Tilt Renewables raises equity for US$400 million wind project in Australia

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Tilt Renewables Limited has announced that it is raising approximately AUD260 million (US$185.3 million) of new equity to fund the construction of the 336 MW Dundonnell wind project, located in Victoria, south-east Australia.

The project is expected to cost approximately AUD563 million (US$401.2 million).  A total of AUD300 million (US$213.8 million) for the project costs will be funded by a combination of a syndicated bank debt package from Tilt Renewables' existing banking syndicate and a term facility with the Danish Export Credit Agency.

The remaining expected construction costs are being raised through an underwritten pro rata accelerated entitlement offer of new ordinary shares. Under the offer, eligible Tilt Renewables shareholders are entitled to acquire one new share for every two existing shares held on the record date (22 February 2019).

The offer price is NZD1.75 (US$1.20), with approximately 156 million new shares to be issued.

The institutional entitlement component of the offer was completed this past Friday. It raised gross proceeds of approximately NZ$247.5 million (US$169.3 million) through the issue of approximately 141.4 million new ordinary shares. Eligible institutional shareholders elected to take up 100% of their entitlements.

The new shares taken up under the institutional entitlement offer are expected to be allotted and commence trading on 28 February 2019.

The retail component of the offer will open on 26 February 2019 and will close on 14 March 2019, at the same application price as the institutional entitlement offer.

Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Forsyth Barr Group Limited are acting as underwriters and lead managers of the offer. Reunion Capital Partners Pty Ltd is acting as financial adviser to Tilt Renewables.

Construction of the wind farm commenced in January 2019. Tilt Renewables has contracted Vestas to supply turbines under a full Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) contract.

Under its Support Agreement with the Victorian Government, which covers 37% of the electricity produced by Dundonnell, Tilt Renewables is obligated to begin supplying energy from the wind farm by September 2020.