Ørsted sells 50% stake in Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm for $6.5bn

Core Viewpoint - Ørsted has agreed to sell a 50% equity stake in its Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm to Apollo Global Management for approximately DKr39bn ($6.5bn), which aligns with Ørsted's capital management strategy and supports its partnership and divestment program [1][2][3]. Group 1: Transaction Details - The deal involves an initial payment of DKr20bn, which includes DKr10bn for the share purchase and DKr10bn for construction costs, with the transaction expected to close before the end of 2025, pending regulatory approvals [2][5]. - Apollo will fund the remaining construction costs as the project reaches specific milestones [1][2]. Group 2: Project Significance - Hornsea 3 will produce enough electricity to power over three million UK homes and will increase the total installed capacity of the Hornsea zone to more than 5GW once operational [3][4]. - Ørsted will continue to manage the construction of Hornsea 3 and provide long-term operations and maintenance services [4]. Group 3: Financing and Partnerships - Senior financing for the transaction will be led by Apollo-managed entities, with support from banks including BNP Paribas, ING Bank, Lloyds, and RBC Capital Markets [5]. - Co-investors La Caisse and PSP Investments are also involved in the transaction through equity and debt financing [5].