The share price performances of the nine Infrastructure Investment Companies (IICs) and of the 22 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Funds (REIFs) have been dire over the past year. Undoubtedly, the sharp rise in interest rates has presented the sector with serious challenges, especially since the yield on “risk-free” 10-year gilts has risen appreciably. Furthermore, the ongoing war in Ukraine and high inflation rates, from which many IICs and REIFs are partially ‒ if not wholly ‒ protected, continue to unsettle the sector.
Not only are rising interest rates seriously eroding investor sentiment, as the appeal of “risk-free” gilt-edged stocks is significantly raised, but they also directly affect NAVs. In recent months, several NAV reductions have taken place. Moreover, the average IIC is currently trading at a 22% discount (on an unweighted basis) to its NAV; the comparable discount (also on an unweighted basis) for the REIFs is 21%. Not surprisingly, there are now several share buyback schemes under way.

10 Aug 2023
Hardman & Co Insight: UK interest rates and “risk-free” gilts at their peak? Infrastructure stocks struggle
Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited Ptg.Shs GBP (SEQI:LON), 82.8 | Pantheon Infrastructure PLC (PINT:LON), 82.4 | 10X Genomics Inc (TXG:NYSE), 0 | 10x Genomics Inc Class A (TXG:NAS), 0 | 3i Infrastructure PLC (3IN:LON), 324 | Aquila European Renewables PLC Registered (AERI:LON), 73.8 | Atrato Onsite Energy Plc (ROOF:LON), 71.7 | BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. SICAV -Ordinary- (BBGI:LON), 133 | Bluefield Solar Income Fund Ltd. (BSIF:LON), 115 | Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited (CORD:LON), 74.1 | Digital 9 Infrastructure Plc (DGI9:LON), 30.5 | Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust Plc (DORE:LON), 90.5 | Ecofin U.S. Renewables Infrastructure Trust Plc (RNEW:LON), 54.0 | Foresight Solar Fund Limited GBP (FSFL:LON), 97.8 | Foresight Solar & Technology VCT PLC (FTSV:LON), 0 | GCP Infrastructure Investments Ltd GBP (GCP:LON), 67.2 | Greencoat UK Wind Plc (UKW:LON), 145 | Harmony Energy Income Trust Plc (HEIT:LON), 80.7 | HICL Infrastructure PLC (HICL:LON), 136 | Hydrogenone Capital Growth Plc (HGEN:LON), 48.6 | International Public Partnerships Ltd (INPP:LON), 129 | JLEN Environmental Assets Group Limited GBP (JLEN:LON), 97.2 | NextEnergy Solar Fund Ltd (NESF:LON), 86.6 | SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust Plc (SEIT:LON), 62.0 | Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited GBP Red.Shs (TRIG:LON), 110 | Asian Energy Impact Trust plc Shs USD (AEIT:LON), 0 | Triple Point Energy Transition PLC (TENT:LON), 57.0 | VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities Plc (GSEO:LON), 77.2 | Gore Street Energy Storage Fund PLC (GSF:LON), 86.1 | US Solar Fund Plc (USFP:LON), 41.0 | Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust Plc (ORIT:LON), 90.6 | Gresham House Energy Storage Fund Plc GBP (GRID:LON), 110 | Greencoat Renewables Plc (GRP:LON), 95.2

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Hardman & Co Insight: UK interest rates and “risk-free” gilts at their peak? Infrastructure stocks struggle
Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited Ptg.Shs GBP (SEQI:LON), 82.8 | Pantheon Infrastructure PLC (PINT:LON), 82.4 | 10X Genomics Inc (TXG:NYSE), 0 | 10x Genomics Inc Class A (TXG:NAS), 0 | 3i Infrastructure PLC (3IN:LON), 324 | Aquila European Renewables PLC Registered (AERI:LON), 73.8 | Atrato Onsite Energy Plc (ROOF:LON), 71.7 | BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. SICAV -Ordinary- (BBGI:LON), 133 | Bluefield Solar Income Fund Ltd. (BSIF:LON), 115 | Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited (CORD:LON), 74.1 | Digital 9 Infrastructure Plc (DGI9:LON), 30.5 | Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust Plc (DORE:LON), 90.5 | Ecofin U.S. Renewables Infrastructure Trust Plc (RNEW:LON), 54.0 | Foresight Solar Fund Limited GBP (FSFL:LON), 97.8 | Foresight Solar & Technology VCT PLC (FTSV:LON), 0 | GCP Infrastructure Investments Ltd GBP (GCP:LON), 67.2 | Greencoat UK Wind Plc (UKW:LON), 145 | Harmony Energy Income Trust Plc (HEIT:LON), 80.7 | HICL Infrastructure PLC (HICL:LON), 136 | Hydrogenone Capital Growth Plc (HGEN:LON), 48.6 | International Public Partnerships Ltd (INPP:LON), 129 | JLEN Environmental Assets Group Limited GBP (JLEN:LON), 97.2 | NextEnergy Solar Fund Ltd (NESF:LON), 86.6 | SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust Plc (SEIT:LON), 62.0 | Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited GBP Red.Shs (TRIG:LON), 110 | Asian Energy Impact Trust plc Shs USD (AEIT:LON), 0 | Triple Point Energy Transition PLC (TENT:LON), 57.0 | VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities Plc (GSEO:LON), 77.2 | Gore Street Energy Storage Fund PLC (GSF:LON), 86.1 | US Solar Fund Plc (USFP:LON), 41.0 | Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust Plc (ORIT:LON), 90.6 | Gresham House Energy Storage Fund Plc GBP (GRID:LON), 110 | Greencoat Renewables Plc (GRP:LON), 95.2
- Published:
10 Aug 2023 -
Author:
Nigel Hawkins -
Pages:
12 -
The share price performances of the nine Infrastructure Investment Companies (IICs) and of the 22 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Funds (REIFs) have been dire over the past year. Undoubtedly, the sharp rise in interest rates has presented the sector with serious challenges, especially since the yield on “risk-free” 10-year gilts has risen appreciably. Furthermore, the ongoing war in Ukraine and high inflation rates, from which many IICs and REIFs are partially ‒ if not wholly ‒ protected, continue to unsettle the sector.
Not only are rising interest rates seriously eroding investor sentiment, as the appeal of “risk-free” gilt-edged stocks is significantly raised, but they also directly affect NAVs. In recent months, several NAV reductions have taken place. Moreover, the average IIC is currently trading at a 22% discount (on an unweighted basis) to its NAV; the comparable discount (also on an unweighted basis) for the REIFs is 21%. Not surprisingly, there are now several share buyback schemes under way.