RWE announces capital increase to accelerate and expand renewables growth

• Offer of 61.5 million new shares, increasing RWE’s share capital by 10% 
• Accelerated book building procedure started
• Expected proceeds to provide additional financial flexibility to accelerate the continued growth in renewables above previously communicated targets

RWE has announced today an increase of its share capital. The transaction reflects RWE’s strategy to expand in the fields of renewable energy and to even grow beyond previous expansion plans. This will provide RWE with full financial flexibility to finance future growth: The expected net proceeds from the capital increase are planned to be invested in additional short-term capacity build-out, enhancements of pipeline and in further visible mid- and long-term growth opportunities in renewables on top of the company’s ambition to grow its renewables portfolio to more than 13 gigawatts (GW) net and to invest some €5 billion net by the end of 2022. Parts of the proceeds will be used to finance the planned acquisition and realisation of the 2.7 GW project pipeline from Nordex as announced on 31 July 2020.

While using the proceeds for continued growth in renewables, the company’s financial stake in E.ON will continue to be part of the financial ringfencing of RWE’s lignite provisions, providing a stable dividend stream at favourable tax treatment.

The company’s share capital is to be increased by using part of the authorised capital by issuing about 61.5 million new ordinary bearer shares against cash contributions and with the exclusion of subscription rights. This corresponds to a 10% increase of share capital. Gross proceeds of around €2 billion are expected from the capital increase. The new shares will be entitled to the dividend for fiscal year 2020. The new shares will be offered for purchase exclusively to institutional investors in a private placement by way of an accelerated book building process.

Markus Krebber, CFO of RWE AG: “The current market environment allows for equity raising at attractive valuation levels for our shareholders. RWE, having already a solid financial basis, stands for promising growth perspectives in our renewables business with attractive returns and a reliable dividend target: We stick to our plan to increase our dividend for fiscal 2020 to €0.85 per share and to continuously grow dividend payments in line with the development of earnings in our core business.” 

Admission of the new shares for trading in the sub-segment of the regulated market with additional post-admission obligations (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and in the regulated market of the Duesseldorf Stock Exchange is expected to take place without a prospectus on 20 August 2020. Trading is expected to commence on 21 August 2020. It is intended to include the new shares in the existing listings of the company's shares. The delivery of the new shares to investors is scheduled for 24 August 2020.

Important Notice

The distribution of this announcement and the offering of the shares of RWE in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions. This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for, securities to any person in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful and neither this announcement nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or purchase whatsoever in any jurisdiction. No action has been taken by RWE or any of the banks organizing the placement of shares (the “Global Coordinators” or “Joint Bookrunners”) or any of their affiliates to permit a public offering of the shares or possession or distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.

The securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or another exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada or Japan. The offer and sale of the securities referred to herein has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada or Japan. There will be no public offer of the securities in the United States of America.

In member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA") and in the United Kingdom, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at persons who are 'qualified investors' within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (as amended, the "Prospectus Regulation") ("Qualified Investors"). In the United Kingdom, this announcement is only addressed to and directed at Qualified Investors who are persons (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) (investment professionals) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Order"), (ii) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the Order, or (iii) to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated; any other persons in the United Kingdom should not take any action on the basis of this announcement and should not act on or rely on it.

The shares may only be sold to Canadian resident purchasers that are purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.

In connection with the sale of the shares, any of the Global Coordinators or Joint Bookrunners and any of their affiliates may take up a portion of the shares in the placement as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for their own accounts such shares and other securities of RWE or related investments in connection with the sale or otherwise. Accordingly, references in this announcement to the shares being sold, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by, any of the Global Coordinators or Joint Bookrunners and any of their affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, any of the Global Coordinators or Joint Bookrunners and any of their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps or contracts for differences) with investors in connection with which the Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners and any of their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of shares. The Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

None of the Global Coordinators or Joint Bookrunners or any of their or their affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to RWE, its respective subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

Each of the Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners is acting on behalf of RWE and no one else in connection with any offering of the shares and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to any of its clients or for providing advice in relation to any offering of the shares.

To the extent this announcement contains predictions, expectations or statements, estimates, opinions and projections with respect to anticipated future performance of RWE (“forward-looking statements”), they are based upon current views and assumptions of the RWE management, which were made to its best knowledge. Forward-looking statements reflect various assumptions taken from RWE’s current business plan or from public sources which have not been independently verified or assessed by and which may or may not prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the earnings position, profitability, performance or the results of RWE or the success of the industries in which RWE operates to differ materially from the earnings position, profitability, performance or the results expressly or implicitly assumed or described in these forward-looking statements. In consideration of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, persons receiving this document are advised not to rely on these forward-looking statements. RWE does not assume any liability or guarantee for such forward-looking statements and will not adjust them to any future results and developments.

Information to Distributors

Pursuant to EU product governance requirements, the shares have been subject to a product approval process, under which each distributor has determined that such shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II. Any distributor subsequently offering the shares is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.