3i Infrastructure PLC Pre-close update (0322O)

TIDM3IN

RNS Number : 0322O

3i Infrastructure PLC

30 September 2019

30 September 2019

3i Infrastructure plc - Pre-close update

Portfolio performance in line with expectations, on track to meet targets

3i Infrastructure plc ("3i Infrastructure" or the "Company") is a long-term investor in infrastructure businesses and assets. This statement relates to the period from 1 April 2019 to 27 September 2019 (the "period").

Highlights

Investment activity

-- Completion of the c.EUR210 million acquisition of c.95% of Ionisos, alongside management. Ionisos is a leading owner and operator of cold sterilisation facilities servicing the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Portfolio activity

   --     The portfolio overall continues to perform in line with expectations. 

-- Our newest investment, Joulz, has performed ahead of our expectations in the first few months since acquisition.

-- Valorem has completed the bolt-on acquisition of Force Hydraulique Antillaise SAS ("FHA") and continues to perform well, growing its installed capacity of wind and solar projects at a faster pace than assumed in our investment case.

-- Softer demand for capacity experienced by Oystercatcher is persisting longer than we had expected. In line with industry peers, Attero faces some uncertainty relating to a proposed tax on waste imports to the Netherlands, which is expected to be debated in the Dutch parliament later in the calendar year.

Financial update

-- The portfolio continues to deliver a good level of income. Total portfolio income and non-income cash was GBP57 million in the period.

-- The Company is on track to deliver its dividend target for the year ending 31 March 2020 of 9.20 pence per share.

-- The Company's cash balance was GBP17 million at 27 September 2019 with a drawn balance on its Revolving Credit Facility ("RCF") of GBP192 million, leaving GBP108 million undrawn.

Commenting on today's announcement, Richard Laing, Chair of 3i Infrastructure, said: "Building on a strong performance in recent years, the Company has made a good start to the year, delivering a total shareholder return for the period of 8%. We are on track to meet our target return and dividend target for the year."

Phil White, Managing Partner and Head of Infrastructure, 3i Investments plc, Investment Manager of the Company, added: "The portfolio continues to perform in line with expectations overall and deliver a good level of income. We are very pleased to have completed the acquisition of Ionisos, which further diversifies the portfolio, and we continue to develop an attractive pipeline of investment opportunities."

Portfolio activity

On 25 September 2019, 3i Infrastructure invested c.EUR210 million to acquire c.95% of Ionisos, alongside management. Ionisos is a leading owner and operator of cold sterilisation facilities servicing the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Headquartered in Civrieux, France, Ionisos is the third largest cold sterilisation provider globally and operates a network of facilities in Europe with market leading positions in France and Spain. It has a highly diversified customer base of more than 1,000 customers and delivers a mission-critical service for its customers for whom cold sterilisation is an essential component of the manufacturing process. Demand for sterilisation is driven by attractive market fundamentals and non-cyclical market factors, including an ageing population in Western Europe, growing demand for medical services increasingly relying on single use products that would be damaged by the heat and/or humidity of hot sterilisation methods, and increasingly stringent regulation governing the sterilisation of medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics products.

In July 2019, following a competitive process, Tampnet was awarded a contract for building and operating a 5G LTE network on two platforms offshore Newfoundland, Canada. Magnus Mandersson has been appointed Chairman of Tampnet. Magnus has 25 years of experience in the global telecommunications sector.

Valorem completed the acquisition of a 51% stake in FHA, the leading developer and operator of hydro power plants in the French Caribbean islands, alongside its founder Raphael Gros. The transaction was funded by Valorem's balance sheet and external debt.

Mel Kroon has been appointed Chairman of Attero. Mel was Chairman of TenneT Holding. Richard Lewis has been appointed to the Infinis board as an additional non-executive director. Richard has extensive experience in the energy sector.

Portfolio returns

The portfolio overall continues to perform in line with expectations and is delivering a good level of income. Total portfolio income and non-income cash was GBP57 million in the period, comprising portfolio income of GBP51 million and non-income cash of GBP6 million. This compares with GBP46 million of portfolio income and GBP86 million of non-income cash (the majority of which consisted of one-off refinancing gains) received in the same period last year.

As usual, an important element of the determination of the Company's results for the half-year to 30 September 2019 will be the valuation exercise carried out on the investment portfolio at that date. 3i Infrastructure expects to announce its results for the half-year to 30 September 2019 on 7 November 2019.

Balance sheet

The cash balance was GBP17 million at 27 September 2019, and the drawn balance on the RCF was GBP192 million following the completion of the investment in Ionisos.

The undrawn RCF balance of GBP108 million provides liquidity for new investments and could be supplemented by the GBP200 million accordion feature if required.

Ends

For information, please contact:

 
 Richard Laing      Chair, 3i Infrastructure plc    [phone] 
 Thomas Fodor       Shareholder enquiries           [phone] 
                   ------------------------------  ----------------- 
 Kathryn van der 
  Kroft             Media enquiries                 [phone] 
                   ------------------------------  ----------------- 
 

About 3i Infrastructure plc

3i Infrastructure plc is a Jersey-incorporated, closed-ended investment company, an approved UK Investment Trust, listed on the London Stock Exchange and regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. The Company is a long-term investor in infrastructure businesses and assets. The Company's market focus is on economic infrastructure and greenfield projects in developed economies, principally in Europe, investing in operating businesses and projects which generate long-term yield and capital growth.

3i Investments plc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3i Group plc, is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and acts as Investment Manager to 3i Infrastructure plc.

This press release is not for distribution (directly or indirectly) in or to the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan and is not an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any public offering to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the issuer

or selling security holder and will contain detailed information about 3i Group plc, 3i Infrastructure plc, 3i India Infrastructure Fund and management, as applicable, as well as financial statements. No public offering in the United States is currently contemplated.

This statement aims to give an indication of material events and transactions that have taken place in the period from 1 April 2019 to 27 September 2019 and their impact on the financial position of 3i Infrastructure plc. These indications reflect the Board's current view. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and could change. Factors which could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, general economic and market conditions and specific factors affecting the financial prospects or performance of individual investments within the portfolio of 3i Infrastructure plc.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

END

TSTSEDFMWFUSEEU

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 30, 2019 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)