WGP and NZTA reach financial close for Transmission Gully

29 July 2014

Wellington Gateway Partnership and NZTA reach financial close for Transmission Gully PPP

The Wellington Gateway Partnership (WGP) and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) have reached financial close completing contract negotiations and financial arrangements for the NZ$1b Transmission Gully Motorway.

The project is New Zealand’s first state highway to be delivered as a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Under the PPP arrangement WGP will finance, design and construct the project, and then operate and maintain the Transmission Gully Motorway from 2020 for a period of 25 years.

WGP Chairman, Brian Roche, said: “The WGP is proud to be delivering the Transmission Gully Motorway. Working with NZTA through the selection and financial close process has been constructive and endorsed WGP’s solution for funding, delivering and operating the motorway, and in providing value for money."

WGP includes Leighton Contractors Pty Limited, HEB Construction Ltd, InfraRed Capital Partners, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

Leighton Contractors:

•is the special purpose vehicle manager for WGP,

•has a majority role in the design and construct subcontract with JV partner HEB Construction,

and

•will perform 100% of the operations and maintenance subcontract.

Equity investors in the project are the Leighton Group, InfraRed and ACC. BTMU is financial advisor with funding provided by local and international banks.

Leighton Contractors Managing Director David Jurd, said: “The Transmission Gully Motorway will be an enduring asset that enhances Wellington’s transport system and generates significant benefits for the community and New Zealand’s economy."

HEB Construction Chief Executive Derrick Adams, said: “The WGP has integrated local and international experience to successfully address the challenges of constructing 27 kilometres of motorway through steep terrain including 28 bridges."

InfraRed Head of Australasia Sebastien Pochon, said: “We are looking forward to working with our partners and delivering the project on time and on budget to NZTA. The Transmission Gully Motorway is a high quality project and complements our existing involvement in the PPP market in New Zealand."

ACC Chief Financial Officer Mark Dossor, said: “This is a strong investment for ACC which will deliver stable, long-term cashflows. The motorway design embeds high standards of safety for commuters and freight movers, and we see a natural alignment between our injury prevention responsibilities and a project that will strengthen the quality of New Zealand’s road network”.

In recent months WGP has consulted with the Greater Wellington Regional Council, territorial authorities and local iwi, and continues to finalise relevant approvals and consents. At its peak the construction phase will employ approximately 700 people.

ENDS

The Project

The Transmission Gully PPP Project includes the financing, design and construction of a 27 km long expressway standard motorway just north of Wellington, with a 25 year operations and maintenance contract. The new motorway will bypass the existing SH1 coastal route, increase road safety and improve network reliability with high levels of seismic resilience. It will also be a catalyst for economic growth in the Wellington region.

Leighton Contractors

Leighton Contractors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited, is one of Australia’s leading contracting and project development groups, with over $13 billion work in hand and employing more than 14,000 people across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Africa. The company delivers projects for clients across the infrastructure, telecommunications, civil construction, industrial, energy, health and services sectors.

www.leightoncontractors.co.nz

HEB Construction Ltd (HEB)

HEB Construction is one of the largest and most successful privately-owned civil construction companies in New Zealand, currently employing more than 700 people nationwide.

Founded more than 35 years ago, HEB brings a range of essential services to the Transmission Gully project such as structures, roading, drainage, landscaping, temporary traffic management, surfacing and precast concrete element capability.

HEB’s current roading projects include Wellington’s Memorial Park Alliance, the Waikato Expressway - Cambridge Section, Tauranga Eastern Link JV, and Auckland’s Greville Road Interchange.

www.heb.co.nz

InfraRed Capital Partners

InfraRed Capital Partners Limited is a leading global investment manager focused on infrastructure and real estate, creating real value for its investors, project partners, communities and end users.

It manages US$7 billion of equity capital in specialist funds that invest into infrastructure and real estate assets which InfraRed develops and operates across the globe. It has invested in over 50 development project with capital expenditure of c. US$25bn. Its 100 staff are deployed across offices in London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Sydney.

www.ircp.com

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd (BTMU)

BTMU is Japan's largest bank and one of the world's largest, with offices throughout Japan and in 40 other countries. BTMU is co-Sponsor and Financial Advisor within the WGP team. The group has been in New Zealand since 1972 and is one of the global leaders in project financing.

http://www.bk.mufg.jp/global/

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)

ACC provides comprehensive, no fault personal injury cover for all New Zealanders and visitors. In providing this role ACC maintains one of NZ’s largest investment funds in order to cover the full future costs of all accepted claims.

ACC is an equity and debt partner in Wellington Gateway Partnership. Its interests are fully aligned with WGP in ensuring that the new highway will be built on time and to the highest quality and standard of safety.

www.acc.co.nz

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