10 January 2020  |  Paris

DIF Capital Partners agrees to sell a portfolio of French PPPs

DIF Capital Partners (“DIF”) is pleased to announce that DIF Infrastructure III (“DIF III”) has agreed to sell a portfolio of eight operational PPPs in France to 3i European Operational Projects Fund.

The portfolio consists of significant shareholdings in three educational facility projects, one multimodal train station project, one fire station project (consisting of 12 fire stations), two prison projects (consisting of three prison facilities each) and one sewer project. The projects are operational under availability-based and long term contracts, with the exception of the sewer concession project, and are all backed by strong public counterparties. Six of the eight projects were developed and acquired by DIF III as greenfield projects, and have been successfully managed into stable operational projects during DIF’s ownership.

Andrew Freeman, Head of Exits, said: “We are pleased with the sale of the portfolio that was successfully optimized throughout the life of the assets and exited via a competitive portfolio sales process. The sale represents a further underpinning of DIF’s long standing track record in the French infrastructure market and is an attractive exit for DIF III.”

DIF was advised by KPMG (M&A, Tax & Accounting), Allen & Overy (Legal) and Currie & Brown (Technical) and Egis (Technical for the sewer project).

Closing of the transaction is subject to receipt of certain customary project-counterparty approvals and antitrust consent.

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

2 October 2019  |  Schiphol

DIF Capital Partners’ investment in Irish Schools PPP project successfully completed

DIF Capital Partners (“DIF”) is pleased to report that the construction of the Irish Schools PPP Bundle 5 project (the “Project”) has been successfully delivered. The comprehensive restructuring was required due to the liquidation of the project contractor Carillion in 2018, which initially led to a standstill of the construction of the new school facilities and uncertainty for many students.

Carlow Campus, including Tyndall college and the institute of Further Education are the last facilities in the Project that opened their doors to students for the start of the new school year. This marks the successful completion of all six facilities within the Project. The other facilities became operational in Q3 2018 and Q2 2019.

The Irish Schools PPP Programme, procured by the National Development Finance Agency (“NDFA”) on behalf of the Department of Education & Skills (“DoES”), represents a major investment in education infrastructure through the delivery of new, state-of-the-art education facilities by way of public private partnership (“PPP”) arrangements. The Project delivered five replacement schools and one replacement Institute of Further Education that will be used by DoES as a template for other projects as a centre of excellence.

DIF had previously confirmed its longstanding commitment to the Project by appointing Omagh-based Woodvale Construction (“Woodvale”) as a replacement contractor in June 2018, following the liquidation of Carillion, a UK construction company and DIF’s original co-shareholder in the Project. This built on Woodvale’s experience in projects to deliver education facilities. Integrated facilities management services and life cycle provisions are provided by Sensori Facilities Management, a joint venture of John Sisk and Son, one of the largest Irish construction companies, and Designer Group, the Dublin-based international electrical and mechanical engineering business.

DIF was able to proceed with the Project and to successfully deliver it due to constructive cooperation and negotiations between all stakeholders. This will secure education in all new facilities over the next 25 years.

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF Capital Partners (“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 construction and operational infrastructure assets, that generate stable and predictable cash flows, located in Europe, Americas and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

  • DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated utilities and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams.
  • 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.

DIF has a team of over 135 professionals, based in nine offices located in Schiphol (the Netherlands), 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 July 2019  |  Sydney

DIF consortium reaches financial close on 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 reached financial close on the Tunnel, Stations & Development PPP package of the Cross River Rail project in Brisbane, Australia.

Cross River Rail is South East Queensland’s largest infrastructure project, with the consortium delivering the design, build, finance and maintenance of a new 10.2km rail line connecting the north and south of Brisbane, including twin 5.9km tunnels under the Brisbane River and central business district. The availability-based 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, Ghella and UGL. In addition, UGL will be responsible for maintenance services. Construction is expected to commence later this year.

The State Government is providing a A$5.4 billion capital contribution for the construction of the project.

Marko Kremer, Partner and DIF’s Head of Australasia added: “DIF is excited to work 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 and unlock critical capacity on Brisbane’s constrained rail network, improving passenger comfort and service reliability.”

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, South 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.

12 June 2019  |  Sydney

DIF to build Australian workers accommodation facility

DIF is pleased to announce that, together with its consortium partners, it has reached financial close on the Bay Village workers accommodation facility which will support the North West Shelf and Pluto LNG projects in Karratha, Western Australia.

The 15-year agreement includes the design, build, finance, operations and maintenance of a new 604-bed workers accommodation facility. Construction on the Bay Village facility will commence imminently, with operations expected to commence in mid-2020.

DIF Infrastructure V will be the 100% owner of the project, whilst design and construction works will be undertaken by Multiplex, and operations and maintenance services will be undertaken by Compass Group. The counterparties to the agreement are the North West Shelf and Pluto LNG projects, which are operated by Woodside, one of Australia’s largest natural gas producers.

BFIN (financial) and Corrs Chambers Westgarth (legal) advised the consortium. Financing was provided by Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Marko Kremer, Partner and DIF’s Head of Australasia added: “DIF is excited to be working with the North West Shelf and Pluto LNG projects to support their ongoing operations and growth plans. We are pleased to be involved with these Woodside-led projects, with LNG being an important solution to achieving a lower emissions future.”

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.

20 July 2018  |  Madrid

DIF Infrastructure V acquires 100% of Hospital de Vallecas S.A.

DIF Infrastructure V is pleased to announce the acquisition from Pralesa Concesiones and other minority shareholders of a 100% stake in Hospital de Vallecas.

The Hospital de Vallecas project consists of the construction, maintenance and operation of the non-medical services of the Infanta Leonor Hospital under an availability based DBFM scheme granted by the Community of Madrid. The hospital started operations in 2007, with the concession having a remaining life of ca. 17 years, ending in 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.

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

Fernando Moreno, Partner and Head of Spain, said: “DIF is pleased to invest in Hospital de Vallecas, a well-managed high-quality asset, and to expand its footprint in the hospital sector in Spain after acquiring a majority stake in Hospital de Majadahonda in 2015”

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 over 100 professionals in eight offices, located in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Toronto. Please see www.dif.eu for further information.

For more information please contact:

Barend Bloemarts
Director, Investor Relations and Business Development
Email: b.bloemarts@dif.eu

Fernando Moreno
Partner, Head of Spain
Email: f.moreno@dif.eu

18 April 2018  |  Schiphol

DIF acquires a portfolio of Norwegian social infrastructure

DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I (DIF CIF I) is pleased to announce that it, together with Infranode, has completed the acquisition of a Norwegian portfolio of four rehabilitation centres, 41 care homes and seven preschools from SPG. DIF CIF I has acquired a 40% shareholding, and Infranode 60%.

The facilities are contracted and operated by renowned Norwegian and international private health and care providers, which receive their funding from local and regional public authorities. The portfolio’s assets are located in densely populated areas, with the majority located in the attractive greater Oslo region.

The investment provides mid to long-term contracted cash flows, with strong counterparties and is a good fit with DIF CIF I’s investment strategy.

Willem Jansonius, Partner at DIF added: “”DIF is excited to enter the growing Norwegian private health and care market. We have established a strong partnership with Infranode and are looking forward to further growing this platform in the future.””

About DIF

DIF is an independent and specialist infrastructure fund management company, managing funds of approximately €5.1 billion across seven closed-end investment funds and several co-investment vehicles. DIF invests in the global infrastructure market through two differentiated and complementary strategies.

DIF Infrastructure V targets PPP / PFI / P3, regulated infrastructure assets and renewable energy projects.

DIF CIF I targets small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in, amongst others, the energy, transportation and telecoms sectors which generate stable and predictable cash flows that are protected over the mid-term.

Both strategies target greenfield and brownfield investments in Europe, North America and Australasia.

DIF has offices in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Luxembourg, Madrid, Toronto and Sydney.

For more information, please contact:

Willem Jansonius, Partner
Email: w.jansonius@dif.eu

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

One child carrying another
21 December 2017  |  Sydney

DIF acquires Australian Student Accommodation concession

DIF is pleased to announce that DIF Infrastructure V has acquired a 30 year Purpose Built Student Accommodation (“PBSA”) concession from the University of Tasmania in Australia.

The University of Tasmania is the only university in the Australian state of Tasmania. Under a 30 year concession, DIF as a sole equity sponsor, will operate and maintain a portfolio of approximately 1,800 existing beds across 10 PBSA facilities.

In addition, DIF has a right of first offer for any new PBSA builds, representing a positive long term relationship and pipeline with the University.

Tetris Capital was financial adviser to DIF in relation to this transaction and Corrs Chambers Westgarth acted as legal adviser.

Marko Kremer, DIF’s Head of Australasia added: “DIF is proud to have entered into this partnership with the University of Tasmania to support their academic and educational pursuits.”

DIF Profile

DIF is an independent and specialist fund management company, managing funds of approximately €4.6 billion across seven closed-end investment funds and several co-investment vehicles. DIF invests in the global infrastructure market through two differentiated and complementary strategies.

The majority of DIF’s funds, including DIF Infrastructure V, target PPP / PFI / P3, regulated infrastructure assets and renewable energy projects.

DIF CIF I targets small to mid-sized infrastructure assets in the telecom infrastructure, rail, energy and utility sectors that generate stable and predictable cash flows that are contracted over the mid-term with highly rated entities.

Both strategies targets both greenfield and brownfield projects in Europe, North America and Australasia.

DIF has offices in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Luxembourg, Madrid, Toronto and Sydney.

For more information, please contact:

Paul Nash, Partner
Email: p.nash@dif.eu

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