La Caisse acquires 17.3% stake in Boralex

CANADA: Pension fund manager La Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec has acquired a majority 17.3% stake in developer Boralex for C$287.5 million ($230 million).

by David Weston 28 July 2017

Boralex has developed over 1.1GW of wind capacity in Canada, the US and France

In the deal, La Caisse acquired the Class A common shares held by Canadian packaging firm Cascade.

Boralex has developed over 1.1GW of wind capacity across Canada, the US and France.

As part of the acquisition, Boralex and La Caisse "have agreed to explore partnership opportunities with respect to investing in future projects".

"To have la Caisse come in as principal shareholder reflects the trust it puts in the business model and know-how of Boralex," said Boralex CEO Patrick Lemaire.

La Caisse will add two directorts to the Boralex board. It is a major investor in North American renewables. In July 2014, it acquired a 24.7% stake in US developer Invenergy.

It also has stakes in some French offshore wind projects, including St Brieuc and the floating wind site of Leucate in partnershipn with Engie and EDP Renewables.