ABB to acquire US solar energy company Power-One for $1bn

Swiss power and automation group ABB has agreed to acquire US-based solar energy firm Power-One for approximately $1bn, in a bid to expand its presence in the solar inverters market.

Power-One designs and manufactures photovoltaic inverters and provides renewable energy, energy-efficient power conversion, as well as power management solutions.

The company generated $120m in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) on sales of about $1bn in 2012.

Under the deal, ABB will pay Power-One’s shareholders $6.35 per share, which also includes the US-based firm’s net cash of $266m.

The deal will give Power-One access to ABB’s R&D, global service and sales capabilities.

ABB said the acquisition will help increase its market share in the global solar power market, which is expected to grow by over 10% annually until 2021, as estimated by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

On completion of the acquisition, which is expected in the second half of 2013, Power-One will be integrated into ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division.

ABB Discrete Automation and Motion division head Ulrich Spiesshofer said: "The acquisition supports the implementation of the division’s strategy for renewable energy and the goal to build on our strength in power electronics."

Solar inverters are one of the fastest-developing technologies in power electronics, requiring substantial research and development (R&D) resources, according to ABB.

In 2012, ABB invested about $1.5bn in R&D overall and is on track to generate sales of over $100m in solar inverters in 2013.

In December 2011, ABB agreed to invest $20m for a substantial minority stake in the US-based concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) system, GreenVolts.

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Image: ABB office in Zürich-Oerlikon, Switzerland. Photo: Courtesy of Roland zh.