Acquisition

Babcock&Brown Public Ptnrships Ltd 07 December 2006 Babcock & Brown Public Partnerships Limited Acquisition of an interest in Reliance Rail Babcock & Brown Public Partnerships Limited (LSE: BBPP) (BBPP or the Company), the global public infrastructure fund, today announced the acquisition of a 12.75% equity interest in Reliance Rail. The project is valued at approximately A$3.6 billion, including a 30 year maintenance component and is the largest ever Public Private Partnership (PPP) project in Australia and one of the world's largest this year. Reliance Rail is a PPP project between a consortium of investors, including BBPP, and RailCorp, a state owned corporation of the State Government of New South Wales. The partnership is contracted to finance, design, construct, own and maintain rolling stock to be operated by RailCorp. The consortium consists of Downer EDI, BBPP, ABN AMRO Australia and AMP Capital Investors. The trains will be manufactured by a joint venture comprising EDI Rail and Hitachi. Hitachi is the manufacturer of Japan's famous 'bullet train' and has recently been contracted to provide rolling stock for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. BBPP will be investing A$17.43 million (£6.98 million) for its 12.75% interest in the Reliance Rail Consortium. Giles Frost, Director of BBPP, said, 'This investment is consistent with our stated intention of pursuing public infrastructure opportunities that offer stable long-term cashflows and attractive returns relative to the risk profile. We will continue to capitalise on the rapid growth of PFI and PPP projects around the world and this is a strong first step in that process.' 'This investment demonstrates the ability of the Company to add value for shareholders through the deployment of capital internationally to create a global portfolio of PPP contracts across a diverse range of sectors.' 'The opportunity for BBPP to invest at par in an international greenfield PPP project illustrates the value of the Company's relationship with its investment adviser, Babcock & Brown Investment Management Limited, which provides access to a worldwide network of offices staffed by dedicated infrastructure specialists.' For further information, please contact: Babcock & Brown Anthony Kennaway +44 (0)20 7203 7300 Notes to Editors About Babcock & Brown Public Partnerships Limited: Babcock & Brown Public Partnerships Limited (LSE: BBPP) is a newly established, limited liability, Guernsey incorporated, closed-ended investment company. The Company offers shareholders an exposure to investment in infrastructure assets, particularly those with a public or social character such as those developed under public bodies under private finance initiative or public private partnership procurements. The Company floated on the main market of the London Stock Exchange on 9th November 2006 and as at 9 November 2006 had a market capitalisation of £300 million. The initial portfolio of the Company consists of twenty two infrastructure investments the majority of which are developed under the PFI programme of the UK Government and the UK NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) initiative. Babcock & Brown has been responsible for the development and management of the majority of these assets and through Babcock & Brown Investment Management Limited (BBIML) will continue to manage them for the benefit of BBPP. In the future BBPP intends to capitalise on the development and internationalisation of private finance initiative (PFI) and public private partnerships (PPP) procurement models for public infrastructure in other developed countries, which it is anticipated will provide numerous investment opportunities for BBPP. About Reliance Rail Reliance Rail is the successful proponent for the finance, design, construction and maintenance of 78 eight-car double deck sets and two spare carriages for the NSW Government's Rolling Stock Public Private Partnership (PPP). The new cars will replace 498 non air-conditioned carriages and provide extra rolling stock capacity for the CityRail travelling public by 2013. The first sets are expected to reach use in 2010. Reliance Rail is a team of Australia's leading infrastructure developers, engineers and rail services companies with proven international capacity and capability. Reliance Rail will be an operating business with the following shareholding: •Downer EDI - 49% •AMP Capital Investors - 25.5% •Babcock & Brown Public Partnerships Limited and ABN AMRO -12.75% each Reliance Rail will be supported by the following core contractors for the delivery of the PPP contract: •The EDI Rail - Hitachi Joint Venture - responsible for the design, manufacture and commissioning of the rolling stock and train simulators. EDI Rail is Australia's leading provider of rolling stock and maintenance services. Hitachi is a world-leading provider of reliable and safe commuter and high-speed trains and train componentry. •EDI Rail - responsible for the design and construction of the maintenance facility at Auburn. This project will be sub-contracted to the John Holland Group. •EDI Rail will create a special purpose vehicle company which will be responsible for the maintenance of the rolling stock (30-year contract), maintenance facility and train simulators. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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