19th Oct 2020 07:00
19 October 2020
DIVESTMENT UPDATE
John Laing announces the sale of its Australian wind farm portfolio
John Laing Group plc ("John Laing" or "the Group"), the responsible investor and active manager of infrastructure projects internationally, today announces that it has entered into an agreement to sell its portfolio of Australian wind farm assets ("the portfolio") to First Sentier Investors ("FSI") for a total consideration of AUD285 million (before disposal costs), equivalent to approximately £157 million.
This sale value represents a small uplift to John Laing's book value for the portfolio as at 30 June 2020, and is equivalent to a money multiple on its investment of 1.5x. Completion of the sales of the assets is subject to customary consents, regulatory approvals and notification periods, and these are expected to be satisfied by early 2021.
The portfolio consists of the Group's interests in six wind assets in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, with a total capacity of 514MW, in which John Laing has an aggregate economic interest of 209MW.
Since acquiring interests in these assets during 2015-2018, John Laing has de-risked the portfolio, achieved key project delivery milestones and has been actively involved in putting in place off-take and new financing arrangements.
As at 30 June 2020, John Laing's total Renewable Energy portfolio value was £417 million. This divestment therefore represents material progress with our strategy to realise fully our Renewable Energy assets over the next 2 years.
Under the Group's dividend policy, shareholders will share in the success of this realisation, whereby the Group will pay approximately 5-10% of gross proceeds received from the sale of investments on an annual basis.
The Group will publish a trading update on or around 28 October 2020.
Ben Loomes, Chief Executive of John Laing, said: "We are pleased to have reached agreement to sell our portfolio of wind assets in Australia to FSI. These assets play a strong role in supporting the country's energy transition.
This sale is in line with our commitment to realise assets to maximise value for shareholders, and marks an important milestone in our strategy to realise fully our Renewable Energy portfolio over the next 2 years."
Danny Latham, Partner FSI's Unlisted Infrastructure business, said: "This is an important milestone for First Sentier Investors' Global Diversified Infrastructure Fund as our first investment into the rapidly growing Australian renewables sector whilst also supporting our sustainability objectives. The de-risked operational portfolio of diverse assets provide the fund with a platform for growth in the sector and support of Australia's transition to a low carbon economy."
ENDS
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About John Laing
John Laing is a responsible investor and active manager of infrastructure projects internationally. John Laing creates value through investing in sustainable greenfield infrastructure projects, and by actively managing these projects through construction and into operation. We play a key role in providing solutions to complex infrastructure challenges leveraging our deep expertise, flexible business model and strong network of partners to respond to new opportunities as they emerge, helping to deliver vital infrastructure that improves the lives of the communities we serve.
About First Sentier Investors
First Sentier Investors in Australia manages AUD219 billion in assets (as at 30 September 2020) on behalf of institutional investors, pension funds, wholesale distributors, investment platforms, financial advisers and their clients worldwide. The firm operates as a standalone global investment management business with offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. First Sentier Investors' expertise spans a range of asset classes and specialist investment sectors, and is focused on delivering sustainable investment success based on responsible investment principles.
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