PFI Equity Transactions

Balfour Beatty PLC 10 January 2006 10 January 2006 BALFOUR BEATTY COMPLETES PFI EQUITY TRANSACTIONS FOR EDINBURGH ROYAL INFIRMARY AND CONNECT ROADS =============================================== Two deals demonstrate continued confidence in the quality and value of PFI assets and ability to secure superior market returns ---------------------------------------------------- Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction and services group, announces today that it has completed two separate transactions in the PFI equity market. Balfour Beatty Capital Projects, the specialist PFI/PPP arm of the Group, has increased its shareholding in Consort Healthcare's Edinburgh Royal Infirmary PFI concession from 42.5% to 73.9%. It has also sold a 15% interest in three of the roads in the Connect Roads portfolio, previously 100% owned. These transactions, which have a net cash cost of £18.1 million, take the total commitment of Balfour Beatty's equity investment in PFI projects to £284 million. Commenting today, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said: 'These transactions demonstrate our continued confidence in the value and quality of our PFI assets and further illustrate our commitment to developing and maintaining an active PFI investment portfolio. We expect further such opportunities to arise in the future. 'Our development capability, operating expertise and proven capability in financial structuring gives us the confidence to properly value PFI projects and best realise superior market returns from our equity investments.' Balfour Beatty has acquired 31.4% of the equity in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary healthcare PFI for a consideration of £31.6 million, valuing the total equity in the project at approximately £100 million. Infrastructure Investors LP (I2), who previously owned 15%, have increased their interest to 26.1% of the equity. The transaction reflects Balfour Beatty's confidence that the project will continue to deliver an attractive market return. Through this transaction, Balfour Beatty has further consolidated its position as a market-leading developer and investor in the healthcare market. Through Consort Healthcare and HMU, it now has four active concessions and three preferred bidder positions in large hospital projects. The Group now has £114 million of committed investment in this sector. In a separate transaction, Balfour Beatty has also sold 15% of three of the concessions in Connect Roads, its PFI road concession portfolio, to I2 for £13.5 million, with Balfour Beatty retaining 85% of the economic interest in the concession. The disposal generates an exceptional profit of £5.7 million over book value. The current total equity in Connect Roads is now valued at over £90 million. As Balfour Beatty and I2 will exercise joint control over these road concessions, this transaction will lead to a deconsolidation of £227 million of associated net debt from the Group's balance sheet and will simplify and clarify the presentation of its PFI results. These concessions produced profit before taxation of £8 million for the year ended 31 December 2004 and had gross assets of £340 million at 31 December 2004 under UK GAAP. ENDS Enquiries to: Tim Sharp Tel: 020 7216 6884 www.balfourbeatty.com Notes to Editors ---------------- 1. Balfour Beatty has equity interests in 22 PFI projects. These are: - 7 hospital schemes, three at preferred bidder stage - 5 schools schemes, one at preferred bidder stage - 4 road schemes - 2 street lighting schemes - 2 schemes under the London Underground PPP - 1 scheme for the LUL power supply system - 1 wastewater scheme. 2. Balfour Beatty is a world-class engineering, construction and services group, well positioned in infrastructure markets which offer significant growth potential. Its partnerships with public and private customers generate secure, sustainable income. Its financial position, with significant net cash and with strong operating cash flows, offers continuing flexibility to add additional capacity and expertise to the business mix and to make appropriate investments in PPP and other long-term growth opportunities. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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