Pattern Energy to acquire 324MW Broadview Wind facility

Pattern Energy Group Inc., an independent power company currently with 16 facilities, recently announced its commitment to acquire interests in the 324-megawatt (MW) Broadview Wind power facility and associated independent 35-mile 345-kV Western Interconnect transmission line from Pattern Energy Group LPfor US$269 million at commencement of commercial operations. Pattern Energy Group LP has closed financing and is beginning construction on Broadview, which is located 30 miles north of Clovis, New Mexico.

“This world-class wind project will deliver attractively-priced power directly into the California market under two 20-year contracts with Southern California Edison,” said Mike Garland, President and CEO of Pattern Energy. “Broadview is a terrific addition to the company; representing a 12% increase to our current portfolio’s owned capacity and a material, accretive increase in our cash available for distribution. We identified this opportunity earlier this year, as a transaction we would likely commit to acquire when it reached COD. We can meet the funding requirements for the acquisition with a portion of our currently available cash and liquidity and from new project financing facilities. Our commitment is to provide dividends, especially in uncertain markets, and this project supports that commitment.”

Pattern Energy has committed to acquire from Pattern Energy Group LP an 84% initial cash flow interest in Broadview and a 99% ownership interest in the Western Interconnect transmission line for a total cash purchase price of US$269 million, which will be funded at the commencement of commercial operations in less than a year. Institutional equity investors have committed to acquire from Pattern Energy Group LPa 16% initial cash flow interest in, and a 99% initial taxable income allocation from Broadview, which will also be funded following the commencement of commercial operations. Following the acquisition, based on its initial cash flow share, Pattern Energy will retain an owned interest of 272 MW in Broadview. Pattern Energy’s commitment to own and operate the facility was a core component of securing high-quality institutional equity investors for the project financing.

Pattern Energy will fund the cash purchase price for its interest in the project, including the associated transmission line, at the commencement of commercial operations in less than a year with currently available corporate liquidity and up to US$160 millionof long-term project holding company debt financing commitments.

The Broadview power facility will consist of 141 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines and has the capacity to generate 324 MW of energy, the power equivalent to the annual energy usage of approximately 180,000 California homes. Broadview will be limited to 297 MW of injection capacity at the project’s transmission interconnection point.

Broadview has entered into two 20-year power purchase agreements with Southern California Edison (SCE), which has a BBB+/A2 credit rating, for sale of 100% of its output, up to a total of 297 MW, which has been factored into the project’s economics.

Broadview will interconnect to the new, privately-developed Western Interconnect transmission project, which will deliver the output to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).  Western Interconnect is a 345 kV transmission line, approximately 35 miles in length, which will be 99% owned and operated by Pattern Energy.  The combined cash available for distribution from the project and transmission line, before any financing costs, is expected to be approximately US$28 millionannually based on a five-year average run rate.