Friday, May 20, 2011

First Wind Issues $200 Million in Seven-Year Senior Secured Notes

First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today announced that its subsidiary, First Wind Capital, LLC, has issued $200 million in senior secured notes due 2018. The notes were issued at par with a coupon of 10.25 percent. First Wind will use proceeds from this offering to repay existing indebtedness, as well as to develop and build new wind projects across the country.

“This is an important milestone for our company as it is our debut in the capital markets. It will provide capital for future projects we hope will comprise more than 350 megawatts of clean energy,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind. “These projects will be in our core target markets of the Northeast, the West and Hawaii and we plan to bring those projects into commercial operation by the end of 2012.

Mr. Gaynor added, “We appreciate the commitment of our new financial investors, which will help First Wind deliver clean, renewable energy, as well as significant economic benefits in terms of construction jobs, local tax revenues and work for local businesses in the communities where we are located.”

“These next projects will build off our existing platform of 13 projects in operation and under construction,” said Michael Alvarez, President and CFO of First Wind. “We look forward to working with our new investors. Since the beginning of 2009, First Wind and its subsidiaries have refinanced, raised or received approximately $2.8 billion (excluding the notes issued today) in 26 refinancing and new capital-raising activities and customer prepayments. That demonstrates the strength and validity of our strategy and execution.”

Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities, Goldman Sachs & Co, and RBS acted as Joint Book-Running Managers.

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