Le Lézard
Classified in: Oil industry, Transportation, Science and technology, Business
Subjects: JVN, ACC

Weichai Power's Strategic Equity Investment in Ceres Power Receives Final Chinese Approval


HORSHAM, England, June 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Ceres Power (AIM: CWR) ("Ceres Power", "Ceres"), developer of the SteelCell®, a world-leading, low cost Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology, is pleased to announce that Weichai Power ("Weichai") has received relevant approvals from the People's Republic of China (PRC) for its proposed equity investment in Ceres announced on 16 May 2018.  


Ceres will now seek shareholder approval for authorities to issue the Ordinary Shares arising from these investments, and will shortly send out a Notice to a General Meeting.

The second potential equity investment of c.£23.2m will be by way of warrant at an exercise price of 16.45p/share, a 29% premium on the market value at the time of the initial announcement. This warrant will allow Weichai to hold in aggregate a 20% equity holding in Ceres and will be automatically exercised on the signing of the further commercial agreements expected later in 2018, subject to certain conditions.

Alongside the investment, Ceres and Weichai intend to enter a broader strategic collaboration to jointly develop and launch a SOFC fuel cell range extender system for China's fast growing electric powered bus market. Weichai has a wide network of customers in China with sales volumes of c.30,000 buses per year.

The strategic collaboration is currently expected to begin with an initial Fuel Cell System technology transfer to Weichai in 2018 for the development and demonstration of CNG fueled SteelCell® SOFC hybrid electric buses in China by 2019. The parties then expect to progress to further trials of multiple buses and SteelCell® SOFC stack supply by 2020.  

Weichai is listed in Hong Kong and Shenzhen with a market capitalization of c. US$10bn, and has a strong track record of making strategic investments in businesses around the world, including Société Internationale des Moteurs Baudouin in France, Power Solutions International lnc. in the U.S. and KION Group AG (MDAX-listed) in Germany.

The low-emission public transport market in China represents a major commercial opportunity for Ceres's technology. This is being driven by the Chinese Government, which is stimulating this sector through subsidies and Zero-Emission Zones designed to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions, while increasing public health and lower operating costs.

In addition to these benefits and increasing the operational range of electric buses, the Ceres Power range extender has the advantage of being able to run on widely available fuels such as CNG and does not rely on the roll out of hydrogen infrastructure.

Phil Caldwell, CEO said: 

"We are delighted to receive PRC approval for Weichai's investment in Ceres. The strategic partnership with Weichai, with its huge scale, leading market position and manufacturing expertise, has the potential to bring considerable benefits to Ceres and accelerates the commercial adoption of our technology. Although focused on delivering fuel cell range extenders in electric buses initially, this partnership provides us with invaluable access to the Chinese market as a whole. This funding will provide important growth capital for Ceres as we scale up the business.  

"We look forward to working alongside Weichai and our other existing partners in developing our world-leading technology and extending its commercial applications across a number of markets and geographies."  

For further information please contact: 

Ceres Power Holdings plc
Phil Caldwell, CEO
+44(0)1403-273-463

Powerscourt
Peter Ogden
+44(0)20-7250-1446


These press releases may also interest you

at 04:00
Yukon Group, Europe's leading thermal imaging and night vision company, has launched the world's first upgradable thermal monocular for civilian use. The Pulsar Telos LRF XP50 is set to become an indispensable tool for hunters, explorers and rescuers...

at 04:00
Growing Bolder, a leading lifestyle content producer, and OTT Advisors (OTTA), a leading advisory service for digital strategy, are partnering to launch the world's first active-lifestyle streaming platform for the world's fastest-growing and most...

at 03:40
KLab Inc. announced that its hit 3D action game Bleach: Brave Souls will be holding the Thousand-Year Blood War Zenith Summons: Reinforcements from Sunday, March 31. See the original press release (https://www.klab.com/en/press/) for more...

at 03:30
Electric vehicles (EVs) are a primary method to reach a net zero transportation sector, but in addition to CO2 emissions, overall sustainability is becoming an increased focus point. However, sustainability is a very complex topic that does not tend...

at 03:30
Vicore Pharma Holding (STO:VICO)Sessions at ATS to include an oral late-breaking presentation of the final results from the Phase 2a AIR trial of buloxibutid (C21) in IPFAdditional presentations include preclinical and translational data reflecting...

at 03:23
The total number of votes in EQT AB (publ) ("EQT") changed during March 2024 as a result of a conversion of 348,106 class C shares to 348,106 ordinary shares. The conversion was made pursuant to EQT's previous Share Program. The total...



News published on and distributed by: