Leroy, Author at DIF Capital Partners

16 May 2019 | Toronto

DIF to acquire Canadian energy platform BluEarth Renewables

DIF Infrastructure V (“DIF V”) is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interest 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. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the company has been recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 75 Employers.

This investment fits well within DIF V’s mandate to acquire infrastructure and renewable energy assets. Paul Huebener, Partner and DIF’s Head of Americas added: “We are excited to support BluEarth in its next phase of growth. The BluEarth team and its portfolio of stable renewable energy projects are a key addition in DIF’s continued expansion in North America.”

The transaction is subject to receipt of usual and customary regulatory approvals and consents for transactions of this nature. Closing is expected to take place in the course of 2019.

About DIF

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 120 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

15 May 2019 | Schiphol

DIF and Aberdeen Standard Investments acquire UNITANK

DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I (“DIF”) and SL Capital Infrastructure II SCSp (“ASI”) are pleased to announce the financial close of its 100% acquisition of UNITANK from the family owners, with ASI and DIF each acquiring a 50% stake. The financial close follows on from the agreement signed on 27 February 2019 and upon receipt of the necessary merger clearance from the German competition authority.

UNITANK is a market leading independent and neutral infrastructure and services provider storing liquid oil products, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. The company owns and operates five terminals in Germany and one terminal in Belgium, all in key strategic locations. The terminals handle diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and heating oil and have a total storage capacity of c. 1.1 million cubic meters. Servicing both strategic stockholding agencies with product storage as well as commercial clients with product throughput provides UNITANK with a stable and resilient business model.

The acquisition provides ASI and DIF with a strong and differentiated platform in the German liquid bulk storage and throughput market. Its flexible business model, high-quality and state-of-the-art asset base, and operational excellence positions the company well for the future. The consortium will continue to back the company’s long-term and successful strategy for the business.

Willem Jansonius – Partner and Head of Core Infrastructure at DIF

“We firmly believe in the strategy as set by the current shareholder and management team. We are impressed with the commercial re-positioning of the business and its importance in providing essential services in its clients’ supply chains. We appreciate the well-invested asset base and the resulting high standards of operational excellence, which are essential to UNITANK’s current and future positioning.”

Dominic Helmsley – Head of Economic Infrastructure at Aberdeen Standard Investments

“We consider UNITANK to be a highly successful provider of storage capacity for strategic stockholding agencies and a key strategic partner for oil majors. We value the company’s historic growth and see significant future upside. Together with our partner DIF we look forward to working closely with UNITANK management in supporting the business and exploring further business opportunities.”

Jan Westedt – Owner

“Our family has run UNITANK over two generations with a strategy emphasising close and trusted partnerships with our clients and employees, which were key elements of our success story. We are glad that DIF and ASI together with the management team will continue to pursue a long-term investment strategy centred around our philosophy and corporate culture.”

About DIF

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 120 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

About ASI

Aberdeen Standard Investments is a leading global asset manager dedicated to creating long-term value for our clients, and is a brand of the investment businesses of Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life Investments. With over 1,000 investment professionals, we manage €562.7 billion of assets worldwide. We have clients in 80 countries supported by 50 relationship offices. This ensures we are close to our clients and the markets in which we invest. (*as of 31 December 2018)

We are high-conviction, long-term investors who believe teamwork and collaboration are the key to delivering repeatable, superior investment performance.

Standard Life Aberdeen plc is headquartered in Scotland. It has around 1.2 million shareholders and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

You can access the Aberdeen Standard Investments media centre here: http://www.aberdeenstandard.com/news-and-media

12 April 2019 | Sydney

DIF consortium selected as preferred bidder for Australian Cross River Rail PPP

DIF is pleased to announce that the PULSE consortium, comprising DIF Infrastructure V, Pacific Partnerships, BAM PPP PGGM and Ghella Investments & Partnerships, has been selected as preferred bidder on the Tunnel, Stations & Development PPP package of the AUD 5.4 billion Cross River Rail project in Brisbane, Australia.

The availability based public private partnership contract with the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority includes the design, build, finance and maintenance of a new 10.2km rail line connecting the north and south of Brisbane, which includes twin 5.9km tunnels under the Brisbane River and central business district. The PPP package also includes the delivery of four new underground stations and maintenance works that will be provided for 24 years.

Design and construction works will be undertaken by CPB Contractors, BAM International and Ghella. UGL will be responsible for mechanical and electrical works, as well as the maintenance services.

Marko Kremer, Partner and DIF’s Head of Australasia added: “DIF is excited to be working with the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority to deliver Queensland’s highest priority infrastructure investment. This landmark project is truly city-changing and will enable higher frequency and better connected public transport across the network.”

About DIF

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 120 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

5 April 2019 | Toronto

DIF to acquire 203MW wind portfolio in the US

DIF Infrastructure Fund V (“DIF”) is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement to acquire 100% of MIC Renewable Energy Holdings LLC’s indirect interest in two operating wind projects located in the United States with a gross capacity of 203MW.

Idaho Wind Partners (Idaho) and Brahms Wind (New Mexico) have been operational since 2011 and 2014, respectively. Both projects have long-term power purchase agreements with investment grade off-takers.

This investment fits well within DIF’s mandate to acquire infrastructure and renewable energy assets and adds to DIF’s existing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

Paul Huebener, Partner and DIF’s Head of Americas added: “We are pleased to add these established wind projects to our portfolio of long-term, contracted assets. We believe the projects will provide attractive returns and stable cash flows to our investors.”

The transaction is subject to receipt of usual and customary regulatory approvals and consents for transactions of this nature. Closing is expected to take place in the course of 2019.

About DIF

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 115 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

3 April 2019 | Paris

DIF sells its stakes in 29 solar assets in France

DIF Infrastructure III and DIF Infrastructure IV are pleased to announce that they have completed the sale of their stakes in a portfolio of 29 French solar plants (the “Portfolio”) to Terres d’Energie, a company whose majority shareholder is Tenergie, a successful French Independent Power Producer that specialises in renewable energy. The Portfolio’s total capacity is 107.8 MW comprising of:

a DIF III owned shareholding in projects with total capacity amounted to 97.8 MW; and
a DIF IV owned shareholding in projects with total capacity amounted to 10 MW.

The Portfolio includes a mix of ground-mounted and rooftop assets (including a number of assets developed by GreenYellow on Casino supermarkets), which achieved commercial operations between 2009 and 2016. Most plants were acquired by DIF during construction. They all benefit from 20-year Feed-in-Tariffs.

Andrew Freeman, Head of Exits, said: “We are pleased with the completion of the sale of the Portfolio that was successfully optimized throughout the life of the assets, starting with acquiring individual projects or small portfolios, bringing some of them through construction, completing refinancings of two sub portfolios in 2016 and 2017, recontracting and then exiting via a competitive portfolio sales process.”

DIF was advised by Astris Finance (Financial), Clifford Chance and LPA-CGR (Legal) and RINA (Technical).

About DIF

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 115 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

About Tenergie

Tenergie is a French renewable energy operator, which operates over 600 solar power plants and wind farms and ranks as the fifth largest solar power producer in France. Created in 2008, Tenergie is an independent player. Our 80 employees share a strong team spirit and are deeply committed to foster the energy transition together with all stakeholders: industrial and commercial enterprises, farmers and local authorities in this common challenge. By producing local and clean energy, Tenergie contributes, with you, to the ongoing energy revolution.

2 April 2019 | Schiphol

First DIF ESG conference major success

DIF organised a conference on Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) factors in the infrastructure sector, focused on road projects. At DIF, we believe our role is to create opportunities for our portfolio investments to communicate and exchange ideas to break barriers to the realisation of ESG initiatives. The aim of the conference was to create the opportunity for these road projects to exchange on ESG initiatives and best practices.

The ESG Road Projects conference was well attended by a variety of representatives from road projects across Europe, including Portugal, France, Germany and Ireland. Attendants also included peers from the investment management industry and service providers. The day was organised around the themes of safety and environment, the two main areas for road projects that were identified in our 2018 ESG Survey (please refer to our 2018 ESG Report for more details https://www.dif.eu/responsible-investment).

The topics that were covered sharing best practice in the following areas:

How to increase road safety by facilitating resting areas for heavy goods vehicles and bringing the maintenance staff in contact with the truck drivers;
Supporting landscaping and mobility projects in the local communities;
Improving safety on adjacent roads;
Increasing the employment opportunities for people with a distance to the labour market;
Reducing energy consumption through the implementation of a dimming program for street lighting;
The success of interactive behavioural health and safety training;
Use of social media to send traffic alert and road safety campaigns for road users.

Our key take-aways from the conference are:

Infrastructure asset managers are convinced of the added value of sound ESG management for the long-term value and resilience of their assets and are already actively working on ESG topics;
Every single asset, small or large, in construction or in operation, has the potential to realise ESG initiatives.

The conference fits well into our conviction that sound ESG management is synonymous with good business and will enhance the ultimate returns from our investments.

As part of its ESG strategy DIF is committed to:

Being a responsible company that respects the interests of its environment and its stakeholders, including the investors in its funds, shareholders, business counterparties, employees, workers on and users of the assets in which its funds invest and the surrounding local communities;
Promoting organizational behaviour, in line with our ethical beliefs and best industry practice;
Adopting a transparent and pro-active approach to ESG and its implementation.

For more information regarding ESG and/or to indicate your interest in participating in future events, please contact Frank Siblesz, Head of ESG (f.siblesz@dif.eu).

About DIF

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 115 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

13 March 2019 | Schiphol

DIF consortium reaches financial close on Walloon street lighting PPP

DIF is pleased to announce that, as part of the LuWa consortium, it has reached financial close on Plan Lumiere 4.0, an availability PPP project involving the modernisation and maintenance of the street lighting network across the Walloon region’s main roads.

The consortium consists of DIF Infrastructure V (70% equity stake), together with its partners Citelum, CFE and Luminus. The authority partner is the Société de Financement Complémentaire des Infrastructures (SOFICO), the public company established to finance the maintenance and upgrade of motorways and other main roads in the Walloon region.

The 20 year DBFM contract covers 2,700 km of roads and interchanges. The project includes the replacement of approximately 100,000 street lights by modern LEDs with dimming capability, as well as the installation of a remote monitoring and management system.

The modernisation program will reduce the energy consumption of the network by 76%, equivalent to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 166,000 tons over the life of the project, as well reduce the light pollution generated by the network. Furthermore, the project will enhance regional employment opportunities: 400 new jobs will be created and 100,000 professional training hours will be organized together with the regional employment agency.

Gijs Voskuyl, partner at DIF, added: “DIF is proud to invest in this innovative project, which incorporates significant technological and ESG improvements, to the benefit of road users, local communities and the environment.”

Total debt funding for the project amounts to €230 million secured from BBVA, Belfius, BNP Paribas, KBC, SMBC and Société Générale.

Advisers to the consortium are Belfius/BDO (financial), DLA Piper (legal), Tiberghien (tax & accounting) and Operis (model audit). Advisors to the lenders are Jones Day (legal), AECOM (technical) and Willis Towers Watson (insurance).

About DIF

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 110 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

28 February 2019 | Schiphol

DIF and Aberdeen Standard Investments to acquire UNITANK

SL Capital Infrastructure II (“ASI”) and DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I (“DIF”) are pleased to announce the signing of an agreement to acquire 100% of UNITANK from the family owners, with ASI and DIF each acquiring a 50% stake.

UNITANK is a market leading independent and neutral infrastructure and services provider storing liquid oil products, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. The company owns and operates five terminals in Germany and one terminal in Belgium, all in key strategic locations. The terminals handle diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and heating oil and have a total storage capacity of c. 1.1 million cubic meters. Servicing both strategic stockholding agencies with product storage as well as commercial clients with product throughput provides UNITANK with a stable and resilient business model.

The acquisition provides DIF and ASI with a strong and differentiated platform in the German liquid bulk storage and throughput market. Its flexible business model, high-quality and state-of-the-art asset base, and operational excellence positions the company well for the future. The consortium will continue to back the company’s long-term and successful strategy for the business.

The transaction is conditional on European Commission merger clearance.

Jan Westedt – Owner

“Our family has run UNITANK over two generations with a strategy emphasising close and trusted partnerships with our clients and employees, which were key elements of our success story. We are glad that DIF and ASI together with the management team will continue to pursue a long-term investment strategy centred around our philosophy and corporate culture.”

Dominic Helmsley – Head of Economic Infrastructure at Aberdeen Standard Investments

“We consider UNITANK to be a highly successful provider of storage capacity for strategic stockholding agencies and a key strategic partner for oil majors. We value the company’s historic growth and see significant future upside. Together with our partner DIF we look forward to working closely with UNITANK management in supporting the business and exploring further business opportunities.”

Willem Jansonius – Partner and Head of Core Infrastructure at DIF

“We firmly believe in the strategy as set by the current shareholder and management team. We are impressed with the commercial re-positioning of the business and its importance in providing essential services in its clients’ supply chains. We appreciate the well-invested asset base and the resulting high standards of operational excellence, which are essential to UNITANK’s current and future positioning.”

About DIF

DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 115 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

About ASI

Aberdeen Standard Investments has over €4 billion of assets under management across direct economic and concession infrastructure. The Economic infrastructure funds’ primary objective is to achieve long term, consistent returns by investing in brownfield core/core+ infrastructure assets in Europe. The fund’s aim is to construct a balanced portfolio of high quality European infrastructure opportunities focussing on small to mid-market opportunities across the utilities, transport and energy sectors.

Aberdeen Standard Investments is a leading global asset manager dedicated to creating long-term value for our clients, and is a brand of the investment businesses of Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life Investments. With over 1,000 investment professionals we manage €630 billion (30/06/18) of assets worldwide. We have clients in 80 countries supported by 46 relationship offices. This ensures we are close to our clients and the markets in which they invest. We are high-conviction; long-term investors who believe teamwork and collaboration are the key to delivering repeatable, superior investment performance. We are resolute in our commitment to active asset management.

Standard Life Aberdeen plc is headquartered in Scotland. It has around 1.2 million shareholders and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The Standard Life Aberdeen group was formed by the merger of Standard Life plc and Aberdeen Asset Management PLC on 14 August 2017.

5 February 2019 | Madrid

DIF acquires Spanish hospital

DIF is pleased to announce that it has closed the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Infanta Leonor Hospital in Spain located in the Vallecas district, southeast of Madrid. DIF Infrastructure V acquired the interest from Pralesa Concesiones and three other minority shareholders.

The project consists of the construction, maintenance and operation of the non-medical services of the Infanta Leonor Hospital which operates under an availability based payment scheme granted by the Community of Madrid. The hospital started operations in 2007 and the concession will run until 2035.

Infanta Leonor Hospital is one of the primary hospitals in the Madrid region, with a surface area of ca. 85,000 sqm and over 200 beds, providing services to a population of over 300,000 patients.

Fernando Moreno, DIF Partner and Head of Spain, added: “DIF is very pleased to have closed this acquisition. We are looking forward to working together with all stakeholders involved in the hospital to provide excellent services to the community of Vallecas. We believe this high quality project fits our existing Spanish portfolio very well and will deliver a stable yield to our investors”.

In this acquisition, DIF was advised by PwC (Financial), Jacobs (Technical), Garrigues (Tax) and Herbert Smith Freehills (Legal).

About DIF
DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 115 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

31 January 2019 | Schiphol

DIF consortium reaches financial close on Liège Tram PPP

DIF is pleased to announce that the Tram’Ardent consortium, comprising DIF Infrastructure V (80%), French civil construction firm Colas (10%) and Spanish rolling stock manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF, 10%), has reached financial close on the Liège Tram PPP in Belgium.

This availability-based public-private partnership contract with Opérateur du Transport de Wallonie, the regional public transport company, involves the design, building, financing and maintenance of a tram line in the centre of Liège between Sclessin, Coronmeuse and Bressoux Station. It includes circa 12 km of rail track (of which over 3 km catenary-less), 21 stations, 20 trams, a maintenance depot, 2 park-and-ride facilities and improvements to the surrounding urban area. Construction will start immediately, with completion expected in the second half of 2022. Thereafter the consortium will maintain the project for circa 27 years, until 2050.

Total funding for the project amounts to €429 million, including long-term debt secured from the European Investment Bank (EIB), Belfius, BBVA, Natixis, AG Insurance and Talanx. The EIB will fund half of the term loan, totalling €193 million, backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

Managing Partner of DIF, Wim Blaasse, added: “DIF is exited to invest in this landmark project, which will benefit the community of Liège by increasing mobility whilst decreasing carbon emissions. It is the result of our strong relationship with both Colas and CAF, with each of whom we are successfully pursuing other opportunities around the globe.”

Advisers to the consortium are Natixis (financial), DLA Piper (legal), Loyens & Loeff (tax & accounting) and BDO (model audit). Advisors to the lenders are Loyens & Loeff (legal), Clifford Chance (EIB legal), Infrata (technical) and Aon (insurance).

About DIF
DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 110 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

29 January 2019 | Sydney

DIF acquires Warradarge Wind Farm in Australia

DIF is pleased to announce the acquisition of the 180MW Warradarge Wind Farm, the third and largest asset to be acquired by the renewable energy investment vehicle ‘Bright Energy Investments’ which is a joint venture between DIF Infrastructure V, CBUS and Synergy.

The Warradarge Wind Farm is a greenfield project located near Eneabba in Western Australia and is recognised as one of the best renewable energy projects in Australia due to its location and abundant wind resource. The total output will have a circa 50% capacity factor, the equivalent to the average annual electricity needs of 135,000 Western Australian homes.

Vestas has been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract as well as the operations and maintenance contract with a yield-based availability guarantee. Construction is expected to commence in early 2019, creating up to 200 local jobs and first power is expected to be generated in 2020. Its 51 turbines will be among the largest in Western Australia with a tip height of 152 metres, sporting some of the longest blades onshore at 66 metres. Synergy, an electricity generator and retailer that is owned by the Western Australian Government, will purchase all electricity and renewable certificates from the project, assisting Synergy and Western Australia to meet its 2020 Large-scale Renewable Energy Target obligations.

This investment fits neatly within DIF’s mandate to acquire infrastructure and renewable energy assets that will deliver long-term stable cash flows for the fund and add to DIF’s existing portfolio of Australian renewable energy assets.

Marko Kremer, DIF’s Head of Australasia added: “DIF is delighted that it played a leading role in this significant project for Western Australia and excited to make a large contribution to the growing Australian renewable energy market, which supports the nation’s commitment to a greener economy, as well as creating job opportunities in Western Australia.””

About DIF
DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 110 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please visit www.dif.eu for further information.

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

19 December 2018 | Schiphol

DIF appoints two new Partners

DIF is pleased to announce the appointment of Marko Kremer and Andrew Freeman to Partner. Their promotion from Managing Director is in response to their personal contributions to the success and growth of the firm.

Speaking on behalf of the existing Partners, Managing Partner Wim Blaasse said, “”We are very pleased to welcome Marko and Andrew into the Partnership. Marko and Andrew have contributed strongly to the success of DIF and I am confident that they will continue to play leading roles in the further build out of the DIF platform.”

About Marko
Marko Kremer is Head of Australia. He leads the Sydney office and is responsible for the origination, execution and optimisation of transactions in Australia and New Zeeland. He joined DIF in 2008 as a member of the Origination Team in DIF’s Schiphol office in the Netherlands. In 2015 he moved to Australia to establish the Sydney office, which he has successfully built out to seven team members and completed the acquisition of nine assets in the region.

Prior to joining DIF, he was in the Leveraged Finance Team at ABN AMRO, responsible for originating, structuring and executing leveraged finance opportunities. Marko holds a master’s degree in Management Engineering from the University of Twente and is a CFA and CAIA charter holder.

About Andrew
Andrew Freeman is Head of Exits and Head of the UK office. He is responsible for leading, preparing and executing the exit of projects and Funds managed by DIF. This includes the landmark sale of the remaining 48 projects in DIF Infrastructure II, with a combined value of ca. €650 million, to APG in 2017. In addition, he is responsible for the management of the UK office. He joined DIF in 2011 as a member of the Origination Team, focused on the origination, execution and optimisation of transactions in the United Kingdom.

Prior to joining DIF, he was in the Infrastructure Team at PwC, responsible for advising on primary and secondary PPP transactions, with a focus on fund setups and exits, listings and valuations. Andrew holds a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Portsmouth and is registered as a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

About DIF
DIF is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with €5.6 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, North America and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I targets equity investments in small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the energy, transportation and telecom sectors with mid-term contracted income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.

DIF has a team of over 110 professionals, based in eight offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please see www.dif.eu or further information on DIF.

For further information please contact:

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