GCP Infrastructure
Investments Limited
("GCP Infra" or the
"Company")
LEI:
213800W64MNATSIV5Z47
Company update, net asset
value(s) and Dividend Declaration
29 January 2024
Net Asset Value
GCP Infra announces that at
close of business on 31 December 2023, the unaudited net asset
value per ordinary share of the Company was 109.84 pence (30
September 2023: 109.79 pence), an increase of 0.05 pence per
ordinary share. The net asset value takes into account cash, other
assets, accrued liabilities and expenses and leverage of the
Company attributable to the ordinary share class.
The primary driver of the Company's
NAV movement in the quarter was the updated OBR inflation forecast,
following the Autumn Statement in November 2023, that contributed
c. 1.0 pence per ordinary share. This was offset by further
reductions in forecast electricity prices, primarily decreases in
short-term power prices, decreasing forecast cash distributions to
the Company from certain renewable energy investments. This power
price volatility is partially offset by the positive performance of
the Company's hedging arrangements. The overall net power price
movements negatively contributed c. 0.7 pence per ordinary
share.
Increases to discount rates led to a
reduction of c. 0.5 pence per ordinary share, resulting in the
weighted average discount rate used by the Company to value its
investment portfolio of 7.76% at 31 December 2023. This was offset
by increased actual cash distributions to the Company from its
renewable energy investments that contributed c. 0.1 pence per
ordinary share. A summary of the constituent movements in the
quarterly net asset value per ordinary share is shown
below.
Net
asset value analysis (pence per share)
|
NAV
|
Change
|
30 September 2023 NAV
|
109.79
|
|
November 2023 OBR inflation
forecast
|
|
0.98
|
Q4 2023 power price forecast
(inclusive of hedging value changes)
|
|
(0.72)
|
Discount rate increases
|
|
(0.48)
|
Actual generation across the
renewable energy portfolio
|
|
0.08
|
Share buyback accretion
|
|
0.18
|
Other valuation changes
|
|
0.01
|
31 December 2023 NAV
|
109.84
|
|
Portfolio
Notwithstanding the lower
electricity price forecasts, the portfolio continues to perform
materially in line with the Company's expectations. The Company's
mature, diverse and operational portfolio provides defensive access
to income against a backdrop of market volatility and uncertainty.
It is the view of the Company that the long-term and structural
demand for infrastructure, and particularly infrastructure debt,
offers investors an attractive exposure to an asset class whose
performance is non-correlated to wider markets and benefits from
long-term and partially inflation protected income. Further
portfolio information is available at: www.graviscapital.com/funds/gcp-infra/literature,
including a line-by-line breakdown of the investment portfolio and
underlying assets that will be updated by the Company
periodically.
Buybacks
On 14 March 2023 the Company
announced a proactive programme of share buybacks in response to
the persistent discount at which the Company's share price is
trading relative to the published net asset value. The Company
remains committed to pursue buyback opportunities in line with the
capital allocation strategy that has been set out in the annual
report, and to benefit from the investment opportunity that the
Company's shares offer at the current
price. At 31 December 2023, the Company had bought back 16,985,019
shares.
Updates
The Board, and Gravis, are available
to meet with the Company's shareholders. For the release of the 31
December 2023 NAV, Gravis will be holding a webinar on 1 February
2024 at 11.00am. For further details and to book a place please
contact daniela.santos@graviscapital.com,
cameron.gardner@graviscapital.com
or your usual Gravis contact.
Dividend
GCP Infra is pleased to
announce a dividend of 1.75 pence per ordinary share, for the
period from 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023. The dividend will
be paid on 8 March 2024 to holders of ordinary shares recorded on
the register as at the close of business on 9 February
2024.
Scrip dividend suspension
The Board, in its discretion, has
determined that the offer
of a scrip dividend
will remain suspended for the period from 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023. The suspension
is as a result of the discount between the likely
scrip dividend reference
price of the shares and the current net asset value per
share of the
Company. The Board will
keep the payment of
future scrip dividends under
review.
Expected timetable:
Shares quoted ex-dividend
|
8 February
2024
|
Record date for dividend
|
9 February
2024
|
Dividend payment date
|
8 March
2024
|
For further information please
contact:
Gravis Capital Management
Limited
Philip Kent
Ed Simpson
Max Gilbert
|
+44 (0)20
3405 8500
|
RBC Capital Markets
Matthew Coakes
Elizabeth Evans
|
+44 (0)20
7653 4000
|
Stifel Nicolaus Europe
Limited
Edward Gibson-Watt
Jonathan Wilkes-Green
|
+44 (0)20
7710 7600
|
Buchanan/Quill
Helen Tarbet
Sarah Gibbons-Cook
Henry Wilson
|
+44 (0)20
7466 5000
|
Notes to the Editor
About GCP Infra
GCP Infra is a closed-ended
investment company and FTSE-250 constituent whose shares are traded
on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. Its objective is
to provide shareholders with regular, sustained, long-term
distributions and to preserve capital over the long term by
generating exposure to UK infrastructure debt and related and/or
similar assets.
The Company primarily targets
investments in infrastructure projects with long term, public
sector-backed, availability-based revenues. Where possible,
investments are structured to benefit from partial inflation
protection. GCP Infra is advised by Gravis Capital Management
Limited.
GCP Infra has been
awarded with the London Stock
Exchange's Green Economy Mark in recognition of its contribution to
positive environmental outcomes.