the Longford Project or anticipated commencement of construction of the Longford Project, exercise an option for the transfer or subscription by it of new shares in Eranova. On exercise of the FPHL Shares Option, this would result in FPHL becoming the holder of non-voting shares amounting to 5% of the issued share capital of Eranova. The exercise of the FPHL Option would result in an equal dilution of the shareholdings of AFT and PHE International.
Longford, a county in the Irish Midlands, is anticipated to be one of the prime beneficiaries of the EU Just Transition Fund in Ireland. On 29 November 2022, Irish Government approval was given for Ireland's Territorial Just Transition Plan and its associated programme for the period to 2027, which will provide €169 million of funding in the Irish Midlands; the Irish Government plan was adopted by the European Commission on 15 December 2022.
The Company sees this project as an opportunity to progress a project within a European Union Just Transition Fund area, which brings with it the potential of grant funding for the development. The next phase will be developing the application for planning and permitting on the site, which will be carried out by the JV company, Eranova.
HUI looks forward to working closely with PHE to deliver this project successfully, fostering innovation and creating a positive impact on the global hydrogen landscape. Further updates will be provided as and when appropriate, with the immediate focus now being on securing planning permission.
Aleksandra Binkowska, CEO of HUI, commented: "Maintaining a strong allegiance with PHE has been a cornerstone for HUI, and I am thrilled about finalising the Irish joint venture agreement. Both HUI and PHE are dedicated to establishing what we believe will be one of the first plastic waste to hydrogen facilities. We look forward to working with the Powerhouse team to deliver this exciting project.."
Paul Emmitt, Chief Executive Officer of Powerhouse, commented: "PHE have always been committed to this JV and after working with Aleksandra Binkowska and the HUI team, I am pleased that agreeable terms have been met. I look forward to getting the Longford development moving alongside our other projects."
For further information please contact:
Hydrogen Utopia International PLC
Aleksandra Binkowska
+44 20 3811 8770
Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Limited (LSE Corporate Adviser)
Nick Michaels/Maya Klein Wassink
+44 20 3772 0021
Novum Securities Limited (Broker)
Jon Belliss/Colin Rowbury
+44 20 7399 9400
About Hydrogen Utopia International PLC
HUI aims to become one of the leading new European companies specialising in converting non-recyclable mixed waste plastic into carbon-free fuels, new materials or distributed renewable heat.
A HUI facility uses non-recyclable mixed waste plastic as feedstock and turns it into syngas from which new products and energy can be produced. HUI anticipates that its revenues will be derived from a variety of sources, dependent upon location and configuration of the HUI facilities, including the sale of syngas, hydrogen and other gases, electricity and heat sales, and the payment to it of fees for a given quantity of non-recyclable mixed waste plastic received at a HUI facility.
HUI will target areas where there is significant private sector interest or potential, financial backing is accessible and or where substantial EU and/or government funded sources of grants and loans are or may be available. The global increase in fossil fuel-based energy prices reinforces the need for alternative, price competitive energy sources, which HUI's business model can provide.
The pressing need to deal with growing amounts of waste plastic combined with a real momentum in the use of hydrogen from renewable sources may pave the way for a rapid deployment of and investment in HUI facilities.