ANNAPOLIS, Md., Dec. 5, 2013 /CNW/ - American Capital Energy & Infrastructure ("ACEI") announced today that it has committed to invest up to $130 million in Azura Power Holdings Ltd. ("Azura"), the company responsible for developing the Azura-Edo power project in Edo State, Nigeria. With a goal of becoming the leading power development company in West Africa, Azura will utilize ACEI's investment to fund the first and second phases of the Azura-Edo power project, pursue its greenfield development pipeline and future acquisitions, expand its team, and grow its construction and operational capabilities.
The Azura-Edo power project is a proposed 450MW open cycle gas turbine power station being developed near Benin City in Edo State and represents the first phase of a 1,000MW power plant facility. Azura and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc signed a groundbreaking power purchase agreement on April 22, 2013, which is being used as a template for other project-financed independent power producers in the country. The transaction was showcased by President Goodluck Jonathan as critical to the Nigerian power sector reform process. The first phase of the plant, which is targeted to reach financial close in early 2014 and come on stream in 2016/2017, is forecast to create over 1,000 direct jobs during its construction and operation. The project is expected to have a positive impact on the industrial and social wellbeing of the area, leading to further economic development and job creation.
Mr. Paul Hanrahan, CEO and co-founder of ACEI, said: "We are extremely pleased to announce our investment in Azura, a good example of the type of investment in high growth platforms in the energy infrastructure space that we are targeting. Our investment is in recognition of the significant progress made by the Azura co-founders on the first phase of the Azura-Edo power project, the growth opportunities in the Nigerian and West African markets, and our confidence in the Federal Government of Nigeria's power sector reform program."
In June 2013, ACEI joined Power Africa, a United States Government initiative launched by President Obama that is focused on supporting economic growth and development in Africa by increasing clean and reliable access to electrical power. The United States Government along with the governments of Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania, and private sector partners have coordinated to accelerate and spur investments in the continent. As a partner in the presidential initiative, ACEI is actively pursuing investments in African power companies to originate, develop, finance and operate regional energy infrastructure assets in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa, which, over the next four years, could reach $800 million in total investment.
"In line with our Power Africa efforts, ACEI is investing in the leading independent power producer platform in this key African market," said Lisa Pinsley, ACEI Director of Africa Investments. "Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with one of the highest growth rates in the world. With a current population of over 170 million, the seventh largest in the world, Nigeria's expanding economy suffers from a lack of power infrastructure. The United Nations estimates that Nigeria's population will reach 230 million within the next 20 years, and the total grid-based power generation capacity must rise tenfold to 40,000MW to meet the demand. Azura is, and will continue to be, a key driver in this growth in capacity."
Mr. Sundeep Bahanda, co-founder of Amaya Capital Partners, the lead sponsors of Azura, and Dr. David Ladipo, Managing Director of Azura said in a joint statement: "ACEI's investment will exert a transformative impact on our business and accelerate Azura's drive to create a flagship, multi-asset, power generation company. The development of Nigeria's electricity supply industry is a vast undertaking that requires a long term commitment from all parties. Together with ACEI, the Federal Government of Nigeria, state governments and our partners and advisers, we are committed to the creation of an indigenous world class business that will provide electricity to the people of Nigeria and, in so doing, will boost the country's industrial growth, its job creation and its social welfare."
ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE
American Capital Energy & Infrastructure invests in global energy infrastructure assets, including power generation facilities, power distribution and transmission networks, energy transportation assets, fuel production opportunities and product and service companies focused on the power and energy sectors. ACEI is part of American Capital, Ltd.'s (Nasdaq: ACAS) ("American Capital") asset management affiliate, American Capital Asset Management, LLC. For further information, please refer to www.ACEI.com.
ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL
American Capital is a publicly traded private equity firm and global asset manager. American Capital, both directly and through its asset management business, originates, underwrites and manages investments in middle market private equity, leveraged finance, real estate, energy and infrastructure and structured products. American Capital manages $20 billion of assets, including assets on its balance sheet and fee earning assets under management by affiliated managers, with $117 billion of total assets under management (including levered assets). Through an affiliate, American Capital manages publicly traded American Capital Agency Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) with approximately $10 billion of net book value and American Capital Mortgage Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: MTGE) with approximately $1 billion of net book value. From its eight offices in the U.S. and Europe, American Capital and its affiliate, European Capital, will consider investment opportunities from $10 million to $750 million. For further information, please refer to www.americancapital.com.
ABOUT AZURA POWER HOLDINGS LTD.
Founded by Amaya Capital Partners, Azura is a world-class power development company that was created to focus on the development, construction, acquisition and operation of power generation facilities in Nigeria and over time, West Africa. Azura utilizes its project development and financing skills, in addition to the capital and expertise of Amaya and its partners, to develop and acquire large scale gas-fired Independent Power Plants in Nigeria. For further information, please refer to www.azurawa.com.
ABOUT AMAYA CAPITAL PARTNERS
Amaya, established in 2009, is a principal investment firm focused on energy related projects in West Africa. Unlike a typical private equity fund, Amaya does not manage third party funds but rather invests as a principal from an early development stage in a pro-active manner using the capital, capabilities, and resources of its founders and associates. Amaya has interests in the gas and power sectors in Nigeria. For further information, please refer to www.amayacap.com.
Contact: (443) 214-7070
Paul Hanrahan, Chief Executive Officer
Richard Santoroski, Managing Director
Rajeev Garside, Vice President
Lisa Pinsley, Director, Africa Investments
SOURCE American Capital Energy & Infrastructure
