5th May 2016 07:00
5 May 2016
John Laing Infrastructure Fund Limited ("JLIF")
Agreement of Acquisition
JLIF, the FTSE 250 listed infrastructure investment company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Acsa, Obras e Infraestructuras, S.A.U. ("Acsa"), a member of the Sorigué group, to acquire an additional 13.5% interest in the Barcelona Metro Stations Line 9 Section II project ("Section II").
JLIF's existing 40% interest in Section II was acquired in January 2016 from Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras, a subsidiary of Grupo ACS, and was the subject of a separate announcement at that time. In addition, JLIF has entered into an agreement to acquire from Acsa a 13.5% interest in the Barcelona Metro Stations Line 9 Section IV project ("Section IV") which runs further north to Section II.
The aggregate consideration for the incremental investment in Section II and the acquisition of the interest in Section IV, which are expected to complete over the coming weeks (subject to the customary consents), is the Euro equivalent of approximately £50 million and will be funded through JLIF's currently undrawn £180 million multi-currency revolving credit facility.
These acquisitions further consolidate JLIF's entry into the Spanish PPP market and increase the total number of assets in JLIF's portfolio to 60.
Having reached financial close in 2008, approximately two years prior to Section II, Section IV is a similar project in that it does not retain any construction risk and full availability payments are being received from the same client IFERCAT, a public agency of the Catalonian Government, over a remaining concession of 24 years. The discount rate used to value the forecast project cash flows for the incremental Section II interest and Section IV interest is in line with that used to value the consideration for the existing 40% interest in Section II, purchased in January, which is materially above the weighted average discount rate used to value JLIF's portfolio at 31 December 2015.
Andrew Charlesworth from John Laing Capital Management ("JLCM"), Investment Adviser to JLIF, said:
"JLIF is pleased to have furthered its presence in the Spanish market and to have done so via an exclusive process based on a relationship with a co-shareholder. We would like to thank Acsa for their efforts in reaching this agreement and for ensuring that the transaction completed in an efficient manner."
For further information, please contact:
JLCM 020 7901 3326
Andrew Charlesworth
Finsbury 020 7251 3801
Faeth Birch
Philip Walters
Notes to editors
JLIF is one of Europe's largest listed infrastructure funds, trading on the London Stock Exchange. As an equity stakeholder, JLIF partners with public sector counterparties across the world to deliver key local and national infrastructure projects. In return these provide government-backed, inflation-linked revenue streams to our business. JLIF's continued success is built on a collaborative approach, centred on long term relationships with its clients such that their changing infrastructure needs can be met in a timely and cost effective way.
Acsa, Obras e Infraestructuras, S.A.U. is a construction company which is part of Sorigué, a business group of companies in the international construction, services, technology and water engineering sector. The Sorigué group has a staff of 3,000, with offices located in all major Spanish cities, operating throughout Spain.
Related Shares:
John Laing Infrastructure Fund