Dove Renewables
Dove
Renewables owns two hydro schemes. The Norbury weir scheme is a wholly-owned 100 kW
single turbine hydro scheme on the River Dove in the Peak District. It was
built in 2016 and was partly funded by an £800,000 bond promoted by Triodos
Bank. The scheme was commissioned in December 2016 and has been
performing to target since.
Dove
Renewables also owns a 56% stake in the Sowton weir scheme on the River Teign on Dartmoor which
began operating in 2013.
The
two schemes generate an average of 820 MWh of clean electricity each year –
enough to power the equivalent of approximately 200 homes.
The
hydro schemes benefit from guaranteed index linked payments for the next 15 and
17 years under the Government’s Feed-in Tariff programme. In addition, around
55% of the total electricity generation is currently sold to local
organisations at mutually beneficial rates.
Best practice fish pass
As
part of the construction of the Norbury weir scheme in 2016, a new best
practice fish pass with automatic fish counter was built alongside the turbine.
This allows salmon and trout to ascend the weir and reach historic spawning
grounds.
Since the introduction of the new pass, there has been a large
increase in the number of fish observed passing the weir at Norbury, from
numbers consistently close to zero in 2005 to well over 500 in 2017.
The bond offer
Dove Renewables seek to raise up to £1.1 million to repay
the £800,000 bond issued in 2016 and to repay £215,000 of shareholder loans.
Before deciding to
invest, you must read the Dove Renewables 2019 bond offer document. The offer
document can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
IFISA eligbile
Dove
Renewables bonds are eligible to be held in a Triodos Innovative Finance ISA
(IFISA). The IFISA allows you to hold crowdfunded debt
securities such as this bond. As with all ISAs, there are eligibility criteria
and you receive interest tax-free.
To invest in the Dove Renewables bonds through a Triodos
IFISA, select the ‘Invest through IFISA’ option. This selection will open a
current year IFISA and hold the bonds within it, or will add the bonds to your existing IFISA if you have opened one previously.
Transferring an existing ISA
If
you want to invest by transferring an existing ISA to a Triodos IFISA you must
first request the transfer. You can do this under ‘Account’ once you’ve become
a registered user of the platform.
Key terms
Issuer
Dove Renewables Limited
Term
11 years, final repayment is due on 31 March 2030 but is not guaranteed.
Repayment
The bonds are expected to be repaid in nine equal annual instalments with the first instalment payable in 2022 and the final instalment payable in 2030.
Interest
5% gross per year, increasing in line with the annual retail price index each year from April 2020. Payable in arrears on 31 March each year (net of UK basic rate tax unless held in a Triodos Innovative Finance ISA when interest will be paid gross). Investors should note that the payment of interest and repayment of capital are not guaranteed and are dependent on the continued success of Dove Renewables’ business model. Interest will accrue from the date the bonds are issued.
Security
The bonds are secured by way of a first ranking legal charge over all the assets of Dove Renewables and its subsidiaries but this asset security does not mean that capital or interest payments are guaranteed in any way.
Early repayment
The directors can, at their sole discretion, repay the bonds in part or in full from 31 March 2022.
Transferability
Bonds are transferable but are not listed on any investment exchange which means that bondholders will have to find a willing buyer and agree a purchase price with them. Investors should be prepared to hold the bonds for their full 11-year term.
Covenants
Restrictions apply on Dove Renewables taking on additional debt until the bonds are repaid in full. In addition, whilst the bonds remain outstanding, repayment of remaining shareholders' loans and payment of shareholder loan interest and dividends are not permitted during the term of the bond.
Minimum raise
The minimum raise for the offer is £800,000. If less than £800,000 is raised, monies will be returned to investors with no accrued interest. An initial close will occur upon reaching the minimum raise allowing for the 14-day cooling off period.
Timetable
The offer closes at noon on 15 March 2019 unless the £1,100,000 target has been reached earlier or the offer is extended by the directors at their sole discretion. As a result of launching to existing 2016 bondholders first, some of the offer may be filled by the point of public launch on 1 February 2019.
Capital at risk warning
Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Capital is at risk and returns are not guaranteed.