Macquarie : Infrastructure and Real Assets invests in a portfolio of infrastructure assets in Slovakia and the Czech Republic

London, Prague, Bratislava , 17 Oct 2016

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) has reached an agreement to acquire a 30 per cent stake in EP Infrastructure (EPIF), a portfolio of regulated and contracted infrastructure assets in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The vendor, EPH, will retain the remaining 70 per cent stake in EPIF.

The MIRA-managed consortium is led by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 and includes global institutional investors.

EPIF's largest investment is in Eustream, the sole gas transmission network in Slovakia and a strategic part of the European gas transmission network, connecting Ukraine in the east to Czech Republic and Austria in the west as well as providing interconnection with neighbouring countries.

EPIF also owns a regulated gas network and a power distribution network in Slovakia. In the Czech Republic, EPIF has four regulated district heating networks, including in the city of Prague. EPIF has controlling stakes in three underground gas storage facilities in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, underpinned by long-term contracts, and representing the largest gas storage capacity around the key Baumgarten gas trading hub in Austria.

'This investment in EPIF provides investors with a well-diversified portfolio of regulated and contracted critical infrastructure assets in two of Europe's dynamic economies. We look forward to working with our key co-shareholders - EPH and the Slovak Republic - to ensure the EPIF portfolio businesses continue to deliver to communities and customers,' commented Martin Stanley, Global Head of MIRA.

The vendor, EPH, is a vertically integrated energy utility that also owns EP Power Europe, which includes thermal power generation in Italy, power generation in Slovakia, mining and generation in Germany, and power generation in the UK.

The transaction is expected to complete in early Q1 2017, following customary regulatory approvals.

Contact:
Victoria Mundell, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Macquarie Group
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3037 2031
Email: victoria.mundell@macquarie.com

About Macquarie
Macquarie Group (Macquarie) is a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. Founded in 1969, Macquarie operates in 64 office locations in 28 countries and employs more than 14,300 people. Assets under management total approximately €322 billion*.

About Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA)
MIRA is part of Macquarie Asset Management, the asset management arm of Macquarie.

MIRA pioneered Infrastructure as a new asset class for institutional investors. For more than 20 years we have been investing in and managing the assets that people use every day - extending beyond Infrastructure to Real Estate, Agriculture and Energy.

Our dedicated operational and financial experts work where MIRA's funds invest and their portfolio companies operate. They are part of a far reaching global team which helps clients to see across the regions and deep into local markets.

MIRA has assets under management of €92 billion invested in 130 portfolio businesses, ~300 properties and 2.8m hectares of farmland*.

Find out more

*at 31 March 2016