REG - HICL Infrastructure - Interim Update Statement

HICL InfrastructureAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 6134V  HICL Infrastructure PLC  18 August 2025

18 August 2025

 

HICL Infrastructure PLC

 

"HICL" or "the Company" and, together with its subsidiaries, "the Group", the
London-listed infrastructure investment company managed by InfraRed Capital
Partners Limited ("InfraRed" or "the Investment Manager").

 

Interim Update Statement

 

The Board of HICL is issuing this Interim Update Statement, which relates to
the period from 1 April 2025 to 15 August 2025.

 

Mike Bane, Chair of HICL said:

 

"The Board is pleased with HICL's operational performance during the period
and with today's announcement of the targeted disposal of seven assets.
Disposals over the last 24 months now amount to c. £725m. Portfolio cash
generation remains in line with expectations, supporting our confidence in
meeting our dividend guidance for the financial years to 31 March 2026 and
2027. The quality and resilience of HICL's portfolio reinforces our confidence
in advancing HICL's strategy with clarity and conviction."

 

 

 Key Highlights

 ·         Portfolio sale of seven UK PPP assets in line with HICL's 31 March 2025
           valuation, comprising 50% of HICL's investments in Southmead Hospital and
           Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals, the entire equity interest in four UK
           LIFT projects and in Edinburgh Schools. These disposals enhance HICL's
           strategic portfolio construction and further evidence the Company's robust
           NAV.

 ·         Solid operational performance across the portfolio, with HICL's yield
           investments continuing to underpin cash generation, in line with expectations
           during the period. Growth assets progressed capital expenditure in accordance
           with their business plans, supporting both earnings and longer-term cashflows.

 ·         The Company remains on track to deliver its covered target dividend of 8.35p
           per share for the financial year to 31 March 2026 and the Board reiterates its
           dividend target of 8.50p for the year ending 31 March 2027.

 Portfolio sale

 ·         As announced today, HICL has entered into an agreement to dispose of 50% of
           its investments in Southmead Hospital and Pinderfields and Pontefract
           Hospitals and the entire equity interest in four UK LIFT projects and
           Edinburgh Schools to APG, the largest Dutch pension services provider.

 ·         The total consideration for the transaction is c. £225m, which includes cash
           distributions received by HICL since 1 April 2025 and is in line with the
           Company's last audited valuation of the assets as at 31 March 2025. The
           majority of the consideration will be received on completion, with a small
           non-contingent deferred element of £14m due by 30 June 2026 with the
           potential to bring this forward. Following completion of the transaction,
           HICL's exposure to healthcare assets will reduce from 22% to 16% of gross
           portfolio value.

 ·         Completion is expected by 31 December 2025, comfortably ahead of the Board's
           previously stated target of at least £200m of divestments by 31 March 2026.
           In line with previous disclosure, proceeds will be used to fund HICL's share
           buyback programme, to fully repay the balance on the Company's Revolving
           Credit Facility ("RCF"), and to fund existing investment commitments of c.
           £110m.

 ·         HICL has now announced £725m of disposals in the last 24 months at
           consistently strong valuations either in line with or above NAV. These
           disposals strengthen long-term portfolio construction, demonstrate the
           robustness of the Company's net asset value, and build on InfraRed's extensive
           track record of selective portfolio rotation.

 Capital Allocation Update

 ·         As at 15 August 2025, the Company has repurchased a total of 89,467,218 shares
           under its expanded £150m share buyback programme. This has generated 1.8p of
           NAV accretion for shareholders since the buyback programme commenced in May
           2024.

 ·         As at 15 August 2025, the total number of shares with voting rights in HICL,
           excluding treasury shares, is 1,942,020,843.

 ·         The Company has drawn £30m from its RCF to fund share buybacks as a bridge to
           the receipt of disposal proceeds. In line with previous guidance, the Company
           allocated up to £50m of RCF capacity to fund buybacks, where the share price
           discount to NAV is greater than 15% at the time of drawing.

 ·         Portfolio cash generation remains consistent with the 1.1x targeted dividend
           cover for the financial year to 31 March 2026. This is predominantly supported
           by HICL's yield assets, but also reflects increasing cash generation from
           growth assets.

 Portfolio Performance and Valuation

 ·         Overall, the portfolio delivered a robust performance, consistent with the
           Company's expectations and underpinned by predictable cashflows from yield
           assets and disciplined execution across growth assets.

 ·         Affinity Water (10.8% of portfolio value as at 31 March 2025) delivered solid
           operational performance over the period despite the warm and dry weather.
           HICL's £50m equity investment and the resumption of dividends are both
           expected to occur during the financial year ending 31 March 2026. The Cunliffe
           Review of the UK water sector was released on 21 July and included a number of
           recommendations, including a streamlining of the regulatory regime. The
           Company welcomes the conclusions of the review and will continue to monitor
           its implications for Affinity Water over the coming years.

 ·         Texas Nevada Transmission (5.1% of portfolio value as at 31 March 2025) agreed
           a regulatory settlement in June 2025 with the Public Utility Commission of
           Texas in relation to Cross Texas Transmission. The allowed return on equity is
           in line with HICL's assumptions, with the overall outcome expected to result
           in a modest increase in valuation.

 ·         At London St. Pancras High Speed (4.9% of portfolio value as at 31 March
           2025), the Office of Rail and Road's final decision regarding available
           capacity at the Temple Mills Depot is expected in autumn 2025. This decision
           is a key enabler for access by new international operators, and the
           management team continued to progress discussions with several interested
           parties during the period.

 ·         Inflation for the period since 31 March 2025 tracked ahead of the assumptions
           used in the Company's 31 March 2025 valuation for the UK and North America,
           with other jurisdictions broadly neutral. If inflation for the remainder of
           the financial year were to match the Company's assumption, it would result in
           a positive impact on NAV per share of c. 1.4p.

 ·         Since 31 March 2025, long term government bond yields across HICL's countries
           of operation have remained largely stable, except in the US and Canada with
           increases of c. 20bps and c. 50bps respectively. If current levels persist
           across the portfolio, the equity risk premium across the portfolio would
           reduce marginally. The Company will continue to consider the adequacy of the
           equity risk premium relative to the prior reporting date of 31 March 2025.

 ·         If the increase in risk-free rates in the US and Canada were to be reflected
           in the valuation as at 30 September 2025 through increased discount rates, it
           would result in a modest NAV reduction of c. 0.5p per share. The Board will
           continue to evaluate this position as further macroeconomic data becomes
           available, alongside relevant transaction data for these regions.

 ·         The Company's successful disposal of seven UK assets, in line with their 31
           March 2025 valuation, provides further market validation for the discount
           rates applied to HICL's UK portfolio. The Investment Manager will consider
           this evidence alongside prevailing macroeconomic data, including movements in
           risk free rates, when preparing the 30 September 2025 valuation.

 Market and Outlook

 ·         With the Investment Manager having exceeded the £200m targeted asset
           disposals, the Board will consider the deployment of excess proceeds in line
           with its disciplined capital allocation framework. This will include
           consideration of selective acquisition activity alongside further share
           buybacks. Looking forward, the Company's solid balance sheet and liquidity
           position will allow it to respond nimbly to attractive investment
           opportunities that are consistent with the Company's strategy.

 ·         In June, the UK Government published its Comprehensive Spending Review and 10
           Year Infrastructure Strategy which together lay out the investment budget and
           ambitions for attracting private investment into the UK infrastructure sector
           over the coming decade. This may present investment opportunities for HICL,
           which will be evaluated on their merits and with reference to the Company's
           capital allocation framework. Both HICL and its Investment Manager will
           continue to engage with the UK Government as it consults with various
           stakeholders.

 ·         Looking forward, the Company is well positioned to progress its strategy. Free
           cash generation continues to trend upwards, underpinned by stable investment
           performance and a portfolio that is well insulated from macroeconomic
           volatility. Successful disposal activity and sound capital allocation have
           provided significant financial flexibility while enhancing long-term portfolio
           construction. With supportive infrastructure market conditions and policy
           tailwinds, the Company is well placed to continue building a high-quality
           portfolio that supports long-term earnings and sustainable dividend growth.

 

 

 

-Ends-

 

 

 

 

Enquiries

InfraRed Capital Partners Limited               +44 (0) 20 7484
1800 / info@hicl.com (mailto:info@hicl.com)

Edward Hunt

Mark Tiner

Mohammed Zaheer

 

Brunswick                               +44 (0)
20 7404 5959 / hicl@brunswickgroup.com (mailto:hicl@brunswickgroup.com)

Sofie Brewis

 

Investec Bank plc
 
            +44(0) 20 7597 4952

David Yovichic

Denis Flanagan

 

RBC Capital Markets
 
                        +44 (0) 20 7653 4000

Matthew Coakes

Elizabeth Evans

 

Aztec Financial Services (UK)
Limited                      +44(0) 203 818 0246

Chris Copperwaite

Sarah Felmingham

 

HICL Infrastructure PLC

HICL Infrastructure PLC ("HICL") is a long-term investor in infrastructure
assets which are predominantly operational and yielding steady returns. It was
the first infrastructure investment company to be listed on the London Stock
Exchange.

With a current portfolio of over 100 infrastructure investments, HICL is
seeking further suitable opportunities in core infrastructure, which are
inherently positioned at the lower end of the risk spectrum.

Further details can be found on the HICL website www.hicl.com
(http://www.hicl.com/) .

 

Investment Manager (InfraRed Capital Partners)

The Investment Manager to HICL is InfraRed Capital Partners Limited
("InfraRed") which has successfully invested in infrastructure projects since
1997. InfraRed is a leading international investment manager, operating
worldwide from offices in London, New York, Seoul, Madrid and Sydney and
managing equity capital in multiple private and listed funds, primarily for
institutional investors across the globe. InfraRed is authorised and regulated
by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The infrastructure investment team at InfraRed consists of over 100 investment
professionals, all with an infrastructure investment background and a broad
range of relevant skills, including private equity, structured finance,
construction, renewable energy and facilities management.

InfraRed implements best-in-class practices to underpin asset management and
investment decisions, promotes ethical behaviour and has established community
engagement initiatives to support good causes in the wider community. InfraRed
is a signatory of the Principles of Responsible Investment.

Further details can be found on InfraRed's website www.ircp.com
(http://www.ircp.com/) .

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