FGEN invests in environmental infrastructure across the UK and mainland Europe that is making a positive impact today and building a more sustainable future.
We define environmental infrastructure as infrastructure assets, projects and asset-backed businesses that utilise natural or waste resources or support more environmentally friendly approaches to economic activity, support the transition to a low carbon economy, or mitigate the effects of climate change.
Assets, projects and businesses that FGEN invests in typically have one or more of the below characteristics:
- They have the benefit of long-term, predictable cash flows, which may be wholly or partially inflation-linked.
- They are supported by long-term contracts or stable and well-proven regulatory and legal frameworks.
- They feature well-established technologies, and demonstrable operational performance.
We invest in environmental infrastructure either directly or through holding structures that offer investment exposure to environmental infrastructure. Our investment interests in environmental infrastructure may include partnership equity, partnership loans, membership interests, share capital, trust units, shareholder loans and/or debt interests in or to project entities or any other entities or undertakings in which FGEN invests or may invest.
Over the long term, we seek to invest in a diversified spread of investments both geographically (although the UK will represent a minimum of 50% of the portfolio by value) and across different types of environmental infrastructure to achieve a broad spread of risk in the portfolio.
We also understand that as technologies and the markets in which they contract develop and become established, future investments may differ from those currently within the portfolio. These assets may incorporate new technologies that have a demonstrable track record or traditional infrastructure projects with features such as greater exposure to merchant markets in feedstock or by-products.
Investment restrictions
With the objective of achieving a spread of risk, the following investment restrictions will apply to the acquisition of investment interests in the portfolio:
- The substantial majority of investments in the portfolio by value and number will be operational. FGEN will not acquire investment interests in any investment if, as a result of such investment: (i) 5% or more of the NAV is attributable to environmental infrastructure in the development phase (including in developers or development funding structures); or (ii) 25% or more of the NAV is attributable to projects that are either in the development phase (including in developers or development funding structures) or are in construction and are not yet fully operational;
- At least 50% of the portfolio (by value) will be based in the UK and FGEN will only invest in environmental infrastructure located in the UK, member states of the European Union or OECD countries and, accordingly, FGEN will not make any investment if, as a result of such investment, more than 50% of the NAV immediately post-acquisition would be attributable to investments that are not based in the UK; and
- It is intended that interests in any single investment acquired will not have an acquisition price (aggregated with the value of any existing investment in the relevant project, asset or business if relevant) greater than
25% of the NAV immediately post-acquisition. In no circumstances will a new acquisition exceed a maximum limit of 30% of the NAV immediately post-acquisition.
Borrowing and gearing
FGEN intends to make use of short-term debt financing to facilitate the acquisition of investments (either by itself or by one of its subsidiaries). Borrowing may be secured against the assets within the portfolio. It is intended that such debt will be repaid periodically by the raising of new equity finance by FGEN. The level of such debt is limited to 30% of FGEN’s Net Asset Value immediately after the acquisition of any further investment. Such debt will not include (and will be subordinate to) any project-level gearing or borrowings by assets or businesses in which FGEN may invest which shall be in addition to any borrowing at Company level.
FGEN may acquire investment interests in respect of projects that have non-recourse project finance in place at the project entity level. FGEN will target aggregate non-recourse financing attributable to renewable energy generation projects not exceeding 65% of the aggregate gross project value of such projects. FGEN will target aggregate non-recourse financing attributable to projects structured as PFI/PPP projects not exceeding 85% of the aggregate gross project value of such projects. FGEN will not invest in any project that would cause FGEN to be in breach of the targeted limits set out in this paragraph if the Directors do not reasonably believe that the relevant target leverage limit can be achieved within six months of the date of investment in that project. It is therefore possible that FGEN may exceed the targeted gearing limits set out in this paragraph, but only in circumstances where the Directors reasonably believe that such breach can be cured (by achieving the relevant target leverage limit) within six months of the date of investment in the relevant project.
Hedging
Where investments are made in currencies other than pounds sterling, FGEN will consider whether to hedge currency risk in accordance with FGEN’s currency and hedging policy as determined from time to time by the Directors. Interest rate hedging may be carried out to provide protection against increasing costs of servicing debt drawn down by FGEN to finance investments.
This may involve the use of interest rate derivatives and similar derivative instruments. Hedging against inflation may also be carried out where appropriate and this may involve the use of RPI swaps and similar derivative instruments. The currency, interest rate and any inflationary hedging policies will be reviewed by the Directors on a regular basis to ensure that the risks associated with movements in foreign exchange rates, interest rates and inflation are being appropriately managed.
Any hedging transactions (if carried out) will only be undertaken for the purpose of efficient portfolio management to enhance returns from the portfolio and will not be carried out for speculative purposes. The execution of hedging transactions is at the discretion of the Investment Manager, subject to the policies set by and the overall supervision of the Directors.
Cash balances
Pending reinvestment or distribution of cash receipts or repayments of any outstanding indebtedness, cash received by FGEN will be invested in cash, cash equivalents, near-cash instruments, money market instruments and money market funds and cash funds. FGEN may also hold derivative or other financial instruments designed for efficient portfolio management or to hedge interest, inflation or currency rate risks. FGEN and any other member of the Group may also lend cash which it holds as part of its cash management policy.
Origination of further investments
Each of the investments comprising the portfolio comply with FGEN’s investment policy and further investments will only be acquired if they comply with the FGEN’s investment policy.
Subject to due diligence and agreement on price, the Fund will seek to acquire those investments that fit the investment objectives and investment policy of FGEN. If, in the opinion of the Directors, the risk characteristics, valuation and price of the prospective investment are acceptable and consistent with FGEN’s investment objective and investment policy, then (subject to having sufficient sources of capital) an offer will be made (without seeking the prior approval of shareholders) and, if successful, the investment will be acquired by the Fund.
The Investment Manager will be subject to the overall supervision of the Board; following the appointment of Foresight Group as AIFM, some investment decisions have been delegated to Foresight Group. Approvals for large investments or investments into sectors new to FGEN are reserved for the Board, and all Board Directors are independent of the Investment Manager.
Potential disposal of investments
While the Directors may elect to retain investment interests in the portfolio of investments that FGEN acquires, and any other further investments made by FGEN over the long term, the Investment Manager will regularly monitor the valuations of such investments and any secondary market opportunities to dispose of investments and report to the Directors accordingly. The Directors only intend to dispose of investments where they consider that appropriate value can be realised for FGEN or where they otherwise believe that it is appropriate to do so. Proceeds from the disposal of investments may be reinvested or distributed at the discretion of the Directors.
Amendments to and compliance with the investment policy
Material changes to FGEN’s investment policy only be made in accordance with the approval of the shareholders by way of ordinary resolution and (for so long as the ordinary shares are listed on the official list maintained by the Financial Conduct Authority) in accordance with the Listing Rules. Minor changes to the investment policy must be approved by the Directors.
The investment restrictions detailed above apply at the time of the acquisition of investment interests and the values of existing investment interests shall be as at the date of FGEN’s most recently published NAV, unless the Directors believe that such valuation materially misrepresents the value of the Fund’s investment interests at the time of the relevant acquisition.
The Fund will not be required to dispose of investment interests and to rebalance its portfolio as a result of a change in the respective valuations of investment interests.