JSC TGC-1 and Leader Asset Management (ZAO “UK Leader”) inked a preliminary cooperation agreement to establish a joint venture (JV) and arrange project financing for the construction of 450MW CCGT-unit at Pravoberezhnaya CHPP in St. Petersburg.

Under the terms of agreement the parties intend to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) on a 50/50 basis with an authorized capital of RUR 5 bn that will assume ownership of CCGT-unit. The proceeds will be employed to finance the construction as well to partially buy-out the construction in process of the power unit from TGC-1. Long-term bond issues will be used to finance further construction works. After completion and commissioning of the unit TGC-1 will lease and operate the newly-built facilities.

The construction of the CCGT-unit at Pravoberezhnaya CHPP with of 450MW of electric and 316 GCal/h of heat production capacity started in 2007 as part of CAPEX commitment (within the framework of Capacity Supply Agreement). The project is aimed at covering the growing consumption of energy and increasing the reliability and quality of heat supply in the western districts of St. Petersburg. The commissioning of the unit is scheduled for the end of 2012.

Pravoberezhnaya CHPP comprises power-generating unit of 180MW, put into operation in 2006, and heat production facilities of 1120 GCal/h (or 1302 MW). Earlier this year TGC-1 fully shut down the old section of the CHPP with obsolete generating equipment of 64MW of electric and 300 GCal/h of heat production capacity. Thus, after 450MW CCGT is commissioned Pravoberezhaya CHPP, along with Pervomayskaya CHPP, will be the most modern power plant of TGC-1.

Chairman of the Management Board, General Director of TGC-1 Boris Vainzikher commented: “The participation of such a significant financial investor in the project should ensure the timely commissioning of the power-unit and eliminate the risks of overindebtedness and share issue for TGC-1. New capacity payments, sales of electricity to liberalized market and heat sales should guarantee the return of investments within adequate period of time”.

Leader Asset Management is the largest company in Russia by the amount of assets under management. Assets under management as at June 30, 2010 321.91 RUR bn. The main areas of expertise are: management of pension reserves of non-governmental pension funds, assets of insurance companies, individual pension savings, assets of mutual funds. 14 non-governmental pension funds and 4 insurance companies are clients of Leader AM, including NPF Gazfond, NPF Blagosostoyanie, NPF of Electric Utilities companies, NPF Lukoil-Garant, NPF Norilsk Nickel, NPF Gazprombank fund, JSC Sogaz et al. Leader AM has Fitch rating of BB-.