英國知名咨詢企業普華永道國際（Pricewaterhouse Coopers International， PwC）的市場調查結果顯示，2010年全球可再生能源相關企業的合并與收購（M&A）金額為334億美元。盡管2009年的M&A金額為488億美元，多于2010年，但2010年的并購案數量卻比2009年增加。

　　2010年歐洲的可再生能源領域M&A金額為130億美元，減至上年的一半以下。而2010年北美在該領域的M&A金額卻比上年增加43％，達到了129億美元，與歐洲相當。順便一提，亞太地區為35億美元，南美為33億美元。

　　在2010年可再生能源領域的M&A金額中，能源效率相關M&A金額最多，為30億美元。而2009年并購金額最多的卻是水力領域。據PwC介紹，2010年能源效率相關的M&A增加尤為顯著的是北美市場。PwC公司可再生能源與清潔技術主管羅南·歐里根（Ronan O'Regan）表示，“關于可再生能源領域的M&A，估計今后幾年內美國會占支配地位”。其原因是，除了可較為輕松地改善能源效率之外，美國消費者對能源效率的關注度在提高，而且美國政府采取的經濟刺激政策也起著推動作用。

　　核電相關企業的M&A活躍

　　關于2010年可再生能源領域的M&A，PwC指出，美國及法國核電相關企業的M&A舉動十分引人注目。比如，美國核電企業愛克斯龍（Exelon）2010年以9億美元的價格收購了在美國迪爾（Deere&Company）旗下從事風力發電業務的美國約翰迪爾可再生能源（John Deere Renewables）公司。

　　PwC的歐里根表示，這是核電相關企業基于希望實現自身服務多樣化而采取的行動。“（東日本大地震引發的）日本核電站事故也是應該考慮的問題。盡管核能投資本身并未亮起紅燈，但估計短期內核電企業涉足可再生能源領域的活動會活躍起來”（里根）。（記者：Phil Keys，硅谷支局）

Renewable M&As: deals market rallies as confidence returns Strong growth in energy efficiency deals globally

US deal market bounces back to equal European transactions

Significant deals bring nuclear energy companies into renewables market

Regulatory uncertainty slows down deal activity in certain markets


London, 28 Mar 2011 -- North America’s switch on to energy efficiency has driven their position in the global renewable M&A market in the last 12 months, and could act as a driver for the region to become the dominant renewables market within three years, according to new analysis by PwC.

PwC Renewables Deals, the annual sector analysis of M&A transactions globally, reports that globally volumes of transactions in the sector were up, but overall values were down to US$33.4bn (2009: US$48.8bn). Across the world, market interest returned, with North America bouncing back to almost match deal values in Europe in 2010, with close to US$13bn spent on 181 deals.

Ronan O’Regan, director, renewables and cleantech, PwC said:

“Strong confidence has come back to the market after financing issues caused the sector real problems in 2008 and 2009. In addition, in 2010 buyers and sellers expectations are more realistic, which has supported higher deal volumes.

“We expect confidence levels to remain relatively strong throughout 2011, despite regulatory uncertainty in some markets.”

Globally, energy efficiency deals trebled in volume to represent over $3bn, or 11%of all renewable transaction value, overtaking last year’s dominant market segment, Hydro power. Overall, wind and solar power continue to dominate global transactions in the sector. The US market dominated growth in the energy efficiency market in 2010 reflecting both the potential for energy savings per capita, and renewed regulatory interest, such as new US building codes aimed at delivering a 30% energy saving in new builds.

Ronan O’Regan, director, renewables and cleantech, PwC said:

“The growth in energy efficiency deals is not surprising, particularly in North America, because when you’re trying to reduce emissions, it’s where the quick wins can be found. There’s increasing consumer awareness around managing energy usage which, when supported with appropriate regulations, is creating an attractive market for energy efficiency service providers. This, combined with government stimulus packages, should see the US become a dominant player in the renewables deal market over the next few years.”

In other significant moves, market activity by US and French nuclear power generators and engineering firms into wind and solar sectors, are part of a wider move for the nuclear sector to extend its reach in renewables, further developing their low carbon offering.

Ronan O’Regan, director, renewables and cleantech, PwC said:

“Many of these moves by nuclear companies are driven by diversification. The reaction to the Japanese nuclear situation has been to take stock. While it won’t raise a red flag to investment in nuclear, it could in the short term spur further moves by nuclear companies into renewables.”

Despite increased transaction volumes, the ‘green premium’ on renewables deals - the price investors were willing to pay for a business with products exposed to the renewables sector has narrowed, partially due to sellers’ lowering their price expectations, and partially due to greater stability in the economy.

Power utilities purchases were down to a third of previous levels, in part due to regulatory reviews in Spain, Germany, Italy and the UK, but also as their focus has switched to delivering on massive capital investment challenges.

The largest deals were dominated by the flow of renewables flotations, including the $3.4bn spin-off of Enel’s green energy arm, and Chinese transactions, raising valuable capital for reinvestment in product and market development.

Ronan O’Regan, director, renewables and cleantech, PwC concluded:

“The recent return to US$100+ priced oil and the reaction to the nuclear tragedy in Japan should provide some support to valuations and act as a timely reminder to governments that a shift to a low carbon economy is not only about its environmental commitment, but also about security of supply.”

Notes

Renewables Deals includes analysis of all global renewable energy and clean technology M&A deal activity. This year, the analysis is based on transactions from Clean Energy pipeline’s proprietary M&A database, provided by Venture Business Research. Figures relate to the actual stake purchased and are not grossed up to 100%. The analysis also includes deals with undisclosed value. Deals where the transaction value is undisclosed are assigned an average transaction value using a methodology derived from Clean Energy pipeline’s proprietary M&A data.

Deal volumes and values:
- European deal volumes rose 50%, but overall values fell by over half to US$13bn
- North American deal volumes rose 71%, with deal values rising 43% to US$12.9bn
- South American deal volumes rose 111%, with values more than doubling to US$3.3bn
- Asia Pacific (including Australasia) deal volumes almost doubled, but values fell by half to US$3.5bn

Nuclear investments in renewables: In the US, the $900m purchase of John Deere Renewables by nuclear power generator Exelon demonstrates the evolution of wind power and its integration into mainstream power generation. It’s Execlon’s first move into owning and operating wind project, and gives the company more options for future growth given the lack of momentum in US nuclear power development. The French nuclear engineering company Areva made its first move into the solar power market with a US$200m purchase of US company Ausra, a developer of solar thermal power technology

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