REG - 3i Infrastructure - 3i Infrastructure plc – Q3 Performance update

3i InfrastructureAnnouncement

19/01/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 1901N  3i Infrastructure PLC  19 January 2023

 

19 January 2023

 

3i Infrastructure plc - Q3 Performance update

 

 

 

Strong growth momentum across the portfolio

 

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 impact on our
portfolio companies and their stakeholders.

 

This statement relates to the period from 1 October 2022 to 31 December 2022
(the 'Period').

 

 

Highlights

 

·    Portfolio performing strongly: Overall the portfolio has performed
well in the Period, exceeding the expectations we set in September 2022, and
continues to deliver strong performance.

 

·    New contracts delivering portfolio company growth: During the Period,
strategically important contracts were signed by TCR, Ionisos, GCX, Tampnet
and ESVAGT. Infinis and Valorem also made good progress in growing their
respective renewable development pipelines.

 

·    Completion of further investment in TCR and partial syndication:
Following the completion of the acquisition of DWS's stake in TCR in October,
3iN completed the syndication of a 28% stake for proceeds of c.£190 million
in November.

 

·    Portfolio company financings: TCR signed a term loan to repay its
revolving credit facility and secured a new capex facility to fund growth
projects. Joulz has also raised additional fixed rate debt to repay its
revolving credit facility.

 

·    FY23 dividend target: The Company is on track to deliver the FY23
dividend target of 11.15 pence per share, up 6.7% from FY22, which we expect
to be fully covered by net income.

 

·    Income exceeded expectations in the Period: Total income and
non-income cash of £55 million was received in the Period, ahead of
expectations. This compares with total income and non-income cash of £26
million received in the same period last year.

 

 

 

Scott Moseley and Bernardo Sottomayor, Managing Partners and Co-Heads of
European Infrastructure, 3i Investments plc, Investment Manager of the
Company, commented: "We are pleased with the momentum in the portfolio, which
continues to trade ahead of our expectations. The contracts we have announced
demonstrate the growth our companies are experiencing, and their resilience,
underpinned by the megatrends we have identified."

 

 

 

 

Portfolio update

 

Infinis's plans to develop solar energy generation and battery storage are
progressing well. The company's combined development pipeline is now 1.5GW.
Similarly, Valorem closed 74MW of wind projects in France and Greece during
the Period and benefits from a healthy 5.7GW pipeline of mainly wind and solar
projects in Europe.

 

We expect the additional details announced during the Period by UK and
European governments regarding a levy or price cap on electricity generators
to have a limited negative impact, which, when considered together with
movements in power prices during the Period, will not result in a significant
impact on the September 2022 valuation of 3iN's three renewable generation
companies, Infinis, Valorem and Attero.

 

We have commenced preparations for a potential divestment of Attero. Attero is
a high quality asset in the energy transition sector and we are expecting
significant interest from potential purchasers. Any sale proceeds are expected
to contribute towards partially repaying drawings on 3iN's Revolving Credit
Facility ('RCF').

 

Following completion of the acquisition of the DWS stake in TCR and subsequent
syndication, TCR now represents 14% of the portfolio. TCR had a number of
significant contract wins in the Period and it continues to experience
increasing demand for its full service rental model. During the Period TCR
also completed the bolt-on acquisition of Adaptalift, an Australian
headquartered ground service equipment lessor, adding incremental EBITDA to
the business.

 

Ionisos has signed an agreement to acquire E-beam sterilisation facilities for
c.€25 million, from Studer Cables AG, a manufacturer of cable solutions and
systems located in Daniken, Switzerland. In a capacity constrained market, the
acquisition will increase Ionisos's ability to address and meet strong
underlying demand growth for sterilisation, whilst diversifying its technology
mix and expanding the geographic footprint from which it will service its
medical and pharma client base. We expect 3iN will invest c.€5 million into
Ionisos to fund this acquisition, with the balance coming from Ionisos's own
resources.

 

ESVAGT's offshore wind joint venture in the United States, CREST, signed its
first contract in January 2023. Under the terms of the 15 year agreement with
Siemens Gamesa, it will deliver and operate a new vessel to service the large
Coastal Virginia Offshore wind park. This win represents an incremental step
up in earnings and a key milestone in converting ESVAGT's promising wind farm
Service Operation Vessel ('SOV') pipeline in the US market. The pipeline for
further new SOVs in the North Sea and the United States is strong. Market
conditions and contractual terms within ESVAGT's Emergency Rescue and Response
Vessel segment also remain robust, underpinned by an increasing emphasis on
security of energy supplies in the North Sea.

 

Tampnet continues to benefit from demand growth in its end markets, which is
translating to strong growth in its underlying EBITDA. During the Period,
Tampnet signed important contracts in both the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico,
and announced that it has become a reseller of Starlink bandwidth as a
complementary offering to its core fibre, cellular and private network
products.

 

GCX has secured a significant Managed Services contract in the Period and is
experiencing increasing demand for bandwidth capacity across its network. GCX
and Tampnet have announced a strategically important partnership which
supports the increasing network connectivity demands of the data centre market
in the Nordics.

 

 

 

In line with expectations, we invested a further €18 million into DNS:NET in
support of its continued fibre roll-out in the Berlin area. We are actively
working with the company to optimise its business model and strengthen the
management team in order to deliver our investment plan.

 

New debt finance continues to be available for high quality infrastructure
companies. TCR and Joulz successfully raised further debt financing which will
be utilised to repay and replenish their respective revolving credit
facilities enabling the funding of further growth of their revenue generating
asset bases.

 

 

Balance sheet

 

At 31 December 2022, the Company's cash balance was £75 million, with
drawings of £555 million under the £900 million RCF. This cash balance was
subsequently reduced by the payment of the interim dividend of £50 million in
January 2023.

 

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 impact on our
portfolio companies and 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, 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 October 2022 to 31 December 2022
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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