Ellomay Capital Reports Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Ellomay Capital Ltd. (NYSE American: ELLO) (TASE: ELLO) (“Ellomay” or the “Company”), a renewable energy and power generator and developer of renewable energy and power projects in Europe and Israel, today reported unaudited financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2023.

Financial Highlights

• Revenues were approximately €32.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to approximately €6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The revenue increase is mainly attributable to the achievement of PAC (preliminary acceptance certificate) of the photovoltaic plant held by Talasol Solar S.L. (the “Talasol PV Plant” and “Talasol“, respectively) on January 27, 2023, upon which the Company commenced recognition of revenues. The increase is also attributable to the Groen Gas Gelderland B.V. biogas facility (the “Gelderland Biogas Plant“) acquisition, in December 2020 and to improved operational efficiency at the Company’s biogas plants in the Netherlands.
• Operating expenses were approximately €11.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to approximately €3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This increase is mainly attributable to the achievement of PAC of the Talasol PV Plant on January 27, 2023 and the Gelderland Biogas Plant acquisition in December 2020. Depreciation expenses were approximately €11 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to approximately €2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
• Project development costs were approximately €1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to approximately €3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This decrease is mainly due to capitalization of expenses in connection with the project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel (the “Manara PSP“).
• General and administrative expenses were approximately €3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to approximately €3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase is mostly due to increased D&O liability insurance costs and to Talasol’s expenses following the achievement of PAC of the Talasol PV Plant on January 27, 2023.
• The Company’s share of profits of equity accounted investee, after elimination of intercompany transactions, was approximately €0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to approximately €1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This decrease is mainly attributable to the decrease in revenues of Dorad Energy Ltd. (“Dorad“) and higher financing expenses incurred by Dorad for the period as a result of the CPI indexation of loans from banks.
• Financing expenses, net were approximately €10.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to approximately €2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in financing expenses, net, was mainly due to:
  – a)  financing expenses in connection with the Talasol PV Plant previously capitalized to fixed assets that are recognized in profit and loss starting from PAC, consisting of (i) approximately €1.5 million of interest on bank loans, (ii) approximately €0.9 million of swap related payments, (iii) approximately €1.4 million of expenses in connection with Talasol’s project finance, and (iv) approximately €1.5 million of interest accrued on shareholder loans granted by the minority shareholders of Talasol;
  – b)  approximately €0.8 million of expenses for the early repayment of the Company’s Series B Debentures; and
  – c)  expenses recorded in connection with the reevaluation of the Company’s derivative transactions and of a loan provided to U. Dori Energy Infrastructures Ltd. in the aggregate amount of approximately €0.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to an aggregate income of approximately €1.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
• Taxes on income were approximately €0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to approximately €0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in taxes on income mainly results from the achievement of PAC of the Talasol PV Plant on January 27, 2023.
• Net loss was approximately €6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to approximately €5.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
• Total other comprehensive loss was approximately €8.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to a profit of approximately €3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The change was mainly due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges and from foreign currency translation differences on NIS denominated operations, as a result of fluctuations in the euro/NIS exchange rates.
• Total comprehensive loss was approximately €15.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to approximately €2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
• EBITDA was approximately €15.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to a negative EBITDA of approximately €(1) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
• Net cash from operating activities was approximately €12.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to net cash used in operating activities of approximately €2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in net cash from operating activities is mainly attributable to the achievement of PAC of the Talasol PV Plant on January 27, 2023, upon which the Company commenced recognition of revenues and expenses.
• As of December 1, 2023, the Company held approximately €59.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, €28 million in short term deposits and approximately €6.5 million in restricted short-term and long-term cash.
• In December 2023, Talasol entered into a Facilities Agreement with European institutional lenders (the “Facilities Agreement“). The Facilities Agreement provides for the provision of a term loan facility in two tranches: (i) a term loan in the amount of €155 million for 22.5 years, and (ii) a term loan in the amount of €20 million for 21 years (together, the “New Financing“). The aggregate New Financing amount (€175 million), will be used by Talasol to repay the current outstanding project finance debt of Talasol in the amount of €121 million (the “Current Financing“). The weighted average life of the New Financing is approximately 11.5 years, compared to an original weighted average life of 5.5 years of the Current Financing. The New Financing bears a fixed annual interest rate at a weighted average of approximately 3%, compared to a variable interest rate that was fixed at an average of approximately 3% by an interest rate swap contract in the Current Financing. Out of the New Financing amount, €6.9 million will be deposited in Talasol’s account as a debt service fund and €10 million will be deposited in Talasol’s bank account as security for a letter of credit to the PPA provider (the “PPA Security Fund“). The PPA Security Fund will be reduced by €1 million every year, up to a minimum amount of €3.5 million, which will be released at the expiration of the PPA. The financial closing of the New Financing is expected to occur in the coming weeks.
• In October 2023, the Company issued NIS 120 million par value of its unsecured non-convertible Series C Debentures (the “Additional Series C Debentures“) to Israeli classified investors in a private placement (the “Private Placement“) for an aggregate gross consideration of approximately NIS 121.6 million, reflecting a price of NIS 1.0135 per NIS 1 principal amount. Following completion of the private placement, the aggregate outstanding par value of the Company’s Series C Debentures is approximately NIS 414.6 million. The Additional Series C Debentures have identical terms to the existing Series C Debentures of the Company.

Third Quarter 2023 CEO Review

Ran Fridrich, CEO and a board member of the Company, provided the following CEO review:

The results for the third quarter and of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 present a continuous improvement in revenues, gross profit and operating profit while maintaining a strong cash flow from operations and are in line with the Company’s business plan. The third quarter was characterized by higher electricity prices in Europe, which had a positive effect on the Company’s revenues from the sale of electricity in Spain. The higher electricity prices resulted in an increase in Talasol’s revenues that were derived from the production that is not subject to the financial power swap (approximately 25% of the actual output of the Talasol PV plant) and in the revenues derived by the Company’s Spanish 7.9MW photovoltaic portfolio.

The Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was approximately €21 million and the Adjusted FFO for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was approximately €14 million.

Alongside these improvements, the reevaluation during the third quarter of the financial power swap executed in connection with the Talasol PV plant was negative and amounted to approximately €11.9 million, due to the substantial outstanding amount of the derivative (notional value of approximately €130 million). Such negative reevaluation is recorded as part of the other comprehensive income (loss) and does not otherwise impact the Company’s profit and loss statement.

Subsequent to the balance sheet date, Talasol successfully entered into the Facilities Agreement to refinance the Talasol project. The new financing doubles the weighted average life of the debt without any increase in interest rate, while increasing the coverage ratio from 1.3 to 1.7.

Following the anticipated closing of the Facilities Agreement, Talasol expects to distribute an aggregate amount of approximately €30 million to its shareholders, including the Company, which holds 51% of Talasol. In addition, Talasol’s free cash will increase by approximately €3 million per year for the upcoming 9 years, thus increasing future distributions.

The Company is currently engaged in the construction of 2 main projects – 

• A 28 MW photovoltaic project in Spain – The construction is in advanced stages and connection to the electricity grid is expected in February 2023; and
• A 156 MW pumped storage project in the Menara cliff, Israel – the works are progressing as planned, the construction of the access tunnel is in progress and the construction of the reservoirs and the low pressure tunnel will begin in the upcoming weeks, all in accordance with the planned schedules.

The development of photovoltaic projects that are in advanced stages in Italy (approximately 480 MW) is also progressing as planned. The initial 20 MW are expected to enter into EPC agreements and issue limited notices to proceed in the upcoming days. An additional 100 MW are expected to receive final required permits shortly and construction is expected to commence in the second half of 2023. Additional photovoltaic projects are being developed in Spain (150 MW) and in Israel (photovoltaic + storage).

The Company’s three main focal points are: improving the results of its operating projects, managing the construction of projects under construction, and developing the backlog of projects that will be constructed in the coming years.

Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted FFO are non-IFRS measures. EBITDA is defined as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization and Adjusted FFO is calculated by deducting tax expenses and interest expenses on bank loans, debentures and others from the Adjusted EBITDA. The Company uses the terms “Adjusted EBITDA” and “Adjusted FFO” to highlight the fact that in the calculation of these Non-IFRS financial measures the Company presents the revenues from the Talmei Yosef PV Plant under the fixed asset model and not under IFRIC 12, presents its share in Dorad based on distributions of profit and not on the basis of equity gain using the equity method and includes the financial results of Talasol for the period prior to achievement of PAC that were not recognized in the profit and loss statement based on accounting rules. The Company presents these measures in order to enhance the understanding of the Company’s operating performance and to enable comparability between periods. While the Company considers these non-IFRS measures to be important measures of comparative operating performance, these non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or other statement of operations or cash flow data prepared in accordance with IFRS as a measure of profitability or liquidity. These non-IFRS measures do not take into account the Company’s commitments, including capital expenditures and restricted cash and, accordingly, are not necessarily indicative of amounts that may be available for discretionary uses. In addition, Adjusted FFO does not represent and is not an alternative to cash flow from operations as defined by IFRS and is not an indication of cash available to fund all cash flow needs, including the ability to make distributions. Not all companies calculate EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA or Adjusted FFO in the same manner, and the measures as presented may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures presented by other companies. The Company’s EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted FFO may not be indicative of the Company’s historic operating results; nor is it meant to be predictive of potential future results. The Company uses these measures internally as performance measures and believes that when these measures are combined with IFRS measures they add useful information concerning the Company’s operating performance. A reconciliation between results on an IFRS and non-IFRS basis is provided on page 14 of this press release.

About Ellomay Capital Ltd.

Ellomay is an Israeli based company whose shares are registered with the NYSE American and with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “ELLO”. Since 2009, Ellomay Capital focuses its business in the renewable energy and power sectors in Europe and Israel.

To date, Ellomay has evaluated numerous opportunities and invested significant funds in the renewable, clean energy and natural resources industries in Israel, Italy and Spain, including:

• Approximately 7.9MW of photovoltaic power plants in Spain and a photovoltaic power plant of approximately 9MW in Israel;
• 9.375% indirect interest in Dorad Energy Ltd., which owns and operates one of Israel’s largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 860MW, representing about 6%-8% of Israel’s total current electricity consumption;
• 51% of Talasol, which owns a photovoltaic plant with installed capacity of 300MW in the municipality of Talaván, Cáceres, Spain;
• Groen Gas Goor B.V., Groen Gas Oude-Tonge B.V. and Groen Gas Gelderland B.V., project companies operating anaerobic digestion plants in the Netherlands, with a green gas production capacity of approximately 3 million, 3.8 million and 9.5 million (with a license to produce 7.5 million) Nm3 per year, respectively;
• 83.333% of Ellomay Pumped Storage (2014) Ltd., which is involved in a project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel.

For more information about Ellomay, visit http://www.ellomay.com.

Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding the Company’s plans and objectives, expectations and assumptions of management are forward-looking statements.  The use of certain words, including the words “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by the Company’s forward-looking statements, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations and projects, including in connection with steps taken by authorities in countries in which the Company operates, changes in the market price of electricity and in demand, regulatory changes, changes in the supply and prices of resources required for the operation of the Company’s facilities (such as waste and natural gas) and in the price of oil, and delays, technical and other disruptions in the operations or construction of the power plants owned by the Company or in the development efforts of the projects under development by the Company. These and other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business are described in greater detail in the filings the Company makes from time to time with Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

Kalia Rubenbach (Weintraub)
CFO
Tel: +972 (3) 797-1111
Email: [email protected]

* Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at September 30, 2023: EUR 1 = US$ 1.16)

* Reclassified – The Company capitalized financing expenses related to the equity investment amount provided in connection with Manara PSP in order to reflect more appropriately the nature and the way in which economic benefits are expected to be derived from the use of such costs.

* Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at September 30, 2023: EUR 1 = US$ 1.16)

* Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at September 30, 2023: EUR 1 = US$ 1.16)

¹ Ellomay Solar, S.L, the developer of a 28 MW solar project near the Talasol PV Plant.
² The Talmei Yosef PV Plant located in Israel is presented under the fixed asset model and not under the financial asset model as per IFRIC 12.
³ Not including an amount of approximately €1 million of proceeds from the sale of electricity prior to January 27, 2023 (the date in which the Talasol PV Plant achieved PAC).

* Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at September 30, 2023: EUR 1 = US$ 1.16)

Information for the Company’s Debenture Holders

Pursuant to the Deeds of Trust governing the Company’s Series C and Series D Debentures (together, the “Debentures“), the Company is required to maintain certain financial covenants. For more information, see Item 5.B of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2023 and below.

Net Financial Debt

As of September 30, 2023, the Company’s Net Financial Debt, (as such term is defined in the Deeds of Trust of the Company’s Debentures), was approximately €32 million (consisting of approximately €243.3⁴ million of short-term and long-term debt from banks and other interest bearing financial obligations, approximately €90.1⁵ million in connection with the Series C Debentures issuances (in July 2019,  October 2020 and February 2023) and Series D Debentures issuance (in February 2023), net of approximately €58.1 million of cash and cash equivalents, short-term deposits and marketable securities and net of approximately €243.3⁶ million of project finance and related hedging transactions of the Company’s subsidiaries).

⁴ Short-term and long-term debt from banks and other interest bearing financial obligations amount provided above, includes an amount of approximately €11.4 million costs associated with such debt, which was capitalized and therefore offset from the debt amount that is recorded in the Company’s balance sheet. 

⁵ Debentures amount provided above, includes an amount of approximately €2.4 million associated costs, which was capitalized and therefore offset from the debentures amount that is recorded in the Company’s balance sheet. 

⁶ The project finance amount deducted from the calculation of Net Financial Debt includes project finance obtained from various sources, including financing entities and the minority shareholders in project companies held by the Company (provided in the form of shareholders’ loans to the project companies).

Information for the Company’s Series C Debenture Holders.

The Deed of Trust governing the Company’s Series C Debentures includes an undertaking by the Company to maintain certain financial covenants, whereby a breach of such financial covenants for two consecutive quarters is a cause for immediate repayment. As of September 30, 2023, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in the Series C Deed of Trust as follows: (i) the Company’s shareholders’ equity was approximately €122.2 million, (ii) the ratio of the Company’s Net Financial Debt (as set forth above) to the Company’s CAP, Net (defined as the Company’s consolidated shareholders’ equity plus the Net Financial Debt) was 20.8%, and (iii) the ratio of the Company’s Net Financial Debt to the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA⁷, was 1.6.

The following is a reconciliation between the Company’s loss and the Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Series C Deed of Trust) for the four-quarter period ended September 30, 2023:

⁷ The term “Adjusted EBITDA” is defined in the Series C Deed of Trust as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization, where the revenues from the Company’s operations, such as the Talmei Yosef PV Plant, are calculated based on the fixed asset model and not based on the financial asset model (IFRIC 12), and before share-based payments. The Series C Deed of Trust provides that for purposes of the financial covenant, the Adjusted EBITDA will be calculated based on the four preceding quarters, in the aggregate. The Adjusted EBITDA is presented in this press release as part of the Company’s undertakings towards the holders of its Series C Debentures. For a general discussion of the use of non-IFRS measures, such as EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA see above under “Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures.”

Information for the Company’s Series D Debenture Holders

The Deed of Trust governing the Company’s Series D Debentures includes an undertaking by the Company to maintain certain financial covenants, whereby a breach of such financial covenants for the periods set forth in the Series D Deed of Trust is a cause for immediate repayment. As of September 30, 2023, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in the Series D Deed of Trust as follows: (i) the Company’s Adjusted Shareholders’ Equity (as defined in the Series D Deed of Trust) was approximately €134 million, (ii) the ratio of the Company’s Net Financial Debt (as set forth above) to the Company’s CAP, Net (defined as the Company’s consolidated shareholders’ equity plus the Net Financial Debt) was 19.3%, and (iii) the ratio of the Company’s Net Financial Debt to the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA⁸ was 1.2. 

The following is a reconciliation between the Company’s loss and the Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Series D Deed of Trust) for the four-quarter period ended September 30, 2023:

⁸ The term “Adjusted EBITDA” is defined in the Series D Deed of Trust as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization, where the revenues from the Company’s operations, such as the Talmei Yosef PV Plant, are calculated based on the fixed asset model and not based on the financial asset model (IFRIC 12), and before share-based payments, when the data of assets or projects whose Commercial Operation Date (as such term is defined in the Series D Deed of Trust) occurred in the four quarters that preceded the relevant date will be calculated based on Annual Gross Up (as such term is defined in the Series D Deed of Trust). The Series D Deed of Trust provides that for purposes of the financial covenant, the Adjusted EBITDA will be calculated based on the four preceding quarters, in the aggregate. The Adjusted EBITDA is presented in this press release as part of the Company’s undertakings towards the holders of its Series D Debentures. For a general discussion of the use of non-IFRS measures, such as EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA see above under “Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures.”

⁹ The adjustment is based on the results of the Talasol Project since January 27, 2023 and of the biogas plant in Gelderland since January 1, 2023. The results of the biogas plant in Gelderland were not included in the profit and loss statement of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2020.

SOURCE Ellomay Capital Ltd.