REG - 3i Infrastructure - 3i Infrastructure plc - Pre-close update

3i InfrastructureAnnouncement

28/03/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 5953I  3i Infrastructure PLC  28 March 2024

28 March 2024

 

3i Infrastructure plc - Pre-close update

 

 

Portfolio performing well, expect to exceed target return for the year

 

3i Infrastructure plc ('3iN' or the 'Company') is an investment company whose
purpose is to invest responsibly in infrastructure, delivering long-term
sustainable returns to shareholders and having a positive influence on our
portfolio companies and their stakeholders.

 

This statement relates to the period from 1 October 2023 to 27 March 2024 (the
'Period').

 

Scott Moseley and Bernardo Sottomayor, Managing Partners and Co-Heads of
European Infrastructure, 3i Investments plc, Investment Manager of the
Company, commented:

 

"We expect to report returns for the Period in line with our target, driven by
continued earnings momentum at our larger assets. Following the outperformance
achieved in the first half, this is another strong year for 3iN.

 

We remain on track to deliver the FY24 dividend target of 11.90 pence per
share, up 6.7% from FY23."

 

Highlights

 

·    Our Portfolio continues to deliver strong earnings growth. In
particular, during the Period;

 

-  TCR's outperformance continued, with earnings growth again ahead of
expectations. The business achieved a number of important commercial wins. As
announced in January 2024, TCR completed the acquisition of KLM Royal Dutch
Airlines' equipment services subsidiary, KES, in February 2024. TCR has
significantly expanded its global footprint, including into the US. It is now
present in more than 210 airports.

 

-  ESVAGT performed well. As previously announced, the company signed a new
15-year contract with Vestas to provide a service operation vessel in the
North Sea. There are additional tenders for new vessels in the near-term
pipeline. In the ERRV market, utilisation is high and the company has locked
in increased day-rates for longer-term periods given the strength of the
market.

 

-  Tampnet continues to perform well, with expected outperformance largely
reflected in the return in the first half of the financial year.
Digitalisation of the offshore energy sector is gaining momentum, and we
believe the addressable market for Tampnet will continue to grow. The business
has secured its first contract to provide connectivity to an offshore carbon
storage customer in the North Sea.

 

- Valorem recorded another period of strong performance, continuing to convert
its renewable asset development pipeline into operations and adding new
projects to that pipeline. Valorem completed the sale of a minority stake in
part of its French operational portfolio on attractive terms, demonstrating
the strong appetite for its projects and raising capital to finance
development of future projects.

- Infinis and Future Biogas continued to grow, although valuations are
impacted by softer spot and forecast energy prices. Infinis is making
significant progress in advancing its high-quality solar and battery projects
pipeline, with currently 1.4GW of capacity across various stages of
development. Future Biogas acquired two operating anaerobic digestion plants
in November 2023, continuing the strategy to grow the company into a leading
developer, asset owner and operator of green gas plants in the UK.

 

- The plan set out by the new DNS:NET CEO has a clear set of priorities, with
a focus this year on connecting customers to the network of homes already
passed with fibre. We continued to strengthen the management team, and the
growth in revenue-generating connected customers is starting to come through
in the Period. The wider German fibre sector remains challenging.

 

- Ionisos is seeing some reduction in volumes of products treated, driven by a
normalisation of bioprocessing and labware volumes post-Covid together with
weakness in demand for treatment of construction materials. Construction
represents a small part of the overall treatment capacity of the business.

 

·    Income slightly ahead of expectations in the Period: Total income and
non-income cash was £104 million.

 

·    FY24 dividend target: The Company is on track to deliver the FY24
dividend target of 11.90 pence per share, up 6.7% from FY23, which is fully
covered by net income.

 

·    Attero sale: Completed in November 2023 for net proceeds of €214
million, a c.31% uplift to the last valuation.

 

·    Balance Sheet: At 27 March 2024, the Company was €597 million
(£512 million) drawn into its £900 million RCF and has a cash balance of £5
million. Net debt is therefore £507 million at the end of the Period.

 

 

Ends

 

 

 

For information, please contact:

 

 Thomas Fodor           Shareholder enquiries  +44 20 7975 3469
 Kathryn van der Kroft  Media enquiries        +44 20 7975 3021

 

 

 

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's
purpose is to invest responsibly in infrastructure, delivering long-term
sustainable returns to shareholders and having a positive influence on our
portfolio companies and their stakeholders.

 

3i Investments plc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3i Group plc, is authorised
and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and is the
investment manager of 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 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 October 2023 to 27 March 2024 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 changes 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.

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