John Laing Group plc Pre-Close Update (3821R)

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RNS Number : 3821R

John Laing Group plc

09 December 2016

JOHN LAING GROUP plc

PRE-CLOSE UPDATE

John Laing Group plc ("John Laing" or "the Group"), the international originator, active investor and manager of infrastructure projects, today issues a pre-close update for the year ending 31 December 2016.

Investment Activity

-- Primary Investment activity has remained strong in each of our three geographical regions: Asia Pacific, North America and Europe (including the UK)

   --     Total investment commitments to date of GBP181 million, in line with guidance for 2016 
   --     Investment commitments in 2016 (see Appendix I for full list): 

o A6 Parkway (Netherlands): GBP9.0 million

o Intercity Express Programme (IEP) Phase 1 (UK): GBP37.0 million

o Eight wind farm investment commitments totalling GBP133.9 million in the UK, Germany, France, Australia and the US

Realisations

-- Total realisations agreed in 2016 to date of GBP255 million, with aggregate prices achieved in line with portfolio valuation (see Appendix I for full list):

o Sale of holdings in British Transport Police and Oldham Housing for GBP19.5 million (counted towards realisations guidance for 2015)

o Proceeds from a further three completed transactions of GBP56.4 million

o Agreed sale of 100% holding in A55 road, UK for GBP28.3 million to JLIF, expected to complete shortly

o Agreed sale of 30% holding in M6 road, Hungary for EUR26.6 million (estimated GBP22.5 million), not expected to complete until Q1 2017. This transaction is subject to a number of consents and conditions

o Agreed sale of 29.69% holding in A1 motorway, Poland for EUR146.9 million (estimated GBP128.6 million), not expected to complete until Q1 2017. This transaction is also subject to a number of consents and conditions

Investment portfolio

   --     Our investment portfolio as a whole is performing in line with expectations 

New Royal Adelaide Hospital (NRAH)

-- In John Laing's interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2016, which were issued in late August 2016, it was reported that the contractor for the NRAH project was incurring delays and that the estimated impact had been reflected in John Laing's portfolio valuation. The scheduled date for technical completion was April 2016

-- Since mid-November 2016, the NRAH project company, in which John Laing has a 17.26% shareholding, has been in dispute over the Government of South Australia's (the State's) non-acceptance of a cure plan submitted in August 2016 to address the contractor's delays, and the State's asserted right to terminate the contract between it and the project company. Mediation between parties to the project is scheduled for mid-December 2016. The project company is also in dispute with the State in relation to certain construction defects alleged by the State. Court proceedings in relation to these matters began on 28 November 2016

-- Technical completion is on track for Q1 2017 and it is John Laing's view that the current differences are capable of being resolved. As previously disclosed, John Laing's original equity commitment to the NRAH project, which was made in 2011, was in the range GBP25 million - GBP50 million. Our investment is currently held at its estimated fair value; this will be reviewed as part of our portfolio valuation at 31 December 2016

Manchester Waste

-- As previously reported, the assets underlying our two Manchester Waste investments (Manchester Waste VL Co - 50% interest; Manchester Waste TPS Co - 37.43% interest) became operational in 2015. Levels of diversion of waste from landfill being achieved are ahead of contractual commitments

-- The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority ("GMWDA") has indicated that it is not satisfied with the current status of the VL Co project and it continues to seek significant cost savings and efficiencies. The process by which these issues will be resolved is currently unclear to the project company, which continues to work with GMWDA to explore options. As previously disclosed, John Laing's original equity commitment to the VL Co project, which was made in 2009, was in the range GBP25 million - GBP50 million. Our investment is currently held at its estimated fair value; this will be reviewed as part of our portfolio valuation at 31 December 2016

Other Investments

-- Eight investments are expected to move from the primary to the secondary investment portfolio during 2016, namely New Albion Wind Farm, Rammeldalsberget Wind Farm, A15 Road Netherlands, Speyside Biomass, Croydon and Lewisham Street Lighting, Pasilly Wind Farm, Hornsdale Wind Farm Phase I and Horath Wind Farm

Pension fund

-- Following a triennial actuarial review of the John Laing Pension Fund (JLPF) as at 31 March 2016, a seven-year deficit repayment plan has been agreed in principle with the JLPF Trustee. The plan includes contributions by John Laing of GBP24.5m, GBP26.5m and GBP29.1m in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively

-- As at 30 November 2016, using unaudited asset values the IAS19 pension deficit for JLPF was estimated at GBP75 million based on an IAS 19 discount rate of 2.85% and long term RPI of 3.20%. The deficit has increased since 30 June 2016 primarily as a result of higher long term inflation expectations

Other

   --     Sale of the UK activities of Project Management Services completed on 30 November 2016 

-- Based on a preliminary review of the Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS) legislation published by the UK Government on 5 December 2016, no further provision is expected to be required as at 31 December 2016 beyond that established at 30 June 2016

Outlook

-- Net asset value at 31 December 2016 is projected to be in the range of management expectations, assuming constant exchange rates and no change in the IAS19 pension deficit as at 30 November 2016

-- We expect the special dividend for 2016 to be based on the three completed realisations (GBP56.4 million), the A55 transaction expected to complete shortly (GBP28.3 million) and the M6 Hungary transaction expected to complete in Q1 2017 (approx. GBP22.5 million), giving a total of approximately GBP107 million versus our guidance of approximately GBP100 million

-- The pipeline of new investment opportunities remains strong in both PPP and Renewable Energy, across Asia Pacific, North America and Europe (including the UK)

-- John Laing is currently part of nine shortlisted PPP bids due to reach financial close in 2017 or 2018, including five in North America

-- We continue to assess opportunities in infrastructure sectors closely linked to our existing PPP and renewable energy sectors

   --     The market for secondary infrastructure investments remains strong 

Olivier Brousse, John Laing's Chief Executive, said:

"It has been a busy year so far for John Laing and we are in line with our guidance for 2016. Throughout the year, we have continued to focus on our core business of greenfield infrastructure, including investments in new projects, active management of our existing portfolio and realisation of several mature assets as we anticipate future opportunities. We are well positioned to take advantage of a growing number of new infrastructure projects in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe."

The Group's results for the year ending 31 December 2016 will be announced on 7 March 2017.

A call for analysts and investors will be held at 8.00am (London time) today.

Conference call details:

   UK number                              020 3139 4830 
   Pin code                                  45187978# 

Further information

Analyst/investor enquiries:

Olivier Brousse, Chief Executive [phone]

Patrick O'D Bourke, Group Finance Director [phone]

   Tom Randell, Head of Investor Relations and Communications                   [phone] 

Media enquiries:

James Isola, Maitland [phone]

www.laing.com

Appendix I: details of investment commitments and realisations

 
 Investment commitments            Region        PPP     RE     Total 
                                                 GBPm    GBPm    GBPm 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 A6 Parkway (Netherlands)          Europe        9.0      -      9.0 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Intercity Express Programme 
  (IEP) Phase 1                      UK         37.0      -     37.0 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 I-77 Managed Lanes                  US          1.1      -      1.1 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Hornsdale Wind Farm 
  Phase 2                       Asia Pacific      -      6.0     6.0 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Lynfi Wind Farm                     UK           -     24.0    24.0 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Nordergründe Offshore 
  Wind Farm                        Europe         -     36.7    36.7 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Sommette-Eaucourt Wind 
  Farm                             Europe         -     11.7    11.7 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Sterling Wind Farm                  US           -     15.7    15.7 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Kiata Wind Farm                Asia Pacific      -     20.4    20.4 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Horath Wind Farm                  Europe         -     14.3    14.3 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Saint-Martin-L'Ars Wind 

  Farm                             Europe         -      5.1     5.1 
-----------------------------  --------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Total                                          47.1    133.9   181.0 
---------------------------------------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 
 
 Realisations completed    Shareholding     Purchaser      Total 
                                                            GBPm 
------------------------  -------------  ---------------  ------ 
 British Transport 
  Police*                     54.17%           JLIF        19.5* 
------------------------  -------------  ---------------  ------ 
 Oldham Housing*               95% 
------------------------  -------------  ---------------  ------ 
 Dungavel Wind Farm            100%            JLEN        38.2 
------------------------  -------------  ---------------  ------ 
 New Albion Wind 
  Farm                         100%            JLEN        11.8 
------------------------  -------------  ---------------  ------ 
 Shareholding in 
  JLEN                         2.2%       Market placing    6.4 
------------------------  -------------  ---------------  ------ 
 
 Total                                                     75.9 
--------------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 

*Counted towards the realisations guidance for 2015

 
 Realisations agreed       Shareholding    Purchaser     Total 
  but not yet completed                                   GBPm 
------------------------  -------------  ------------  -------- 
 A55 UK                        100%          JLIF        28.3 
------------------------  -------------  ------------  -------- 
 M6 Hungary                    30%        Third party   22.5** 
------------------------  -------------  ------------  -------- 
 A1 Poland                    29.69%      Third party   128.6** 
------------------------  -------------  ------------  -------- 
 Total                                                   179.4 
-----------------------------------------------------  -------- 
 

**GBP amounts are estimates based on EUR/GBP exchange rates as at 30 November 2016 and incorporate the

effect of some foreign exchange hedging

JLIF = John Laing Infrastructure Fund

JLEN = John Laing Environmental Assets Group

Appendix II: exchange rates at 31 December 2015, 30 June 2016 and 30 November 2016

 
 Exchange rate         31 December   30 June 2016   30 November 
  vs Sterling              2015                         2016 
--------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------ 
 Euro                    1.3592         1.2086        1.1800 
--------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------ 
 US dollar               1.4833         1.3410        1.2485 
--------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------ 
 Australian dollar       2.0340         1.8166        1.6901 
--------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------ 
 New Zealand dollar      2.1692         1.8871        1.7629 
--------------------  ------------  -------------  ------------ 
 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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December 09, 2016 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)