Is PFRs non-government 49% shareholder aiming to make money, and if so how much?
HSBC Environmental Infrastructure Fund (HSBC) is a private equity fund that acquired its 49% shareholding in PFR in March 2008. HSBC paid 18million for this shareholding, and also agreed to make further loans of up to 30million to fund the construction of renewable energy projects. The statement, made by James Hall-Smith of HSBC when they acquired their interest in PFR, clearly confirms the profit motivation: This investment in PfR represents a particularly exciting opportunity for HSBC as it is the first investment to be made by our new Environmental Infrastructure Fund. Furthermore, it demonstrates that it is possible to combine genuine commercial investment opportunity with sustainable or environmental infrastructure.
