One of Europe's largest independent bulk handling companies
QIC Private Debt Infrastructure has committed €50 million (~A$80 million) to a holding company junior loan financing for HES International BV (HES), one of Europe’s largest independent portfolios of dry and liquid bulk port facilities.
The QIC junior loan forms part of a €220 million six-year sustainability-linked junior loan financing to HES.
HES developed the framework for the Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL) in accordance with the SLL Principles, as set out by the Loan Market Association and Loan Syndications and Trading Association.
The junior loan forms part of a €1 billion debt capital raise by HES to further support the company’s growth and diversification strategy.
HES is one of Europe’s largest independent bulk terminal operators with a footprint of 15 terminals across five jurisdictions, including a key presence in European deep draft ports and the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region capturing trade flows in Europe’s industrial heartland.
The company provides dry and liquid bulk storage and handling services that form a mission-critical part of the supply chain for a diversified set of end markets across multiple dry and liquid commodities. The company is headquartered in Rotterdam and has been handling bulk raw materials since 1908.
Mr Nicholas Stockdale, Partner and Head of Europe, QIC Private Debt Infrastructure, said this transaction is the seventh private markets loan investment for QIC Private Debt Infrastructure.
“This deal further demonstrates our team’s ability to originate and execute attractive high yield infrastructure debt investments, which also embed ESG provisions,” Mr Stockdale said.
Mr Stockdale added, he believes there is a continued positive outlook for junior infrastructure private market debt for the medium-term, with several factors combining to allow investors to benefit in current market conditions – including the higher for longer interest rate environment.
“The relative value of junior infrastructure debt investments also continues to prove compelling,” Mr Stockdale added.
QIC Private Debt Infrastructure offers institutional investors exposure to diversified debt investments across the sectors of infrastructure (within the OECD), and corporate, asset-backed securities and real estate (in Australia and New Zealand).
