Landi Renzo and Clean Energy Combine Compressor Businesses, Setting Up a New Global Powerhouse
New Company Well-Positioned to Take Advantage of Move from Diesel
to Natural Gas
CAVRIAGO, Italy & NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Landi Renzo S.p.A. and Clean
Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE) announced today that the two
companies are combining their compressor manufacturing subsidiaries to
form a new standalone company that will immediately become one of the
leading suppliers of natural gas compressors and other related products
across the entire globe. Landi Renzo’s SAFE, with a strong presence in
Europe and Asia, and Clean
Energy Compression, which is well established in the North and South
America markets, will combine manufacturing and support operations and
equip an international sales team with an expanded line of quality
compressors featuring the latest technologies.
Upon closing, which is anticipated before the end of the year, Landi
Renzo will own 51% of the new company and take over operational
management, while Clean Energy will retain a 49% ownership. Andrew J.
Littlefair, President and CEO of Clean Energy, will serve as the
chairman of the board. The combined company will be headquartered in San
Giovanni Persiceto (BO), Italy, and retain Clean Energy’s manufacturing
operation in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.
“The world is rapidly waking up to the harmful impact that diesel is
having on air quality,” said Cristiano Musi, who is currently Group CEO
of Landi Renzo and will also be the CEO of the new company. “Natural gas
is an obvious alternative for vehicles because it burns much cleaner, is
plentiful around the world and there is a growing engine portfolio to
choose from. This newly formed compressor company will be uniquely
positioned to take advantage of the trend towards natural gas with a
global footprint and a great product offering.”
“SAFE and Clean Energy Compression’s businesses when combined, establish
a completely complementary structure in geography, expertise and highly
competitive products,” said Littlefair. “Consolidating operations and
corporate functions is expected to enable the new company to focus on
manufacturing efficiencies with the best technologies and reduce
redundant overhead, resulting in improved margins.”
The new company will be able to take advantage of its global
positioning, product offering and market penetration required to meet
the growing demand of transportation fleets that seek solutions to
replace diesel. Strict environmental policies are being adopted around
the world to address air quality problems caused by polluting NOx
emissions. Improved natural gas engine technology and a more abundant
supply of renewable natural gas (RNG) allows some large vehicles to
reduce their emissions by 90% and cut climate-changing greenhouse gases
by 70% versus diesel.
The combination of SAFE and Clean Energy Compression will allow the new
company to automatically achieve leading positions in Europe and North
American and lay the foundation to accelerate growth in new geographies
of the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Landi Renzo is the global leader in the LPG and Methane gas
components and systems for motor vehicle sector. The Company is based in
Cavriago (Reggio Emilia) and has over 60 years’ experience in the
sector, and is renowned for the extent of it international activities in
over 50 countries, with export sales of about 80%. Landi Renzo S.p.A.
has been listed on the STAR segment of the MTA Market of Borsa Italiana
since June 2007.
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is the leading provider of natural gas
fuel for transportation in North America. We build and operate CNG and
LNG vehicle fueling stations; manufacture CNG and LNG equipment and
technologies; and deliver more CNG and LNG vehicle fuel than any other
company in the U.S. Clean Energy also sells Redeem RNG fuel and believes
it is the cleanest transportation fuel commercially available, reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70%. For more information, visit www.CleanEnergyFuels.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks, uncertainties
and assumptions, such as statements regarding, among other things: the
Company’s agreement to combine its natural gas fueling compressor
business with SAFE, whether the combined company is established as
planned and whether the synergies, capabilities, overhead reductions,
margin improvements, market addressability and strategic advantages
expected from this combination are achieved; the timing of the proposed
combination; and the benefits of natural gas (including RNG) as an
alternative vehicle fuel, including economic and environmental benefits.
Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from
those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements as a
result of a variety of factors, including, among others: satisfaction of
the conditions required to close the combination; supply, demand, use
and prices of crude oil, gasoline, diesel, natural gas and other
alternative fuels; the willingness of fleets and other consumers to
adopt natural gas (including RNG) as a vehicle fuel; the combined
company’s ability to implement business plans. The forward-looking
statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this
press release and Clean Energy undertakes no obligation to update
publicly such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances, except as otherwise required by law. Additionally, the
reports and other documents Clean Energy files with the SEC (available
at www.sec.gov)
contain additional information on these and other risk factors that may
cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements contained in this press release.
Contacts
Contact person for analysts/investors:
LANDI RENZO
Pierpaolo
Marziali
M&A and Investor Relations Officer
ir@landi.it
or
Contact for
media:
Image Building
Cristina Fossati, Angela
Fumis, Anna Pirtali
02 89011300
landirenzo@imagebuilding.it
or
Clean
Energy Media Contact:
Jason Johnston – Media
+1-949-437-1411
jason.johnston@cleanenergyfuels.com
or
Clean
Energy Investor Contact:
Tony Kritzer – Investors
+1-949-437-1403
tkritzer@cleanenergyfuels.com