Fastned BV (AMS: FAST) completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of The Fast Charging Network BV, the fast charging stations network of Dutch electric vehicle leasing company MisterGreen. The purchase price was financed by issuing Euronext Amsterdam listed depositary receipts to the sellers. They embark as major Fastned depositary receipt holders (>1%), thereby securing a long-term collaboration between Fastned and MisterGreen’s shareholders, who continue to expand their electric vehicle leasing activities.
Fastned is the leading European fast charging stations operator. Founded in 2012, it constructs and operates stations for fully electric vehicles at about 120 high traffic locations in the Netherlands, the U.K. and Germany. Electric drivers can add up to 300 km range to their vehicle battery in 15 minutes, with electricity obtained solely from the sun and wind.
MisterGreen’s 16 fast charging locations are highly complementary to the Fastned network and perfectly align with the company’s strategy to realize Europe-wide fast charging coverage. The Dutch government grants only a limited amount of concessions to build fast charging stations at certain locations. In light of the increasing amount of EV drivers, such concessions are becoming more and more valuable, in particular in the populous Dutch Randstad region.
MisterGreen’s 16 fast charging locations are highly complementary to the Fastned network and perfectly align with the company’s strategy to realize Europe-wide fast charging coverage. The Dutch government grants only a limited amount of concessions to build fast charging stations at highway service areas. In light of the increasing amount of EV drivers, such concessions are becoming more and more valuable, in particular in the populous Dutch Randstad region. The fast recovery of EV usage after a short corona pandemic setback only reconfirmed this proposition to Fastned.
Clairfield International acted as exclusive financial advisor to Fastned.
Clairfield supported Fastned through all aspects of deal coordination, negotiation and diligence. This included (virtual) meetings with management, assessing strategic and synergistic opportunities, negotiating deal terms and purchase price, coordinating due diligence with external advisors, and support with all closing documents.
The volatile stock market movements following the Covid-19 pandemic obviously posed a challenge to this all-share deal. This challenge was overcome by introducing a settlement mechanism one year after closing of the transaction.
Clairfield continues to advise Fastned and one of its major shareholders, as this shareholder is actively expanding its footprint in the e-mobility and sustainability space. In this way Clairfield can further bolster its unique expertise in these sectors.
