• UK remains attractive market for hydrogen companies with significant incentives introduced and announced by UK Government
• UK Government clean energy initiatives include establishing Great British Energy unit to be capitalised with US$11bn, augmented with the $9.7bn investment into National Wealth Fund
• Priority investment for both Great British Energy unit and National Wealth Fund is scaling up UK green hydrogen sector
• VivoPower has been headquartered in UK since 2016
• Transaction subject to completion of number of conditions precedent, including closing of Tembo’s previously announced business combination and satisfactory completion of independent third-party opinion

LONDON, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nasdaq-listed VivoPower International Plc (“VivoPower”, the “Company”) (Nasdaq: VVPR) previously announced that it entered into a strategic heads of agreement (the “Heads of Agreement”) to merge with Future Automotive Solutions and Technologies (“FAST”), a hydrogen conversion technology company headquartered in Canada (together, the “Merger” or the “Transaction”). The Heads of Agreement is exclusive for 90 days but is non-binding.

The Company hereby provides further details on the proposed domicile of the combined entity and the proposed merger structure.

Domicile and Headquarters in the UK

Upon completion of the Transaction, the combined entity intends to remain headquartered in the United Kingdom. This is in an effort to qualify for significant and attractive potential UK Government incentives that have been announced. The incumbent UK Government that was elected in July 2024 has announced that clean energy is one of its top two missions, alongside economic growth. It has re-affirmed a goal of decarbonising the UK’s electricity generation to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and has re-instated a policy to ban the sale of diesel and petrol internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030. This had previously been deferred to 2035 under the previous UK Government. It has mandated for two investment bodies to be capitalised and tasked with driving investment into clean energy projects and companies, of which green hydrogen is an investment priority. These bodies are the Great British Energy unit and the National Wealth Fund, which have been allocated a combined budget of US$21bn.

In 2023, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) noted that investment in the UK clean energy transition sector increased 84% year on year in the UK, ranking it fourth in the world. BNEF analysts estimate that this figure would need to be more than double to meet the UK’s 2030 net zero goal.

Pro Forma Structure

The expected structure of the pro forma combined company following the Merger is set out in the table below.

It is currently proposed that VivoPower will acquire FAST and issue restricted shares in VivoPower as consideration. Following the completion of the merger, VivoPower will remain a UK PLC corporation that is 49% owned by VivoPower shareholders and 51% by FAST shareholders.

The Heads of Agreement values the pro forma combined company at an equity valuation of $1.13bn. This means VivoPower’s shareholders will hold 49% valued at $556m whilst FAST shareholders will own 51%, valued at $578m.

It is currently proposed that VivoPower will acquire FAST and issue restricted shares in VivoPower as consideration. Following the completion of the merger, VivoPower will remain a UK PLC corporation that is 49% owned by VivoPower shareholders and 51% by FAST shareholders. VivoPower insiders and affiliates will also commit to a lock up of their shares in the merged entity.

About VivoPower

Established in 2014 and listed on Nasdaq since 2016, VivoPower is an award-winning global sustainable energy solutions B Corporation company focused on electric solutions for off-road and on-road customised and ruggedised fleet applications as well as ancillary financing, charging, battery and microgrids solutions.

VivoPower’s core purpose is to provide its customers with turnkey decarbonisation solutions that enable them to move toward net-zero carbon status. VivoPower has operations and personnel covering Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates.

About FAST

FAST is a Canadian headquartered hydrogen technology company that focuses on developing technologies that promote the adoption of hydrogen. FAST will be launching several vehicle models powered by hydrogen powered internal combustion engines as well as a conversion platform for gasoline and diesel vehicles to run on hydrogen. FAST has offices and factory facilities in Toronto (Canada), Tokyo (Japan) and Yamagata (Japan).

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes certain statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterisations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about the achievement of performance hurdles, or the benefits of the events or transactions described in this communication and the expected returns therefrom. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding VivoPower and FAST’s ability to reach a definitive agreement and to complete the merger transaction as set out in the heads of agreement. These statements are based on VivoPower’s management’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to risk, uncertainty, and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of VivoPower’s business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include changes in business conditions, fluctuations in customer demand, changes in accounting interpretations, management of rapid growth, intensity of competition from other providers of products and services, changes in general economic conditions, geopolitical events and regulatory changes, and other factors set forth in VivoPower’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. VivoPower is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

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