Alterra Power Completes Financing and Partnership for Flat Top Project
VANCOUVER, July 20, 2017 /CNW/ - Alterra Power Corp. ("Alterra") is pleased to announce the completion of financing for the 200 MW Flat Top wind project and the concurrent advancement of the project into the final phase of construction. Key components of the financing include:
- Sponsor-Partner Investment: A fund managed by BlackRock Real Assets has acquired a 49% sponsor-partner interest in the project, and will co-own the project with Alterra. Alterra will continue to own 51% of the sponsor equity.
- $287 Million Construction Loan Facility: Affiliates of Citi, Santander and the Royal Bank of Canada supplied the facility, consisting of a $217 million loan plus letters of credit totaling $71 million (all amounts USD). The facility is secured by project assets and supported by a tax equity investor commitment.
- $221 Million Commitment from Tax Equity Partners: Subsidiaries of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Citi have committed to a $221 million investment which will be realized when the project achieves commercial operations, subject to typical conditions precedent. The tax equity investment will retire the construction loan facility.
- $21 Million Expansion of Holding Company Loan: Alterra has satisfied the final conditions precedent to funding of its expanded loan facility with affiliates of AMP Capital Investors Limited. The proceeds ($21.1 million, gross) funded a portion of Alterra's sponsor equity contribution for the project.
"We're extremely pleased to have our Shannon financing partners join us again at Flat Top, and to welcome a strong, new partner in BlackRock," said John Carson, Alterra's CEO. "We anticipate that the Flat Top project will serve our stakeholders and the State of Texas well, delivering a large amount of clean power into a lesser served portion of the state for years to come."
The 200 MW Flat Top project, located in central Texas is contracted to sell the majority of its power under a 13-year power hedge with an affiliate of Citi. Blattner Energy, Inc. is already mobilized on site and will provide services for the primary construction phase, while an affiliate of Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc. is supplying the project's wind turbines. The project is expected to achieve commercial operations in the first half of 2018. Alterra originally acquired the Flat Top wind project from Pioneer Green Energy, LLC and Lavaca Wind, LLC, each of whom have extensive experience in the development of several wind projects that are currently operating.
About Alterra Power Corp.
Alterra Power Corp. is a global renewable energy company that manages eight power plants totaling 825 MW of hydro, wind, geothermal and solar generation capacity in Canada, the USA and Iceland. Alterra owns a 363 MW share of this capacity, generating over 1,500 GWh of clean power annually.
Alterra is also constructing the 200 MW Flat Top wind project in central Texas, which is expected to be in operation by 1H 2018 (51% owned by Alterra). Upon the completion of Flat Top, Alterra will operate nine power plants totaling 1,025 MW of capacity and will own a 465 MW share of this capacity, generating almost 2,000 GWh of clean power annually. Alterra also has an extensive portfolio of development projects and a skilled team of developers, builders and operators to support its growth plans.
Alterra trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AXY.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements and information included in this news release are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information relates to future events or future performance and reflects management's expectations and beliefs regarding future events as of the date hereof. Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include the successful construction of, and achievement of commercial operations for, the Flat Top project, satisfaction of conditions precedent to the tax equity investment and Alterra's projected generation. Forward-looking information is based on factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection. Since forward-looking information relates to future events and conditions, by its very nature it requires making assumptions and involves inherent risks and uncertainties. Alterra cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, these risks and uncertainties give rise to the possibility that actual results may differ materially from the expectations set out in the forward-looking information. Material risk factors and assumptions include whether the actual power generation from our operations meets our expectations; the success and timely completion of construction efforts at the Flat Top project; achievement of commercial operations at the Flat Top project; Alterra's ability to successfully satisfy the conditions precedent to the tax equity investment; as well as others set out in the management's discussion and analysis section of Alterra's most recent annual and quarterly reports and in Alterra's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016. Although Alterra has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, Alterra undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequently or otherwise.
SOURCE Alterra Power Corp.
Peter Lekich, Corporate Communications, Alterra Power Corp., 604-235-6719, [email protected]
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