PATTERN ENERGY GROUP: Pattern Energy Enters Agreement to Sell Operations in Chile

Pattern Energy Group issued the following announcement on May 24.

Pattern Energy Group Inc. (NASDAQ and TSX: PEGI) ("Pattern Energy" or the "Company") today announced it has entered into an agreement for the sale of the Company's operations in Chile, which principally consist of its 81 megawatt ("MW") owned interest in the 115 MW El Arrayán Wind project ("El Arrayán Wind"), to affiliates of Arroyo Energy Investors ("Arroyo") for which Pattern Energy will receive cash consideration of $67.0 million. This price represents a cash available for distribution ("CAFD") multiple that is greater than the CAFD multiple for projects the Company has acquired in the past. Pattern Energy also expects to eliminate more than $1.0 million of annual overhead related to managing the business in Chile.

"The sale of El Arrayán Wind is an excellent result for us. The price represents a 30 percent uplift over El Arrayán Wind's contribution to the Company's current value," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy. "While the purchase price demonstrates material embedded value in our assets, the primary reason for the sale was strategic. Chile was a good candidate for sale as it was one of the higher cost operations in our fleet because of the distance from the rest of our operations and the different legal, tax and regulatory environments. The proceeds of the sale will go to either make further accretive investments, pay down debt, buy back stock or other corporate purposes. We want to thank our employees in Chile who have been outstanding, loyal, smart and demonstrated an excellent work ethic. We could not have asked for a better team."

El Arrayán Wind is located approximately 400 km north of Santiago on the coast of Chile. The facility commenced commercial operations in the second quarter of 2014 and approximately 70% of its production is contracted for sale through a long-term fixed-for-floating hedge with Minera Los Pelambres.

The transaction is expected to close within 90 days, subject to customary closing conditions.

Because the marketing for the sale of El Arrayán Wind was conducted concurrently with the marketing for the sale of Conejo Solar, a project in Chile owned by Pattern Energy Group LP ("Pattern Development 1.0"), the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of Pattern Energy (which is comprised entirely of independent directors) reviewed and considered the El Arrayán Wind transaction in accordance with Pattern Energy's conflict of interest policies, including with respect to the relative purchase price of El Arrayán Wind and Conejo Solar and waiver of Pattern Energy's Right of First Offer (the "ROFO") over Conejo Solar. The Board of Directors of Pattern Energy approved the El Arrayán transaction and waiver of the ROFO rights related to Conejo Solar, which will be sold to Arroyo concurrent with the El Arrayán Wind transaction.

Original source can be found here.