Ellomay Capital - 20-F annual report 2020

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:  12,652,094¹ordinary shares, NIS 10.00 par value per share.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

The following is the Report on Form 20-F of Ellomay Capital Ltd., or the Report. Unless the context in which such terms are used would require a different meaning, all references to “Ellomay,” “us,” “we,” “our” or the “Company” refer to Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

All references to “€,” “euro” or “EUR” are to the legal currency of the European Union, or EU, all references to “NIS” or “New Israeli Shekel” are to the legal currency of Israel and all references to “$,” “dollar,” “US$,” “USD” or “U.S. dollar” are to the legal currency of the United States of America. Other than as specifically noted, all amounts translated into a different currency were translated based on the exchange rate as of December 31, 2020.

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB.

All trademarks, service marks, trade names and registered marks used in this Report are trademarks, trade names or registered marks of their respective owners.

Statements made in this Report concerning the contents of any agreement, contract or other document are summaries of such agreements, contracts or documents and are not complete description of all of their terms. If we filed any of these agreements, contracts or documents as exhibits to this report or to any previous filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, you may read the document itself for a complete understanding of its terms.

Effective December 31, 2017, we changed the presentation currency of our consolidated financial statements from the US dollar to the euro to better reflect the profile of our assets, revenues, costs and cash flows, which are primarily generated in euro, and hence, to better present our financial performance. All comparative financial information has been restated into euro in this Report.

Effective December 31, 2017, we changed the presentation currency of our consolidated financial statements from the US dollar to the euro to better reflect the profile of our assets, revenues, costs and cash flows, which are primarily generated in euro, and hence, to better present our financial performance. All comparative financial information has been restated into euro in this Report.

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

The risks described below are the material risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations in the future.

In recent years, we entered the development and entrepreneurship renewable energy market. These operations are exposed to regulatory and other development risks that may cause such projects not to enter into the construction phase and other risks that may cause damages, delays and interruptions during the construction phase, and thereby cause the total or partial loss of the project development funds invested in the project.  We are currently active in several projects in various development stages, including the development of a 156 MW pumped storage project in the Manara Cliff in Israel, or the Manara PSP, and the development of various PV projects in Italy, Israel and Spain. Projects in the development stages are exposed to various risks, including the inability to obtain or maintain regulatory permits and approvals, the inability to obtain project finance, upon terms economically beneficial or at all, and the inability to secure the project’s income through a PPA or a hedging agreement supported by a government or a corporation with sufficient financial capabilities. Projects in the construction stage are exposed to various risks, including delays in the construction, interferences from third parties such as adjacent plot owners, residents living in the vicinity, governmental, municipal, environmental and other authorities, malfunctions in construction equipment, shortage in equipment or personnel required for the construction and damage caused by weather conditions and other factors that cannot be controlled by us. All projects in the development stages are subject to additional risks, including potential disagreements and conflicts with partners, dependency on technical consultants and surveys and risks associated with operations in foreign countries, as applicable. If any of these risks materialize, the entire project may be delayed or cancelled altogether, causing the loss of all part of the funds invested in the project development efforts. Even if we succeed in selling our rights in a project to third parties, the return of our project development expenses will likely be conditioned upon the continued development of the project by such third parties.  

Existing regulations, and changes to such regulations, may present technical, regulatory and economic barriers and restrictions to the construction and operation of renewable energy plants, which may adversely affect our operations.  The installation and operation of renewable energy plants is subject to oversight and regulation in accordance with international, European (to the extent applicable), national and local ordinances, building codes, zoning (or permitting), environmental protection regulation, including waste disposal regulations, utility interconnection requirements, security requirements and other rules and regulations. Any changes in applicable regulations that increases the burdens or restrictions on the operation of our renewable energy plants, such as a change in regulations governing waste disposal times and locations in countries in which our WtE plants dispose the digestate resulting from their operations, could increase our costs of operation and, as a result, adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, various governmental, municipal and other regulatory entities require the issuance and continued effectiveness of relevant permits, licenses and authorizations for the construction and operation of renewable energy plants. If such permits, licenses and authorizations are not issued on a timely basis, this could result in the interruption, cessation or abandonment of a newly constructed renewable energy plant, or may require making significant changes to such renewable energy plant, any of which may cause severe losses. In addition, if issued, these licenses and permits may be revoked by the authorities following their issuance in the event the authorities discover irregularities or deviations from the scope of the license or permit. Any revocation of existing licenses may obligate us to cease operating the relevant renewable energy plant for the period required in order to renew the relevant license or indefinitely and therefore will adversely affect our business and results of operations.

A drop in the price of energy may negatively impact our results of operations.  The revenue from the sale of energy produced by renewable energy plants is based on proceeds from the sale of electricity and gas produced in the electricity and gas market at market price and sometimes also includes incentives in the form of governmental subsidies. Revisions to the governmental subsidies regime in several countries, including Spain, Italy and Israel, which reduced or eliminated the scope of the incentives paid by governments, increased the dependency of renewable energy plants on market prices or on tariffs determined in a public bid process. A decrease in the price of electricity and gas, particularly in the countries in which we operate and in which some of our revenues are based on the market price of electricity and gas, may negatively impact our profitability and our ability or interest to expand our renewable energy operations.

Success of our renewable energy plants, from their construction through their commissioning and ongoing commercial operation, depends to a large extent on the cooperation, reliability, solvency, and proper performance of the contractors we engage for the construction, operation and maintenance of our renewable energy plants, or the Contractors, and of the other third parties involved, including subcontractors, local advisors, financing entities, land owners, suppliers of parts and equipment, suppliers of feedstock, the energy grid regulator, governmental agencies and other potential purchasers of electricity.  The construction and operation of a renewable energy plant requires timely input, often of a highly specialized technical nature, from several parties, including the suppliers of the various system components (such as solar panels or CHP engine) and plant operators, other suppliers of relevant parts and materials (including replacement parts), feedstock suppliers, land owners, subcontractors, electricity brokers, financing entities and governmental and related agencies (as subsidizers and as regulators). In addition, as we use Contractors to construct and thereafter operate and maintain our renewable energy plants, we depend on the Contractors’ expertise and experience, representations, warranties and undertakings regarding, inter alia: the construction quality, schedule of construction, operation, maintenance and performance of each of the plants, the use of high-quality materials, strict compliance with applicable legal requirements and the Contractors’ financial stability. If the Contractors’ representations or warranties are inaccurate or untrue, or if any of the Contractors or other entities fail to perform their obligations properly, this could result in the interruption, cessation or abandonment of the relevant plant, or may require significant expenses to mitigate the damages or repair them, any of which may cause us severe losses.

As a substantial part of our business is currently located in Europe, we are subject to additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.  We currently have substantial PV operations in Spain and WtE operations in the Netherlands, all of which are held by our Luxembourg subsidiary, and may make additional investments in projects located in Europe, such as the development and construction of additional PV plants in Spain and Italy. Due to these existing operations and any additional future investments, we are subject to special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in other jurisdictions, including rules and regulations, cross currency movements, different payment cycles, tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to Israel, cultural and language differences, crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks and wars and deterioration of political and economic relations with Israel. Our European operations subject us to a number of these risks, as well as the requirement to comply with the local laws, such as the Spanish, Dutch and EU laws.

These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, could have a material adverse effect on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets, and could significantly reduce global market liquidity and future growth. Asset valuations, currency exchange rates and credit ratings may be especially subject to increased market volatility. We cannot assure you that we would be able to adequately address some or all of these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer.

The continued global crisis resulting from the current novel strain of coronavirus (Covid-19) and any other pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease may adversely affect our operations. If a pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease occurs in Europe, Israel or elsewhere, our business may be adversely affected. In December 2019, Covid-19 was identified in Wuhan, China. Since then, this virus spread globally and as of the end of March 2021, has spread to over 180 countries, including European countries and Israel. The spread of Covid-19 has resulted in the World Health Organization declaring the outbreak of Covid-19 as a “pandemic.” Due to the spread of Covid-19 and the measures taken by governments in order to control the spread, there was a decrease in economic activity in many areas around the world, including Israel and Europe since March 2020. The spread of the virus has led, inter alia, to a disruption in the supply chain, a decrease in global transportation and a decrease in the value of financial assets and commodities on the markets in Israel and the world. Many countries around the world, including Spain, Israel, the Netherlands and Italy, have imposed quarantines and restrictions on travel, mass gatherings, education, commerce and other activities, and curtailed and limited non-essential works. In recent months, Spain, Italy and Israel have experienced a resurgence in the number of Covid-19 cases, causing the local governments to renew restrictions and implement additional measures in order to attempt to curb the spread of the pandemic. Although our operations have not thus far been materially adversely affected by the restrictions imposed by local governments and authorities in the countries in which we operate, in the event the restrictions continue, or new restrictions are imposed, our operations, including the projects under construction and development, may be adversely affected. The spread of Covid-19 and its implications may also indirectly affect our operations, for example through changes in the prices of oil resulting in a decrease in the electricity prices, and through reduction in demand for electricity, delays in construction of projects due to curtailment of work, limited availability of components required in order to operate or construct new projects, regulatory changes by countries affected by the virus, including changes in subsidies, collection delays, delays in obtaining permits, limited availability or changes in terms of financing for future projects, limited availability of corporate financing and lower returns on potential future investments. As a result, our business and operating results could be negatively affected. The extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic impacts our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of Covid-19, the resurgence of mutations of the virus and the actions to contain Covid-19 or treat its impact, among others. These potential effects could last until a vaccine or successful treatment plan are successfully implemented worldwide or at least in the countries and regions in which we operate.

Our business is affected by the availability of financial incentives. The reduction or elimination of government subsidies and economic incentives could reduce our profitability and our revenues. Many countries, such as Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Israel, introduced substantial incentives to offset the cost of renewable energy production in the past, including photovoltaic power systems and WtE technologies in the form of Feed-in-Tariff, or FiT, or other incentives aimed at promoting the use of clean energy (including solar energy and biogas) and reducing dependence on other forms of energy. In addition, several countries encourage manufacturers and farmers to choose waste management methods that are more environmentally-friendly, either by establishing fines on non-environmentally friendly waste management methods or by payment of incentives. Certain of these government incentives were reduced or eliminated in the past years (for example in Italy and Spain) and the remaining incentives could potentially be reduced or eliminated in the future. If the Spanish or Israeli governments elect to revise the existing incentive schemes, this may adversely affect the profitability of our PV Plants If the Dutch government revises the incentive scheme for existing or future WtE plants to reduce the support or increase the liabilities of WtE plants, it may adversely affect our profitability from future WtE plants in the Netherlands. Any retroactive or prospective changes in the incentive schemes in these and other countries may affect our business plan and potential future projects we may be interested in developing or acquiring in such countries. In general, uncertainty about the introduction of, reduction in, or elimination of, incentives or delays or interruptions in the implementation of favorable laws could affect our profitability and potentially our ability to continue and develop new renewable energy plants.

Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or other catastrophic events could harm our operations. Our worldwide operations could be subject to natural disasters terrorist attacks, public health events and other business disruptions, which could harm our future revenue and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses. Among others, floods, storms, seismic turbulence and earth movements may damage our PV Plants or our WtE Plants. The insurance coverage we have for a portion of such risks may not cover the damage in full because these circumstances are sometimes deemed “acts of god.” In the event that an earthquake, fire, tsunami, typhoon, terrorist attack, or other natural, manmade or technical catastrophe were to damage or destroy any part of our plants or those of manufacturers on which we rely, destroy or disrupt vital infrastructure systems or interrupt our operations or services for any extended period of time, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

An increase in the prices of components of a renewable energy plant may adversely affect our projects under development, our future growth and our business. Installations of renewable energy plants have substantially increased over the past few years. The increased demand led to fluctuations in the prices of the components of the plants resulting from oversupply and undersupply. For example, the increased demand for solar panels resulted in substantial investments in solar panels production facilities, creating oversupply and a sharp continuing decrease in the prices of solar panels. A future reversal in the trend and an increase in the prices of solar panels and other components of the system (such as invertors and related electric components) or an increase in the prices of components of other renewable energy plants, may increase the costs of replacing components in our existing plants or the costs of constructing new plants and impact the profitability of constructing plants and our ability to expand our business. Additionally, if there is a shortage of key components necessary for the production of the components, that may constrain our revenue growth.

The market for renewable energy is intensely competitive and rapidly evolving. The market for renewable energy attracts many initiatives and therefore is intensely competitive. Our competitors who strive to construct new renewable energy plants and acquire existing plants may have established more prominent market positions, have greater resources and may have more experience in this field. Extensive competition may adversely affect our ability to continue to acquire and develop new plants.

Our success depends in part on our senior management team and other key employees and our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel and qualified individuals. We depend on the expertise of our senior management team and other key employees to help us meet our strategic objectives. The inability to maintain our senior management team and other key employees or to attract highly skilled personnel, may materially adversely affect the implementation of our development business plan and could ultimately adversely impact our business.

We do not wholly-own a few of our operating projects and projects under development. Although we currently control these projects, disagreements with our partners could cause delays in the construction or development of the projects or affect decisions made in connection with operating plants. We wholly-own all of our operating PV plants and the Netherlands’ WtE plants, except the 300 MW photovoltaic plant in the municipality of Talaván, Cáceres, Spain, which was connected to the Spanish national grid in December 2020, or the Talasol PV Plant, of which we hold 51% and the Manara PSP, of which we hold 83.333%, and may in the future enter into projects that we do not wholly-own or introduce additional partners to the Manara PSP or other projects under development or operating plants. Although we control both the Talasol PV Plant and the Manara PSP, any disagreements with our partners could delay the development or construction of the Manara PSP, affect decisions made in connection with the Talasol PV Plant or require management resources and attention. Any delays or damages caused due to such disagreements could adversely affect our business plans and results of operations.

We may be subject to disruptions or failures in information technology, telecommunication systems and network infrastructures that could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Our renewable energy business relies, among other things, on information technology and on telecommunication services as we remotely monitor and control our assets and interface with regulatory agencies and wholesale power markets. Disruptions or failures in such systems may result due to various causes, including internal malfunctions in our systems or in the systems of third parties such as suppliers, governmental authorities, from employee error, theft or misuse, malfeasance, power disruptions, natural disasters or accidents and may also result from cyber-attacks or other breaches of information technology security. Such disruptions and failures of our information technology systems could have an adverse effect on our business operations, financial reporting, financial condition and results of operations.

The revenues derived from several of our PV Plants mainly depend on payments received from governmental entities. Any future deterioration in the financial position of the local governments or regulated entities, resulting in partial or no payment or in regulatory changes may adversely affect the results of our operations.  The revenues derived by several of our PV Plants are based mainly on payments received from governmental or regulated entities. In Spain (except the 300 MW photovoltaic plant in the municipality of Talaván, Cáceres, Spain), our revenues are primarily based on payments from governmental entities in accordance with a specific remuneration incentive scheme and in Israel all of our income is based on a fixed tariff from the Israel Electric Company, or the IEC, a governmental company that controls the Israeli electricity market. We cannot assure you that there will not be changes to the governments’ photovoltaic energy incentive schemes. Any changes in the financial stability of the governmental entities paying all or a portion of our PV revenues and any resulting change in the regulation may directly or indirectly affect the payments we receive and, therefore, our operations and revenues.

We are exposed to the possibility of damages to, or theft of, the various components of our PV Plants. Such occurrences may cause disruptions in the production of electricity and additional costs.  Our PV Plants may suffer damages and disruption in the production of electricity due to theft of panels and other components, or due to bad weather and land conditions. Although such damages are generally covered by the PV Plants’ insurance policies, under certain circumstances such occurrences may not be covered or may only be partially covered by the insurance and, if covered, utilization of the insurance may cause an increase in the premiums paid to our insurance companies, all of which may adversely affect our results of operations and profitability.

Our ability to produce solar power depends upon the magnitude and duration of sunlight as well as other meteorological and geographic factors.  Solar power production has a seasonal cycle, and adverse meteorological conditions can materially impact the output of photovoltaic plants and result in production of electricity below expected output, which in turn could adversely affect our profitability. For example, 2018 was characterized with relatively low levels of radiation, which resulted in a decrease in our PV-related revenues for that year. Lower electricity output due to changes in meteorological conditions and other geographic factors may adversely affect our profitability.

In addition to the risks involved in the construction and operation of, and the regulatory risks applicable to, renewable energy plants in general, WtE plants are exposed to risks specific to this industry. In addition to the risks detailed above under “Risks Related to our Renewable Energy Operations,” WtE plants are exposed to additional risks specific to this industry, including:

The electricity sector in Israel is highly regulated. Any changes in the tariffs, system charges or applicable regulations may adversely affect our operations and results of operations. In addition, failure to obtain and maintain electricity production and supply licenses from the regulator could materially adversely affect our operations and results of operations. The Israeli electricity sector is subject to various laws and regulations, such as the tariffs charged by the IEC, including a resolution to charge private manufacturers, such as Dorad Energy Ltd., or Dorad, in which we indirectly hold 9.375%, for the IEC’s system operation services, and the licensing requirement. The prices paid by Dorad to the IEC for system operation services provided to Dorad and the fees received by Dorad and by our PV Plant located in Talmei Yosef, Israel, or the Talmei Yosef PV Plant, from the IEC for electricity sold to the IEC and for providing the IEC with energy availability, are all based on tariffs determined by the Israeli regulator. The updates and changes to the regulation and tariffs required to be paid to the IEC by Dorad may not necessarily involve negotiations or consultations with Dorad and may be unilaterally imposed on it. Any changes in the tariffs, system charges or applicable regulations may adversely affect our operations and results of operations. In addition, a manufacturer of energy in Israel is required to initially hold a conditional license and thereafter hold a permanent license, issued by the Israeli Electricity Authority, which include ongoing milestones and conditions. Failure to maintain such licenses could adversely affect our development efforts and our results of operations.

The electricity sector in Israel is highly centralized. The IEC controls and operates the electricity system and all stages of the transmission of electricity. The electricity sector in Israel is dominated by the IEC, which controls and operates the electricity system in Israel, including the delivery and transmission of electricity, and also manufactures the substantial majority of electricity in Israel. The IEC is also the only customer of the Talmei Yosef PV Plant and is subject to the requirement to pay a fixed tariff for the electricity manufactured by such plant. Similarly, it is currently expected that the sole customer of the Manara PSP will be the IEC, who will be required to pay the Manara PSP for availability and electricity produced. The ability of the IEC to pay the renewable energy manufacturers could be affected by the financial instability of the IEC. The inability of the IEC to pay Dorad, Talmei Yosef, the Manara PSP or any energy project we may be involved in in Israel, may adversely affect our plan of operations and could have a material adverse effect on our profitability.

The Talmei Yosef PV Plant and the Dorad Power Plant are located in the southern part of Israel, in proximity to the Gaza Strip and within range of missile and mortar bombs launched from the Gaza Strip. The Manara PSP is expected to be located the northern part of Israel, in proximity to the border with Lebanon. The Talmei Yosef Project is located near the Gaza Strip border and the Dorad Power Plant is located in Ashkelon, a town in the southern part of Israel, in proximity to the Gaza Strip. In recent years, there has been an escalation in violence and missile attacks from the Gaza Strip to Southern and Central Israel. The Manara PSP is expected to be constructed in close proximity to Israel’s border with Lebanon, in an area that has also been attacked by missiles in the past. Certain measures were taken to protect the Dorad Power Plant from missile attacks. However, any such further attacks to the area surrounding the Gaza Strip or to the area in close proximity to the northern border of Israel or any direct damage to the location of these plants may damage the relevant plants and disrupt the operations of the projects and thereafter their operations, and may cause losses and delays.

We have joint control in U. Dori Energy Infrastructures Ltd., or Dori Energy, who, in turn, holds a minority stake in Dorad.  Therefore, we do not control the operations and actions of Dorad. We currently hold 50% of the equity of Dori Energy who, in turn, holds 18.75% of Dorad and accordingly our indirect interest in Dorad is 9.375%. Although we entered into a shareholders’ agreement, or the Dori SHA, with Dori Energy and the other shareholder of Dori Energy, Amos Luzon Entrepreneurship and Energy Group Ltd. (f/k/a U. Dori Group Ltd.), or the Luzon Group, providing us with joint control of Dori Energy, should differences of opinion as to the management, prospects and operations of Dori Energy arise, such differences may limit our ability to direct the operations of Dori Energy. Moreover, Dori Energy holds a minority stake in Dorad and as of the date hereof is entitled to nominate only one director in Dorad, which, according to the Dori SHA, we are entitled to nominate. As we have one representative on the Dorad board of directors, which has a total of seven directors, we do not control Dorad’s operations. Therefore, as we have joint control over Dori Energy and limited control over Dorad, we may be unable to prevent certain developments that may adversely affect their business and results of operations. Since July 2015, several of Dorad’s direct and indirect shareholders, including Ellomay Clean Energy Ltd., or Ellomay Energy, our wholly-owned subsidiary that holds Dori Energy’s shares, are involved in various legal proceedings, all as more fully described in “Item 4.B: Business Overview” below. In addition, to the extent our interest in Dori Energy is deemed an investment security, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Company Act, we could be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, depending on the value of our other assets. Please see “We may be deemed to be an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which could subject us to material adverse consequences” below.

The Dori Energy Shareholders Agreement contains restrictions on our right to transfer our holdings in Dori Energy, which may make it difficult for us to terminate our involvement with Dori Energy. The Luzon Group registered a pledge on its rights and shares of Dori Energy for the benefit of its debenture holders. The Dori SHA contains several restrictions on our ability to transfer our holdings in Dori Energy, including a right of first refusal. The aforesaid restrictions may make it difficult for us to terminate our involvement with Dori Energy should we elect to do so and may adversely affect the return on our investment in Dori Energy.

Dorad, which is currently the only substantial asset held by Dori Energy, operates the Dorad Power Plant, whose successful operations and profitability depends on a variety of factors, many of which are not within Dorad’s control.  Dorad’s only substantial asset is the Dorad Power Plant, situated on the premises of the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company, or EAPC, located south of Ashkelon, Israel. The Dorad Power Plant is subject to various complex agreements with third parties (the Israeli Electric Company, or IEC, the operations and maintenance contractor, suppliers, private customers, etc.) and to regulatory restrictions and guidelines in connection with, among other issues, the tariffs to be paid by the IEC to Dorad for the energy it produces. Various factors and events may materially adversely affect Dorad’s results of operations and profitability and, in turn, have a material adverse effect on Dori Energy’s and on our results of operations and profitability. These factors and events include:

The Manara PSP currently holds a conditional license. Such conditional license may be revoked for various reasons, such as non-compliance with milestones stipulated in the conditional license. The Manara Project currently holds a conditional license for the construction of a 156 MW pumped storage project, or the Conditional License, issued to it on June 17, 2020. Conditional licenses issued by the Israeli Electricity Authority include several milestones, and deadlines for completing such milestones, including the financial closing, and the completion of the construction works of the pumped storage power plant. For example, the deadline for financial closing of the Manara PSP under its Conditional License was February 11, 2021 and the financial closing of the Manara PSP occurred on such date. The Conditional License includes additional milestones following the financial closing, such as the deadline for the completion of the construction works and the Israeli Electricity Authority could revoke the Conditional License if Ellomay PS does not timely meet the milestones included in it.  Any such attempted revocation is subject to a written notice from the Israeli Electricity Authority, which shall include the reasons for the proposed revocation, and to a hearing of Ellomay PS before the Israeli Electricity Authority. If the Conditional License will be revoked in the future, that could prevent the completion of the Manara PSP, resulting in a loss of some or all the funds invested in the Manara PSP.

The construction of the Manara PSP constitutes a complex and unique engineering challenge. The consultation process includes planning and conducting of a comprehensive investigation to characterize the variety of soils and rocks at the construction sites. In accordance with the infrastructure characteristics and the seismic risks that exist on site, stability calculations need to be performed on the basis of which instructions are given for the planning and execution of the reservoirs. Any complications during the construction period of the Manara PSP could cause delays in the construction and could expose the Manara PSP to non-compliance with the terms of the conditional license issued to it by the Israeli Electricity Authority and could otherwise materially adversely affect our results of operations in connection with the Manara PSP.  

Our ability to leverage our operations and increase our operations depends, inter alia, on our ability to obtain attractive project and corporate financing from financial entities.    Our ability to obtain attractive financing and the terms of such financing, including interest rates, equity to debt ratio requirement and timing of debt availability will significantly impact our ability to leverage our investments and enhance our operations. Although we have financing agreements with respect to several of our PV Plants, WtE Plants and the Manara PSP and although we raised significant funds in Israel through the issuance of debentures, there is no assurance we will be able to procure additional project financing for projects under development or any operations we will acquire or projects we wish to advance in the future, or to obtain additional corporate financing, on terms favorable to us or at all. Our inability to obtain additional financing on favorable terms, or at all, may adversely affect our ability to leverage our investments and to procure the equity required in order to increase and further develop our operations.

Our ability to freely operate our business is limited due to certain restrictive covenants contained in the deeds of trust of our Debentures. The deeds of trust governing our Series C Debentures and our Series D Debentures, or the Deeds of Trust and the Debentures, respectively, contain restrictive covenants that limit our operating and financial flexibility. These covenants include, among other things, a “negative pledge” with respect to a floating pledge on all of our assets. The Deeds of Trust also contain covenants regarding maintaining certain levels of financial ratios and criteria, including as a condition to the distribution of dividends, as a trigger for an obligation to pay additional interest and as a cause for immediate repayment, and other customary immediate repayment conditions, including, under certain circumstances, in the event of a change of control, a default under the deed of trust of the other debentures issued by us, a change in our field of operations or a disposition of a substantial amount of assets. Our ability to continue to comply with these and other obligations depends in part on the future performance of our business. Such obligations may hinder our ability to finance our future operations or the manner in which we operate our business. In particular, any non-compliance with performance-related covenants and other undertakings of the Debentures could result in increased interest payments for some or all of the Debentures or a demand for immediate repayment of the outstanding amount under the Debentures and restrict our ability to obtain additional funds, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our debt increases our exposure to market risks, may limit our ability to incur additional debt that may be necessary to fund our operations and could adversely affect our financial stability. As of December 31, 2020, our total indebtedness in connection with corporate and project financing (including the 300 MW photovoltaic plant in the municipality of Talaván, Cáceres, Spain, of which we hold 51%) was approximately €364 million, including principal and interest expected repayments, financing related swap transactions and excluding any related capitalized costs. The Deeds of Trust permit us to incur additional indebtedness, including by issuing additional debentures of the existing series of Debentures subject to maintaining certain financial ratios and covenants. Our debt, including the Debentures, and any additional debt we may incur, could adversely affect our financial condition by, among other things:

We may incur significant additional amounts of debt, which could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness. We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness, including additional issuances of debentures and secured indebtedness, in the future. Although the Deeds of Trust governing our Debentures contain conditions that may affect our ability to incur additional debt, mainly through the issuing additional debentures of the existing series of the Debentures, these conditions are limited and we will be able to incur additional debt and enter into highly leveraged transactions, so long as we do not breach the financial covenants and meet these conditions. If new debt is added to our existing debt levels, the related risks that we face would intensify and we may not be able to meet all our debt obligations, including the obligations in connection with repayment of the Debentures.

We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or future borrowings from other sources in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our indebtedness, including the Debentures, or to fund our other liquidity needs. To service our indebtedness, we require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including the Debentures, to fund planned capital expenditures and to maintain sufficient working capital depends on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. As such, we may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service the Debentures or our other indebtedness, and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, such as reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, including the Debentures, on or before the maturity thereof, which may not be successful and could have a material adverse effect on our operations. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, including the Debentures, on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or that the terms of that indebtedness will allow any of the above alternative measures or that these measures would satisfy our scheduled debt service obligations. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow to repay or refinance our debt on favorable terms, it could significantly adversely affect our financial condition, the value of our outstanding debt, including the Debentures, and our ability to make any required cash payments under our indebtedness, including the Debentures. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at that time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations.

Our business results may be affected by currency and interest rate fluctuations and the hedging transactions we enter into in order to manage currency and interest rate related risks.  We hold cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities mainly in euro and NIS. Our holdings in our PV Plants located in Spain and in the WtE Plants located in the Netherlands are denominated in euro and our holdings in the Talmei Yosef PV Plant and in Dori Energy are denominated in NIS. Our Debentures and the project finance obtained in connection with the Talmei Yosef PV Plant and the Manara PSP are denominated in NIS and the interest and principal payments are to be made in NIS. The financing for several of our PV Plants bears interest based on EURIBOR rate. Therefore our repayment obligations and undertakings may be affected by adverse movements in the exchange and interest rates. Although we attempt to manage these risks by entering into various swap interest and currency transactions as more fully explained in “Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” below, we cannot ensure we will manage to eliminate these risks in their entirety. The current Covid-19 outbreak and government programs related to the outbreak may also affect exchange and interest rates.  These swap transactions may also impact the results of our operations due to fluctuations in their value based on changes in the relevant exchange or interest rate.

Our ability to effectively hedge interest rate, currency and other market-related risks may adversely affect our profitability. We use hedging instruments in an attempt to manage interest rate, currency and other market-related risks. If any of the variety of instruments we use to hedge our exposure to these various types of risk is not effective, we may incur losses, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition. The majority of our derivative contracts are OTC derivatives, i.e., derivative contracts that are not transacted on an exchange. These derivatives are entered into under ISDA Master Agreements. If a counterparty defaults on these contracts, the underlying exposure would no longer be effectively hedged, which could result in losses. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will continue to be able to hedge risks related to current or future assets or liabilities in an efficient manner or at all. Disruptions such as market crises and economic recessions may put a strain on the availability and effectiveness of hedging instruments. For example, the expected transition away from LIBOR and similar benchmark rates may have a different impact on the hedged item and the hedging instrument, which could cause some of our hedge to become ineffective, resulting in potential losses.

If we do not conduct an adequate due diligence investigation of a target project or if certain events beyond our control occur, we may be required to subsequently take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring, and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our stock price.  We must conduct a due diligence investigation of target projects that we intend to acquire or purchase an interest in. Intensive due diligence is time consuming and expensive due to the cost of the technical, accounting, finance and legal professionals involved in the due diligence process. Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business, we cannot assure you that this due diligence will reveal all material issues that may affect a particular target project, or that factors outside the control of the target project and outside of our control will not later arise. If our due diligence review fails to identify issues specific to a target project, industry or the environment in which the target project operates, or if certain events or circumstances occur that are beyond our control, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in losses. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and may not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our ordinary shares.

We may be deemed to be an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which could subject us to material adverse consequences.  We could be deemed to be an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act if we invest more than 40% of our assets in “investment securities,” as defined in the Investment Company Act. Investments in securities of majority owned subsidiaries (defined for these purposes as companies in which we control 50% or more of the voting securities) are not “investment securities” for purposes of this definition. As our interest in Dori Energy is not considered an investment in majority owned securities, unless we maintain the required portion of our assets under our control, limit the nature of the requisite portion of our investments of our cash assets to cash and cash equivalents (which are generally not “investment securities”), succeed in making additional strategic “controlling” investments and continue to monitor our investment in Dori Energy, we may be deemed to be an “investment company.” We do not believe that our holdings in the Spanish PV Plants or the WtE Plants would be considered “investment securities,” as we control the PV Plants (other than the Talasol PV Plant) and the WtE Plants via wholly-owned subsidiaries. In addition, despite minority holder protective rights granted to the minority shareholders of the Talasol PV Plant and the Manara PSP, including several rights which effectively require the unanimous consent of all shareholders, we believe that our interests in the in the Talasol PV Plant and the Manara PSP do not constitute “investment securities” given, among other things, our majority shareholder and board membership status in the project companies. We do not believe that the current fair value of our holdings in Dori Energy (all as more fully set forth under “Business” below) and other relevant assets, all of which may be deemed to be “investment securities,” would result in our being deemed to be an “investment company.” If we were deemed to be an “investment company,” we would not be permitted to register under the Investment Company Act without an order from the SEC permitting us to register because we are incorporated outside of the United States and, prior to being permitted to register, we would not be permitted to publicly offer or promote our securities in the United States. Even if we were permitted to register, it would subject us to additional commitments and regulatory compliance. Investments in cash and cash equivalents might not be as favorable to us as other investments we might make if we were not potentially subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act. We seek to conduct our operations, including by way of investing our cash and cash equivalents, to the extent possible, so as not to become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act. In addition, because we are actively engaged in exploring and considering strategic investments and business opportunities, and in fact the majority of our investments to date (mainly in the Italian, Spanish and Israeli photovoltaic power plants markets and in the Netherlands’ WtE market) were made through a controlling investment, we do not believe that we are currently engaged in “investment company” activities or business. These strategies may force us to pursue less than optimal business strategies or forego business arrangements and to forgo certain cash management strategies that could have been financially advantageous to us and to our financial situation and business prospect.

We may be characterized as a passive foreign investment company. Our U.S. Holders may suffer adverse tax consequences.  Under the passive foreign investment company or “PFIC” rules, for any taxable year that our passive income or our assets that produce passive income exceeds specified levels, we will be characterized as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This characterization could result in adverse U.S. tax consequences for our U.S. Holders (as defined below), which may include having certain distributions on our ordinary shares and gains realized on the sale of our ordinary shares treated as ordinary income, rather than as capital gains income, and having potentially punitive interest charges apply to the proceeds of sales of our ordinary shares and certain distributions.

Certain elections may be made to reduce or eliminate the adverse impact of the PFIC rules for our U.S. Holders, but these elections may be detrimental to such U.S. Holders under certain circumstances. The PFIC rules are extremely complex and U.S. Holders are urged to consult independent tax advisers regarding the potential consequences to them of our classification as a PFIC.

Based on our income and/or assets, we believe that we were a PFIC with respect to any U.S. Holder that held our shares in 2008 through 2012. We also believe, based on our income and assets, that it is likely that we were not a PFIC with respect to U.S. Holders that initially acquired our ordinary shares in 2013-2020. However, the Internal Revenue Service may disagree with our determinations regarding our prior or present PFIC status and, depending on future events, we could become a PFIC in future years.

For a more detailed discussion of the consequences of our being classified as a PFIC, see “Item 10.E: Taxation” below under the caption “U.S. Tax Considerations Regarding Ordinary Shares.”

You may have difficulty enforcing U.S. judgments against us in Israel.  We are organized under the laws of Israel and our headquarters are in Israel. All of our officers and directors reside outside of the United States. Therefore, it may be difficult to effect service of process upon us or any of these persons within the United States. In addition, you may not be able to enforce any judgment obtained in the U.S. against us or any of such persons in Israel and in any event will be required to file a request with an Israeli court for recognition or enforcement of any non-Israeli judgment. Subject to certain time limitations, executory judgments of a United States court for liquidated damages in civil matters may be enforced by an Israeli court, provided that: (i) the judgment was obtained after due process before a court of competent jurisdiction, that recognizes and enforces similar judgments of Israeli courts and according to the rules of private international law currently prevailing in Israel, (ii) adequate service of process was effected and the defendant had a reasonable opportunity to be heard, (iii) the judgment and its enforcement are not contrary to the law, public policy, security or sovereignty of the State of Israel, (iv) the judgment was not obtained by fraud and does not conflict with any other valid judgment in the same matter between the same parties, (v) the judgment is no longer appealable, and (vi) an action between the same parties in the same matter is not pending in any Israeli court at the time the lawsuit is instituted in the foreign court. If a foreign judgment is enforced by an Israeli court, it will be payable in Israeli currency. You may not be able to enforce civil actions under U.S. securities laws if you file a lawsuit in Israel.

We may rely on certain Israeli “home country” corporate governance practices which may not afford shareholders the same protection afforded to stockholders of U.S. companies. As a foreign private issuer for purposes of U.S. securities laws, NYSE American LLC rules allow us to follow certain Israeli “home country” corporate governance practices in lieu of the corresponding NYSE American LLC corporate governance rules. Such home country practices may not afford shareholders the same level of rights or protections in certain matters as those of stockholders of U.S. domestic companies. To the extent we are entitled to elect to follow Israeli law and practice rather than corresponding U.S. law or practice, such as with regard to the requirement for shareholder approval of changes to option plans, our shareholders may not be afforded the same level of rights they would have under U.S. practice.

The rights and responsibilities of our shareholders are governed by Israeli law and differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders under U.S. law. We are incorporated under Israeli law. The rights and responsibilities of holders of our ordinary shares are governed by our memorandum and articles of association and Israeli law. These rights and responsibilities differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in typical U.S. corporations. In particular, each shareholder of an Israeli company has a duty to act in good faith in exercising his or her rights and fulfilling his or her obligations toward the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing his power in the company, including, among other things, in voting at the general meeting of shareholders on certain matters.  Israeli law provides that these duties are applicable in shareholder votes on, among other things, amendments to a company’s articles of association, increases in a company’s authorized share capital, mergers and interested party transactions requiring shareholder approval. In addition, a controlling shareholder of an Israeli company or a shareholder who knows that it possesses the power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote or who has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment of a director or officer in the company has a duty of fairness toward the company. However, Israeli law does not define the substance of this duty of fairness. Because Israeli corporate law has undergone extensive revisions in recent years, there is little case law available to assist in understanding the implications of these provisions that govern shareholder behavior.

Tax audits may result in an obligation to make material payments to tax authorities at the conclusion of these audits.  We conduct our business globally (currently in Israel, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands). Our domestic and international tax liabilities are subject to the allocation of revenues and expenses in different jurisdictions and the timing of recognizing revenues and expenses. Additionally, the amount of income taxes paid is subject to our interpretation of applicable laws in the jurisdictions in which we file. Not all of the tax returns of our operations in other countries and in Israel are final and we may be subject to further audit and assessment by the applicable tax authorities. For example, during 2018, following a tax inspection and a final settlement reached with the tax authorities, we reduced our carry forward tax losses by approximately €20 million, resulting in remaining available carry forward tax losses, carry forward capital tax losses and deductions as of December 31, 2018 in an aggregate of approximately €20.8 million. Such audits often result in proposed assessments and any estimation of the potential outcome of an uncertain tax issue is a matter for judgment, which can be subjective and highly complex. While we believe we comply with applicable tax laws and that we provided adequately for any reasonably foreseeable outcomes related to the tax audit, there can be no assurance that a governing tax authority will not have a different interpretation of the law and assess us with additional taxes, as a result of which our future results may be adversely affected. Although we believe our estimates to be reasonable, the ultimate outcome of such audits, and of any related litigation, could differ materially from our provisions for taxes, which may have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.

We are controlled by a small number of shareholders, who may make decisions with which you may disagree and which may also prevent a change of control via purchases in the market.  Currently, a group of investors comprised of Kanir Joint Investments (2005) Limited Partnership, or Kanir, and S. Nechama Investments (2008) Ltd., or Nechama Investments, hold an aggregate of 44.6% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Shlomo Nehama, our Chairman of the Board who controls Nechama Investments holds directly an additional 3.6% of our outstanding ordinary shares and the estate of Mr. Hemi Raphael, which holds a majority of the outstanding shares of Kanir Investments Ltd., or Kanir Ltd., the general partner of Kanir, holds an additional 2% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Therefore, acting together, these shareholders could exercise significant influence over our business, including with respect to the election of our directors and the approval of change in control and other material transactions. This concentration of control may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in management, or limiting the ability of our other shareholders to approve transactions that they may deem to be in their best interest. In addition, due to this concentration of control, we are deemed a “controlled company” for purposes of NYSE American LLC rules and as such we are not subject to certain NYSE American LLC corporate governance rules. Moreover, our Second Amended and Restated Articles includes the casting vote provided to our Chairman of the Board under certain circumstances and the ability of members of our Board to demand that certain issues be approved by our shareholders, requiring a special majority, all as more fully described in “Memorandum of Association and Second Amended and Restated Articles” below may have the effect of delaying or preventing certain changes and corporate actions that would otherwise benefit our shareholders.

Our failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could materially adversely affect our reported financial information and the market price of our ordinary shares. Due to the increase in the market value of our ordinary shares in 2020, as of June 30, 2020 we are characterized as an “accelerated filer” under the US Securities Law. Among other things, this characterization imposes a requirement that our registered public accounting firm issue an attestation report as to our internal control over financial reporting in connection with the filing of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for each fiscal year. Our efforts to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 have resulted in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention, and we expect these efforts to require the continued commitment of resources. We cannot predict the outcome of our testing in future periods and we may also experience higher than anticipated operating expenses and fees in this context. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we may not be able to ensure that we or our registered public accounting firm can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting. Failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could result in investigation or sanctions by regulatory authorities, and could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, investor confidence in our reported financial information, and the market price of our ordinary shares.

Our ordinary shares are listed in two markets and this may result in price variations that could affect the trading price of our ordinary shares.Our ordinary shares are listed on the NYSE American LLC and on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, or TASE, both under the symbol “ELLO.” Trading in our ordinary shares on these markets is made in different currencies (U.S. dollars on the NYSE American LLC and New Israeli Shekels on the TASE), and at different times (due to the different time zones, different trading days and different public holidays in the United States and Israel). The trading prices of our ordinary shares on these two markets may differ due to these and other factors. Any decrease in the trading price of our ordinary shares on one of these markets could cause a decrease in the trading price of our ordinary shares on the other market.

We have not paid a cash dividend or executed a buyback of a substantial number of shares since 2016 and there is no assurance we will do so in the future.  We have not paid any cash dividends or announces a share buyback plan since 2016. Future dividends or future share buyback plans will depend on our earnings, if any, capital requirements, general financial condition and applicable legal and contractual constraints in connection with distribution of profits, and will be within the discretion of our then-board of directors. There can be no assurance that any additional dividends will be paid or share buyback programs adopted, as to the timing or the amount of the dividends or share buyback programs, or as to whether our Board of Directors will elect to distribute our profits by means of share repurchases or a distribution of a cash or other dividend. In addition, the terms of the deeds of trust governing our Debentures restrict our ability to made “distributions” (as such term is defined in the Israeli Companies Law, 1999, as amended, or the Companies Law, which includes cash dividends and repurchase of shares). For more information see “Item 5.B: Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Item 8.A: Financial Information; Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information; Dividends” below.

Our stock price has been very volatile in the past and may in the future be volatile, which could adversely affect the market liquidity of our ordinary shares and our ability to raise additional funds. The market liquidity and analyst coverage of our ordinary shares is limited. Our ordinary shares have experienced substantial price volatility in the past, particularly during periods of very limited volume of trading in our ordinary shares resulting in every transaction performed significantly influencing the market price. Although our ordinary shares are listed both on the NYSE American LLC and on the TASE, there is still limited liquidity, and combined with the general economic and political conditions, these circumstances cause the market price for our ordinary shares to continue to be volatile. The continuance of such factors and other factors relating to our business may materially adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares in the future and could result in lower prices for our ordinary shares than might otherwise prevail and in larger spreads between the bid and asked prices for our ordinary shares. These issues could materially impair our ability to raise funds through the issuance of our ordinary shares in the securities markets.

Provisions of Israeli law may delay, prevent or make difficult an acquisition of Ellomay or a controlling position in Ellomay, which could prevent a change of control and, therefore, depress the price of our shares.  Israeli corporate law regulates mergers, requires tender offers for acquisitions of shares above specified thresholds, requires special approvals for transactions involving directors, officers or significant shareholders and regulates other matters that may be relevant to these types of transactions. Furthermore, Israeli tax considerations may make potential transactions unappealing to us or to some of our shareholders. These provisions of Israeli law may delay, prevent or make difficult an acquisition of Ellomay, which could prevent a change of control and therefore depress the price of our shares.

Our legal and commercial name is Ellomay Capital Ltd. Our office is located at 18 Rothschild Boulevard, 1^st floor, Tel-Aviv 6688121, Israel, and our telephone number is +972-3-7971111. Our registered agent in the United States is CT Corporation System, 111 Eight Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

We were incorporated as an Israeli corporation under the name Nur Advertisement Industries 1987 Ltd. on July 29, 1987. On August 1, 1993, we changed our name to NUR Advanced Technologies Ltd., on November 16, 1997 we again changed our name to NUR Macroprinters Ltd. and on April 7, 2008, in connection with the closing of the sale of our business to HP, we again changed our name to Ellomay Capital Ltd. Our corporate governance is controlled by the Companies Law.

Our ordinary shares are currently listed on the NYSE American LLC and are also listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “ELLO” under the Israeli regulatory “dual listing” regime that provides companies whose securities are listed both in the NYSE American LLC and the TASE certain reporting leniencies.

The Talasol PV Plant reached mechanical completion in September 2020 and was connected to the electricity grid and electricity production commenced at the end of December 2020. In parallel to the connection to the grid, hot commissioning tests have been initiated by the EPC contractor. On January 27, 2021 the EPC finalized the performance tests and the Provisional Acceptance Certificate (PAC) was signed.

We are promoting the development and construction, through an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary, Ellomay Solar S.L.U., or Ellomay Solar, of a PV plant in a plot adjacent to the land on which the Talasol PV Plant is located, or the Ellomay Solar Project. This PV plant is planned to have a capacity of 28 MW and Ellomay Solar received a grid connection permit and executed a land lease agreement.

On March 8, 2021, Ellomay Solar entered into an engineering, procurement & construction agreement in connection with the Ellomay Solar Project with METKA EGN Spain S.L.U., a 100% indirect subsidiary of MYTILINEOS S.A., under the Renewables & Storage Development Business Unit.

METKA EGN Spain is expected to complete the works under the EPC Agreement within a period of 9 months from receipt of the Notice to Proceed. The early works commenced on March 1, 2021 and the Notice to Proceed is expected to be provided during May 2021.

In December 2020, Ellomay PS received a land assessment from the Israel Land Authority, or ILA, in connection with the Manara PSP and paid approximately NIS 66.7 million including VAT (approximately €17 million) in consideration for the ILA’s consent to the sublease of the land on which the Manara PSP is currently planned to be constructed. The amount paid includes an amount of approximately NIS 9.9 million (approximately €2.5 million), excluding VAT, for royalties related to excess ground removal to the ILA.

On December 31, 2020, Ellomay PS received the conditional tariff approval for the Manara PSP from the Israeli Electricity Authority that regulates the tariffs and formulas for purchasing energy from a pumped storage manufacturer connected to the transmission network for a period of 20 years beginning on the date of receipt of the permanent production license. The conditional tariff approval became effective following the financial closing of the Manara PSP in February 2021.

On February 14, 2021, we announced the fulfillment of conditions precedent under the conditional license provided to the Manara Project, including financial closing and execution of EPC and O&M Agreements. For more information, see “Item 4.B: Business Overview” under the heading “Pumped Storage Project in the Manara Cliff in Israel.”

On July 19, 2020, we were notified that we are one of the winners of a first-in-kind quota tender process published by the Israeli Electricity Authority for combined photovoltaic and electricity storage facilities in Israel. The tariff per kWh determined in the tender process is NIS 0.199 for a quota of 20 MW. This tariff is linked to the Israeli CPI and is valid for a period of 23 years commencing on the commercial operation of each relevant facility.

As noted, the tender process was for a quota and we are currently examining and expect to further examine potential sites for the construction of the facilities. With respect to each project we will be required to obtain approvals, if applicable, from the ILA in connection with the site for such project, and to take all other actions necessary for the promotion of such project. Pursuant to the terms of the tender, we are further required to receive approvals for connection to the electricity grid and a grid synchronization approval from the Israeli Electric Company within up to 37 months. Following the receipt of the notice from the Israeli Electricity Authority, we submitted a performance guarantee in an aggregate amount of NIS 12 million (approximately €3 million based on the euro/NIS exchange rate at that time).

On February 23, 2021, we issued additional Series C Debentures in a public offering in Israel in an aggregate principal amount of NIS 100.939 million (approximately €25.6  million based on the Euro /NIS exchange rate as of December 31, 2020). The gross proceeds from the offering were NIS 102.4 million and the net proceeds of the offering, net of related expenses such as consultancy fee and commissions, were approximately NIS 101.5 million (approximately €25.7 million based on the Euro /NIS exchange rate as of December 31, 2020).

On July 20, 2020, we issued 450,000 ordinary shares to several Israeli qualified investors in a private placement undertaken in accordance with Regulation S. The price per share was NIS 70.5 and we received gross proceeds of approximately NIS 31.7 million (approximately €8.1 million based on the Euro/NIS exchange rate at that time).

For further information on our financing activities please refer to “Item 4.B: Business Overview” and “Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”

The SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that we file electronically with the SEC. These SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services. Our website is http://www.ellomay.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.

Clean electricity generation accounts for a growing share of electric power. While a majority of the world’s current electricity supply is still generated from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, these traditional energy sources face a number of challenges including fluctuating prices, security concerns over dependence on imports from a limited number of countries, and growing environmental concerns over the climate change risks associated with power generation using fossil fuels. As a result of these and other challenges facing traditional energy sources, governments, businesses and consumers are increasingly supporting the development of alternative energy sources, including solar energy, the fastest-growing source of renewable energy.

By extracting energy directly from the sun and converting it into an immediately usable form, either as heat or electricity, intermediate steps are eliminated.

Solar PV power in the European Union has shown strong resilience in 2020 despite Coronavirus negatively impacting everyone’s life in many aspects. Surprisingly, demand for solar power technology in the European Union did not decrease but rather increased notably in 2020. EU members states installed 18.2 GW of solar power capacity in 2020, an 11% improvement over the 16.2 GW deployed in the previous year.

For the following 2 years, SolarPower Europe project 27.4 in 2022 and 30.8 GW in 2023, translating into 15% and 18% higher deployments than in their EMO 2019. And in 2024, SolarPower Europe sees demand cross the 35 GW level, bringing total installed solar PV capacity to 253 GW.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) is projected to lead the PV market from 2020 to 2025. The market growth can be attributed to the presence of key players such as JinkoSolar (China), JA Solar (China), Trina Solar (China), and LONGi (China) in APAC. The growing adoption of PV modules in countries such as China, Japan, and India is fueling the growth of the market. These countries are among the top 5 players in the photovoltaic market in APAC with a cumulative installed photovoltaic capacity of ~300 GW as of 2019. Moreover, the region is the largest producer and consumer of PV modules and related PV components. Various initiatives and favorable policies launched by governments of different countries in APAC to promote the use of solar energy are expected to propel the demand for PV systems in the region during the forecast period.

At the end of 2019, Israel’s total installed renewable energy capacity, as per the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), was 1.5 GW with solar contributing 1.19 GW.

New solar installations in Israel are far behind government targets. The current renewable energy production out of the total energy production in Israel is approximately 10%.

The original renewable energy directive (2009/28/EC) establishes an overall policy for the production and promotion of energy from renewable sources in the EU. It requires the EU to fulfil at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020 – to be achieved through the attainment of individual national targets. All EU countries must ensure that at least 10% of their transport fuels come from renewable sources by 2020.

In December 2018, the revised renewable energy directive 2018/2001/EU entered into force, as part of the clean energy for all Europeans package, aimed at keeping the EU a global leader in renewables and, more broadly, helping the EU to meet its emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement. 

The new directive establishes a new binding renewable energy target for the EU for 2030 of at least 32%, with a clause for a possible upwards revision by 2023.

Solar power systems convert the energy in sunlight directly into electrical energy within solar cells based on the photovoltaic effect. Multiple solar cells, which produce DC power, are electrically interconnected into solar panels. A typical solar panel may have several dozens of individual solar cells. Multiple solar panels are electrically wired together and are electrically wired to an inverter, which converts the power from DC to AC and interconnects with the utility grid.

Solar electric cells convert light energy into electricity at the atomic level. The conversion efficiency of a solar electric cell is defined as the ratio of the sunlight energy that hits the cell divided by the electrical energy that is produced by the cell. In recent years, effort in the industry has been directed towards the development of solar cell technology that reduces per watt costs and increases conversion efficiency. Solar electric cells today are getting better at converting sunlight to electricity, but commercial panels still harvest only part of the radiation they are exposed to. Scientists are working to improve solar panels’ efficiency using various methods.

Solar electric panels are composed of multiple solar cells, along with the necessary internal wiring, aluminum and glass framework, and external electrical connections.

Inverters convert the DC power from solar panels to the AC power distributed by the electricity grid. Grid-tie inverters synchronize to utility voltage and frequency and only operate when utility power is stable (in the case of a power failure these grid-tie inverters shut down to safeguard utility personnel from possible harm during repairs). Inverters also operate to maximize the power extracted from the solar panels, regulating the voltage and current output of the solar array based on sun intensity.

Monitoring. There are two basic approaches to access information on the performance of a solar power system. The most accurate and reliable approach is to collect the solar power performance data locally from the counters and the inverter with a hard-wired connection and then transmit that data via the internet to a centralized database. Data on the performance of a system can then be accessed from any device with a web browser, including personal computers and cell phones. As an alternative to web-based remote monitoring, most commercial inverters have a digital display on the inverter itself that shows performance data and can also display this data on a nearby personal computer with a hard-wired or wireless connection.

Some of our PV Plants use fixed solar panels while others use panels equipped with single or dual axis tracking technology. Tracking technology is used to minimize the angle of incidence between the incoming light and a photovoltaic panel. As photovoltaic panels accept direct and diffuse light energy and panels using tracking technology always gather the available direct light, the amount of energy produced by such panels, compared to panels with a fixed amount of installed power generating capacity, is higher. As the double axis trackers allow the photovoltaic production to stay closer to maximum capacity for many additional hours, an increase of approximately 20% (single) - 30% (dual) of the photovoltaic modules plane irradiation can be estimated. On the other hand, tracker technology requires more complex and expensive operations and maintenance and, as this is a more sophisticated technology, it is exposed to more defects.

According to a new study published by the European Commission, innovative energy storage solutions will play an important role in ensuring the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid in the EU at the lowest cost. This will help the EU reach its 2050 de-carbonization objectives under the European Green Deal while ensuring Europe’s security of energy supply. This independent study, titled “Energy Storage Study - Contribution to the security of electricity supply in Europe”, analyzes the different flexibility energy storage options that will be needed to reap the full potential of the large share of variable energy sources in the power system. This study notes that the main energy storage reservoir in the EU at the moment is pumped hydro storage. However, as prices fall, new battery technology projects are emerging - such as lithium-ion batteries and behind-the-meter storage.

The direct conversion of light into energy offers the following benefits compared to conventional energy sources:

These benefits impacted our decision to enter into the solar photovoltaic market. We believe the fluctuations in fuel costs, environmental concerns and energy security make it likely that the demand for solar power production will continue to grow. Many countries, including Italy and Spain, have put incentive programs in place to spur the installation of grid-tied solar power systems. For further information please see “Material Effects of Government Regulations on the PV Plants.”

One of the main factors for measuring the efficiency and quality of a power plant is the performance ratio (PR). The performance ratio is stated as percent and describes the relationship between the actual and theoretical energy outputs of the PV plant. This calculation provides the proportion of the energy that is actually available for export to the electricity grid after deduction of any energy losses and of energy consumption for the operation of the PV plant. The performance ratio can be used to compare PV plants at different locations as the calculation is independent of the location of a PV plant. The closer the performance ratio is to 100%, the more efficient the relevant PV plant is operating, however a PV plant cannot reach a performance ratio of 100% as there are inevitable losses and use of energy of the PV plant. High-performance PV plants can however reach a performance ratio higher than 80%.

There are several risk factors associated with the photovoltaic market. See “Item 3.D: Risk Factors - Risks Related to our Business.”

The following table includes information concerning our PV Plants:

The construction and operation of photovoltaic plants entail the engagement of Contractors, in order to build, assemble, install, test, commission, operate and maintain the photovoltaic power plants, for the benefit of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

All of our PV Plants are operational and the summaries below describe the material terms of the O&M Agreements executed in connection with such PV Plants.

As mentioned above, each of the PV Plants is operated and maintained by a local contractor pursuant to an O&M Agreement executed between such Contractor and our subsidiary that owns the PV Plant, or the PV Principal. Each O&M Agreement sets out the terms under which each of the Contractors is to operate and maintain the PV Plant once it becomes operational.

In our Talmei Yosef PV Plant and Talasol PV Plant, a technical adviser, or the Technical Advisor, was appointed by the Financing Entity, to monitor the performance of the services. Our current Technical Advisers in Spain and Israel is a leading technical firm which appears in the banks’ white list.

We expect that, if required, we could replace some or all of our current O&M Contractors with other contractors and service providers. However, we cannot ensure that if such replacement shall take place we will be able to receive the same terms and warranties from the new contractor. In addition, to the extent the relevant PV Plant received financing from a bank or other financing institution, the applicable financing agreement generally requires that we obtain the financing institution’s approval for the replacement of an O&M contractor.

Each O&M Agreement governs the provision of the following services: (i) Subscription Services, which include Preventive Maintenance Services (maintenance services such as cleaning of panels and taking care of vegetation, surveillance, remote supervision of operation and full operational status of the PV Plant) and Corrective Maintenance Services (services to correct incidents arising at the PV Plant or to remedy any anomaly in the operation of the PV Plant), and (ii) Non-Subscription Services, which are all services outside the scope of the Subscription Services. In some cases, certain engagement agreements are executed by us directly with service providers (such as internet, security services, etc.).

The Contractor’s obligations under the O&M Agreement include, inter alia, the duty to diligently perform the operation and maintenance services in compliance with the applicable law and permits in a workmanlike manner and using the most advanced technologies, to manage the spare parts and replenish the inventory as needed, and to assist the PV Principal and the Financing Entity in dealing with the authorities by providing the necessary information required by such authorities. The Contractor represents and warrants, inter alia, that it holds the necessary permits and authorizations, and that it has the necessary skills and experience to perform the services contemplated by the O&M Agreement.

Each party may terminate the O&M Agreement (to the extent applicable, after obtaining the approval of the financing entity) if the other is in breach of any of its obligations that remain uncured for 30 days following written notice thereof.

The O&M Agreement is terminated if the Contractor is liquidated or becomes bankrupt or insolvent, and on other similar grounds, unless the PV Principal is willing to continue the O&M Agreement.

In April 2017, we, through Ellomay Luxembourg, purchased 100% of the shares of Talasol for a purchase price of €10 million. An amount of €8 million out of such purchase price was deposited in escrow during May 2017. In October 2018, Ellomay Luxembourg paid €1 million as a down-payment based on an understanding reached with the sellers of the Talasol shares and in January 2019, following the fulfilment or waiver of the conditions subsequent, an additional amount of €7 million was paid to the sellers, thus releasing the €8 million escrow deposited in May 2017. An additional amount of €2 million was deposited in a trust account held in escrow and released to the sellers of Talasol in May 2020.

In June 2018, Talasol entered into an engineering, procurement & construction agreement, or the Talasol EPC Agreement, with METKA EGN Limited, or METKA EGN, following a tender process initiated by Talasol. The Talasol EPC Agreement provides a fixed and lump-sum amount of €192.5 million for the complete execution and performance of the works defined in the Talasol EPC Agreement. The works include the engineering, procurement and construction of the Talasol PV Plant and the ancillary facilities for injecting power into the grid, including a 400 kV step-up substation, the high voltage interconnection line to the point of connection to the grid and performance of two years of O&M services. METKA EGN is expected to complete the works under the EPC Agreement within a period of 16 months from the commencement date. The Talasol EPC Agreement includes additional standard provisions, including with respect to liquidated damages in connection with delays and performance, performance guarantees, suspension and termination.

In June 2018, Talasol executed a financial power swap, or the Talasol PPA, in respect of approximately 80% of the output of a prospective photovoltaic plant for a period of 10 years. The Talasol PPA was executed with a leading international energy company with a solid investment grade credit rating and a pan-European asset base, which is active in more than forty countries and has a proven track record in financial hedges. The power produced by the Talasol PV Plant is sold in the open market for the then current market power price. The Talasol PPA is expected to hedge the risks associated with fluctuating electricity market prices by allowing Talasol to secure a certain level of income for the power production included under the Talasol PPA. The hedging provides that if the market price goes below a price underpinned by the Talasol PPA, the Hedging Provider will pay Talasol the difference between the market price and the underpinned price, and if the market price is above the underpinned price, Talasol will pay the Hedging Provider the difference between the market price and the underpinned price. The hedge transaction became effective in March 2019.

In July 2018, Talasol executed a pre-hedge transaction with Goldman Sachs International in connection with the prospective project financing for the construction of a photovoltaic plant. The pre-hedge transaction is a fixed for floating interest rate swap intended to lock-in current market floating rates.

On April 17, 2019, Ellomay Luxembourg executed a Credit Facilities Assignment and Sale and Purchase of Shares Agreement, or the Talasol SPA, with GSE 3 UK Limited and Fond-ICO Infraestructuras II, FICC, or, together, the Talasol Partners, pursuant to which it agreed to sell to each of the Talasol Partners 24.5% of its holdings in Talasol.

The Talasol SPA further provides that Ellomay Luxembourg will assign to the Talasol Partners, in equal parts, 49% of its rights and obligations under the agreements executed in connection with the project finance obtained for the Talasol PV Plant. The Talasol SPA provides that the legal risks will be transferred to the Talasol Partners on the closing date and the economic yields and results of operations of Talasol’s business will be transferred to the Talasol Partners as from December 31, 2018.

The Talasol SPA includes customary representations and warranties of Ellomay Luxembourg and the Talasol Partners and a mutual indemnification mechanism for breaches of representations and warranties or of undertakings, subject to time, minimum claims, minimum aggregate claims and maximum liability limitations, as a sole remedy, subject to customary exceptions. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Talasol SPA was subject to the fulfillment or waiver of several customary conditions precedent by June 30, 2019, including the fulfillment of all conditions precedent under the Talasol PV Plant’s project finance and the entry by the Talasol Partners into an equity support agreement.

The transactions contemplated under the Talasol SPA were consummated in April 2019. The aggregate purchase price paid by the Talasol Partners, in the amount of approximately €16.1 million, represented 49% of the amounts withdrawn and interests accrued from and by Talasol under its shareholder development costs credit facility in connection with the Talasol PV Plant’s financing as of the closing date of the Talasol SPA (approximately €4.9 million), plus a payment for 49% of Talasol’s shares (approximately €4.9 million) plus a premium of approximately €6.1 million. Of such aggregate purchase price, the payment of €1.4 million was deferred until the achievement of a preliminary acceptance certificate, or PAC, under the EPC agreement of the Talasol PV Plant. Following the achievement of PAC on January 27, 2021 the deferred payment amount of €1.4 million was received by Ellomay Luxembourg.

On the closing date of the Talasol SPA, Ellomay Luxembourg and the Talasol Partners entered into a Partners’ Agreement, or the Talasol PA, setting forth the relationship between the prospective shareholders of Talasol, the governance and management of Talasol, the funding and financing of Talasol and the mechanism for future transfers of Talasol’s shares. The Talasol PA provides that all matters brought for a vote at a partners’ meeting, other than specific reserved matters, will be adopted by the majorities set forth in the Spanish Companies Act. The Talasol PA includes minority rights for the Talasol Partners, and provides that we will appoint the majority of the board members and that all matters brought for a vote at a board of directors meeting will be adopted by a simple majority of the directors, other than specific matters.

The Talasol PA further provides that Ellomay Luxembourg will be entitled to receive a management fee from Talasol in consideration for the administrative, support and management services to be provided to Talasol by Ellomay Luxembourg. The Talasol PA includes restrictions on transfer of the shares of Talasol by Ellomay Luxembourg and any of the Talasol Partners, which is prohibited for a certain period (other than in connection with certain customary permitted transfers) and thereafter is subject to a right of first offer, tag along rights granted to the Talasol Partners on sales by Ellomay Luxembourg and a drag along right granted to Ellomay Luxembourg.

Based on current technical analysis of the design provided by the EPC contractor of the Talasol PV Plant, the P50 expected production of the Talasol PV Plant is approximately 561 GWh per annum. It is expected that the Talasol PV Plant’s CAPEX will amount to approximately €200-€230 million, including development costs of approximately €20 million and interest of approximately €7 million. Based on the current technical analysis, a price projection analysis and the expected hedging effect of the Talasol PPA, a price projection analysis and the expected hedging effect of the Talasol PPA, the Talasol PV Plant’s annual revenues are currently expected to be in the range of €23-€25 million.

In November 2019, Ellomay Luxembourg executed a Framework Agreement, or the First Framework Agreement, with an established and experienced European developer and contractor. Pursuant to the First Framework Agreement, the developer will scout and develop photovoltaic greenfield projects in Italy with the aim of reaching an aggregate authorized capacity of at least 250 MW over a three-year period.

The First Framework Agreement provides that each project will be presented to Ellomay Luxembourg when it becomes “ready to build”. Thereafter, if Ellomay Luxembourg accepts the project, the developer is obligated to transfer to Ellomay Luxembourg 100% of the share capital of the entity that holds the rights to the project. With respect to each project, subject to the conditions set forth in the First Framework Agreement, Ellomay Luxembourg will enter into engineering, procurement and construction, or EPC, and O&M contracts with the developer to construct and operate the projects.

The First Framework Agreement provides that when the first project under the First Framework Agreement achieves the positive environmental impact assessment, the parties will negotiate the terms of a model lump-sum, turnkey EPC contract and O&M contract that will be executed with the developer in connection with all projects acquired under the First Framework Agreement.

In connection with the execution of the First Framework Agreement, Ellomay Luxembourg paid the developer an advance payment of approximately €1.2 million, based on the target aggregate project capacity of 250 MW, and undertook to pay an additional advance payment per each project when the project submits its environmental impact assessment application. As of March 15, 2021 the additional advance payment paid amounted to approximately €0.3 million.  In the event the target aggregate capacity is not achieved within a three-year period or in the event a project does not reach “ready to build” status, the advance payment will be proportionately refunded.

The developer is currently in various advanced development stages of projects in an aggregate capacity of approximately 100 MW. It is currently estimated by the developer that projects with an aggregate capacity of approximately 70 MW will achieve “ready to build” status by the end of 2020.

In December 2019, Ellomay Luxembourg executed an additional Framework Agreement, or the Second Framework Agreement, with an established and experienced European developer. Pursuant to the Second Framework Agreement, the developer will provide Ellomay Luxembourg with development services with respect to photovoltaic greenfield projects in Italy in the scope of 350 MW with the aim of reaching an aggregate “ready to build” authorized capacity of at least 265 MW over a forty-one month period.

The Second Framework Agreement provides that the developer will offer all projects identified during the term of the Second Framework Agreement exclusively to Ellomay Luxembourg and that, with respect to each project acquired by Ellomay Luxembourg, the developer will be entitled to provide development services until it reaches the “ready to build” status. The parties agreed on a development budget including a monthly development service consideration, to be paid to the developer and all other payments for the tasks required to bring the projects to a ready to build. In addition, Ellomay Luxembourg undertook to pay a success fee to the developer with respect to each project that achieves a “ready to build” status. Currently development is progressing as planned.

 In addition to the 265 MW mentioned above, Ellomay Luxembourg has the option to purchase approximately 37 MW that are already under development by the developer, 30 MW of which have already received the approval for connection to the Italian electricity grid.

Our competitors are mostly other entities that seek land and contractors to construct new power plants on their behalf or seek to purchase existing photovoltaic power plants. The competition in the Israeli photovoltaic sector concentrates on the ability to receive licenses from the Israeli Electricity Authority for the construction of new photovoltaic plants, which is subject to a quota as more fully described below and the ability to acquire existing plants that were already granted an electricity production license. The market for solar energy is intensely competitive and rapidly evolving, and many of our competitors who strive to construct new solar power plants have established more prominent market positions and are more experienced in this field. Our competitors in this market include Etrion Corporation (TSX, TO:ETX), Sunflower Sustainable Investments Ltd. (TASE:SNFL), Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd. (TASE:ENLT), Energixs Renewable Energies Ltd. (TASE:ENRG), Allerion Clean Power S.p.A. (ARN.MI), NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE:NEP), NRG Yield (NASD:NYLD), TransAlta Renewables (TSX:RNW), Pattern Energy Group (NASD:PEGI), Abengoa Yield PLC (NASD:ABY), NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited (LSE:NESF), Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited (LSE:BSIF), Infinis Energy PLC (LSE:INFI), The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited (LSE:TRIG) and TerraForm Power, Inc. (NASD:TERP). If we fail to attract and retain ongoing relationships with solar plants developers, we will be unable to reach additional agreements for the development and operation of additional solar plants, should we wish to do so.

The customers of our PV Plants are generally the local operators of the national grid and our PV Plants do not provide electricity or enter into power purchase agreements with private customers. The agreements with the customers include customary termination provisions, including in connection with breaches of the electricity producer and in the event the plant causes disruptions with the grid.

Solar power production has a seasonal cycle due to its dependency on the direct and indirect sunlight and the effect the amount of sunlight has on the output of energy produced. Although we received the technical calculation of the average production recorded in the area of each of our PV Plants from our technical advisors and incorporated such data into our financial models, adverse meteorological conditions can have a material impact on the PV Plants’ output and could result in production of electricity below expected output. For example, the radiation levels in Italy during the year ended December 31, 2018 were lower than the radiation levels during the same period in 2019, resulting in lower revenues from our formerly held Italian PV Plants during the year ended December 31, 2018.

As noted above, the construction of our PV Plants entails the assembly of solar panels and inverters purchased from third party suppliers. A critical factor in the success of our PV Plants is the existence of reliable panel suppliers, who guaranty the performance and quality of the panels supplied. Degradation in such performance above a certain minimum level, generally 90% during the initial ten year period and 80% during the following ten-fifteen year period, is guaranteed by the panel suppliers. However, if any supplier is unreliable or becomes insolvent, it may default on warranty obligations.

There are currently sufficient numbers of solar panel manufacturers at sufficient quality and we are not currently dependent on one or more specific suppliers.

In addition, silicon is a dominant component of the solar panels, and although manufacturing abilities have increased over-time, any shortage of silicon, or any other material component necessary for the manufacture of the solar panels, may adversely affect our business.

The development, construction and operation of a photovoltaic plant is subject to complex legislation covering, inter alia, building permits, licenses, the governmental long-term incentive scheme and security considerations. The following is a brief summary of the regulations applicable to our PV Plants.

The regulatory framework surrounding photovoltaic plants located in Italy consists of legislation at the Italian national and local level. Relevant European legislation has been incorporated into Italian legislation, as described below.

(i)          Construction Authorizations

Construction of a photovoltaic plants is subject to receipt of appropriate construction authorizations, pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 380 of 2001, or Decree 380, and Legislative Decree 29 December 2003 no. 387, or Decree 387, the latter of which implements European Directive no. 77 of 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market.

Decree 387 aims to promote renewable energies, inter alia by simplifying the procedures required to commence constructions. In particular, it regulates the so-called Autorizzazione Unica, or AU, in relation to renewable energy plants. The AU is an authorization issued by the Region in which the construction is to take place, or by other local competent authorities, and which joins together all permits, authorizations and opinions that would otherwise be necessary to begin construction (such as, building licenses, landscape authorizations, permits for the interconnection facilities, etc.). The only authorization not included in the AU is the environmental impact assessment (valutazione di impatto ambientale, or VIA, see below), which needs to be obtained before the AU procedure is started. The AU is issued following a procedure called Conferenza di Servizi in which all relevant entities and authorities participate. Such procedure is expected to be completed within 180 days of the filing of the relevant application, but such term is not mandatory and cannot entirely be relied upon.

Decree 380, which is the general law on building administrative procedures, provided another track for obtaining the construction permit. Pursuant to this decree, the construction authorization can be obtained through a permesso di costruire, or the Building Permit, which is an express authorization granted by the competent municipality. Upon positive outcome of the municipality’s review, the Building Permit is granted. Works must start, under penalty of forfeiture of the Building Permit, within one year following the date of issuance, and must be completed within the following three years.

Decree 380 also regulates the so-called Dichiarazione di inizio attività, or DIA, procedure. DIA is a self-certification process whereby the applicant declares that the project in question complies with all relevant requirements and conditions. The competent authority can deny the authorization within 30 days of receipt of DIA; should such a denial not be issued within such term - which is mandatory - the authorization shall be deemed granted and the applicant is allowed to start the works. The DIA procedure can be used in relation to plants whose power is lower than 20 kW. Since the expected power output of the PV Plants exceeds 20kW, the DIA is not available for the PV Plants. With the entry into force of the Romani Decree on March 29, 2011, which implemented European applicable directives (in particular, directive no. 28 of 2009), the DIA procedure has been replaced, with respect to plants fed by renewable energy sources, by the so called procedura abilitativa semplificata, or PAS, according to which, very similarly to the DIA procedure, an applicant can start construction of a plant after 30 days of the filing of the application with the competent Municipality provided that the latter has in such time not raised objections and/or requested integrations. With respect to photovoltaic plants, under the Romani Decree the PAS applies to plants with a power up to 20 kWp, and regions can increase such threshold up to 1 MWp. Furthermore, Decree Law no. 76/2020 (“Decreto Semplificazioni”) has provided that also in relation to PV plants non-substantial modifications can be authorized through the so called dichiarazione di inizio lavori asseverata, i.e. a self-declaration confirmed by a qualified surveyor based on which the relevant works can start immediately.

In the past, Italian photovoltaic projects relied on three AUs, three DIAs and six Building Permits. Based on the current regulatory regime, a project to construct a photovoltaic plant in Italy requires the AU, subject to the terms and conditions included therein, or, for cases in which PAS applies, subject to the positive outcome of the relevant procedure.

 (ii)          Connection to the National Grid

The procedures for the connection to the national grid are provided by the Authority for Electric Energy and Gas, or AEEGSI. Currently, the procedure to be followed for the connection is regulated by the AEEGSI Resolution no. 99 of 2008 (Testo Integrato delle Connessioni Attive, or TICA) which replaces previous legislation and has subsequently been integrated and partially amended by AEEGSI Resolutions no. 124/2010 and 125/2010. According to TICA, an application for connection must be filed with the competent local grid operator, after which the latter notifies the applicant the estimated time for connection, or STMC. The STMC shall be accepted within 45 days of issuance. However, in order for the authorization to the connection to become definitive, all relevant authorization procedures (such as easements, ministerial nulla osta, etc.) must be successfully completed.

There are three alternative modalities to sell electricity:

The Italian government promotes renewable energies by providing certain incentives. In the past, these incentives were provided mainly through granting of a fixed FiT for a period of 20 years from connection of a photovoltaic plant. The FiT was determined with reference to the nominal power of the plant, the characteristics of the plant (plants are divided into non-integrated; partially integrated and architecturally integrated) and the year on which the plant has been connected to the grid. The FiT in the past was provided for under various laws, namely Ministerial Decree dated February 19, 2007 (the Second Conto Energia), applicable to photovoltaic plants that  commenced operations prior to January 1, 2011, Ministerial Decree dated August 6, 2010 (the Third Conto Energia), applicable to photovoltaic plants that commenced  operations from January 1, 2011 through May 31, 2011, the Decree dated May 5, 2011 (the Fourth Conto Energia), applicable to photovoltaic plants that commenced operations after May 31, 2011 and the Decree dated July 5, 2012 (the Fifth Conto Energia), which, with some exceptions, applies to photovoltaic plants that commenced operations starting from August 27, 2012.

The Fifth Conto Energia provided that it shall cease to be effective 30 days after the communication by the Italian Energy Authority that a cumulative amount equal to 6.7 billion euros of annual cost for incentives granted to photovoltaic plants has been reached. In June 2013, AEEGSI announced that the overall annual expense cap of €6.7 billion for incentive payments payable to PV had been reached.  As a consequence, the Fifth Conto Energia ceased to apply on July 6, 2013.

On July 4, 2019, the Italian Ministry for Economic Development issued a decree setting out a new incentive scheme for renewable energy plants including PV (so called “FER1 Decree”).

Incentives are awarded for a period of 20 years at the outcome of seven tenders to be held between September 2019 and September 2021 (with different procedures depending on whether the plant is below or above 1MWp), whereby the effective granted tariff will be equal to the reference tariff as reduced by the percentage reduction offered by the applicant.

Award of the incentive is based on a number of hierarchic criteria that differ for plants below or above 1MWp.

With respect to plants below 1MW, the first criterion is the installation of the plant in areas such as closed dumps or mines, or (for A2 plants) on public buildings such as schools or hospitals. This is aimed at giving preference to environment-friendly plants and therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, such plants will be preferred to other plants even if the tariff reduction set out in the application is lower.

With respect to plants above 1MW, the first criterion is instead the tariff percentage reduction.

For plants above 250KW, the incentive is paid by GSE as positive balance between the tariff and the energy price (i.e. the zonal hourly price); if the balance is negative, GSE is entitled to be returned the relevant amount by the producer. For plants below 250KW, the producer can also request that GSE pay the incentive as all-inclusive tariff (tariffa onnicompreensiva).

The incentives provided by the FER1 Decree cannot be cumulated with the ones provided under the various Conto Energia and are in any case subject to achievement of an overall cap equal to an annual medium cost for incentives of €5.8 billion per year.

Legislative Decree no. 79 of 1999 implements the so-called “priority of dispatch” principle to the marketing of renewable energies, which means that the demand for electricity must be first satisfied by renewable energies.

In other words, in light of the increasing demand of energy, the sale of the total output of power plants fueled by renewable sources is required by law, and the government must buy power from solar power plants that wish to sell to it, before it can buy the remainder of its power needs from fossil fuel energy resources.

Based on the above mentioned provision, the minimum guaranteed prices for energy produced by renewable energy sources have been abolished and the prices that are awarded to such plants are equal to the hourly zonal prices.

On February 26, 2014, GSE published the following new rules regarding the conditions for access to the minimum prices for photovoltaic plants. Therefore, commencing January 1, 2014, the minimum prices as defined by AEEGSI, are equal to:

In terms of sanctions by the GSE, the Italian Budget Law for 2018 includes a provision aimed at limiting GSE’s powers (so called “Benamati Amendment”).

Whereas the current provisions allow GSE to declare retrospective forfeiture from the incentives also for minor or anyway rather formal authorization irregularities, the new legislation provides that GSE shall in such cases only reduce incentive to 20%-80% of the original value, depending on the type of breach. Furthermore, it is provided that if notice of the breach is provided to GSE by the producer (before an assessment procedure commences) the reduction will be further reduced by one third. However, the referred legislation does not eliminate the possibility for declaration of forfeiture of the entire amount of the incentives in the event of most material breaches. Law no. 128 dated November 2, 2019 has subsequently introduced an amendment to said provision aimed at further limiting GSE’s sanctions. According to the new provision, GSE’s sanctions shall be limited to a reduction only comprised between 10% and 50% of the original value and, if the notice of the breach is provided by the producer, the reduction shall be further reduced by 50%. Decree Law no. 76/2020 has further extended the scope of the above limitations and stressed the fact that GSE’s controls shall be carried out within a reasonable term.

The cases in which the reduction of the incentive can be declared are to be defined by the Ministry of Economic Development.

The retention will be held by GSE in an interest-bearing escrow account and is to be returned to producers after evidence is provided to GSE that the panels have been disposed correctly. If such evidence is not provided, GSE will proceed by itself to the disposal of the panels and not return the retention to the producer.

The guidelines clarify that the retention shall apply also in the case that the incentive-related receivables have been the object of assignment (as is applicable to our financed projects).

Fourth and Fifth Conto Energia PV plants (except for certain specific type of plants) are exempt from the retention provided that the relevant panel producers are enrolled with consortia/institutions listed in an ad hoc register held by GSE.

Art. 21 of Law 208/2015 (2016 Italian Budget Law) set out new criteria concerning the determination of the cadastral value of immovable assets with so called special and particular destination (i.e., those belonging to cadastral categories “D” and “E”). PV plants fall within the scope of such provision. Following issuance of the law, on February 1, 2016, the Italian Tax Office (Agenzia delle Entrate) published official clarifications to the scope of said provision. In connection with ground PV plants, the Italian Tax Office pointed out that, on the basis of the new provision, modules and inverters shall not be accounted in the determination of the associated cadastral value, which should entail a significant reduction in the calculation of the related tax burden.

With circular dated March 30, 2017, the Italian Tax Office further clarified that PV plants can be characterized as movable assets and particularly, as a result, will be subject to the so called “super-depreciation”, which allows them to increase the actual cost of the investment in PV plants by 40%, with associated significant fiscal benefits.

At the beginning of February 2018, the EU Commission approved the scheme presented by the Italian government for the setting up of the so-called “capacity market”. This has been approved for a period of 10 years and will allow producers of electric energy (including from PV sources) to participate in auctions whereby they will obtain additional remuneration for providing availability to produce electric energy.

After consultation with the EU institutions and green light by the latter, the capacity market has been implemented through Decree dated June 28, 2019. However, the remuneration provided therein is not compatible with GSE incentives. Therefore, if a photovoltaic plant benefits from GSE incentives it cannot also benefit from incentives under the capacity market remuneration.

Material Effects of Government Regulations on the Spanish PV Plants

The Spanish general legal framework applicable to renewable energies is contained in Law 24/2013, of December 27, 2013, of the Power Sector, or Law 24/2013, which sets forth the regulatory framework of the power sector with the objective of guaranteeing the electricity supply with an adequate level of quality, at the least possible cost, while ensuring the economic and financial sustainability of the system and pursuing effective competition in the power sector. At the same time, the principle of environmental sustainability is considered.

The economic and financial sustainability is the guiding principle for both the Spanish Public Administration and the agents acting under the scope of Law 24/2013, with a view to avoid the accumulation of new tariff deficits. According to Law 24/2013, incomes must be enough to cover expenses and, on the other hand, tariffs and charges must be automatically reviewed in case of overcoming certain established thresholds.

In accordance with Royal Decree-law 9/2013, dated July 12, 2013, which adopts several urgent measures in order to ensure the financial stability of the power system, or RDL 9/3013, Law 24/2013 regulates the new remuneration scheme of those renewable energy installations entitled to a regulated income, or the so called “Specific Remuneration,” in addition to the market price. Law 24/2013 sets forth the principle of reasonable profit for the sake of which the parameters to determine the regulated income are reviewed every six years.

In addition, Law 24/2013 establishes the priority access and dispatching of RES and high efficiency Combined Heat and Power in line with the EU Directives, and further develops the general criteria for access and dispatching by reinforcing the principles of objectivity and non- discrimination. Thereby, the reasons to refuse access are based on technical criteria exclusively.

Moreover, Law 24/2013 develops a specific regulatory framework for self-consumption. Law 24/2013 defines three different categories of self-consumption and obliges those installations connected to the grid to contribute to the costs and services of the system in the same conditions of the rest of customers. It also defines the activity of “recharging managers” (for electric vehicles).

The Spanish general legal framework applicable to renewable energies includes Royal Decree Law 15/2018, of October 5, 2018, or RDL 15/2018, of urgent measures for energy transition and consumer protection. RDL 15/2018 includes, among others, the following:

On November 24, 2019, Royal Decree-law 17/2019, of November 22, or RDL 17/2019, enacted urgent measures for the necessary adaptation of remuneration parameters affecting the electricity system and responding to the process of cessation of activity of thermal generation plants. Among others, this new regulation updates the remuneration parameters of generation plants entitled to a specific remuneration for the regulatory period starting January 1, 2020, as further explained below.

A.          Royal Decree-law 23/2020

On June 25, 2020, Royal Decree-Law 23/2020 of June 23, 2020, or RD-law 23/2020, came into force, approving measures in the energy sector and other sectors for the reactivation of the economy and introducing a series of new provisions focused on overcoming the obstacles identified in the energy transition process and established an attractive framework for renewable energy investments in Spain.

As a novelty, and in connection with the expiry of access and connection to the grid permits, RD-law 23/2020 established certain permitting milestones to be achieved by the promoters. Failure to do so, will result in expiration of the permits (except when the environmental permit was not granted for reasons not attributable to the promoter).

The exploitation authorization is required to be granted in 5 years from the entry into force of this new RD-law 23/2020 (i.e., by June 25, 2025) and was already granted.

The following permitting milestones are pending to be complied with: (i) obtaining of Construction Administrative Authorization by October 25, 2022 and (ii) obtaining of of Exploitation Authorization in by June 25, 2025.

Once the access permit is granted to a project, the below milestones will apply (the starting date is the date the permit access was granted):

The above regulation does not affect our existing and operating facilities.

B.          Royal Decree 1183/2020

C.          CNMC Circular 1/2021

The CNMC Circular 1/2021, or Circular 1/2021, establishing the methodology and conditions for access and connection to the electricity transmission and distribution networks, was published on January 22, 2021. Circular 1/2021 completes the regulation process related to access and connection to the electricity transmission and distribution networks. Further regulation from the CNMC is pending, approving certain detailed specifications that may be necessary to develop the methodology and conditions for access and connection established in the Circular.

The legal and regulatory framework applicable to the production of electricity from renewable energy sources in Spain was modified by RDL 9/2013, due to the adoption of several urgent measures in order to ensure the financial stability of the power system, eliminating the former “Special Regime” and feed-in-tariff established by Royal Decree 661/2007 and Royal Decree 1578/2008 and establishing the basis of the current remuneration scheme applicable to renewable energies called the “Specific Remuneration” regime.

Specific Remuneration includes two components to be paid in addition to the electricity market price: (i) an “investment retribution” sufficient to cover the investment costs of a so-called “standard facility” – provided that such costs are not fully recoverable through the sale of energy in the market, and (ii) an “operational retribution” sufficient to cover the difference, if any, between the operational income and costs of a standard plant that participates in the market.

The Specific Remuneration provides that commencing July 13, 2013 all PV plants currently in operation, including our Spanish PV Plants, were no longer entitled to receive the applicable feed-in-tariff for renewable installations but rather became entitled to receive the Specific Remuneration.

The basic concept of the Specific Remuneration contained in RDL 9/2013 was confirmed by the current Power Act (Law 24/2013) and further developed by the following regulations:

Pursuant to the above regulations, the calculation of the Specific Remuneration is performed as follows:

The Talasol PV Plant is a “merchant” facility, i.e., will not be entitled to feed-in-tariff, “specific remuneration” or other similar regulatory incentives.

Pursuant to Law 24/2013, renewable installations are required to finance future tariff deficits whereas pursuant to the former Power Act, the tariff deficit was only financed by five vertically integrated companies (Iberdrola, Endesa, E.On, Gas Natural Fenosa and Hidrocantábrico). Therefore, in the event there is a temporary deviation between revenues and costs of the electricity system on any given monthly settlement, this deviation shall be borne by all the companies participating in the settlement system (including renewable facilities).

In December 2012, the Spanish Parliament enacted the 15/2012 on fiscal measures for the sustainability of the energy sector, which entered into force on January 1, 2013. Law 15/2012 sets forth a tax on energy generation of 7% from the total amount received for the production of electricity. RDL 15/2018 suspended this tax with respect to the electricity produced and injected to the grid during a period of six months commencing October 6, 2018 through March 31, 2019. Therefore, this tax is in place again.

The CNMC approved Circular 3/2020, which was published in the Official State Gazette on January 24, 2020, by which the electricity generators are exempted from paying the toll to access the grid. This means the removal of the €0.5/MWh access toll that was established for electricity generators under Royal Decree – Law 14/2010 of December 23, 2010.

The Israeli electricity market is dominated by the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), which manufactures and sells most of the electricity consumed in Israel and by the Palestinian Authority and had an installed capacity of approximately 17.7 GW as at the end of 2019. According to the Israeli Electricity Authority’s report on the electricity sector, published in August 2020, in 2019 the installed capacity of the IEC represented 72% of the total installed capacity in the Israeli market, the actual electricity production of the IEC represented 66% of the actual electricity production in the Israeli market and the IEC’s market share in the supply segment represented 79% of the supply segment of the Israeli market, with the remainder represented by the independent power producers, or IPPs. The IEC controls both the transmission network (for long-distance transmittal of electricity) and the distribution network (for transmittal of electricity to the end users). In recent years, various private manufacturers received energy production licenses from the Israeli Electricity Authority. During 2015, Israel’s largest private power plant, Dalia Power Energies Ltd., was commissioned with installed capacity of approximately 900 MW.

In June 2018, the Israeli Government issued resolution no. 3859 for the reform of the electricity market and a structural change in the IEC. In July 2018, Amendment No. 16 to the Electricity Law was adopted. This amendment implements the reform of the Israeli electricity market and the reduction of the IEC’s monopolistic power by providing arrangements for the removal of the system management authorities from the IEC, maintaining the transmission and part of the distribution facilities with the IEC, increasing the competition in the production segment by forcing the IEC to sell some of the power plants it owns and opening up the supply segment to competition.

In August 2017, Amendment no. 14 to the Electricity Sector Law, or Amendment no. 14, was published. Amendment no. 14 is in effect until December 31, 2030. Amendment no. 14 requires that the Israeli Minister of Energy formulate a perennial work plan in connection with production of electricity from renewable energy, which will include action items per year in order to meet the targets for renewable energy manufacturing determined by the Israeli government . Amendment no. 14 further provides that an inter-ministerial committee will be established, which will be required to submit its recommendations to the Minister of Energy regarding the advancement of electricity manufacturing from renewable energy, including recommendation with respect to: (i) methods for minimizing or eliminating obstructions for manufacturing of electricity from renewable energy, including in connection with planning and financing and (ii) methods for minimizing or eliminating obstructions for the construction of facilities for manufacturing electricity from renewable energy. Amendment no. 14 also requires the general manager of the Ministry of Energy to provide an annual report to the Economic Committee of the Israeli parliament on meeting the targets for manufacturing electricity from renewable energy and with respect to the implementation of Amendment no. 14 and the perennial work plan.

In May 2018, the Israeli Electricity Authority published its plan for meeting the renewable energy targets determined by the Israeli government. The plan for reaching the 10% target in 2020 was based mainly on photovoltaic installments on rooftops and water reservoirs, the plan for reaching the 17% target in 2030 was based mainly on larger land mounted installments, and requires constructing approximately 400MW of new installments every year during the period 2020-2030. In October 2020, the Israeli government raised the 2030 target from 17% to 30%.

Dori Energy is an Israeli private company in which we currently hold 50%. The remaining 50% is currently held by the Luzon Group (f/k/a the Dori Group). The Luzon Group is an Israeli publicly traded company, whose shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Dori Energy’s main asset is its holdings of 18.75% of Dorad.

On November 25, 2010, Ellomay Clean Energy Ltd., or Ellomay Energy, our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an Investment Agreement, or the Dori Investment Agreement, with the Dori Group and Dori Energy, with respect to an investment by Ellomay Energy in Dori Energy. Pursuant to the terms of the Dori Investment Agreement, Ellomay Energy invested a total amount of NIS 50 million (approximately €10 million) in Dori Energy, and received a 40% stake in Dori Energy’s share capital. The transaction contemplated by the Dori Investment Agreement, or the Dori Investment, was consummated in January 2011, or the Dori Closing Date. Following the Dori Closing Date, the holdings of Ellomay Energy in Dori Energy were transferred to Ellomay Clean Energy Limited Partnership, or Ellomay Energy LP, an Israeli limited partnership whose general partner is Ellomay Energy and whose sole limited partner is us. Ellomay Energy LP replaced Ellomay Energy with respect to the Dori Investment Agreement and the Dori SHA.

Ellomay Energy was also granted an option to acquire additional shares of Dori Energy, or the Dori Option, which, if exercised, will increase Ellomay Energy’s percentage holding in Dori Energy to 49% and, subject to the obtainment of certain regulatory approvals – to 50%. The exercise price of the options is NIS 2.4 million for each 1% of Dori Energy’s issued and outstanding share capital (on a fully diluted basis). In May 2015, we exercised the first option and in May 2016, we exercised the second option, accordingly, we currently hold 50% of Dori Energy and our indirect ownership of Dorad is 9.375%. The aggregate amount paid in connection with the exercise of this option amounted to approximately NIS 2.8 million (approximately €0.7 million), including approximately NIS 0.4 million (approximately €0.1 million) required in order to realign the shareholders loans provided to Dori Energy by its shareholders with the new ownership structure.

Concurrently with the execution of the Dori Investment Agreement, Ellomay Energy, Dori Energy and Dori Group also entered into the Dori SHA that became effective upon the Dori Closing Date. The Dori SHA provides that each of Dori Group and Ellomay Energy is entitled to nominate two directors (out of a total of four directors) in Dori Energy. The Dori SHA also grants each of Dori Group and Ellomay Energy with equal rights to nominate directors in Dorad, provided that in the event Dori Energy is entitled to nominate only one director in Dorad, such director shall be nominated by Ellomay Energy for so long as Ellomay Energy holds at least 30% of Dori Energy. The Dori SHA further includes customary provisions with respect to restrictions on transfer of shares, a reciprocal right of first refusal, tag along, principles for the implementation of a BMBY separation mechanism, special majority rights, etc.

Dori Energy’s representative on Dorad’s board of directors is currently Mr. Ran Fridrich, who is also our CEO and a member of our Board of Directors.

Dorad currently operates the Dorad Power Plant, a combined cycle power plant based on natural gas, with a production capacity of approximately 860 MW, located south of Ashkelon. The Dorad Power Plant was constructed as a turnkey project, with the consideration denominated in US dollars, and commenced commercial operations in May 2014. Dorad executed a lease with respect to the land on which the Dorad Power Plant is located with EAPC for the construction period and for a period of 24 years and 11 months following the commencement of commercial operations of the Dorad Power Plant.

The electricity produced by the Dorad Power Plant is sold to end-users throughout Israel and to the Israeli National Electrical Grid. The transmission of electricity to the end-users is done via the existing transmission and distribution grid, in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Sector Law and its Regulations, and the Standards and the tariffs determined by the Israeli Electricity Authority. The existing transmission and delivery lines are operated by the IEC, which is the only entity that holds a license to operate an electricity system in Israel. The Dorad Power Plant is based on combined cycle technology using natural gas. The combined cycle configuration is a modern technology to produce electricity, where gas turbines serve as the prime mover. After combustion in the gas turbine to produce electricity, the hot gases from the gas turbine exhaust are directed through an additional heat exchanger to produce steam. The steam powers a steam turbine connected to a generator, which produces additional electric energy. The Dorad Power Plant is comprised of twelve natural gas turbines, each with an installed capacity of 50 MWp and two steam turbines, each with an installed capacity of 100 MWp. These turbines can be turned on and off quickly, with no material losses in energy efficiency, which provides operational flexibility in accordance with the expected needs of customers and the IEC, calculated based on a proprietary forecasting system implemented by Dorad.

The other shareholders in Dorad are Eilat Ashkelon Infrastructure Services Ltd., or EAIS, (37.5%), and Edelcom Ltd., or Edelcom, (18.75%), both Israeli private companies, and Zorlu Enerji Elektrik Uretim A.S., or Zorlu, (25%), a publicly traded Turkish company. Dorad’s shareholders, including Dori Energy, are parties to a shareholders agreement that includes customary provisions, including a right of first refusal, arrangements in connection with the financing of Dorad’s operations, certain special shareholder majority requirements and the right of each shareholder holding 10% of Dorad’s shares to nominate one member to Dorad’s board of directors. As noted above, pursuant to the Dori SHA, we are currently entitled to recommend the nomination of the Dorad board member on behalf of Dori Energy.

During 2017 and 2018, Dorad repaid an aggregate amount of approximately NIS 50 million (approximately €12.3 million) and NIS 190 million (approximately €44 million), respectively, of interest and principal on account of shareholders loans.  In June 2019, Dorad made the final repayment of shareholders loans in the aggregate amount of NIS 19 million, of which Dori Energy received approximately NIS 3.7 million (approximately €1 million).

Dorad entered into a credit facility agreement with a consortium led by Bank Hapoalim Ltd., or the Dorad Credit Facility, and financial closing of the Dorad Power Plant was reached in November 2010, with the first drawdown received in January 2011. The Dorad Credit Facility provides that the consortium will fund up to 80% of the cost of the project, with the remainder to be funded by Dorad’s shareholders. The funding is linked to the Israeli consumer price index and bears interest at a rate that is subject to updates every three years based on Dorad’s credit rating (Dorad received an “investment grade” rating, on a local scale). The current interest rate is approximately 5.1%. The funding is repaid (interest and principal) in semi-annual payments, commencing six months of the commencement of operations of the Dorad Power Plant and for a period of 17 years thereafter. The Dorad Credit Facility further includes customary provisions, including early repayment under certain circumstances, fixed charges on Dorad’s assets and rights in connection with the Dorad Power Plant and certain financial ratios, which Dorad is in compliance with as of December 31, 2019. Dorad’s senior loan facility is linked to the Israeli CPI. As the production tariff is partially linked to the Israeli CPI, the exposure is minimized. However, as the production tariff is published in delay with respect to the actual changes in the CPI, Dorad executed derivative transactions on the Israeli CPI. In connection with the Dorad Credit Facility, Dorad’s shareholders (including Dori Energy) undertook to provide guarantees to the IEC and to various suppliers and service provides of Dorad and also undertook to indemnify Dorad and the consortium in connection with certain expenses, including certain environmental hazards. The aggregate investment of Dorad in the construction of the Dorad Power Plant was approximately NIS 4.7 billion (equivalent to approximately €1.1 billion). The Dorad Credit Facility provides for the establishment of the project’s accounts and determines the distribution of the cash flows among the accounts. In addition, the Dorad Credit Facility includes terms and procedures for executing deposits and withdrawals from each account and determines the minimum balances in each of the capital reserves.

As of December 31, 2020, we provided guarantees to the Israeli Electricity Authority, to the IEC and to Israel Natural Gas Lines Ltd. in the aggregate amount of approximately NIS 16.4 million (approximately €4.2 million).

The Dorad Power Plant commenced operations in May 2014, following the receipt of the permanent production and supply licenses discussed under “Material Effects of Government Regulations on Dorad’s Operations” below.

Dorad previously entered into an operation and maintenance agreement with Eilat-Ashkelon Power Plant Services Ltd., or EAPPS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eilat Ashkelon Infrastructure Services Ltd., which holds 37.5% of Dorad. Certain of the obligations under such agreement were assigned to Zorlu, which holds 25% of Dorad. During 2013, EAPPS entered into an agreement with Ezom Ltd., or Ezom, which, to our knowledge, is 75% owned by the controlling shareholder of Edelcom (which holds 18.75% of Dorad) with the remainder held by a company controlled by Zorlu, for the provision of sub-contracting services to EAPPS. Despite the assignment and subcontracting agreement, EAPPS remained liable to Dorad for all obligations under the agreement. In December 2017, Dorad and Ezom executed an operation and maintenance agreement for the Dorad Power Plant, or the Dorad O&M Agreement, replacing EAPPS by Ezom as the O&M contractor of the Dorad Power Plant under the same terms. The Dorad O&M Agreement is for a period of 24 years and 11 months commencing upon receipt of a permanent license by Dorad, and in no event for a period that is longer than the period of the lease of the Dorad Power Plant premises.

Due to the location of the Dorad Power Plant, Dorad has implemented various security measures in order to enable continued operations of the Dorad Power Plant during attacks on its premises.

On February 27, 2020, Dorad’s Board of Directors decided to distribute a dividend of NIS 120 million (approximately €31.6 million). In connection with such dividend distribution, Dori Energy received NIS 22.5 million (approximately €5.8 million) and repaid an amount of NIS 10.25 million (approximately €2.6 million) loan to us.

We and Dori Energy, and several of the other shareholders of Dorad and their representatives and Dorad, are involved in various litigations as follows:

During April 2015, Dori Energy approached Dorad in writing, requesting that Dorad take legal steps to demand that Zorlu, Wood Group Gas Turbines Ltd., the engineering, procurement & construction contractor of the Dorad Power Plant, or Wood Group, and the representatives of Zorlu on the Dorad board of directors disclose details concerning the contractual relationship between Zorlu and Wood Group. In its letters, Dori Energy notes that if Dorad will not act as requested, Dori Energy intends to file a derivative suit in the matter.

Following this demand, in July 2015, Dori Energy and Dori Energy’s representative on Dorad’s board of directors, who is also a member of our Board of Directors, filed a petition, or the Petition, for approval of a derivative action on behalf of Dorad with the Economic Department of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa District Court. The Petition was filed against Zorlu, Zorlu’s current and past representatives on Dorad’s board of directors and Wood Group and several of its affiliates, all together, the Defendants. The petition requested, inter alia, that the court instruct the Defendants to disclose and provide to Dorad documents and information relating to the contractual relationship between Zorlu and Wood Group, which included the transfer of funds from Wood Group to Zorlu in connection with the EPC agreement of the Dorad Power Plant. For the sake of caution, Plaintiffs further requested to reserve their rights to demand, on behalf of Dorad, monetary damages in a separate complaint after Dorad receives the aforementioned information and documents.

In January 2016, Dori Energy filed a motion to amend the Petition to add Ori Edelsburg (a director in Dorad) and affiliated companies as additional respondents, to remove Zorlu’s representatives and to add several documents which were obtained by Dori Energy, after the Petition had been filed. Dorad and Wood Group filed their response to the motion to amend the Petition and Zorlu filed a motion for dismissal. During the hearing held in March 2016, Zorlu withdrew the motion for dismissal and is required to submit its response to the motion to amend the Petition by March 31, 2016.

At a hearing held in April 2016, the request submitted in January 2016 to amend the Dori Energy Petition to add Ori Edelsburg (a director in Dorad) and affiliated companies as additional respondents was approved. At the end of July 2016, the respondents filed their responses to the amended Dori Energy Petition. Dori Energy and Hemi Raphael had until December 19, 2016 to reply to the respondents’ response. Following the recusal of the judges in the Economic Department of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa District Court, in September 2016 the President of the Israeli Supreme Court instructed that the parties will inform the court as to the proper venue in which the petition should be heard and to update the court whether the parties reached an agreement as to the transfer of the dispute to an arbitration proceeding. During October 2016, Dori Energy notified the court that the parties have not yet reached an agreement and requested that the court determine which judges will decide on the petition and the respondents notified the court that the discussion concerning transferring the dispute to an arbitration process are advancing and an attempt will be made to reach an arbitration agreement during November 2016. On November 15, 2016, the President of the Israeli Supreme Court instructed that the parties will update the court on the proposed transfer of the proceeding to an arbitration process by early December 2016.

In December 2016, an arbitration agreement was executed pursuant to which this proceeding, as well as the two proceedings mentioned below will be arbitrated before Judge (retired) Hila Gerstel. In January 2017, the arbitrator ruled, among other things, that the statements of claim in the various proceedings will be submitted by February 19, 2017, the statements of defense will be submitted by April 4, 2017, discovery affidavits will be submitted by April 6, 2017, responses will be submitted by May 4, 2017 and a preliminary hearing will be held on May 10, 2017. These dates were extended with the agreement of the parties so that the statements of claim will be submitted by February 23, 2017 and the statements of defense will be submitted by April 9, 2017. Following the execution of the arbitration agreement, Dori Energy and Mr. Raphael requested the deletion of the proceeding and the request was approved. A statement of claim, or the Claim, was filed by Dori Energy and Mr. Raphael on behalf of Dorad against Zorlu, Mr. Edelsburg, Edelcom and Edeltech Holdings 2006 Ltd., or Edeltech, and, together with Mr. Edelsburg and Edelcom, the Edelsburg Group, on February 23, 2017 in which they repeated their claims included in the amended Petition and in which they required the arbitrator to obligate the defendants, jointly and severally, to pay an amount of $183,367,953 plus interest and linkage to Dorad. During March 2017, the respondents filed two motions with the arbitrator as follows: (i) to instruct the plaintiffs to resubmit the statement of claim filed in connection with the arbitration proceedings in a form that will be identical to the form of the statement of claim submitted to the court, with the addition of the monetary demand only or, alternatively, to instruct that several sections and exhibits will be deleted from the statement of claim and (ii) to postpone the date for filing their responses by 45 days from the date the motion set forth under (i) is decided upon.  The plaintiffs filed their objection to both motions and some of the respondents filed their responses to the objection. In April 2017, the Defendants filed their statements of defense. Within the said statements of defense, Zorlu attached a third party notice against Dorad, Dori Energy and the Luzon Group, in the framework of which it repeated the claims on which its defense statement was based and claimed, among other claims, that if the plaintiffs’ claim against Zorlu was accepted  and would negate Zorlu’s right receive compensation and profit from its agreement with Dorad and therefore Zorlu should be compensated in the amount of approximately NIS 906.4 million (approximately €218.3 million). Similarly, also within their statement of defense, Edelcom, Mr. Edelsburg and Edeltech filed a third party notice against Dori Energy claiming for breaches by Dori Energy of the duty to act in good faith in contract negotiations and that any amount ruled will constitute unlawful enrichment.

In October 2017, EAIS, which holds 37.5% of Dorad’s shares, filed a statement of claim in this arbitration proceeding. In its statement of claim, EAIS joins Dori Energy’s and Mr. Raphael’s request as set forth in the Claim and raises claims that are similar to the claims raised by Dori Energy and Mr. Raphael in the Claim.

In November 2017, Dori Energy and Mr. Raphael filed their responses to the defendants’ statements of defense and in December 2017, Dori Energy, Mr. Raphael and EAIS filed their statements of defense to the third party notices submitted by the defendants. In December 2017, Zorlu filed a request in connection with the Dori Energy statement of claim to the extent it is directed at board members serving on behalf of Zorlu and in January 2018 the arbitrator provided its ruling that the legal validity of the actions or inactions of board members of Dorad will be attributed to the entities that are shareholders of Dorad on whose behalf the relevant board member acted and the legal determinations, if any, will be directed only towards the shareholders of Dorad. During January 2018, Mr. Edelsburg, Edelcom and Zorlu filed their statement of defense in connection with the claim filed by EAIS and also filed third party notices against EAIS, Dori Energy and the Luzon Group claiming that EAIS and the Luzon Group enriched themselves at Dorad’s account without providing disclosure to the other shareholders and requesting that, should the position of Dori Energy and EAIS be accepted in the main proceeding, the arbitrator, among other things, obligate EAIS to refund to Doard all of the rent paid to date and determine that Dorad is not required to pay any rent in the future or determine that the rent fees be reduced to their market value and refund Dorad the excess amounts paid by it to EAIS, to determine that the board members that represent EAIS and Dori Energy breached their fiduciary duties towards Dorad and obligate EAIS and Dori Energy to pay the amount of $140 million, plus interest in the amount of $43 million, which is the amount Zorlu received for the sale of its rights under the Dorad EPC agreement, and to rule that in connection with the engineering and construction works performed by the Luzon Group, the Luzon Group and Dori Energy are required to refund to Dorad or compensate the defendants in an amount of $24 million, plus interest and linkage and, alternatively, to determine that Mr. Edelsburg, Edelcom and Zorlu are entitled to indemnification from the third parties for the entire amount they will be required to pay.

In May 2019, a new arbitrator was appointed and dates were set for the discovery process. The evidentiary hearings were scheduled during March-June 2020 and commencing August 2020. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, several evidentiary hearings scheduled during the period commencing March 2020 were cancelled.  Evidentiary hearings were held during June, August, September, October and November 2020 and during February and March 2021 and the parties filed several motions in connection with the discovery process, the evidentiary hearings and expert opinions. Additional evidentiary hearings are scheduled for April-May 2021. On February 15, 2021 the arbitrator approved replacing the late Mr. Hemi Raphael as the claimant with Mr. Ran Fridrich.

For more information see Note 6 to our annual financial statements included elsewhere in this Report.

In February 2016 the representatives of Edelcom Ltd., which holds 18.75% of Dorad, or Edelcom, and Ori Edelsburg sent a letter to Dorad requesting that Dorad file a claim against Ellomay Energy, our wholly-owned subsidiary that holds Dori Energy’s shares, the Luzon Group and Dori Energy referring to an entrepreneurship agreement that was signed in November 2010 between Dorad and the Luzon Group, pursuant to which the Luzon Group received payment in the amount of approximately NIS 49.4 million (approximately €11.9 million) in consideration for management and entrepreneurship services. Pursuant to this agreement, the Luzon Group undertook to continue holding, directly or indirectly, at least 10% of Dorad’s share capital for a period of 12 months from the date the Dorad Power Plant is handed over to Dorad by the construction contractor. The Edelcom Letter claims that as a consequence of the management rights and the options to acquire additional shares of Dori Energy granted to us pursuant to the Dori Investment Agreement, the holdings of the Dori Group in Dorad have fallen below 10% upon execution of the Dori Investment Agreement. The Edelcom Letter therefore claims that Dori Group breached its commitment according to entrepreneurship agreement. The Edelcom Letter requests that Dorad take all legal actions possible against the Dori Group, Dori Energy, Ellomay Energy and Mr. Hemi Raphael to recover the amounts it paid in accordance with the entrepreneurship agreement and also notify Dori Energy that, until recovery of the entrepreneurship fee, Dorad shall withhold the relevant amount from any amount Dori Energy is entitled to receive from Dorad, including repayments of shareholders’ loans and dividend distributions. In July 2016, Edelcom filed a petition for approval of a derivative action against Ellomay Energy, the Luzon Group, Dori Energy and Dorad. In November 2016, Ellomay Energy and Dori Energy filed a joint petition requesting that this application be transferred to the same judges who will be adjudicating the petition filed by Dori Energy and Hemi Raphael mentioned above and in November 2016, Edelcom filed an objection to this request. As noted above, in December 2016, an arbitration agreement was executed pursuant to which this proceeding, as well as the proceeding mentioned above and below will be arbitrated before Judge (retired) Hila Gerstel and the proceeding before the court was deleted. On February 23, 2017, Edelcom submitted the petition to approve the derivative claim to the arbitrator. On April 30, 2017, Ellomay Energy filed its response to the petition and on May 1, 2017 the Luzon Group filed its response to the petition. For more information see above and see Note 6 to our annual financial statements included elsewhere in this Report.

On April 8, 2019, Zorlu filed an opening motion with the District Court in Tel Aviv against Dorad and the directors serving on Dorad’s board on behalf of Dori Energy and EAIS. In the opening motion, Zorlu asked the court to instruct Dorad to convene a shareholders meeting and to include on the agenda of this meeting a discussion and a vote on the planning and construction of an additional power plant adjacent to the existing power plant, or the Dorad 2 Project. Zorlu claimed that although the articles of association of Dorad provides that the planning and construction of an additional power plant requires a unanimous consent of the Dorad shareholders, and while Zorlu and Edelcom are opposed to this project, including due to the current disagreements among Dorad’s shareholders, Dorad continued taking actions to advance the project, which include spending substantial amounts our of Dorad’s funds. Zorlu further claims that the representatives of Dori Energy and EAIS on the Dorad board have acted to prevent the convening of a shareholders meeting as requested by Zorlu. On April 16, 2019, Edelcom submitted a request to join the opening motion as an additional respondent as Edelcom claims that it is another shareholder in Dorad that opposes the advancement of the project at this stage. In addition, Edelcom joined Dori Energy and EAIS as additional respondents to its request, claiming that these entities are required to be part of the proceeding in order to reach a complete and efficient resolution. All parties agreed to the joining of Edelcom, Dori Energy and EAIS to the proceeding. On June 15, 2019, Edelcom filed its response to the petition, requesting that the court accept the petition. On August 13, 2019, Dorad, EAIC and the Dorad board members submitted their responses and requested that the petition be dismissed. On December 8, 2019 an evidentiary hearing was held. The parties filed their summations in writing during June and July 2020. On August 27, 2020, Dorad informed the District Court that the National Infrastructure Committee resolved, inter alia, to approve the presentation of the plan submitted by Doard in connection with the additional power plant to the District Committee’s and the public’s comments, subject to amendments. On September 9, 2020, Eilat-Ashkelon Infrastructure Services Ltd., one of the shareholders of Dorad, and its representatives on the Dorad board of directors submitted a response to the notice, claiming that the information included in the notice supports a rejection of the opening motion. Zurlo and Edelcom each filed a response on September 13, 2020 asking to remove the notice provided by Dorad from the District Court’s file. On September 17, 2020, the District Court ruled that the notice will not be removed from the file. To our knowledge, the Dorad 2 Project is currently under initial internal examination by Dorad . On July 13, 2020, Dorad submitted to the National Infrastructure Committee, or NIC, plans for public objections and on January 11, 2021, the NIC decided to postpone the final decision. There can be no assurance as to if, when and under what terms it will be advanced or promoted by Dorad.

Dorad competes with the IEC and other private electricity manufacturers with respect to sales to potential customers directly.

Dorad’s position is that the current regulation and structure of the Israeli electricity market provide IEC with a competitive advantage over the private electricity manufacturers. However, as long as the regulation remains unchanged, as the IEC controls the transmission and delivery lines and the connection of the private power plants to the Israeli national grid, Dorad and the other private manufacturers are dependent on the IEC for their operations and may also be subject to unilateral actions on the part of IEC’s employees. For example, the approval of Dorad’s permanent licenses was delayed due to ongoing disputes between the IEC and its employees. For more information, see “Material Effects of Government Regulations on Dorad’s Operations” below.

Dorad entered into electricity supply agreements with various commercial consumers for an aggregate of approximately 95% of the production capacity of the Dorad Power Plant. The end-users include the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Mekorot (Israel’s water utility and supply company), Israeli food manufacturers (Ossem and Strauss), Israeli hotel chains (Isrotel and Fattal), and others.  The electricity supply agreements are, mainly, based on a reduced rate compared to the rate applicable to electricity consumers in the general market, as determined by the Israeli Electricity Authority.

In addition to the provision of electricity to specific commercial consumers, the agreement between Dorad and the IEC, which governs the provision of services and electricity from the IEC to Dorad, provides that Dorad will supply availability and energy to the IEC based on a production plan determined by the Israeli Electricity Authority, on IEC’s requirements and on the tariffs determined by the Israeli Electricity Authority.

The Covid-19 crisis affects Dorad’s customers (which, as noted above, include hotels and other industrial customers), and during 2020 Dorad reported a certain decrease in consumption of electricity by its customers and by the IEC due to the Covid-19 crisis and its implications on the tourism industry, the industrial entities and electricity consumption in general.

The Dorad Power Plant is a dual-fuel plant, using natural gas as the main fuel and diesel oil in the event of an emergency. Pursuant to publications of the Israeli Ministry of Energy, natural gas is currently being used for the production of approximately 50% of the electricity produced in Israel.

On October 15, 2012, Dorad entered into the Tamar Agreement with Tamar, which is one of the suppliers of natural gas for the Israeli electricity market. Pursuant to information received from Dorad, Dorad purchases natural gas from Tamar for purposes of operating the Dorad Power Plant and the main terms of the Tamar Agreement are as follows:

As a result of the indexation included in the gas supply agreement, Dorad is exposed to changes in exchange rates of the U.S. dollar against the NIS. To minimize this exposure Dorad executed forward transactions to purchase U.S. dollars against the NIS.

On April 2, 2019, Dorad entered into an addendum to the Tamar Agreement according to which the gas quantities specified in the addendum to the Tamar Agreement that Dorad purchases from Tamar will not be included for the purpose of calculating the quantities of gas at the time of the reduction of the purchases from Tamar, in accordance with the instructions of the Tamar Agreement.

On March 6, 2019, Dorad signed a memorandum of understanding with Alon Energy Centers LP, or Alon Gat, which is constructing a private power plant for the production of electricity in Kiryat Gat, Israel, with a capacity of approximately 73 MW. On November 11, 2019, Dorad signed an addendum to this memorandum of understanding. In the framework of the memorandum of understanding and the addendum, Alon Gat will serve as a producer who will provide Dorad with the full availability of the aforementioned power plant and will sell the electricity produced at the power plant to Dorad, which will serve as supplier. In addition, Alon Gat, who holds the production license, will be responsible for operating the Alon Gat power plant and generating electricity at the plant and will bear all costs related to operating the Alon Gat power plant, the availability and the power generation. Dorad will be responsible for all activities related to the power supply sales to the customers and the IEC. On November 12, 2019, commercial operation of the Alon Gat power plant began and the implementation of the memorandum of understanding became effective. The implementation of the memorandum of understanding after May 10, 2020 is subject to the approval of Dorad’s lenders, which was received on December 5, 2019, and to the approval of Alon Gat’s lenders, which have not yet been received and Dorad expects that it will be received by June 2021. The memorandum of understanding and addendum contain termination provisions, including in the event of regulatory changes that materially impair the implementation of the understandings between the parties. Following the hearing scheduled by the Israeli Electricity Authority in August 2019 and the resolution published by the Israeli Electricity Authority in January 2020 regarding the amendments to the standards on consumption plan anomalies, which may affect the financial feasibility of the understandings with Alon Gat, Dorad and Alon Gat are examining the feasibility of the understandings. For more information concerning the resolution of the Israeli Electricity Authority see “Consumption Plans and Deviations” under “Material Effects of Government Regulations on Dorad’s Operations” below.

Dorad is also a party to a natural gas transmission agreement and to a diesel oil warehousing agreement.

On October 30, 2017, Dorad signed an agreement with Energean regarding the acquisition of natural gas, in a cumulative volume of approximately 6 BCM over a period of 14 years, from the Karish and Tanin reserves held by them and whose completion is expected to be by the second half of 2021. Dorad will purchase about half of the gas required to operate the Dorad Power Plant and the rest of the demand will continue to be supplied by Tamar. According to the agreement with Energean, if Dorad does not actually consume the minimum quantity it has undertaken, it will be forced to consume this quantity. On November 2018, all the suspending conditions included in the agreement with Energean were fulfilled. On February 5, 2020, Energean informed Dorad that due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) spread in China, the Chinese government issued restrictions on travel and transportation including to an area where portions of Energean gas production facilities are manufactured and therefore a delay is expected in the construction of production facilities and in the gas supply to Dorad. Dorad notes that in the event of delays, it may purchase natural gas from Tamar at a higher price than the price set in the agreement with Energean. On April 22, 2020, Energean informed Dorad that it took several steps in order to overcome the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in order to decrease the expected delay in the provision of natural gas to Dorad and on September 10, 2020 Energean updated the date in which it expects to start providing the natural gas from the first half of 2021 to the second half of 2021.

Licenses

Tariffs

The Israeli Electricity Authority determined the method and tariffs for the provision of availability and electricity by private electricity manufacturers to the IEC in the event not all of the capacity of such manufacturers was sold directly to customers. The Israeli Electricity Authority’s decision provides that the IEC will pay for the availability even in the event electricity was not actually used by end customers depending on the amount of electricity made available to the IEC.

In September 2010, Dorad received a tariff approval from the Israeli Electricity Authority that sets forth the tariffs applicable to the Dorad Power Plant throughout the period of its operation, and in October 2013, Dorad received a revised tariff approval pursuant to the Tamar Agreement.

As noted above, the transmission and distribution lines used by the Dorad Power Plant are managed by the IEC, and the IEC is solely licensed to operate electricity systems (i.e. to oversee and manage the production and transmission of electricity) in Israel.

On August 25, 2014, the Israeli Electricity Authority published a proposed decision for a hearing regarding the rates of the “system costs,” in which details were provided on the system services provided by IEC and their rates. According to the proposed decision, the rates will be effective retroactively as from June 1, 2013 but for Dorad will be effective only from the date of its commercial operation.

On August 6, 2015, the Israeli Electricity Authority published a decision establishing the rate in respect of “system management service charges” (system costs). As of December 31, 2015, Dorad settled such charges for the period until June 2015, and as from July 2015 regular charges are received from the IEC for these services.

On January 15, 2018, the electricity rate has been changed and overage production component was increased by approximately 6% from January 15, 2018. On December 24, 2018, the Israeli Electricity Authority published its decision to increase the 2019 electricity rate by approximately 3.3%.

On December 23, 2019, the Israeli Electricity Authority published a decision regarding “Annual Electricity Rate Update 2020,” which, among other things, averaged a 7.9% decrease in the production component as of January 1, 2020, and will remain in effect to the end of 2020.

On December 27, 2020, the Israeli Electricity Authority published a decision regarding “2021 Annual Update to the Electricity Rate,” which, among other things, provided for a decrease of approximately 5.7% in the average production component commencing January 1, 2021 and effective throughout 2021.

In August 2019, the Israeli Electricity Authority published a proposed resolution that is subject to a public hearing concerning an amendment to the standards governing deviations from consumption plans. These standards regulate the accounting mechanism in the event the actual consumer consumption is different than the consumption plan submitted by the electricity manufacturers (such as Dorad), and include a mechanism protecting the manufacturers from random deviations in actual consumption volumes. Based on the Israeli Electricity Authority’s publication, which includes a call for public comments (the hearing process), the Israeli Electricity Authority proposed revoking the protections included in the aforementioned standards, claiming that the manufacturers are misusing the protections and regularly submit plans and forecasts that deviate from the actual expected consumption, and also seeks to impose financial sanctions on the manufacturers, which may be in material amounts upon the occurrence of certain deviation events. On January 27, 2020, the Israeli Electricity Authority issued a resolution amending the standards and imposing financial sanctions in cases of certain extraordinary events that may add up to significant sums. The resolution entered into effect commencing September 1, 2020.  Based on Dorad’s financial statements, included elsewhere in this Report, Dorad is preparing to reduce the implications of the resolution and the implementation of the resolution does not have a material effect on the financial results of Dorad.

On November 22, 2020, the IEC filed a third-party notice against Dorad in connection with a class action submitted against the IEC claiming that the IEC was negligent in overseeing the private electricity manufacturers thereby damaging the electricity consumers. The claim against the IEC alleges that the private electricity manufacturers provided false reports in the consumption plans they submitted to the system manager in the IEC, based on the standards set by the Israeli Electricity Authority. At this point, based on the advice of legal counsel, Dorad cannot estimate the outcome of this legal proceeding.

Dorad is required to obtain and maintain various licenses and permits from local and municipal authorities for its operations.

The Dorad Power Plant is subject to a variety of Israeli environmental laws and regulations, including limitations concerning noise, emissions of pollutants and handling hazardous materials.

In July 2016, we, through Ellomay Luxembourg, entered into an agreement, or the Ludan Agreement, with Ludan Energy Overseas B.V., or Ludan Energy (an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Ludan Engineering Company Ltd. (TASE: LUDN), or Ludan) in connection with WtE (specifically Gasification and Bio-Gas (anaerobic digestion)) projects in the Netherlands.

Pursuant to the Ludan Agreement, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions, we, through Ellomay Luxembourg, were to acquire at least 51% of each project company and Ludan will own the remaining 49%. The Ludan Agreement provided that Ludan Energy, by itself or through its affiliates, will act as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and as the O&M contractor for the projects, based on specific agreements.

Pursuant to the Ludan Agreement, we acquired 51% of Groen Gas Goor B.V., or Groen Goor, a project company developing an anaerobic digestion plant, with a green gas production capacity of approximately 375 Nm3/h, in Goor, the Netherlands, or the Goor Project in December 2016 and 51% of the Oude Tonge Project in May 2017.

In March 2019, we executed the Ludan Acquisition Agreement with Ludan and several entities affiliated with Ludan, for the acquisition by Ellomay Luxembourg of 49% of the companies that own the Goor Project and the Oude Tonge Project and of the shareholders’ loans provided by Ludan affiliates to such companies. The Ludan Acquisition Agreement also provides for the immediate (and unconditional) termination of the operations and maintenance arrangement of the WtE Plants with Ludan’s affiliates effective as of January 27, 2019. The acquisition was consummated during 2019 and we currently indirectly own 100% of these projects and the Ludan Agreement terminated upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Ludan Acquisition Agreement.

Further to the Ludan Agreement, during 2016 we entered into loan agreements with Ludan whereby we provided approximately €2.1 million to Ludan, or the Ludan Loans, for purposes of the acquisition of the rights in Groen Gas Goor B.V., or Groen Goor, a project company developing an anaerobic digestion plant, with a green gas production capacity of approximately 375 Nm3/h, in Goor, the Netherlands, or the Goor Project and the land on which the Goor Project will be constructed. Ellomay Luxembourg was issued shares representing a 51% interest in Groen Goor. The Groen Goor Loans converted into Ellomay Luxembourg shareholder’s loans to Groen Goor upon the financial closing of the Goor Project, which occurred in December 2016.

During November 2016, Groen Goor entered into an EPC agreement in connection with the Goor Project, or the EPC Agreement, of an anaerobic digestion plant in Goor, the Netherlands, with Ludan. The Goor Project commenced operations in December 2017. The overall capital expenditure in connection with the Goor Project was approximately €10.8 million, including bank financing.

During September 2016, Ellomay Luxembourg entered into a MOU with Ludan, setting forth the agreed material principles and understandings with respect to the Goor Project’s O&M agreement, or the O&M Agreement, which included customary O&M terms.

As noted above, effective January 27, 2019, Ludan’s performance of O&M services for the Goor Project was terminated. The Goor Project is currently operated by Groen Goor, who recruited experienced employees for this purpose and the senior management provide services both to the Goor Project and to the Oude Tonge Project. In addition, following the consummation of the Ludan Acquisition Agreement, we currently indirectly hold 100% of the share capital of Groen Goor. During 2019 we added a centrifuge decanter and a dry silo system for the Goor Project.

In October 2016, Groen Goor executed offtake agreements for selling its produced gas, electricity, green gas certificates and green electricity certificates.

 The Oude Tonge Plant

Further to the Ludan Agreement, during April 2017 – June 2017 we, through Ellomay Luxembourg, entered into loan agreements with Groen Gas Oude–Tonge B.V., or Oude Tonge, which was then in the process of developing an anaerobic digestion plant, with a green gas production capacity of approximately 475 Nm3/h, in Oude Tonge, the Netherlands, whereby we provided shareholders loans in the aggregate amount of approximately €1.7 million. Ellomay Luxembourg was issued shares representing a 51% interest in Oude Tonge in April 2017. The Oude Tonge facility commenced operations in June 2018.

The Oude Tonge Project executed an EPC agreement with an affiliate of Ludan, based on terms previously agreed to by us and Ludan. The Oude Tonge Project commenced operations in June 2018. The overall capital expenditure in connection with the Oude Tonge Project were approximately €8.2 million, including bank financing. Ludan initially provided O&M services to the Oude Tonge Project, however, as noted above, effective as of January 27, 2019, Ludan’s performance of O&M services for the Oude Tonge Project was terminated. The Oude Tonge Project is currently operated by Oude Tonge, who recruited experienced employees for this purpose and the senior management provide services both to the Oude Tonge Project and to the Goor Project. In addition, following the consummation of the Ludan Acquisition Agreement, we currently indirectly hold 100% of the share capital of Oude Tonge. During 2019 we added a centrifuge decanter for the Oude Tonge Project.

In May 2017, Oude Tonge executed offtake agreements for selling its produced gas and green gas certificates.

During 2020, we assessed the value in use of two cash generating Biogas plants in the Netherlands in the Biogas segment in light of operating losses suffered by these projects in previous years and lower results than forecasted for 2020. The examination was conducted based on projected cash flows that were discounted at a rate 6%. The examination concluded that the value in use of the plants is higher than the carrying value of the plants and therefore there is no need for a provision for impairment. The assumptions on which the examination was based could be affected by the Company’s inability to meet the budget in certain circumstances including, the prices of feedstock required in order to maintain the optimal mix of feedstock necessary to maximize performance of the plants, by technical malfunctions and by other circumstances that influence the operation of the plants.

On December 1, 2020, we acquired all issued and outstanding shares of GG Gelderland through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Ellomay Luxembourg. We paid €1.567 million for the shares and the repayment of shareholder loans. An additional shareholder loan of approximately €5.9 million was granted to GG Gelderland by Ellomay Luxembourg on December 1, 2020. The previous owners are entitled to receive an additional amount from the Dutch Government for subsidy payments. This amount is estimated at €0.493 million, but will be determined and paid before June 2021. We have no liability to compensate the previous owners if the Dutch government pays less than the estimated amount. GG Gelderland owns an operating anaerobic digestion plant in Gelderland, the Netherlands, with a permit that enables it to produce approximately 7.5 million Nm3 per year. The actual production capacity of the plant is approximately 9.5 million Nm3 per year.

The process of energy recovery from non-recyclable waste is often referred to as waste-to-energy or energy-from-waste. The waste-to-energy market includes various treatment processes and technologies used to generate a usable form of energy while reducing the volume of waste, including combustion, gasification, pyrolization, anaerobic digestion and landfill gas recovery. The resulting energy can be in the form of electricity, gas, heating and/or cooling, or conversion of the waste into a fuel for future use. The Ludan Agreement applies to project in which gasification and anaerobic digestion technologies are implemented.

Gasification in the waste-to-energy market is the process of converting organic carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO₂) by reacting the material at high temperatures (>700 °C), without combustion, with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam. This process produces a gas mixture called synthetic gas or syngas or producer gas and is itself a fuel. The organic materials used in the gasification process are a variety of biomass and waste-derived feedstocks, including wood pellets and chips and waste wood.

Anaerobic digestion is a biological process that produces a gas (also known as biogas) principally composed of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). These gases are produced from organic waste such as livestock manure and food processing waste and from agro-residues. Depending on the type of feedstock used and the system design, biogas is typically 55%-75% pure methane. The biogas is emitted during the digestion process of the substrates by specific combinations of bacteria. As there is a relatively wide range of feedstock mix that can be used in the process, the plants in the Netherlands are designed to allow flexibility that is expected to reduce dependency on certain feedstock mix or the feedstock supplier. The biogas is used to produce green gas, or bio-methane, with properties close to natural gas that is injected into the natural gas grid.

The anaerobic digestion process leaves an organic residue, the digestate. The digestate can be used as a fertilizer and soil improver and the WtE plant is required to find solutions for the proper disposal of the digestate. The ability to dispose of digestate is subject to the relevant regulation in the target countries with respect to the amounts and timing of disposal of digestate as a fertilizer in such country. In the event restrictions and regulation does not permit disposal in a certain country, the WtE plant is required to dispose of the digestate in more distant locations or to store the digestate, which increase the costs of the disposal of digestate.

 Waste-to-energy generates clean, reliable energy from a renewable fuel source, thus expected to reduce dependency on “traditional” energy production methods, such as fossil fuels, oil and other similar raw materials that are less friendly to the environment. The use of waste assists in the on-going management of waste in a manner that is more environmentally-friendly than other waste management solutions, such as landfilling. We believe that by processing waste in waste-to-energy facilities, greenhouse gas emissions and the risk of contamination of ground water will be reduced.

As noted above, the anaerobic digestion process requires continuous input of raw materials such as: manure, glycerin, mix grain and corn, all of which are not freely available (as is the case with wind, solar and hydro energies).

The success of a WtE plant depends on its ability to procure and maintain sufficient levels of the waste applicable and suitable to the WtE technology the plant uses, in order to meet a certain of range of energy (gas, electricity or heat) production levels. Both Groen Goor and Oude Tonge initially executed long term feedstock agreements with feedstock suppliers. These agreements were terminated due to disagreements with the suppliers. In order to ensure continuous supply of raw materials, both in terms of the quantity and the quality and composition of the raw materials, the WtE Plants started working with a large number of waste suppliers, such as farmers, food manufacturers and other specialized waste suppliers in order to continuously monitor the proposed sales and try to locate the most efficient and beneficial offers.

SDE++ allows for the option of banking. In case less sustainable energy is produced than predicted, one can use the difference in later years. Producers can also carry over any excess output to the following year. The latest form of banking cannot be more than 25% of the subsidized annual production of energy, except for the wind category. The SDE++ program is determined annually, with a budget of €5 billion in 2020. The maximum subsidy grant is €300 per ton of CO2 emissions. The round of application for the SDE++ (“Openstellingsronde SDE++ 2020”) in 2020 was from November 24 until December 17. The total requested amount of subsidy of almost €6.4 billion exceeded the available budget. The majority of the budget has been requested for PV projects (€2.4 billion) and for the capture and storage of CO2 (€2.1 billion). The applications are currently being assessed and the final results of the SDE++ 2020 are expected in the spring of 2021. The same applies to the design of the SDE++ 2021.

In January 2021, the Industry CO2 Tax (“Wet CO2-heffing industrie”) entered into force. The rationale behind this tax is that the big polluters, in general the larger industrial facilities such as industry falling under the European Emissions Trading System (“EU ETS”) and waste incineration plants, have to pay their fair share in reducing CO2 emissions in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the Industry CO2 Tax aims at ensuring that the reduction target for industry as agreed in the Climate Agreement is achieved, while the level playing field with neighboring countries is affected as little as possible. This tax is connected with the EU ETS system as provided for in the European Directive 2003/87/EC; if emission prices within that system rice, the Industry CO2 Tax falls and vice versa. Facilities are granted an exemption on part of the CO2 emissions, on which they do not have to pay any tax (dispensation rights). The exemption is determined by comparing the facility’s CO2 emissions with the most efficient facilities in the same industry in Europe. The more efficiently the facility produces, the less Industry CO2 Tax it pays on balance, because that tax is levied on the emitted CO2 that is in excess of the dispensation rights. The levy will increase in the coming years to encourage facilities to produce more efficiently, from €30 per ton CO2 in 2021 up to €125 in 2030. At the same time, the dispensation rights will be decreasing throughout the years.

A permit under the Dutch Environmental Permitting Act (“Wet algemene bepalingen omgevingsrecht”) is required to operate a waste treatment facility in the Netherlands. In addition to this permit, other permits, such as a permit pursuant to the Dutch Water Act (“Waterwet”) and under local Ordinances (“Algemene Plaatselijke Verordening”), could be required too. The need for these permits depends on the (physical) scale of the waste treatment facility and its impact on the nearby environment. A permit is issued without a time limit. However, changing circumstances (new operational activities on-site or new developments nearby) may require the permit to be revised. To ensure compliance, the authorities may withdraw a permit in case of significant violations of attached restrictions and/or applicable environmental regulations.

Furthermore, the operation of a waste treatment facility must be in line with the designated use in the applicable zoning plan. In case the facility is not in line with the zoning plan, either the zoning plan has to be adapted or a permit has to be obtained under the Dutch Environmental Permitting Act (“Wet algemene bepalingen omgevingsrecht”), allowing deviation from the applicable designated use. New zoning plans may amend/delete the designated use that allows an existing facility. However, in that case it is obligatory under the Dutch Spatial Planning Act (“Wet ruimtelijke ordening”) to include transitory rules that allow continuation (but not expansion) of existing operations.

The current ownership structure of Ellomay PS is as follows: (i) 75% is owned by Ellomay Water Plants Holdings (2014) Ltd., or Ellomay Water, which we wholly-own, and (ii) 25% is owned by Sheva Mizrakot Ltd., an Israeli private company, or Sheva Mizrakot. 66.667% of Sheva Mizrakot is owned by Ampa Investments Ltd., or Ampa, and the remaining 33.333% are owned by Ellomay Water. Accordingly, we hold (through our direct holdings in Ellomay PS and through our holdings in Sheva Mizrakot) 83.333% of the Manara PSP, and the remaining 16.667% of the Manara PSP are held by Ampa through its holdings in Sheva Mizrakot.

On February 11, 2021, we announced the financial closing of the Manara PSP Project Finance. The Manara PSP Project Finance will be provided by a consortium of Israeli banks and institutional investors, arranged and led by Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank Ltd. The Manara PSP Project Finance is in the aggregate amount of NIS 1.18 billion (approximately €300 million), and includes: (i) a senior secured tranche at a fixed rate of interest (with base interest rate equal to the yield to maturity of Israeli treasury bonds with like duration of the loan), linked to the Israeli Consumer Price Index and to be repaid over a period of 19.5 years from the commercial operation date; and (ii) a subordinated secured tranche at a floating rate of interest (Bank of Israel rate plus  spread) with a slightly shorter maturity. The weighted average annual interest rate spread of the Manara PSP Project Finance is approximately 3.3% during the construction phase and approximately 2.5% during the commercial operation phase. The Manara PSP Project Finance includes customary terms in connection with early prepayment, acceleration of payments upon certain breaches and limitations on distributions. The Manara PSP Project Finance also includes ancillary facilities such as Standby, VAT, Guarantees and Debt Service Reserve facilities in an aggregate amount of approximately NIS 146 million (approximately €37 million based on the euro/NIS exchange rate as of December 31, 2020).

The Average Annual Debt Service Cover Ratio (ADSCR) is 1.35:1.00 under the base case financial model for the Senior Secured Tranche. The default ADSCR is 1.05:1.00.

Sheva Mizrakot and Ellomay Water undertook to provide aggregate financing of approximately NIS 353 million (approximately €90 million based on the euro/NIS exchange rate as of December 31, 2020), pro rata to their holdings in the Manara PSP.

The Manara PSP Project Finance includes mandatory cash sweeps upon certain cover ratio and other events, cash sweep payments in connection with the subordinated loans and other lender protection mechanisms. In addition, the Manara PSP Project Finance agreement permits the shareholders of the Manara PSP to withdraw a developers’ fee at the Actual Completion Date (as such term is defined in the Manara PSP Project Finance agreement) of the Manara Project, subject to availability of funding, provided certain cover ratios are met.

We and Ampa provided certain sponsor support undertakings towards the lenders commensurate with the size and complexity of the project and the length of the construction period.

In addition, we undertook in connection with the Manara PSP Project Finance to maintain control over the Manara PSP and to provide customary pledges on the assets of and rights in the project. The shareholders of Ellomay PS provided pledges over their shares, the shareholders’ loans and the shareholders’ mezzanine loan.

For more information see Note 6 to our annual financial statements included elsewhere in this Report.

On February 14, 2021, we also announced the execution of the EPC agreement for the construction of the Manara PSP, or the Manara PSP EPC Agreement, under a “turnkey” contract with Electra Infrastructure Ltd., or Electra Infrastructure, one of Israel’s largest construction companies. The aggregate consideration payable to Electra Infrastructure under the Manara PSP EPC Agreement is expected to be approximately NIS 1.1 billion (approximately €280 million). In accordance with the Manara PSP EPC Agreement Voith Hydro, the world’s leading manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines, or Voith Hydro, was nominated as the subcontractor that will be providing the electro-mechanical equipment to the Manara PSP.

In parallel to the execution of the Manara PSP EPC Agreement, Ellomay PS also executed an O&M agreement, or the Manara PSP O&M Agreement, with Mekorot Israel National Water Co., the Israeli national water company, or Mekorot (which is fully owned by the Israeli Government), Voith Hydro and Verbund Hydro, one of the largest hydroelectric companies in Europe with extensive expertise in the operation of hydroelectric power plants, or, together, the Manara PSP O&M Contractors. The Manara PSP O&M Agreement provides that the Manara PSP O&M Contractors will be involved in the construction process through a mobilization period and that O&M services will be provided for a twenty year period, during which Mekorot, Voith Hydro and Verbund will provide O&M services for the initial three years, with Mekorot providing O&M services exclusively for the remaining 17 years.

The development of the Manara PSP began in 2007, and the Manara PSP, which was under different ownership at the time, was granted a conditional license in 2009 for a capacity of 200 MW, or the First Conditional License. The First Conditional License expired in 2011 and thereafter the previous owner applied for a new conditional license, but before the application was approved, the Israeli Electricity Authority rendered a decision, in 2012, prohibiting cross ownership in pumped storage projects (at the time, the then-owner of Manara PSP was also a shareholder in the Gilboa PSP), thus forcing the sale of Manara PSP to a new owner.

In January 2014, we entered into an agreement with Ortam Sahar Engineering Ltd., or Ortam, an Israeli publicly traded company, pursuant to which we acquired (a) Ortam’s holdings (24.75%) in Agira Sheuva Electra, L.P., or the Partnership, an Israeli limited partnership that had been promoting the Manara PSP; and (b) Ortam’s holdings: (i) in Chashgal Elyon Ltd., or the GP, an Israeli private company, which is the general partner in the Partnership (holding 25% in the Partnership), and (ii) in the engineering, procurement and construction contractor of the aforementioned project (50%). On May 20, 2014 our indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary, Ellomay Manara (2014) Ltd., or Ellomay Manara, entered into an agreement, or the Electra Agreement, with Electra Ltd., or Electra, an Israeli publicly traded company. Pursuant to the Electra Agreement, Ellomay Manara acquired Electra's holdings (24.75%) in the Partnership, as well as Electra’s holdings in the GP (25%).

In addition, we, Ellomay Manara and Electra agreed that: (i) on the closing date of the transactions contemplated under the Electra Agreement, Ellomay Manara shall transfer to subsidiaries of Electra all of its then holdings in the engineering, procurement and construction contractor of the aforementioned project, or the EPC, (50%), which will be acquired at closing by us from another partner in the Partnership pursuant to a conditional agreement we entered into, resulting in Electra’s subsidiaries holding 100% of the EPC; and (ii) each of Electra (through its subsidiaries) and us (together with Ellomay Manara) was granted an eighteen-month put option and call option, respectively, with respect to the entire holdings in the EPC.

In addition to the aforementioned agreements, on January 19, 2014 we entered into an agreement with Galilee Development Cooperative Ltd., an Israeli cooperative, or the Cooperative, pursuant to which, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions, we shall acquire the Cooperative’s holdings (24.75%) in the Partnership as well as its holdings in: (i) the GP (25%), and (ii) the EPC (50%).

In November 2014, Ellomay Manara consummated the acquisition of 75% of the limited partnership rights in the Partnership, as well as 75% of the holdings in the GP, from Electra, Ortam and the Cooperative. The remaining 25% of the holdings in the Partnership and in the GP are held by Sheva Mizrakot. We and Ellomay Manara did not pay any consideration upon the acquisition. On the same date, Ellomay Manara acquired Ortam’s holdings (50%) in the EPC and, as set forth above, immediately transferred such holdings to a subsidiary of Electra, which, following such transfer now holds 100% of the EPC. According to the various agreements executed in connection with the Manara PSP, we and Ellomay Manara are liable, jointly and severally, to all the monetary obligations set forth in said agreements.

In December 2018, we executed a settlement agreement, or the A.R.Z. Settlement Agreement, with A.R.Z. Electricity Ltd., or A.R.Z Electricity, an Israeli private company that at the time held 33.33% of Sheva Mizrakot Ltd. The A.R.Z. Settlement Agreement resolves a claim made by A.R.Z. Electricity and Mr. Raanan Aloni against us and our affiliates, in connection with the Manara PSP, and other disputes between such parties concerning the Manara PSP. In connection with the Manara PSP Project Finance and based on the A.R.Z. Settlement Agreement, A.R.Z. Electricity was required to provide its indirect share of equity investment and financing to the Manara PSP. Due to the failure to provide the required funds, Ellomay Water Plants Holdings (2014) Ltd., the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary that holds 75% of Ellomay PS, seized A.R.Z. Electricity’s holdings in Sheva Mizrakot (33%) and, as a result, the Company’s indirect holdings in the Manara PSP increased from 75% to 83.333%.

As of December 31, 2020, we paid an amount of approximately NIS 3.4 million (approximately €0.86 million) on account of the consideration upon the acquisition and may be required, if certain conditions and milestones are met (which conditions and milestones have not currently been met), to pay certain parties additional amounts in certain installments, which in the aggregate are not expected to exceed an amount of NIS 26 million (approximately €6.6 million).

In December 2020, Ellomay PS received a land assessment from the ILA in connection with the Manara PSP and paid approximately NIS 66.7 million including VAT (approximately €17 million) in consideration for the ILA’s consent to the sublease of the land on which the Manara PSP is currently planned to be constructed. The amount paid includes an amount of approximately NIS 9.9 million (approximately €2.5 million), excluding VAT, for royalties related to excess ground removal to the ILA.

On December 31, 2020, Ellomay PS received the conditional tariff approval for the Manara PSP from the Israeli Electricity Authority that regulates the tariffs and formulas for purchasing energy from a pumped storage manufacturer connected to the transmission network for a period of 20 years beginning on the date of receipt of the permanent production license. The conditional tariff approval became effective following the financial closing of the Manara PSP in February 2021.

On February 11, 2021, the Manara PSP complied with the conditions precedent under the conditional license held by the Manara PSS following the financial closing of the Manara PSP Project Finance and the execution of the Manara PSP EPC and O&M Agreements. For more information see “Item 4.A: Recent Developments.” The consultation process of the Manara PSP is expected to be very complex and includes various engineering and other challenges, includes planning and conducting of a comprehensive investigation to characterize the variety of soils and rocks at the construction sites. In accordance with the infrastructure characteristics and the seismic risks that exist on site, stability calculations need to be performed on the basis of which instructions are given for the planning and execution of the reservoirs

On March 3, 2017, Ellomay PS filed a petition, or the Petition, with the Israeli High Court of Justice against the Minister, the Israeli Electricity Authority and an the entity constructing a pumped storage project in Kochav Hayarden, Israel, or Kochav PS. Ellomay PS has also filed concurrently with the Petition, a motion for an interim relief, which would prevent the Minister and the Israeli Electricity Authority from granting Kochav PS any approval in connection with its compliance with any milestones stipulated in its conditional license.

The Petition was filed in connection with the decision of the Israeli Electricity Authority, dated February 20, 2017, to extend the following milestones deadlines stipulated in Kochav PS’s conditional license: (i) financial closing milestone deadline; and (ii) construction period for Kochav PS’s project. Kochav PS filed its response to the request for the motion for an interim relief on March 16, 2017. In its response, amongst other claims, Kochav PS requested that if the court granted Ellomay PS’s motion for an interim relief, Ellomay PS would be obligated to post a bond in the amount of NIS 10 million (approximately €2.6 million) in order to cover Kochav PS’s damages caused by the interim relief. The Minister and the Israeli Electricity Authority claimed, amongst other claims, that the motion should be dismissed, as should the Petition. In May 2017, the Israeli High Court of Justice dismissed the Petition.

On December 27, 2017, Kochav PS filed a statement of claim against Ellomay PS with the Tel Aviv – Jaffa Magistrate Court claiming damages allegedly caused due to delays in connection with the Petition. Kochav PS claims damages in an aggregate amount of approximately NIS 4.2 million (approximately €1.02 million). In April 2018, Ellomay PS submitted a statement of defense and in August 2018 Kochav PS submitted a plea. In July 2020, the parties reached a settlement whereby Ellomay PS paid an amount of NIS 0.35 million (approximately €0.088 million).

Pumped storage is a form of renewable energy based on hydropower. A pumped storage power plant is capable of generating electric energy on demand, and is one of the oldest technologies used for energy storage. The technology has been in use for more than 100 years, providing over 100,000 MW around the world.

The technology allows storing available energy for later use. The pumped storage technology stores energy during low demand periods and releases it during peak demand periods, thereby utilizing the gap in production costs in order to stabilize the grid’s voltage and regulation.

The plant is a hydro-storage system comprised of upper and lower water reservoirs, connected by an underground water pressure pipe: during low demand – pumping water from the lower reservoir for energy storage, and during peak demand – releasing water from the upper reservoir for energy production. The technology utilizes excess manufacturing ability during low demand hours in order to increase supply during peak demand hours, thus providing available reserve to be used by the grid dispatcher during peak and low demand periods.

Pumped storage also allows optimal grid stability functionality by providing a combination of low latency, high power and high energy response (~90 sec).

The purpose of pumped storage systems is to stabilize the grid’s voltage and to create optimization in the management of the electricity grid. The demand for electricity, in the Israeli market as well as in other electricity markets, is influenced by many factors, including the weather, time of day and day of the week, and the rise in the standard of living in Israel.

In order to meet the growing electricity needs in Israel, and being able to provide electricity to consumers, the IEC constantly over-generates energy. The over-generation of energy is the result of using low flexibility energy sources (coal and gas). The demand curve is generally characterized by peak demand, usually in summer afternoons or winter evenings, and low demand during night times. During low demand periods, the majority of energy is produced by base-load plants at relatively cheap production costs, while at peak demand times, more expensive energy sources are added.

In recent years, the use of renewable, volatile energy sources has increased, thus increasing the grid’s volatility and the need for storing energy during low-demand hours and releasing it during peak-demand hours.

Manara Cliff is located in Northern Israel, south of the town of Kiryat Shmona. According to the current construction plans of the Manara PSP, the plant will be based on water reservoirs built on agricultural land. The upper water reservoir will be located near Kibbutz Manara and the lower water reservoir will be based on an existing reservoir near Kiryat Shmona.

Ellomay PS entered into land lease option agreements with land owners, in order to secure land use rights for the duration of the construction phase and the commercial operation of the Manara PSP, and a water supply agreement with the Galil Elyon Water Association, in order to secure water supply for the project for the duration of the commercial operation.

Ellomay PS also holds geological and hydrology surveys, and an environmental impact assessment.

The Manara PSP was announced by the Israeli Government as a national infrastructure project. National Infrastructure Plan 41A (which updated National Infrastructure Plan 41), which establishes the planning principles for the Manara PSP (in a capacity of up to 340 MW) was approved by the Israeli government on January 15, 2018.

On June 17, 2020, the Israeli Minister of Energy executed a new conditional license for the Manara Project, or the Conditional License, following the retraction of the previous conditional license, which permits Ellomay PS to construct the Manara PSP. The Conditional License included several conditions precedent to the entitlement of Ellomay PS to receive an electricity production license. The Conditional License is valid for a period of seventy two (72) months commencing from the date of its approval by the Minister of Energy, subject to compliance by Ellomay PS with the milestones set forth therein and subject to the other provisions set forth therein (including a financial closing, the provision of guarantees and the construction of the pumped storage hydro power plant). As noted above, on February 11, 2021, Ellomay PS complied with the project finance milestone under the Conditional License.

The licenses issued by the Israeli Electricity Authority include several milestones, which the license holder has to meet in a timely manner in order to be eligible for a permanent license to produce electricity. In the event the license holder does not meet the milestones, the Israeli Electricity Authority has the authority to revoke the license. One such milestone is the completion of the financial closing. 

The Israeli Water Authority granted to Ellomay PS a water plant license, and approved the water rationing needed for the preliminary filling of the reservoirs prior to commencement of commercial operation, and for the continued operation of the power plant. The water plant license was granted to Ellomay PS in August 2015 and was since renewed from time to time.

In November 2009, the Israeli Electricity Authority published the regulatory framework for pumped storage power plants, or the PS Regulatory Framework, which has since been amended a few times. The PS Regulatory Framework establishes the following principles:

On December 31, 2020, the Manara PSP received a tariff approval from the Israeli Electricity Authority that regulates the tariffs and formulas for purchasing energy from a pumped storage manufacturer connected to the transmission network for a period of 20 years beginning on the date of receipt of the permanent production license. The conditional tariff became effective following the financial closing of the Manara PSP in February 2021.

Regulation under the Investment Company Act governs almost every aspect of a registered investment company’s operations and can be very onerous. The Investment Company Act, among other things, limits an investment company’s capital structure, borrowing practices and transactions between an investment company and its affiliates, and restricts the issuance of traditional options, warrants and incentive compensation arrangements, imposes requirements concerning the composition of an investment company’s board of directors and requires shareholder approval of certain policy changes. In addition, contracts made in violation of the Investment Company Act are void.

An investment company organized outside of the United States is not permitted to register under the Investment Company Act without an order from the SEC permitting it to register and, prior to being permitted to register, it is not permitted to publicly offer or promote its securities in the United States.

We do not believe that our current asset structure results in our being deemed to be an “investment company.” Specifically, we do not believe that our holdings in the PV Plants or the WtE Plants would be considered “investment securities,” as we control the PV Plants (other than the Talasol PV Plant) and the WtE Plants via wholly-owned subsidiaries. In addition, despite minority holder protective rights granted to the minority shareholders of the Talasol PV Plant and the Manara PSP, including several rights which effectively require the unanimous consent of all, we believe that our interests in the Talasol PV Plant and the Manara PSP do not constitute “investment securities” given, among other things, our majority shareholder and board membership status. The current fair value of our holdings in Dori Energy and other relevant assets do not in our judgment exceed 40% of our aggregate assets, excluding our assets held in cash and cash equivalents. If we were deemed to be an “investment company,” we would not be permitted to register under the Investment Company Act without an order from the SEC permitting us to register because we are incorporated outside of the United States and, prior to being permitted to register, we would not be permitted to publicly offer or promote our securities in the United States. Even if we were permitted to register, it would subject us to additional commitments and regulatory compliance. Investments in cash and cash equivalents or in other assets that are not deemed to be “investment securities” might not be as favorable to us as other investments we might make if we were not potentially subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act. We seek to conduct our operations, including by way of investing our cash and cash equivalents, to the extent possible, so as not to become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act. In addition, because we are actively engaged in exploring and considering strategic investments and business opportunities, and in fact have entered the Italian and Spanish photovoltaic power plants markets through controlling investments, we do not believe that we are currently engaged in “investment company” activities or business.

Following the consummation of sale of our previous wide format printers business in 2008 and until we commenced our renewable energy business in 2010, we ceased conducting any operating activity and substantially all of our assets consisted of cash and cash equivalents. Accordingly, we may have been deemed to be a “shell company,” defined by Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during such period as (1) a company that has no or nominal operations; and (2) either: (i) no or nominal assets; (ii) assets consisting solely of cash and cash equivalents; or (iii) assets consisting of any amount of cash and cash equivalents and nominal other assets.

Our characterization as a former “Shell Company” subjects us to various restrictions and requirements under the U.S. Securities Laws. For example, pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144(i) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, shares issued by us at the time we were deemed to be a “shell company” and thereafter can only be resold pursuant to the general provisions of Rule 144 subject to the additional conditions in Rule 144(i), including that we have filed all reports and other materials required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable, during the twelve month period preceding the use of Rule 144 for resale of such shares. This continuing restriction may limit our ability to, among other things, raise capital via the private placement of our shares.

Our Spanish PV Plants are held by: (i) Rodríguez I Parque Solar, S.L., (ii) Rodríguez II Parque Solar, S.L., (iii) Seguisolar S.L. and (iv) Ellomay Spain S.L., all wholly-owned by Ellomay Luxembourg. The Talasol PV Plant is held by Talasol Solar S.L., of which 51% is owned by Ellomay Luxembourg Holdings S.àr.l.

Our Israeli PV Plant is held by Ellomay Talmei Yosef Ltd. (formerly Sun Team Talmei Yosef Ltd.), which is wholly-owned by Ellomay Sun Team Ltd. (formerly Sun Team Ltd.), which, in turn, is wholly-owned by Ellomay Holdings Talmei Yosef Ltd. (formerly Sun Team Group Ltd.), which is wholly-owned by us.

We hold the Dori Energy shares through Ellomay Clean Energy Limited Partnership, an Israeli limited partnership whose general partner is Ellomay Clean Energy Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel wholly-owned by us.

Our WtE Plants located in the Netherlands are held by: (i) Groen Gas Goor B.V., (ii) Groen Gas Oude–Tonge B.V. and (iii) Groen Gas Gelderland B.V., all wholly-owned by Ellomay Luxembourg. We hold the rights in connection with the Manara PSP through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Ellomay Water Plants Holdings (2014) Ltd., which indirectly owns 75% of the rights in Ellomay PS and through our 33.333% holdings in Sheva Mizrakot, which owns 25% of Ellomay PS.

Our office space of approximately 360 square meters is located in Tel Aviv, Israel. This lease currently expires in February 2025. We sub-lease a small part of our office space to a company controlled by Mr. Shlomo Nehama, at a price per square meter based on the price that we pay under our leases. This sub-lease agreement was approved by our Board of Directors.

Our PV Plants are located in Spain and Israel. Pursuant to the building right agreements executed by our subsidiaries that are PV Principals in connection with the majority of our PV Plants, our subsidiaries own the PV Plants and received the right to maintain the PV Plants on the land on which they are located, or the Lands. The ownership of the Lands under the leasing agreements remains with the relevant owners of the Lands who are the grantors of the building rights under the respective building right agreements. The following table provides information with respect to the Lands and the PV Plants:

The land on which our WtE Plants are located is owned by the relevant project companies.

For more information concerning the use of the properties in connection with the PV Plants and the WtE Plants, see “Item 4.A: History and Development of Ellomay” and “Item 4.B: Business Overview” above.

Not Applicable.

Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the IASB, which differ in certain significant respects from U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or U.S. GAAP.

Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 and 3 to our consolidated financial statements. Certain accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts recognized in the financial statements. However, uncertainty about these assumptions and estimates could result in outcomes that require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset or liability affected in future periods. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. The changes in accounting estimates are recognized in the period of the change in estimate. The key assumptions made in the financial statements concerning uncertainties at the balance sheet date and the critical estimates that may cause a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are the following:

Within the scope of the valuation of financial assets and derivatives not traded on an active market, management makes assumptions about inputs used in the valuation models. For information on a sensitivity analysis of levels 2 and 3 financial instruments carried at fair value see Note 21 to our annual financial statements regarding financial instruments.

The probability that in the future there will be taxable profits against which carried forward losses can be utilized. See Note 19 to our annual financial statements included elsewhere in this Report regarding taxes on income and deferred tax.

Fair value of assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination. See Note 6 regarding subsidiaries.

Our reportable segments, which form our strategic business units, are as follows: (i) photovoltaic power plants presented per geographical areas (Spain and Israel and, for periods prior to the sale of our Italian PV Portfolio), (ii) 9.375% indirect interest in Dorad, (iii) anaerobic digestion plants (Biogas) in the Netherlands and (iv) pumped storage hydro power plant in Manara, Israel. For more information see Note 22 to our annual financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Italian PV Segment.  Revenues from our Italian PV segment, sold to a third party on December 20, 2019, were 0 for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €10.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Spanish PV Segment.  Revenues from our Spanish PV segment were approximately €2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to €3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease mainly resulted from a decrease in demand and prices of the Spanish electricity market due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Israeli PV Segment.  The segment results for our PV Plant located in Israel are presented under the fixed asset model and not under the IFRIC 12 financial asset model as applied in our financial statements. Proceeds for electricity produced by our Israeli PV segment were approximately €4.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Dorad Segment.  The segment results for Dorad are presented as our share in the results of Dorad in NIS translated into euro and not under the equity method (equity accounted investee) as applied in our financial statements. Our share in the revenues of Dorad was approximately €57.5 million (approximately NIS 225.7 million) for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €63.4 million (approximately NIS 253.2 million) for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in Dorad’s revenues is mainly due to a decrease in tariff and in the electricity sold to Dorad’s customers for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Netherlands Biogas Segment. Revenues from our Netherlands biogas segment were approximately €6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase is due to enhanced operational efficiency.

Operating expenses were approximately €5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in operating expenses is mainly attributable to the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio, to increased operational efficiency of our biogas plants in the Netherlands and to insurance reimbursement in connection with the storm damages in one of our biogas plants in the Netherlands that reduced operating expenses. Depreciation expenses were approximately €3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Italian PV Segment.  Operating expenses in connection with our Italian PV segment were 0 for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is due to the sale of our Italian PV Portfolio in December 2019.

Spanish PV Segment.  Operating expenses in connection with our Spanish PV segment were approximately €0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Israeli PV Segment.  Operating expenses in connection with our Israeli PV segment were approximately €0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Dorad Segment.  The segment results for Dorad are presented as our share in the results of Dorad in NIS translated into euro and not under the equity method (equity accounted investee) as applied in our financial statements. Operating expenses in connection with our Dorad segment were approximately €44.5 million (approximately NIS 174.6 million) for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €48.6 million (approximately NIS 193.9 million) for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in Dorad’s operating expenses is mainly due to a decrease in production and in gas prices.

Netherlands Biogas Segment.  Operating expenses in connection with our Netherlands biogas segment were approximately €4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is attributable to increased operational efficiency and to insurance reimbursement income in connection with the storm damages in one of our biogas plants in the Netherlands that reduced operating expenses.

Other income, net, were approximately €2.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to other expenses, net, of approximately €2.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2019. On December 20, 2019, we sold our holdings in this subsidiary. The Sale and Purchase Agreement governing the sale of the subsidiary provided for up to €2.1 million of indemnification in connection with a claim from GSE, Italy’s energy regulation agency, received by one of the sold Italian subsidiaries, claiming alleged non-compliance of the installed modules with the required certifications under the applicable regulation and raising the need to examine incentive eligibility implications. This potential payment was recorded as other expense in 2019. In 2020, with the cooperation of the acquirer of the Italian subsidiaries, an appeal was submitted to GSE. Following the positive outcomes of such appeal, the provision for the potential indemnification was cancelled.

Capital gain was 0 in the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €18.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2019. The capital gain in the year ended December 31, 2019 was recorded in connection with the sale of our Italian PV Portfolio on December 20, 2019.

Financing expenses, net was approximately €3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to approximately €8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in financing expenses, net, was mainly attributable to lower interest expenses due to the early repayment of the Company’s Series A Debentures and the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio, including all related project finance.

Tax benefit was approximately €0.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to tax benefit of approximately €0.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2019.

Net loss was approximately €6.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to net profit of approximately €9.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Total other comprehensive income was approximately €2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to total other comprehensive income of approximately €1.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase was mainly due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges and from foreign currency translation differences on New Israeli Shekel denominated operations, due to fluctuations in the euro/NIS exchange rates.

Total comprehensive loss was approximately €3.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to total comprehensive profit of approximately €11 million in the year ended December 31, 2019.

Please see Item 5A of our Form 20-F for the Year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC on April 7, 2020.

The annual rate of inflation in Israel was 0.8% in the year ended December 31, 2018, 0.6% in the year ended December 31, 2019 and deflation of 0.6% in the year ended December 21, 2020.

The table below sets forth the annual rates of appreciation (or devaluation) of the NIS against the euro.

The representative NIS/euro exchange rate was NIS 4.292 for one euro on December 31, 2018, NIS 3.878 for one euro on December 31, 2019 and NIS 3.944 for one euro on December 31, 2020. The average exchange rates for converting the NIS to euro during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020 were 4.244, 3.993 and 3.925 for one euro, respectively. The representative exchange rate as of March 1, 2021 was NIS 3.983 for one euro.

Our management determined that our functional currency is the euro and elected the euro as our reporting currency, effective December 31, 2017.

Items included in the financial statements of each of our subsidiaries and investees are measured using their functional currency. When a company’s functional currency differs from its parent’s functional currency that entity represents a foreign operation whose financial statements are translated so that they can be included in the consolidated financial statements as follows:

For information concerning hedging transactions entered, see “Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

Our PV Plants and other energy manufacturing plants are subject to comprehensive regulation and we sell the electricity and energy produced for rates determined by governmental legislation and to local governmental entities. Any change in the legislation that affects plants such as our plants could materially adversely affect our results of operations. An economic crisis in Europe and specifically in Spain, the Netherlands and Italy, whether related to the Covid-19 pandemic or otherwise or continued financial distress of the IEC could cause the applicable legislator to reduce benefits provided to operators of PV plants or other privately-owned energy manufacturing plants or to revise the incentive regimes that currently governs the sale of electricity in Spain, the Netherlands, Israel and Italy. For more information see “Item 3.D: Risk Factors - Risks Related to our Renewable Energy Operations,” “Item 3.D: Risk Factors - Risks Related to our Investment in Dori Energy,” “Item 3.D: Risk Factors - Risks Related to our Other Operations”, “Item 4.B: Material Effects of Government Regulations on the PV Plants,” “Item 4.B: Material Effects of Government Regulations on Dorad’s Operations,” “Item 4.B: The Netherlands Waste-to-Energy Market and Regulation” and “Item 4.B: Material Effects of Government Regulations on The Manara PSP.”

As of December 31, 2020, we had tax loss carry-forwards in the amount of approximately €0.9 million. Such carry-forward tax losses are following a decrease of approximately €20 million as a result of a tax inspection and a final settlement reached with the tax authorities in 2018. Under current Israeli tax laws, tax loss carry-forwards do not expire and may be offset against future taxable income. The amount of tax loss carry-forwards is subject to tax inspections and final assessments of settlements with the tax authorities.

Although we now hold the aforementioned funds, we may need additional funds if we seek to acquire certain new businesses and operations and if we seek to implement our project development plans and to advance large development projects that require substantial funds. If we are unable to raise funds through public or private financing of debt or equity, we will be unable to fund certain projects, investments or business combinations that could ultimately improve our financial results. We cannot ensure that additional financing will be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

We entered into various project finance agreements in connection with the financing of our Spanish PV Plants, including the Talasol PV Plant (all as more fully described below). In January 2014 and June 2014 we issued the Series A Debentures, which were repaid by us in full in January 2020. In March 2017 we issued the Series B Debentures, which were repaid by us in full in March 2021, in July 2019, October 2020 and February 2021 we issued the Series C Debentures and in February 2021 we issued the Series D Debentures, all as more fully described below. In addition, in February 2021, the Manara PSP Project Finance reached financial closing, the Talmei Yosef PV Plant, our PV Plants in Spain and our WtE Plants also obtained project financing as more fully described below. We currently have no agreements, commitments or understandings for additional financing, however we will require additional funds in order to advance the projects that are currently under development or that will be developed in the future. The project finance arrangements entered into by several of the Italian project companies holding our Italian PV plants were transferred as part of the sale of our Italian PV Portfolio on December 20, 2019.

On July 17, 2019, we issued 800,000 ordinary shares to several Israeli qualified investors in a private placement undertaken in accordance with Regulation S. The price per share was NIS 39.20 and we received net proceeds of approximately NIS 31.1 million (approximately €50 million) (net of related expenses such as consultancy fee of approximately NIS 0.2 million).

On February 18, 2020, we issued 715,000 ordinary shares and warrants to purchase an additional 178,750 ordinary shares to several Israeli institutional investors in a private placement undertaken in accordance with Regulation S. The price per share was NIS 70. The warrants are exercisable for a period of one year, with an exercise price of NIS 80 per ordinary share. We received net proceeds of NIS 49.9 million (approximately €13.5 million) (net of related expenses such as consultancy fee of approximately NIS 0.1 million).

On July 20, 2020, we issued 450,000 ordinary shares to several Israeli qualified investors in a private placement undertaken in accordance with Regulation S. The price per share was NIS 70.5 (approximately €18 based on the Euro/NIS exchange rate at that time) and we received gross proceeds of approximately NIS 31.7 million (approximately €8.1 million based on the Euro/NIS exchange rate at that time).

Since January 1, 2021, we completed public offerings in Israel of additional Series C Debentures and of the newly-issued Series D Debentures, convertible into our ordinary shares and Israeli institutional investors exercised warrants previously issued to them in a private placement. In addition, we performed an early repayment, in full, of our Series B Debentures and entered into the Manara PSP Project Finance. For more information see “Item 4.A: History and Development of Ellomay” under “Recent Developments,” “Item 4.B: Business Overview” and “Item 10.C: Material Contracts.”

As of December 31, 2020, we had working capital of approximately €42.9 million, compared to working capital of approximately €45.4 million as of December 31, 2019. In our opinion, our working capital is sufficient for our present requirements.

We currently invest our excess cash in cash and cash equivalents that are highly liquid and in short term deposits and marketable securities.

As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately €66.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, compared with approximately €44.5 million of cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2019 and approximately €36.9 million of cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2018. The increase in cash during the year ended December 31, 2020 was mainly due to the private placement of our ordinary shares in July 2020 and the additional issuance of our Series C Debentures in October 2020, partially offset by expenses and investments in projects under development. The increase in cash during the year ended December 31, 2019 was mainly due to the issuance of our Series C Debentures and the private placement of our ordinary shares, both in July 2019, the payment received in consideration for the sale of 49% of Talasol in April 2019, the payment received in consideration for the sale of our Italian PV plants in December 2019 and the financing of our Spanish PV Plants in March 2019, partially offset by expenses and investments in the Talasol PV Plant.

On April 30, 2019, the Talasol PV Plant reached financial closing, or the Talasol PV Plant Finance. The Talasol PV Plant Finance includes the following facilities:

During the construction period, interest payments on the term, revolving debt and VAT facilities will be made on a monthly basis, and semi-annually thereafter (commencing March 31, 2021). The VAT facilities’ interest period, however, remains on a monthly basis. The agreements executed in connection with the Talasol PV Plant Finance provide for mandatory prepayment upon the occurrence of certain events and various customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants to maintain a Historic and Projected DSCR not lower than 1.05:1, and not to make distributions in the event that: (i) the Historic and Projected DSCR will be lower than 1.15:1.0 and (ii) the Loan Life Cover Ratio will be lower than 1.20:1.0. The facilities provided by the EIB include certain other representations and undertakings mandated by applicable EU regulation.

The Talasol PV Plant Finance documents require that security interests be provided in connection with the following: (i) Talasol’s shares (held by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Ellomay Luxemburg), (ii) pledges over accounts, (iii) pledges over Talasol PV Plant’s documents, (iv) pledges over receivables under the shareholders loans, (v) security assignment of hedging claims and (vi) promissory equipment mortgage.

In connection with the Talasol PV Plant Finance, Ellomay Luxemburg, our wholly-owned subsidiary and the parent company of Talasol and the Company undertook separately to (indirectly) retain at least 50.1% of the shares in Talasol and not to buy any debt of, or hedging claims against, Talasol from the entities providing the financing to the Talasol PV Plant.

On April 30, 2019, Talasol entered into a swap agreement, replacing the Euribor 6 month rate with a fixed 6 month rate of approximately 0.9412%.

As the financing was structured for the term of the PPA signed in connection with the Talasol PV Plant (ten years) plus additional three years beyond the term of the PPA, the Talasol PV Plant Finance documentation requires Talasol to prepay the term loans via cash-sweeps to ensure that the term loans are repaid in full until the termination date of the PPA. Talasol has the option to place the relevant cash sweep amounts on a reserve account instead, and, in the event it enters into a satisfactory new power purchase agreement or power hedge agreement, the amounts on the reserve account may be transferred to the operating account of Talasol, to the extent they are not required in prepayment of the term loans to ensure that during the remainder of the term loans the base case ratios are complied with.

We own 51% of Talasol and consolidate its results in our financial statements included elsewhere in this Report.

On March 12, 2019, four of our Spanish indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, Rodríguez I Parque Solar, S.L.U., Rodríguez II Parque Solar, S.L.U., Seguisolar, S.L.U. and Ellomay Spain, S.L., or, together, the Spanish Subsidiaries, entered into a facility agreement governing the procurement of project financing in the aggregate amount of approximately €18.4 million with Bankinter, S.A., or the Facility Agreement.

The Facility Agreement amount consists of the following tranches:

The construction of the Talmei Yosef PV Plant was financed by two bank loans as follows:

In connection with these loans, the Talmei Yosef project company provided charges on its rights in the PV Plant, notes, equity, goodwill, on all assets of the PV Plant and on future receivables from the IEC and undertook customary limitations and undertakings, including maintaining the following financial ratios: (i) upon withdrawal of funds on account of the loan framework (based on milestones), maintaining an annual Historic ADSCR, a Projected ADSCR and a Projected LLCR (all as defined in the relevant loan agreement) of 1.25:1.00, (ii) upon a distribution of profits from the project company, maintaining a Historic ADSCR, a Projected ADSCR and a Projected LLCR of 1.20:1.00, and (iii) throughout the term of the loan, maintaining an annual ADSCR and a Projected ADSCR of 1.05:1.00 for the following 12 months and maintaining an LLCR of 1.08:1.00.

As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding amount under the Talmei Yosef Project Finance was approximately NIS 68.8 million (approximately €17.4 million). This aggregate outstanding loan balance is netted with an amount of approximately NIS 0.6 million (approximately €0.2 million) debt issuance costs to be amortized over the length of the underlying loan.

The Project Finance documents require that security interests be provided in connection with the following: (i) the Talmei Yosef project company’s shares and rights in the Talmei Yosef PV Plant, (ii) pledges over accounts, and (iii) pledges over future receivables from the sale of electricity. The Project Finance documents also require the Talmei Yosef project company to deposit funds for the renewal of equipment (approximately NIS 5.2 million as of December 31, 2020) as well as funds sufficient to cover its debt service required level which consists of six months payment of principal and interest (approximately NIS 1.6 million as of December 31, 2020).

Groen Goor, Independent Power Plant B.V. (the entity that holds the permits and subsidies in connection with the Goor Project and is wholly-owned by Groen Goor), or GIPP, Ludan, and Ellomay Luxembourg entered into a senior project finance agreement documents, or the Goor Loan Agreement, with Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., or Rabobank, that includes the following tranches: (i) two loans with principal amounts of €3.51 million (with a fixed interest rate of 3% for the first five years) and €2.09 million (with a fixed interest rate of 2.5% for the first five years), for a period of 12.25 years, repayable in equal monthly installments commencing three months following the connection of the Goor Project’s facility to the grid and (ii) an on-call credit facility of €370,000 with variable interest.

In connection with the Goor Loan Agreement, certain customary securities were provided, including the following first ranking securities: (i) a pledge on the present and future rights arising from the feedstock purchase agreement, the EPC agreement, the O&M agreement, the SDE subsidy, the various power and green gas purchase agreements, and the green gas certification supply agreement, (ii) pledge on all present and future (a) receivables arising from business and trade, and (b) stock and inventory including machinery and transport vehicles of Groen Goor and GIPP; (iii) all rights/claims of Groen Goor and GIPP against third parties existing at the time of the execution of the Loan Agreement, including rights from insurance agreements. In addition, Groen Goor granted Rabobank a negative pledge and a mortgage up to an amount of €6.5 million (to be increased with 35% of the said amount for interest and costs) on real estate or other assets subject to public registration of Groen Goor.

In addition, Ellomay Luxembourg, our wholly-owned subsidiary: (i) provided the following undertakings to Rabobank: (a) that Groen Goor will not make distributions to its shareholders for a period of two years following the execution of the Loan Agreement, (b) that Groen Goor will not make distributions or repurchase its shares so long as the ratio of Groen Goor’s and GIIP’s equity and liabilities to shareholders to their balance sheet minus certain reserves and intangible assets is less than 40%, and (c) that in the event the aforementioned ratio is below 40%, its shareholders will invest the equity required in order to increase this ratio to 40%, pro rata to their holdings in Groen Goor and up to a maximum of €1.2 million, and (ii) provided pledges on its rights in connection with the shareholders loans provided to Groen Goor, which loans shall also be subordinated by Ellomay Luxembourg in the favor of Rabobank. Shortages in liquidity as a result of exceeding the construction budget and/or extension of start-up costs of the Goor Project shall be provided by Ellomay Luxembourg and not financed by Rabobank. In addition, we provided a guarantee to Rabobank for the fulfillment of Ellomay Luxembourg’s undertakings set forth above.

As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding amount under the Groen Goor Project Finance was approximately €4.5 million.

On May 3, 2017, Oude Tonge, Oude Tonge Holdings B.V. (the entity that holds the permits and subsidies in connection with the Oude Tonge Project and is wholly-owned by Oude Tonge), or OTH, Ludan and Ellomay Luxembourg entered into senior project finance agreement documents, or the Oude Tonge Loan Agreement, with Rabobank. In June 2017, the financial closing occurred with respect to the project finance that includes the following tranches: (i) two loans with principal amounts of €3.15 million and €1.7 million, each with a fixed annual interest rate of 3.1% for the first five years, for a period of 12.25 years, repayable in equal monthly installments commencing three months following the connection of the Oude Tonge Project to the grid and (ii) an on-call credit facility of €100,000 with variable interest.

In connection with the Oude Tonge Loan Agreement, certain customary securities were provided, including the following first ranking securities: (i) pledge on the present and future rights arising from supplier contracts, the EPC agreement, the O&M agreement, the SDE subsidy, the various power and green gas purchase agreements, and the green gas certification supply agreement, (ii) pledge on all present and future (a) receivables arising from business and trade, and (b) stock and inventory including machinery and transport vehicles of Oude Tonge and OTH; (iii) all rights/claims of Oude Tonge and OTH against third parties existing at the time of the execution of the Loan Agreement, including rights from insurance agreements. In addition, Oude Tonge granted Rabobank a negative pledge and a mortgage up to an amount of €5.5 million (to be increased with 35% of the said amount for interest and costs) on real estate or other assets subject to public registration of Oude Tonge and OTH.

In connection with the Oude Tonge Loan Agreement, Ellomay Luxembourg, our wholly-owned subsidiary: (i) provided the following undertakings to Rabobank: (a) that Oude Tonge will not make distributions to its shareholders for a period of two years following the execution of the Loan Agreement, (b) that Oude Tonge will not make distributions or repurchase its shares so long as the ratio of Oude Tonge’s and OTH’s equity and liabilities to shareholders to their balance sheet minus certain reserves and intangible assets is less than 40%, (c) that in the event the aforementioned ratio is below 40%, its shareholders will invest the equity required in order to increase this ratio to 40%, pro rata to their holdings in Oude Tonge and up to a maximum of €1 million, and (d) that they will provide the equity required for the completion of the Goor Project and (ii) provided pledges on its rights in connection with the shareholders loans provided to Oude Tonge, which loans shall also be subordinated by Ellomay Luxembourg in the favor of Rabobank. Shortages in liquidity as a result of exceeding the construction budget and/or extension of start-up costs of the Goor Project shall be provided by Ellomay Luxembourg and not financed by Rabobank. In addition, we provided a guarantee to Rabobank for the fulfillment of Ellomay Luxembourg’s undertakings set forth above.

As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding amount under the Oude Tonge Project Finance was approximately €3.9 million.

GG Gelderland entered into a senior project finance agreement, or the Gelderland Loan Agreement, with Rabobank, that includes the following tranches: (i) four loans with principal amounts of (a) approximately €2.5 million (with a fixed interest rate of 3.6% for the first five years), (b) €1.2 million (with a fixed interest rate of 4.5% for the first five years), (c) €0.4 million (with a fixed interest rate of 3.55% for the first five years) and (d) approximately €2.8 million (with a fixed interest rate of 4.5% for the first five years), for a period of 12 years (144 monthly payments), repayable in equal monthly installments and (ii) an on-call credit facility of €0.75 million with variable interest. An aggregate amount of approximately €6.9 million was withdrawn in 2015, 2016 and 2018 on account of these loans. On November 30, 2020, GG Gelderland replaced the loan set forth in (i)(a) above which as of that date had an outstanding principal amount of €1.89 million, with a another loan from Rabobank with a fixed interest rate of 3.1% per year, repayable in 56 payments monthly, with a repayment of principal in one payments on August 2025. On the same date, the interest for the other loans bearing a fixed interest rate of 4.5% per year for 5 years was reduced to 3.5% per year for the next 5 years, commencing December 2020. In connection with the Gelderland Loan Agreement, the following securities were provided to Rabobank: (i) pledge on the present and future rights arising from the feedstock purchase agreement, the EPC agreement, the O&M agreement, the SDE subsidy, the various power and green gas purchase agreements, and the green gas certification supply agreement, (ii) pledge on all present and future (a) receivables arising from business and trade, and (b) stock and inventory including machinery and transport vehicles of GG Gelderland, and (iii) all rights/claims of GG Gelderland against third parties existing at the time of the execution of the Gelderland Loan Agreement, including rights from insurance agreements. In connection with the Gelderland Loan Agreement, Ellomay Luxembourg, the Company wholly-owned subsidiary, provided the undertaking to Rabobank that Ellomay Luxembourg will not sell the shares of GG Gelderland without the prior written consent of Rabobank.

As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding amount under the Gelderland Loan Agreement was approximately €5.4 million.

GG Gelderland entered into a loan agreement in the end of November 2020, with Ontwikkelingsnaatscgappij Oost-Nederland N.V., or Oost, as a benefit created following the corona period. The loan is with a principal amount of €0.75 million with a fixed interest rate of 3% per year for 3 years. The interest and the principle will be fully repaid in one single amount after 3 years. According to the agreement with Oost, the loan term may be prolonged up to 5 years.

As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding amount under the agreement with Oost was approximately €0.75 million.

As of December 31, 2020, we had an aggregate principal amount of approximately NIS 86.3 million outstanding Series B Debentures and approximately NIS 243.1 million outstanding Series C Debentures. Subsequent to December 31, 2020, we issued an additional aggregate amount of NIS 100.939 million Series C Debentures and NIS 62 million Series D Convertible Debentures. We also performed an early repayment of all of our Series B Debentures as noted below.

On March 14, 2017, we issued approximately NIS 123.2 million (approximately €31.7 million, as of the issuance date) of unsecured non-convertible Series B Debentures due June 30, 2024 through a public offering in Israel. The gross proceeds of the offering were approximately NIS 123.2 million and the net proceeds of the offering, net of related expenses such as consultancy fee and commissions, were approximately NIS 121.4 million (approximately €31.2 million). The Series B Debentures were traded on the TASE and have been rated Baa1.il /Stable, on a local scale, by Midroog Ltd.

The principal amount of Series B Debentures was repayable in six (6) annual installments as follows: on June 30 of each of the years 2019-2022 (inclusive) 15% of the Principal shall be paid, and on June 30 of each of 2023-2024 (inclusive) 20% of the Principal shall be paid, and is not linked to the CPI or otherwise. The Series B Debentures initially bore a fixed interest at the rate of 3.44% per year (that is not linked to the Israeli CPI or otherwise), payable semi-annually on June 30 and December 31 of each of the years 2017 through June 30, 2024 (inclusive). On November 13, 2017, following a rating downgrade of our Debentures from ilA- to ilBBB+ (by the previous rating company that rated the Series B Debentures, Standard & Poor’s Maalot Ltd.), the Series B Debentures fixed annual interest rate was increased by 0.25% to 3.69%.

As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding amount under the Series B Debentures was approximately NIS 85.7 million (approximately €21.7 million).

On February 28, 2021, we announced that we will fully repay our Series B Debentures on March 18, 2021 and on such date our Series B Debentures were repaid in full. Pursuant to the terms of the deed of trust governing the Series B Debentures, the early repayment amount consisted of a principal payment in the amount of approximately NIS 86.3 million (approximately €21.5 million), accrued interest in the amount of approximately NIS 0.7 million (approximately €0.16 million) and a prepayment charge of approximately NIS 3.4 million (approximately €0.86 million), amounting to an aggregate repayment amount of approximately NIS 90.4 million (approximately €22.5 million).

The principal amount of Series C Debentures is repayable in five (5) unequal annual installments as follows: on June 30, 2021 10% of the principal shall be paid, on June 30 of each of the years 2022 and 2023, 15% of the principal shall be paid and on June 30 of each of the years 2024 and 2025, 30% of the principal shall be paid. The Series C Debentures bear a fixed interest at the rate of 3.3% per year (that is not linked to the Israeli CPI or otherwise), payable semi-annually on June 30 and December 31 commencing December 31, 2019 through June 30, 2025 (inclusive).

The Series C Deed of Trust includes customary provisions, including (i) a negative pledge such that we may not place a floating charge on all of our assets, subject to certain exceptions and (ii) an obligation to pay additional interest for failure to maintain certain financial covenants, with an increase of 0.25% in the annual interest rate for the period in which we do not meet each standard and up to an increase of 0.5% in the annual interest rate. The Series C Deed of Trust does not restrict our ability to issue any new series of debt instruments, other than in certain specific circumstances, and enables us to expand the Series C Debentures provided that: (i) we are not in default of any of the immediate repayment provisions included in the Series C Deed of Trust or in breach of any of our material obligations to the holders of the Series C Debentures pursuant to the terms of the Series C Deed of Trust, (ii) the expansion will not harm our compliance with the financial covenants included in the distribution undertaking Series C Deed of Trust and (iii) to the extent the Series C Debentures are rated at the time of the expansion, the expansion will not harm the rating of the existing Series C Debentures.

The Series C Deed of Trust includes a number of customary causes for immediate repayment, including a default with certain financial covenants for two consecutive financial quarters, and includes a mechanism for the update of the annual interest rate of the Series C Debentures in the event we do not meet certain financial covenants. The financial covenants are as follows:

As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding amount under the Series C Debentures was approximately NIS 243.1 million (approximately €61.6 million). As noted above, subsequent to December 31, 2020 we issued an additional aggregate principal amount of NIS 100.939 million (approximately €25.6  million based on the Euro /NIS exchange rate as of December 31, 2020) Series C Debentures.

For further information concerning the Series C Deed of Trust, see “Item 10.C: Material Contracts” and the Series C Deed of Trust included as exhibit 4.19 under “Item 19. Exhibits.”

In connection with the issuance of our Debentures, we undertook to comply with the “hybrid model disclosure requirements” as determined by the Israeli Securities Authority and as described in the prospectuses published in connection with the public offering of our Debentures. This model provides that in the event certain financial “warning signs” exist in our consolidated financial results or statements, and for as long as they exist, we will be subject to certain disclosure obligations towards the holders of our Debentures.

On March 30, 2020, our Board of Directors approved a plan to repurchase our Debentures in an aggregate amount of up to NIS 15 million for a six month period and on September 24, 2020, our Board of Directors approved the extension of the plan for an additional six month period. The timing, volume and nature of repurchases will be at the sole discretion of management and will depend on market conditions, the price and availability of our Debentures, and other factors. No assurance can be given that any particular amount of Debentures will be repurchased and the repurchase plan does not obligate the Company to acquire a specific amount of Debentures in any period.

We currently have no agreements, commitments or understandings for additional financing, however we will require additional funds in order to advance the projects under development or that will be developed in the future.

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods presented: