At an Extraordinary General Meeting on 15th January, REC’s shareholders approved to sell the business as the largest European supplier of solar panels worldwide and to combine with the Norway-based Elkem Group.
The closing of the transaction is expected in early March 2015. Bluestar Elkem Investment is set to acquire REC Solar Holdings AS and all of the assets and liabilities of REC Solar at a cash purchase price of (NOK) 4,340m. Since 2011, the Norway-based Elkem Group is fully owned by China National Bluestar, which in turn is a joint venture between the conglomerate ChemChina and Blackstone.
Martin Cooper, CEO of REC, states, “We are pleased that the shareholders have voted in favour of this transaction, in accordance with the previous recommendation by the Board of Directors. We believe that a combination with the Elkem Group will provide a strong platform to further develop REC, with added strengths and new opportunities.”
Elkem is keen to develop the existing organisation of REC and to invest in further growth as a leading global brand in the solar industry. According to members of management, both companies are strongly committed to maintaining the high quality of REC’s solar panels, which far surpass stringent certifications, as well as to ensure REC warranties stay reliable. The basis for this industry-leading product quality will continue to be REC’s fully-automated integrated production plant in Singapore. Perhaps most importantly, customers can expect “business as usual.”
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