Company Announcements

Divestment Update

Source: RNS
RNS Number : 2175U
John Laing Group plc
01 April 2021
 

1 April 2021

DIVESTMENT UPDATE

 

John Laing completes divestment of Irish wind farm

John Laing Group plc ("John Laing" or the "Group"), the responsible investor and active manager of infrastructure projects internationally, today announces that it has completed the sale of its Irish wind farm, Glencarbry, to Greencoat Renewables plc for a total consideration of EUR 31.2 million (before divestment costs), equivalent to approximately £26.6 million. 

This sale value represents a 6% premium to John Laing's book value for the asset at 31 December 2020, and is equivalent to a money multiple on its investment of 1.3 times.  

Located in County Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, Glencarbry wind farm has a total capacity of 35.6MW.  Glencarbry was acquired by John Laing in 2015 and brought into operation in 2017, and has an operational track record of over three and a half years.

This divestment is in line with the Group's strategy to reduce its exposure to Renewable Energy generation assets.  Glencarbry is a mature operational project within the Group's secondary portfolio, and this sale is also consistent with the Group's strategy to realise these types of secondary assets and re-invest the proceeds in new opportunities in greenfield projects and in economic infrastructure businesses and platforms.

At 31 December 2019, the total value of John Laing's Renewable Energy portfolio was £607 million.  Following the divestments of ten Renewable Energy assets during 2020, including the sale of the entire Australia wind farm portfolio, as well as the recent sales of the Rammeldalsberget and Glencarbry wind farms, the total value of the Group's Renewable Energy portfolio has reduced to £234 million[1], with the Group's PPP & Projects business line now representing around 80% of total portfolio value. 

Shareholders participate in the success of realisations through the special dividend, with the Group paying out approximately 5-10% of gross proceeds received from the sale of investments on an annual basis.  This divestment further adds to the visibility of the 2021 special dividend, with total proceeds eligible to be included in the 2021 special dividend calculation now amounting to approximately £460 million[2], consisting of expected proceeds from this sale as well as the sales of interests in New Royal Adelaide Hospital, Rammeldalsberget wind farm, the Australian wind farm portfolio, and the second stage of the IEP East divestment expected to complete later in the year.

Ben Loomes, Chief Executive of John Laing, said:

"Following on from the completion of the sales of our wind farm assets in Australia and Sweden earlier this month, the sale of Glencarbry represents a further important step in our strategy to realise fully our Renewable Energy generation assets over the next two years. Importantly, recent Renewable Energy divestments, including Glencarbry, Rammeldalsberget and the Australian portfolio, have all been at values representing premia to book value, further underpinning our portfolio valuation as well as crystallising value for our shareholders."

 

Analyst & investor enquiries:

Kellie McAvoy

Head of Investor Relations

+44 (0) 7923 249298

Media enquiries:

Tashi Lassalle

Director of Communications

+44 (0) 7923 249384

Tulchan:

Olivia Peters

 

+44 (0) 20 7427 5494

 

About John Laing

John Laing is a leading international investor across a range of infrastructure sectors.  We seek deliver attractive and sustainable returns over the medium-term.  We are a responsible investor, committed to delivering critical and enduring infrastructure which responds to public needs and improves the lives of the communities we serve. 

 

 

ENDS

 

 

[1] Based on pro forma valuation as at 31 December 2020.

[2] Expected proceeds reflect latest foreign currency rates and are adjusted to exclude any cash distributions received from projects prior to completion and any interest earned on the gross proceeds.

 

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