Last checked at 
20 Oct 2021 07:00
20 October 2021
BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A.
("BBGI" or the "Company")
Agreement to acquire social infrastructure investments in Montreal, Québec, Canada
BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. (LSE ticker: BBGI), the global infrastructure investment company, is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement to acquire a 25% interest in Center Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal ("CHUM"), in Montreal, Québec, Canada. The asset is classified as availability-based under the investment policy of the Company and aligns with BBGI's ESG principles.
The public-private partnership project originally consisted of the design, construction, finance, operation, and maintenance of a fully functional new hospital facility including new buildings, parking and commercial retail areas together with supporting infrastructure for the Province of Québec. The hospital has 772 private patient rooms, 39 operating theatres and 415 examination rooms. The project achieved substantial completion of phase 1 in 2017 and phase 2 in 2021. The concession runs until 2050.
Availability payments are received from Center Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, a public not for profit corporation duly formed to deliver health services and care and social services for and funded by the Province of Québec. Both the CHUM and the Province of Québec are rated AA-/Aa2 by S&P and Moody's, respectively.
The new state of the art facility caters to over 1.7 million people in the region and it is one of the largest healthcare centres in North America.
The interest is being acquired from entities owned by Obrascón Huarte Lain, S.A. (OHL). The completion of this acquisition is subject to certain conditions which are customary for this type of transaction including consent from the public sector client, lenders and other approvals.
The purchase price for the investments is approximately CAD 88 million and is subject to certain adjustments. The consideration for the acquisition of the 25% interest is being funded from drawing upon the Company's £230 million corporate revolving credit facility and existing cash resources.
Following the completion of this acquisition, BBGI will own a globally diversified portfolio of 55 infrastructure investments in the schools, healthcare, blue light (i.e. fire and police stations), affordable housing, justice facilities and transport sectors which are geographically located in Australia, Canada, Continental Europe, the UK and the US. The Company seeks to limit and reduce investment risk where possible, with the current portfolio benefitting from 100% availability-based assets of which over 99% are operational. The Company also maintains a diversified supply chain in regard to facilities management and operational and maintenance ("O&M") contractors.
Commenting, Co-CEOs Duncan Ball and Frank Schramm said:
"We are delighted to acquire this high-quality availability-based social infrastructure investment with strong ESG credentials. This important hospital facility delivers healthcare services to the Montreal community and the broader Province of Québec. Our strategy is to remain disciplined and selective in our approach to acquisition opportunities by only investing in availability-based assets that also align with our ESG principles, and not in higher risk infrastructure asset classes."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
BBGI Management Team | +352 263 479-1 |
Duncan Ball | |
Frank Schramm | |
Maitland/AMO (Communications adviser) | +44(0) 7747 113 930 |
James Benjamin | BBGI-maitland@maitland.co.uk |
NOTES
BBGI Global Infrastructure (BBGI) is a responsible infrastructure investment company and a constituent of the FTSE 250 that invests in and actively manages for the long-term a globally diversified, low-risk portfolio of essential social infrastructure investments.
BBGI is committed to delivering stable and predictable cash flows with progressive long-term dividend growth and attractive, sustainable, returns for shareholders. BBGI has a proactive approach to preserving and enhancing the value of its investments, and to delivering well maintained social infrastructure for communities and end users, whilst serving society by supporting local communities.
All of BBGI's investments are availability-based and supported by secure public sector-backed contracted revenues, with inflation-protection characteristics, that is paid so long as the assets are available for use.
BBGI's investment portfolio is over 99% operational with all its investments located across highly rated investment grade countries with stable, well developed operating environments.
BBGI's in-house management team is incentivised by shareholder returns and consistently maintains low comparative ongoing charges to shareholders.
Further information about BBGI is available on its website at www.bb-gi.com*.
The Company's LEI: 529900CV0RWCOP5YHK95
Any reference to the Company or BBGI refers also to its subsidiaries (where applicable).
* Neither the Company's website nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on its website (or any other website) is (or is deemed to be) incorporated into, or forms (or is deemed to form) part of this announcement.