First investment since IPO

RNS Number : 4697U

VH Global Sustainable Energy Oppt.

06 April 2021

 

VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities plc (the "Company")

06 April 2021

VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities commits $61m to Texas project in first investment since IPO

Supporting Mexico's GHG emissions reduction plans by displacing pollutive fuels

VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities plc ("GSEO", the "Company") - a London-listed investment company advised by Victory Hill Capital Advisors LLP ("Victory Hill") - is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interests in two operating terminal storage sites on the Texas Gulf Coast for a total purchase price of $61mn. GSEO has also committed further capital to develop and expand the sites before the end of the year. This is GSEO's first investment since its recent IPO just over 2 months ago. The acquisition, and Victory Hill's intended strategy around the terminals' expansion and development, was showcased to investors during the IPO. The project was included as an enhanced pipeline asset in the Company's prospectus. Closing under the purchase agreement is expected to occur shortly.

GSEO will be partnering with the newly formed Motus Energy LLC ("Motus Energy") to operate and expand the two operating terminal storage assets with a view to displacing highly-pollutive fuel sources produced in Mexico. This is an important project that marries the high-impact investment approach of Victory Hill with the high-quality operational expertise of the Motus Energy Team (whose founders come from BP and Itero Energy Inc., which was sold to Lakewood Midstream and Energy Spectrum Capital in 2013). Both firms have a strong commitment to leading the charge in supporting customers in the midstream industry towards a more sustainable future that is in line with GSEO's mandate and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Key project highlights:

· Majority interest and ownerships held by GSEO with performance incentives awarded to Motus Energy

· Strategic aggregation hub for cross-border product movements

· New, high-spec. terminal assets with useful life of 35 years (31 years remaining)

· Fully availability-based contracted revenues

· Two storage terminal assets with a combined capacity of 525,000 barrels

Anthony Catachanas, CEO of Victory Hill Capital Advisors LLP, investment adviser to GSEO, said: "The project will help materially reduce the environmental and health threats that high sulfur fuels have on the natural habitat and human health. By reducing the availability of High Sulfur Fuel Oil for domestic consumption in Mexico and displacing it with cleaner less pollutive products, GSEO aims to help reduce SO2, CO2 and NO2 emissions by over 85%, particularly in large urban areas around the country. This displacement programme is central to supporting the Mexican government in achieving its Paris Accord targets, and this remains the mission of GSEO and Victory Hill."

Michael Gruener, Chief Executive Officer at Motus Energy LLC, said:

"We are delighted to partner with Victory Hill on this strategic project on the Texas Gulf Coast. We have worked with the Victory Hill team in the past in trying to uncover terminal infrastructure positions in South Texas. We see an excellent opportunity to support the displacement of pollutive fuels in the Mexican fuels market with cleaner products. In our view, this is key to supporting the Mexican government achieve its carbon emissions targets".

Background of the deal

The terminals to be acquired will serve as a distribution point for clean, low sulfur fuels into the Mexican power and transportation markets. These markets are emerging competitive markets being served by global integrated energy companies, trading houses, independent marketers, and retailers.

The terminals will be used for the export of domestically produced High Sulfur Fuel Oil ("HSFO") from Mexico to the United States, a fuel product that contains as much as 2-4% sulfur. When burned, HSFO produces high amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is considered pollutive and one of the major risks of unrefined fuel consumption in power and transportation sectors. These fuels are destined for the more modern and efficient US refineries in Texas to de-sulfurise and lighten the fuel oil into ULSFO (Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel Oil) or ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) which contain an average 0.1-0.2% in sulfur. In addition, the refined products also emit lower contents of CO2, NO2 and generally contains fewer particulates, making the products cleaner and compliant with US and European emission standards.

www.vh-gseo.com

The Company's LEI is 213800RFHAOF372UU580.

For further information, please contact:

Quill Communications Limited (PR Adviser)

Sarah Gibbons-Cook

Tel: + 44 (0)20 7466 5050 / [phone]

Numis Securities Limited (Sponsor & Bookrunner)

David Benda / Matt Goss / Tod Davis

Tel: [phone]

G10 Capital Limited (AIFM)

Mohammed Rahman / Paul Cowland

Tel: + 44 (0)20 3696 1302

Apex Fund and Corporate Services (UK) Limited

Anthony Lee

Company Secretary

Tel: [phone]

About Victory Hill Capital Advisors LLP

Victory Hill Capital Advisers LLP is the investment-focused subsidiary of Victory Hill Capital Group LLP. Victory Hill Capital Advisors LLP (FRN 938594) is an Appointed Representative of G10 Capital Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 648953).

Victory Hill is based in London and was founded in May 2020 by an experienced team of energy financiers that have spun-out of a large established global project finance banking group. The team have an established track record built over six years while working together in their previous roles and participating in over $37.1bn in sustainable energy project transaction values, generating over 24.2 per cent. equity returns. In addition, the team has also participated in more than $200bn in transaction values across 91 conventional and renewable energy-related transactions in over 30 jurisdictions worldwide, throughout their individual careers. The average experience per individual is 21 years of relevant energy finance experience.  Victory Hill Capital Advisors LLP is the investment adviser entity of the Victory Hill group.

The Victory Hill team deploys its experience across different financial disciplines in order to holistically assess investments from multiple points of view. The firm pursues operational stability and well-designed corporate governance to generate sustainable positive returns for investors. It focuses on supporting and accelerating the Energy Transition and the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

VHCA is a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (UN PRI), the United Nations Global Compact (UN GC) and is a formal supporter of the Financial Stability Board's Task-Force on Climate-related Disclosures (TFCD).

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