Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (TSX: INE) ("Innergex" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the closing of a construction financing, tax equity commitment, as well as a 7-year term loan facility for the 200 MW Hillcrest solar photovoltaic project located in Brown County, Ohio. In aggregate, the US$191.8 million (CAN$270.9 million) financing was led by CIT's Power and Energy group and includes MUFG and Mizuho, as well as Wells Fargo as the tax equity investor. The project was acquired in October 2018 from a joint venture between Open Road Renewables, LLC and MAP Energy, LLC, the initial developers of the Hillcrest project.
"Securing Hillcrest's financing is an important step forward, and we are very pleased with the terms of the agreement we have reached," said Michel Letellier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innergex. "This agreement confirms Innergex's strong ability to raise significant funds even during the harshest economic environment seen in decades. We appreciate the support and trust demonstrated by our lenders and our tax equity partner throughout this process. The construction of Hillcrest began earlier this year and is progressing well. We have contingency plans and measures in place to address any problems that may arise due to the current pandemic, and unless a decree is issued to halt construction, Hillcrest should come online by the end of the year."
The total construction costs are estimated at US$279.5 million (CAN$394.8 million) and will be partly financed through a US$82.0 million (CAN$115.8 million) construction term loan and a US$109.8 million (CAN$155.1 million) tax equity bridge loan provided by a lender group composed of CIT Group, MUFG and Mizuho. Innergex will fund the remaining US$87.7 million (CAN$123.9 million) equity commitment. At commercial operation, Wells Fargo's Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance group will provide the tax equity investment used to repay the tax equity bridge loan.
"We are very pleased to again support Innergex as it continues to expand its portfolio of renewable energy projects," said Mike Lorusso, managing director and group head for CIT's Power and Energy business. "Innergex is making major strides in advancing the growth of renewable power and CIT is proud to play a role in facilitating that growth."
The project should receive a federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) sized to approximately 30% of the project's eligible value. Hillcrest is expected to produce a gross estimated long-term average of 413.3 GWh and a US$10.7 million (CAN$15.1 million) projected adjusted EBITDA on average for the first five years of operation.
A power purchase agreement was signed last November with an investment grade rated US corporation for Hillcrest's electricity production, which will be effective when the facility reaches its commercial operation. Innergex is required not to disclose the terms and conditions of the agreement until the other party has made public the information.
About Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
For 30 years now, Innergex has believed in a world where abundant renewable energy promotes healthier communities and creates shared prosperity. As an independent renewable power producer which develops, acquires, owns and operates hydroelectric facilities, wind farms and solar farms, Innergex is convinced that generating power from renewable sources will lead the way to a better world. Innergex conducts operations in Canada, the United States, France and Chile and manages a large portfolio of high-quality assets currently consisting of interests in 68 operating facilities with an aggregate net installed capacity of 2,588 MW (gross 3,488 MW), including 37 hydroelectric facilities, 26 wind farms and five solar farms. Innergex also holds interests in seven projects under development, two of which are under construction, with a net installed capacity of 301 MW (gross 385 MW), and prospective projects at different stages of development with an aggregate gross capacity totalling 7,115 MW. Its approach to building shareholder value is to generate sustainable cash flows, provide an attractive risk-adjusted return on invested capital and to distribute a stable dividend.
Non-IFRS Measures
Some measures referred to in this press release are not recognized measures under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to those presented by other issuers. Innergex believes that these indicators are important, as they provide management and the reader with additional information about the Corporation's production and cash generation capabilities, its ability to sustain current dividends and dividend increases and its ability to fund its growth. These indicators also facilitate the comparison of results over different periods. Free Cash Flow is not a measure recognized by IFRS and have no standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS.
References in this document to "Adjusted EBITDA" are to net earnings (loss) from continuing operations, to which are added (deducted) provision (recovery) for income tax expenses, finance cost, depreciation and amortization, other net (revenues) expenses, share of (earnings) loss of joint ventures and associates and unrealized net (gain) loss on financial instruments. Other net revenues related to PTCs are included in Adjusted EBITDA. Innergex believes that the presentation of this measure enhances the understanding of the Corporation's operating performance. Readers are cautioned that Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to net earnings, as determined in accordance with IFRS.
Forward-Looking Information Disclaimer
To inform readers of the Corporation's future prospects, this press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, Innergex's business strategy, development, financing and construction progress of the 200 MW Hillcrest solar photovoltaic project located in Brown County, Ohio, and other statements that are not historical facts ("Forward-Looking Information"). Forward-Looking Information can generally be identified by the use of words such as "approximately", "may", "will", "could", "believes", "expects", "intends", "should", "plans", "potential", "project", "anticipates", "estimates", "scheduled" or "forecasts", or other comparable terminology that state that certain events will or will not occur. It represents the estimates, projections and expectations of the Corporation relating to future events, results or developments as of the date of this press release.
Forward-Looking Information includes future-oriented financial information or financial outlook within the meaning of securities laws, such as expected production and projected Adjusted EBITDA, to inform readers of the potential financial impact of the expected commissioning of the Corporation's development projects. Such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, they are by their very nature subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include,
but are not limited to, the risks associated with the renewable energy industry in general such as execution of strategy; ability to develop projects on time and within budget; capital resources; derivative financial instruments; qualification for PTCs and ITCs; current economic and financial conditions; hydrology and wind regimes, solar irradiation; construction, design and development of new facilities; performance of existing projects; equipment failure; interest rate and refinancing risk; currency exchange rates, variation in merchant price of electricity, financial leverage and restrictive covenants; and relationships with public utilities. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the operations or financial results of Innergex are included in Innergex's annual information form available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
Forward-Looking Information in this press release is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Corporation. The following table outlines Forward-Looking Information contained in this press release, the principal assumptions used to derive this information and the principal risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from this information.
May 14, 2024
