27 April 2021  |  Toronto

DIF Capital Partners and PERENfra announce North American water infrastructure partnership

DIF Infrastructure Fund VI, managed by DIF Capital Partners (“DIF”) and PERENfra LLC (“PERENfra”) are pleased to announce the signing of a partnership agreement to develop and acquire water infrastructure opportunities in North America. The partnership will focus on all areas of water for municipal and industrial uses, targeting large scale investments towards development of a significant portfolio of over USD $1.5 billion.

PERENfra is led by an experienced management team with a strong network in the water sector and has several investment opportunities already in process. DIF’s complementary expertise in development and infrastructure investment as well as access to capital through its DIF Infrastructure Fund VI will help accelerate growth of the portfolio. The partnership’s investment strategy focuses on both acquisitions of operational projects and late-stage development projects targeting water efficiency and reliability while providing positive social and environmental impacts.

Jeff Nelson, Founder and CEO of PERENfra said “We are proud and excited to partner with DIF to provide essential water infrastructure in North America and beyond. There is a transition coming in water infrastructure, and as the needs for water continue to become more complex, we have built an industry leading team with the right partners to provide safe, sustainable, efficient solutions for the long-term.”

“Significant capital is required for necessary upgrades in water infrastructure systems across North America. DIF is pleased to be partnering with the experienced specialist team at PERENfra in pursuit of critical investments in essential water infrastructure.” said Marko Kremer, Head of DIF North America.

DIF was advised by Allen & Overy (legal). PERENfra was advised by Davis Graham & Stubbs (legal) and Mount Vernon Partners (transactional).

 

About DIF Capital Partners:

DIF Capital Partners is a global independent investment fund management company with approximately €8.5 billion of funds under management. Through nine investment funds, DIF Capital Partners invests in high-quality infrastructure assets that generate long-term and stable cash flows, including water, transportation, renewable energy, regulated utilities, and other infrastructure projects in North America, Europe, South America and Australia.

https://www.dif.eu/

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

 

About PERENfra:

PERENfra is a United States based infrastructure company focused on operational and development opportunities in the water sector across various geographies. PERENfra takes a long-term approach to owning and operating essential assets and our team has a reputation of providing efficiency and certainty for our clients and partners. PERENfra currently owns and operates assets providing municipal water supply and environmental conservation.

https://www.perenfra.com/

 

 

19 April 2021  |  London

DIF Capital Partners agrees to sell a portfolio of European PPP assets to Equitix

DIF Capital Partners (“DIF”) is pleased to announce that DIF Infrastructure III (“DIF III”) and DIF Infrastructure IV (“DIF IV”) have agreed to the sale of their stakes in a portfolio of six European PPP assets to Equitix, a leading UK and European infrastructure fund manager.

The portfolio consists of shareholdings in a number of critical infrastructure projects that DIF invested into as primary transactions: A1/A6 Road, IJmond Sea Lock and N18 Road in the Netherlands; A7 Nord Road and Netz West Rolling Stock in Germany; as well as the KAV Vienna Hospital in Austria. With the exception of IJmond Sea Lock which is currently in the final stages of construction, all of the projects are operational under availability-based contractual structures that are backed by strong public counterparties.

Andrew Freeman, Head of Exits at DIF, said: “We are very pleased with the sale of this well diversified and optimised portfolio of North-Western European PPP assets which represents an attractive exit for our DIF III and DIF IV investors. We believe Equitix is an excellent counterparty and is perfectly positioned to manage the assets until maturity.”

Hugh Crossley, Chief Investment Officer for Equitix, said: “As we continue to diversify and grow our European portfolio, we are always looking out for attractive opportunities to acquire high-quality assets that meet our responsible investment criteria. The DIF portfolio does just this and will allow us to leverage our continental expertise for the benefit of investors in our European Infrastructure Fund.”

DIF was advised on the transaction by Cantor Fitzgerald and PwC (financial), Allen & Overy (legal), PwC (tax & accounting), as well as Atkins and Arup (technical).

Equitix was advised by CMS (legal), Deloitte (tax and accounting) and Arcadis (technical).

Closing of the transaction is subject to the receipt of customary approvals and consents.

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF Capital Partners is a leading global independent fund manager, with €8.5 billion of assets under management across nine closed-end infrastructure funds and several co-investment vehicles. DIF Capital Partners invests in greenfield and operational infrastructure assets located primarily in Europe, the Americas and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

  • Traditional DIF funds, of which DIF Infrastructure Fund VI is the latest vintage, target equity investments with long-term contracted or regulated income streams including public-private partnerships, concessions, utilities, and (renewable) energy projects.
  • DIF CIF funds target equity investments in small to mid-sized economic infrastructure assets in the telecom, energy and transportation sectors.

DIF Capital Partners has a team of over 160 professionals, based in nine offices located in Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Santiago, Sydney and Toronto. For further information please visit www.dif.eu.

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

 

2 April 2021  |  Santiago

DIF Capital Partners acquires a 117MW wind project in Uruguay

DIF Capital Partners (“DIF”) and Enercon GmbH (“ENERCON”) are pleased to announce that DIF, through its DIF Infrastructure Fund VI, has acquired 100% of the ownership of the 117MW Peralta I/II onshore wind projects in Uruguay.

The project, comprising 50 ENERCON E-92 2.35MW turbines, has been operational since October 2015 and benefits from a 20-year 100MW power purchase agreement with UTE, Uruguay’s state-owned utility. The project will continue to be maintained by ENERCON under a long-term agreement and asset management services will continue to be delivered by SEG-Heliotec. Following the acquisition of the 50MW Cerro Grande project in 2019, this is the second Uruguayan ENERCON project that DIF has acquired.

Christopher Mansfield, Partner and Head of Renewable Energy, said: “We are very pleased to have acquired our second renewable energy project in South America, which is the result of our strong relationship with ENERCON. We believe this investment is attractive for DIF’s investors due to the long-term project agreements that provide a high degree of predictability of future cash flows.”

DIF has been advised by Voltiq (transaction), Hughes & Hughes and Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (legal), DNV (technical) and Mazars (financial and tax & accounting). ENERCON was advised by FICUS Advisory.

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF Capital Partners is a leading global independent fund manager, with €8.5 billion of assets under management across nine closed-end infrastructure funds and several co-investment vehicles. DIF Capital Partners invests in greenfield and operational infrastructure assets located primarily in Europe, the Americas and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

  • Traditional DIF funds, of which DIF Infrastructure Fund VI is the latest vintage, target equity investments with long-term contracted or regulated income streams including public-private partnerships, concessions, utilities, and (renewable) energy projects.
  • DIF CIF funds target equity investments in small to mid-sized economic infrastructure assets in the telecom, energy and transportation sectors.

DIF Capital Partners has a team of over 160 professionals, based in nine offices located in Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Santiago, Sydney and Toronto. For further information please visit www.dif.eu.

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

 

1 April 2021  |  Schiphol

DIF Capital Partners sells portfolio of wind and solar projects in France and Germany

DIF Capital Partners, through its DIF Infrastructure Yield I fund (“DIF Yield”), is pleased to announce the sale of a renewable energy portfolio, totalling 180MW, to Kallista Energy, a French independent producer of renewable energy.

The sold portfolio comprises 15 wind and solar parks, of which five operational wind parks and three solar parks (total of 90.2 MW) are located in France and seven operational wind parks in Germany (89.5 MW).

Christopher Mansfield, Head of Renewable Energy, said: “This transaction represents a good result for DIF Yield and we believe that Kallista Energy is well placed to further optimise the residual value of this renewable energy portfolio. DIF Capital Partners will continue to manage the West European PPP/PFI and operational solar PV portfolios that remain in DIF Yield.”

DIF Capital Partners was advised by Augusta & Co (transactional) and Watson Farley & Williams (Legal).

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF Capital Partners is a leading global independent fund manager, with €8.5 billion of assets under management across nine closed-end infrastructure funds and several co-investment vehicles. DIF Capital Partners invests in greenfield and operational infrastructure assets located primarily in Europe, the Americas and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

  • Traditional DIF funds, of which DIF Infrastructure Fund VI is the latest vintage, target equity investments with long-term contracted or regulated income streams including public-private partnerships, concessions, utilities, and (renewable) energy projects.
  • DIF CIF funds target equity investments in small to mid-sized economic infrastructure assets in the telecom, energy and transportation sectors.

DIF Capital Partners has a team of over 160 professionals, based in nine offices located in Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Santiago, Sydney and Toronto. For further information please visit www.dif.eu.

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