Brazil's Iberdrola-controlled Neoenergia prices IPO around $880m
Brazilian utility Neoenergia could raise $880m in its initial public offering (IPO) after announcing an indicative price ranged around BRL16.77 ($5.10) for the shares. The company is active in the wind and hydropower sectors, with a combined capacity of 3,546 MW in operation or under construction and a further 530 MW of thermal power generation. Spain's Iberdrola will continue to be its majority shareholder with an interest of 51%, while two other existing investors will reduce their stakes. Neoenergia was merged with Iberdrola's Elektro Holding earlier this year.

Neoenergia SA, the Iberdrola-controlled Brazilian utility with a solid renewables portfolio, announced an indicative price range of BRL 15.02 to BRL 18.52 per share for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO).

Based on a price of BRL 16.77 apiece, the midpoint of the range, the company and two of its shareholders could raise a total of BRL 2.857 billion (USD 880m/EUR 756m) by selling some 170.3 million new and existing shares. This excludes an additional 34 million common shares that could be offered to cover over-allotments.

Neoenergia targets at least BRL 1.155 billion in proceeds from a primary offering. It points out in the filing that if the secured sum is below that level, it may sell more shares.

The existing shareholders that plan to sell stock are Banco do Brasil SA and pension fund Previ. They could raise BRL 1.567 billion and BRL 134 million, respectively, in a secondary offering.

According to the filing, Spain’s Iberdrola (BME:IBE) will continue to be the majority shareholder in Neoenergia following the IPO, with an interest of 51%, while Banco do Brasil and Previ would cut their stakes to 0.37% and 33.84%, respectively. Currently, the two selling stockholders hold stakes of 9.35% and 38.2%.

During the summer, Iberdrola completed the merger of Neoenergia with its Brazilian unit Elektro Holding SA to create Brazil’s largest electricity utility by number of customers. The firm is active in the wind power segment through Forca Eolica do Brasil. Its total wind and hydropower capacity, either in operation or under construction, amounted to 3,546 MW at the time of the transaction. The company also has 530 MW of thermal power generation capacity.

(BRL 1.0 = USD 0.308/EUR 0.265)

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