The UK Green Investment Bank plc (GIB) has announced that its FCA regulated subsidiary, UK Green Investment Bank Financial Services Limited (GIBFS), has reached first close on commitments of £463m on its planned £1bn fund to invest in operating offshore wind farms in the UK.
First close marks the completion of the first stage of fundraising and is triggered by the commitment of an initial group of investors.
The initial investors comprise UK-based pension funds and a major sovereign wealth fund. GIB is also investing £200m in the fund. Fundraising continues and GIBFS expects to raise additional funds from other investors to reach the £1bn target.
In addition to the £463m of fund commitments raised, an additional significant amount of investor capital is available to co-invest into projects alongside the fund.
The fund is a first-of-a-kind transaction. It is the world’s first fund dedicated to investments in offshore wind power generation and, once fully subscribed, will be the largest renewables fund in the UK. The fund has an expected life of 25 years, allowing a new class of long-term investor to enter the sector.
This is the first fund raised by the GIB group and its first step into asset management. It is also the first private capital to be managed by the GIB group. It will be managed by a new FCA-regulated and authorised subsidiary called UK Green Investment Bank Financial Services Limited which is staffed by a dedicated team.
GIB has now transferred its investments in two operating assets into the fund, which will produce immediate cash yield for investors. They include:
Evercore Private Funds Group is acting as advisor and exclusive global placement agent for the fundraise and King & Wood Mallesons is acting as legal counsel to the fund.
Shaun Kingsbury, Chief Executive of the UK Green Investment Bank said: “The fund will create significant benefits for the UK by mobilising capital into the UK offshore wind sector from new, long-term investors seeking good, risk adjusted returns. Attracting additional capital and creating a liquid market for operating assets is an important step in reducing the cost of offshore wind and supporting the continued growth of the sector. New investors will allow the original developers to sell down their stakes and use the proceeds to finance new renewable energy projects.”
Karl Smith, Fund Managing Director , said: “This successful first close reflects investor confidence in the UK offshore wind sector’s ability to generate strong returns and in GIBFS’s ability to source, execute on and manage offshore wind investments on their behalf.”
“The fund gives GIB a new opportunity to create value for its investors through active asset management, leveraging its deep industry insight, relationships and significant capital base.”