Total SA (CAC: TOTF. PA) and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. have been announced that the two companies have entered into a broad strategic agreement to drive deployment of new natural gas heavy-duty trucks.
Total has agreed to purchase up to 50.8 million shares of Clean Energy’s common stock for $83.4 million, to become Clean Energy’s largest stockholder with ownership of 25% of Clean Energy’s outstanding shares of common stock. This transaction is subject to, among other things, Clean Energy obtaining the approval at its stockholders’ meeting, which was originally scheduled for May 30, 2018 and which Clean Energy is announcing will be postponed to June 8, 2018.
Clean Energy, with support from Total, also plans to launch an innovative leasing program that is intended to place thousands of new natural gas heavy-duty trucks on the road and fueling at Clean Energy stations. As presently contemplated, this program will allow fleets to begin driving heavy-duty trucks with the cleanest engine in the world at no increased cost compared to the diesel alternative, while also guaranteeing a discounted natural gas fuel price to diesel. Total intends to provide up to $100 million of credit support for the program, which the companies expect to launch in Q3 2018.
“Customers and regulators around the world are demanding cleaner transportation alternatives, particularly in the heavy-duty market,” said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of Total. “Natural gas can become the fuel of choice. Total believes there is a strong development opportunity in the natural gas for transportation market in particular in the United States which benefits from unique giant low-cost gas resources. Total is looking forward to partnering with Clean Energy to accelerate the remarkable innovation capacities of this company.”
Promoting the use of natural gas and increasing its share in Total’s overall output are part of Total’s integrated strategy to expand its low carbon businesses. Total has vast experience with natural gas, with operations on five continents, making Total one of the world’s largest leaders all along the natural gas value chain, including with liquefied natural gas (LNG) positions in the U.S.
“There couldn’t be a better endorsement for the future of natural gas heavy-duty trucking in North America than for Total, one of the largest energy companies in the world, to step up with this investment,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, CEO and president of Clean Energy. “Being a European-based company, Total is all too aware of the opportunity to transition to cleaner alternative fuels. Launching the financing program should expedite the adoption of natural gas as the most environmentally friendly fuel for the trucking industry.”
Clean Energy will host a conference call today at 10:00 am EDT (7:00 am PDT) with its CEO, Andrew Littlefair, to discuss this new partnership with Total. Investors interested in participating in the live call can dial 1-800-289-0438 from the U.S. and international callers can dial 1-323-794-2423. A telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes through June 10, 2018, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 from the U.S. and 1-412-317-6671 internationally. The replay PIN number is 6756866. There also will be a simultaneous live webcast available on the Investor Relations section of Clean Energy’s website at www.CleanEnergyFuels.com, which will be available for replay for 30 days.
About Total
Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, and a major player in low-carbon energies. Our 98,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.
