Dec 12 2013
EDF Renewable Energy and UBS International Infrastructure Fund announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement under which UBS International Infrastructure Fund will acquire a 50 percent equity interest from EDF Renewable Energy in the 161 megawatt (MW) Spinning Spur II wind farm project, subject to completion of construction and customary conditions precedent.
Spinning Spur II, located in Oldham County Texas, commenced construction in June 2013 with an expected COD (Commercial Operation Date) on or about July 1, 2014. Spinning Spur II will utilize 87 General Electric (GE) wind turbines with a rated capacity of 1.85 MW each. The project will be one of the first to take advantage of the new CREZ (Competitive Renewable Energy Zones) transmission lines connecting the wind generating capacity of the Texas Panhandle to high electricity demand areas in the state.
“The transaction model allowed EDF Renewable Energy to team up with a strong partner like UBS Infrastructure early in the project lifecycle,” said Raphael Declercq, EDF Renewable Energy’s Director of Divestiture and Portfolio Management. “EDF Renewable Energy will remain in charge of development, construction and tax-equity financing until commercial operation is achieved; we will then bring in our expertise in operations and maintenance through EDF Renewable Services to optimize both partners’ long-term investment profitability.”
Spinning Spur II will be UBS International Infrastructure Fund's sixth investment and its second renewables acquisition. Floyd Gent, Head of Americas for UBS International Infrastructure Fund said, “We are delighted to announce the Fund’s future investment in Spinning Spur II. With this investment, we recognize the experience and successful track record of EDF Renewable Energy in North America and other global markets and look forward to the completion of construction and operation of this important renewable energy project with our partner in the years ahead. Spinning Spur II, upon completion of its construction, is expected to generate stable, long term returns for the Fund, consistent with our investment objective.”
About EDF Renewable Energy:
EDF Renewable Energy is a leading U.S. independent power producer with more than 25 years of expertise in the renewable industry, covering all range of services from project development, management to operations and maintenance. EDF Renewable Energy specializes in wind and solar photovoltaic with presence in other segments of the renewable energy market: biogas, biomass, hydro, marine energy and storage solutions. The company develops, constructs, operates and manages renewable energy projects throughout the United States for its own accord as well as for third parties. EDF Renewable Energy’s portfolio consists of 4 gigawatts of developed projects with 1.9 gigawatts of installed capacity. EDF Renewable Energy is the U.S. subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles. EDF Energies Nouvelles is the renewable energy arm of the EDF group, the leading electricity company in the world. For more information visit: www.edf-re.com
About UBS International Infrastructure Fund:
UBS International Infrastructure Fund, managed by the Infrastructure Asset Management team within UBS Global Asset Management's Infrastructure and Private Equity business area, is a USD 1.5 billion specialist OECD infrastructure investment fund which, in addition to its pending investment in Spinning Spur II, owns investments in Gassled through its Njord Gas Infrastructure company, Collgar Wind Farm (a 206 megawatt wind farm in Australia), Northern Star Generation (a 1,402 megawatt portfolio of power stations in the United States), Saubermacher (a waste management business serving central and eastern Europe based in Austria) and Southern Water (a water and sewerage company serving southeast England). Investors in UBS International Infrastructure Fund are from around the world and are mainly pension and sovereign wealth funds. UBS International Infrastructure Fund is managed by UBS Global Asset Management in London. For more information visit: www.ubs.com/infrastructure-and-private-equity