Connor, Clark & Lunn (CC&L) Infrastructure and Desjardins Global Asset Management announced the acquisition of a majority interest in the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway from ACS Infrastructure Canada, Fluor Canada Ltd., and Acciona Concesiones S.L.
Each of ACS, Fluor, and Acciona will retain a minority equity interest, and an O&M company formed by ACS and Fluor will provide operations and maintenance service to the Project going forward.
The Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway project is a public-private partnership (P3) between Windsor-Essex Mobility Group and the Province of Ontario. The project encompasses an approximately 11km corridor through the Windsor, Ontario area, including a six-lane highway with several adjacent service roads, interchanges, structures, pumping stations, and recreational areas. Distinct from many other P3 highway projects, the Parkway includes approximately 300 acres of green space, as well as active maintenance, monitoring, and reporting on various environmental features and amenities, including vegetation, ~20km of paved trails for pedestrians and cyclists, and a multi-use lit pathway.
“Our investment in the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway aligns with our strategy of acquiring interests in high-quality, long-lived, resilient infrastructure assets with strong, creditworthy counterparties and operating partners,” said Matt O’Brien, president of CC&L Infrastructure. “We thank our co-investment partner, Desjardins and our new operating and equity partners, ACS, Fluor, and Acciona. We look forward to working with these partners and the Province of Ontario toward the successful, long-term operation and maintenance of this important asset.”
Procured in 2010 by Infrastructure Ontario, the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway began operation in 2015 and has since been an essential part of a high-traffic trade artery between Canada and the United States. The Project has a 30 year availability-based concession agreement in place with Infrastructure Ontario, with approximately 23 years remaining.
“Desjardins is pleased to acquire an interest in the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway project through the Régime de rentes du Mouvement Desjardins,” added Frédéric Angers, Vice President and Head of Infrastructure Investments at Desjardins Global Asset Management. “The plan participants expect consistency and stability within the infrastructure portfolio, and we look forward to continuing to meet those expectations with investments in high quality, long-duration assets such as the Parkway. We are also pleased to continue expanding our long-term relationship with CC&L Infrastructure, and to be partnered with experienced investors and operators at ACS, Fluor, and Acciona.”
Featured image: (Infrastructure Ontario)
