Fiera Axium Infrastructure completes acquisition of 42 MW solar PV portfolio

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Jul 17, 2013, 09:46 ET

TORONTO, July 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P. is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of a 100% equity interest in four solar photovoltaic (PV) projects from Ontario Solar PV Fields Inc. a joint venture formed between Q-Cells SE and Photowatt, a subsidiary of ATS Automation Tooling Systems. Once constructed, the projects will sell power to the Ontario Power Authority pursuant to 20-year Power Purchase Agreements under the terms of the Ontario government's Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program.

The projects, initially developed by Ontario Solar PV Fields Inc., comprise four solar PV facilities with 42 MW of aggregate generation capacity located in Ontario in the townships of Ramore, Hearst, Kapuskasing and Wainwright.

In conjunction with the acquisition, financial close was achieved on a $175 million senior debt financing which will partially fund construction of the projects. The senior debt financing was provided by a syndicate of three leading international project finance banks comprising Natixis, Nord/LB and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. Brookfield Financial acted as exclusive financial advisor to the transaction.

The projects will be constructed by Hanwha Q CELLS Canada, a subsidiary of Hanwha Q CELLS USA - a leading provider of turnkey solar systems with over 110 MW of projects built to date in North America.

Construction of the projects is set to begin this summer, and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2014. Once completed, the solar facilities will supply up to 50 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity per year - equivalent to the energy required to power approximately 5,000 households in Ontario.

"This transaction represents Fiera Axium's first investment in greenfield solar power facilities and is a significant milestone for our recently raised second infrastructure fund. Consistent with our investment strategy, we are delighted to complement our fund portfolio with late-stage greenfield development projects to be constructed on a turnkey basis by a world-class firm in Hanwha Q CELLS," said Juan Caceres, Vice President and Senior Investment Director of Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc., manager of Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P.

About Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc.
Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc. is an independent portfolio management firm dedicated to generating attractive, long-term investment returns through investing in core infrastructure assets. The firm combines the capabilities of a group of professionals with extensive infrastructure development and management backgrounds, with the fund management expertise of one of Canada's leading independent fund managers in Fiera Capital Corporation (TSX: FSZ). Its management team comprises infrastructure investment specialists with decades of combined experience acquiring, developing, financing, operating and managing infrastructure assets. Fiera Axium Infrastructure is jointly controlled by Fiera Capital and Axium Infrastructure Management.

About Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P.
Managed by Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc., Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P. ("Fund") is an open-ended infrastructure fund focused on direct investment in both operational and greenfield development opportunities. The Fund seeks to invest in core energy, transportation and social infrastructure assets across Canada. Focus is placed on assets that are supported by robust market demand, under long-term contract with creditworthy counterparties, within concession-based structures or under a regulated framework. In addition to its investment in the 42 MW solar PV portfolio, the Fund holds interests in: (i) the 235 MW Toba Montrose Run-of-River Hydroelectric Facilities located on the East Toba River and Montrose Creek in British Columbia; (ii) the 144 MW Dokie Wind Power Project located in Peace River, British Columbia; and (iii) a 679 MW portfolio of renewable energy assets located across British Columbia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.