Register Log-in Investor Type

News

3i Infrastructure says portfolio impact has been limited so far and that it is in a strong cash position

3i Infrastructure moves tax residence to the UK

3i Infrastructure (3IN) has released a performance update for the period from 1 October 2019 to 18 March 2020. With a market capitalisation of about £1.95bn, 3IN is one of the largest investment trusts, alongside two other infrastructure sector companies, HICL (HICL) and International Public Partnerships (IPP).

Financial update – £720m cash available

  • Total available liquidity of over £720m: The company’s cash balance as at 18 March 2020 was £420m and the revolving credit facility of £300m was wholly undrawn.  The company has another circa £199m in receivables due unconditionally in two equal instalments in December 2020 and December 2021, following the disposal of Wireless Infrastructure Group (WIG).  Cash and receivables are equivalent to c. 70 pence per share;
  • Good portfolio income in the period: Total portfolio income and non-income cash was £77m, with a further £3m of income expected by 31 March 2020 (2019: £69m ); and
  • On track to meet dividend target: 3IN says it remains on track to meet its dividend target for the year ending 31 March 2020 of 9.20 pence per share. The full year dividend target is fully covered.

Covid-19 – portfolio impact limited so far, airport ground handling company TCR most affected

3IN said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting most businesses across the world, including our portfolio companies. Our manager is working very closely with the management teams to address these unprecedented circumstances. To date, any operational impact has been limited and, currently, all of our portfolio companies are maintaining continuity of service to their customers.

TCR, our airport ground handling equipment business, is most obviously affected by the dramatic fall in air travel. TCR is in a strong liquidity position, and is taking action to prepare for a scenario of a potentially long period of reduced aircraft movements.  TCR will work closely with its airport, airline and ground handling customers through this period of disruption.

The effect of the pandemic on portfolio valuation will be assessed as part of the valuation exercise of the portfolio as at 31 March 2020. This will seek to take account of individual cashflow effects on portfolio companies as well as broader market pricing considerations, which obviously are extremely volatile.”

Portfolio activity update

  • Completion of the sale of WIG, the independent wireless infrastructure operator headquartered in the UK for proceeds of circa £387m, realising a 27% IRR from this investment;
  • Completion of the sale of the UK projects for proceeds of circa £193m, realising a 15% IRR for the company; and

Commenting on today’s announcement, Richard Laing, chair of 3IN, said: “We have a strong and liquid balance sheet and a defensive portfolio of businesses providing essential services.  This positions us well to withstand these extraordinary circumstances.

Phil White, managing partner and head of infrastructure, 3i Investments, the manager, added: “The portfolio performed well overall during the period. Our portfolio company management teams are working very hard to manage their businesses through these exceptional market conditions, and are being well-supported by our 3i team and broader network.”

The manager is working closely with the portfolio companies’ management teams to address the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Following the refinancing activity undertaken in the recent years across the portfolio, 3IN says its businesses are well funded and the company has significant liquidity to support our investments should that be needed.

  • TCR, the leading lessor of ground service equipment in airports, performed well in the period, winning a number of significant contracts, most notably the pooling contract at Los Angeles airport.  Given the nature of its services it is affected by the recent fall in activity in the air transport sector, but we note that the majority of its revenues are lease rental payments that are fixed.  For context, TCR accounted for circa 22 pence per share of the updated September pro-forma NAV of 253.0 pence per share announced in January 2020.  TCR’s customers, comprising airlines, airports and ground handlers, are likely to face cashflow shortfalls and that could potentially have consequential effects on TCR.  However, TCR is in a strong liquidity position and also expects to see new business opportunities arising from the crisis.
  • On 19 December, 3i Infrastructure completed the sale of its 93% stake in WIG to Brookfield Infrastructure for c. £387m, which compares to a valuation of £291m at 30 September 2019.  This investment achieved a 27% gross IRR and a 1.7x gross money multiple for 3i Infrastructure.  Approximately half of the proceeds have been received, with a quarter payable unconditionally in 12 months and a quarter payable unconditionally in 24 months.
  • On 6 December 2019, following a strategic review of its projects portfolio, 3i Infrastructure agreed to sell the UK Projects, all of which are now operational.  The UK Projects comprised stakes in Ayrshire College, Elgin (a vehicle holding 16 project investments), Mersey Gateway Bridge, Octagon Hospital, the West of Duddon Sands offshore transmission owner project, and an interest in the Dalmore Capital Fund. These sales have all completed.
  • The company retains a portfolio of European PPP projects, all of which receive revenues on an availability basis with very limited demand risk.  That portfolio continues to perform as expected and provides a good level of income to the company.
  • The proposed tax on waste imports to the Netherlands, that we highlighted in the half-year report, was passed by the Dutch Parliament and the Senate and has taken effect from 1 January 2020.  Following the renegotiation of most of its import waste contracts, Attero expects that the immediate impact of the tax on its revenues will be limited.
  • The regulatory outlook for Infinis has improved with the resumption of Capacity Market payments, including payments covering the suspension period.  We are also seeing increasing opportunities for Infinis, including through its strong environmental credentials and in particular its negative carbon footprint.
  • Oystercatcher has experienced more stable trading conditions, which have improved further now that future oil prices are above spot prices which benefits some storage customers.  This follows a reduction in global demand for oil during the pandemic and the increase in production announced by Saudi Arabia. Oystercatcher is a holding company through which 3IN owns a 45% stake in five oil tanking businesses.

Portfolio returns

3IN noted that important element of the determination of the company’s results for the full year to 31 March 2020 will be the valuation exercise carried out on the investment portfolio at that date. It expects to announce its results for the year to 31 March 2020 on 7 May 2020.

The company goes on to say that the portfolio overall is delivering a good level of income. Total portfolio income and non-income cash was £77m in the period, comprising portfolio income of £66m and non-income cash of £11m.  This compares with £69m of income and non-income cash received in the same period last year.

Balance sheet

At 18 March 2020, the company’s cash balance was £420m with the full Revolving Credit Facility of £300m undrawn and available to fund potential new investment opportunities and to support portfolio companies.

Finally, 3IN noted that approximately half of the proceeds from the sale of WIG have been received, with a quarter payable unconditionally 12 months and a quarter payable unconditionally in 24 months from the completion date of 19 December 2019.  The receivables balance in relation to these deferred proceeds, including accrued interest will be £199m at 31 March 2020.

[The market has responded well to 3i Infrastructure’s briefing, with the shares climbing by 16% as of 12:10 pm. GCP Infrastructure Investments’s shares have also climbed sharply. Up until recently, 3i Infrastructure’s shares hadn’t traded at a discount since late February 2018. A decline of about 33% in the shares from 1 March to yesterday’s close seemed excessive given the defensive characteristics of the portfolio. In these unprecedented times, prolific liquidating of conventionally defensive assets has been driven by the desire to raise cash.

3i Infrastructure mentioned that most of TCR’s revenues come from fixed leased rentals. We also note that some airlines have been re-purposing portions of their passenger fleet to increase freight capacity in order to keep global supply chains moving.] 

3IN: 3i Infrastructure says portfolio impact has been limited so far and that it is in a strong cash position

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please review our cookie, privacy & data protection and terms and conditions policies and, if you accept, please select your place of residence and whether you are a private or professional investor.

You live in…

You are a…