27 November 2019  |  

DIF Capital Partners and Cinia to build out fiber optic networks in Finland

DIF Capital Partners (“DIF”), through its DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I (“DIF CIF”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a joint venture with Cinia Oy (”Cinia”) to build fiber-to-the-home (“FttH”) networks in Finland.

The joint venture (“Adola”) plans to provide over 100,000 FttH connections to public, private and commercial customers with a focus on Finland’s underserved areas and operates under the consumer brand Täyskuitu (please refer to www.tayskuitu.fi for more information). FttH networks are a key element to enable digital development in business and society, and keep up pace with global digitalization developments. The joint venture with Cinia underlines DIF CIF’s key strategic focus to invest in digital infrastructure. The first project is expected to become operational in the first half of 2020.

DIF’s share in Adola amounts to 80.1%. The remaining 19.9% is held by Cinia, a public Finnish telecom infrastructure provider that owns and operates roughly 15,000 km of fiber optic backbone network in Northern Europe, including a high capacity submarine fiber cable to Germany.

“We are pleased to have established a long term co-operation with Cinia for the roll out of fiber in Finland. This is an excellent opportunity for DIF CIF to invest in high quality projects with a strong local partner and to further expand into the fast growing telecom infrastructure sector” comments Willem Jansonius, Head of DIF CIF.

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €6.0 billion of assets under management across eight closed-end infrastructure funds and several co-investment vehicles. DIF invests in greenfield and brownfield infrastructure assets located primarily in Europe, the Americas and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

  • DIF Infrastructure funds target equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, utilities and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams.
  • DIF CIF funds target equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams.

DIF has a team of over 135 professionals, based in nine offices located in Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Santiago, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

Contact:
Allard Ruijs, Partner
Email: a.ruijs@dif.eu

About Cinia

Cinia provides secure high-availability data network and software solutions. Our operations are based on our solid expertise in modern software development, data network technologies and critical operating environments. Our fiber optic network of roughly 15,000 kilometers, including the C-Lion1 submarine cable, enables the fastest data communications solutions to Central Europe and to markets in Asia and Eastern Europe. By combining our services with services of our partners, we can provide reliable and comprehensive solutions that help our customers write their own digital success stories. More information about Cinia: www.cinia.fi/en

21 November 2019  |  Paris

DIF Capital Partners invests in a portfolio of LNG assets

DIF Capital Partners, through its DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I (“DIF CIF I”), is pleased to announce that it has signed final documentation alongside ship-owner Geogas Maritime and Access Capital Partners for the acquisition of a 50% stake in a French incorporated company that will own and operate a fleet of five to-be-built LNG carriers. The remaining 50% will be held by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), a leading Japanese shipping and logistics company.

The five 174,000 cbm vessels will be built by leading South Korean shipyards and equipped with state-of-the-art LNG fuelled propulsion technology, resulting in best-in-class environmental performance. The first ship is expected to become operational in April 2020. All five ships will fly the French flag. The vessels will be chartered to a large French and a large European utility under long-term contracts and will be project financed under a customary French lease structure.

Thomas Vieillescazes, Head of France, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for DIF CIF I to invest in high quality assets and grow DIF’s footprint into the expanding LNG sector alongside strong and experienced counterparties. We’re also very proud to participate in a strategic project for the further development of the French LNG sector”.

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €6.0 billion of assets under management across eight closed-end infrastructure funds and several co-investment vehicles. DIF invests in greenfield and brownfield infrastructure assets located primarily in Europe, the Americas and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

  • DIF Infrastructure funds target equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, utilities and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams.
  • DIF CIF funds target equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams.

DIF has a team of over 135 professionals, based in nine offices located in Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Santiago, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

Contact:
Allard Ruijs, Partner
Email: a.ruijs@dif.eu

20 November 2019  |  Toronto

DIF Capital Partners closes the acquisition of 100% of energy platform BluEarth Renewables

DIF Capital Partners, through its most recent fund DIF Infrastructure V (“DIF V”), is pleased to have closed the acquisition of 100% of BluEarth Renewables LP (“BluEarth”) from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (“OTPP”).

BluEarth is a leading, independent, power producer that develops, builds, owns and operates wind, hydro and solar facilities. Since its inception in 2010, BluEarth has developed and acquired 19 hydro, wind and solar projects across North America, representing 405 MW of gross capacity. In addition it has over 1,000 MW of projects under development. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the company has been recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 75 Employers.

“We are very pleased to close this transaction,” said Paul Huebener, Partner and Head of DIF Americas. “BluEarth is an attractive investment that will provide attractive returns and stable cash flows to our investors. As we’ve been working together over the last several months, we also see strong growth potential ahead for BluEarth – particularly in the U.S. market.”

To support the company’s U.S. growth objectives, BluEarth recently established a commercial U.S. office located in Phoenix, Arizona.

DIF V was advised by Baker McKenzie, BMO Capital Markets, Agentis Capital, and KPMG. Financing is provided by BMO, Desjardins, and National Bank.

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €6.0 billion of assets under management across seven closed-end infrastructure funds and several co-investment vehicles. DIF invests in greenfield and brownfield infrastructure assets located primarily in Europe, the Americas and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

  • DIF Infrastructure funds target equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, utilities and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams.
  • DIF CIF funds target equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams.

DIF has a team of over 135 professionals, based in nine offices located in Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Santiago, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

Contact:
Allard Ruijs, Partner
Email: a.ruijs@dif.eu

1 November 2019  |  London

In-depth commentary on ESG by Angela Roshier, Partner and Head of Asset Management at DIF Capital Partners, in Infrastructure Investor

DIF’s Head of Asset Management, Angela Roshier, shares thoughts and insights on how to develop an effective environmental, social and governance (ESG) action plan for infrastructure assets in Infrastructure Investor’s Sustainable Investment Report 2019.

For the full article please see: Angela Roshier on ESG in II November 2019