NEWS ARCHIVE

Sinloc and the European Energy Efficiency Fund (eeef) put their competences and financial resources to use in a joint venture to develop projects in public-private partnership (PPP) in the sector of increasing energy efficiency in the healthcare and university areas. The joint venture – called Smart H&U (Hospitals and Universities) will be a financial holding, which will have an initial risk capital of 15 million Euros and intends to invest in projects which will have a positive impact on local communities and the environment. In fact, as is known, the European Union is strongly committed to the mitigation of climate changes and the reduction of greenhouse gas emission, precisely by means of enhancement of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Energy upgrade of public real estate is that with the highest potential to contribute to community policies from three different perspectives: – high number of buildings that need upgrading of the systems (electric and thermal) and of the property to the standards imposed by law; – consistent reduction in consumption and costs of electric and thermal energy, having considered the size of the buildings, also with reduction of the costs of ordinary and extraordinary maintenance by the public body; – growing energy efficiency increase market, which views initiatives developed in collaboration with private partners favourably.

Sinloc, by appointment of Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Alessandria, is developing the feasibility study to promote the realization of a university residence in the city of Alessandria, re-utilizing an important public real estate complex located in a central area of the city, which has lain empty for decades. Given the central position of the complex in the urban fabric, the redevelopment project will provide an opportunity to integrate a series of services targeted not only at students, with the aim of vitalizing the context and turning the structure into a point of reference for the whole community. The project is developed in collaboration with the Municipality of Alessandria and the University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO).

Sinloc the Chamber of Commerce’s advisor for the urban transformation of the exhibition centre. The Company has, in fact, received a mandate from the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari to support the definition of an economic-financial and procedural feasibility study for the urban redevelopment of the exhibition centre and the realization of synergies with the “water front” of Su Siccu, located in front of it. The project aims at supporting the tavolo d’indirizzo formed by the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, the Mare di Sardegna Port Authority, the Metropolitan City of Cagliari, the Municipality of Cagliari. The work – through suitable discussions with the parties involved, market analyses, evaluation of possible functional combinations consistent with the expectations of territory stakeholders, definition of financing options – consists in the verification and evaluation of the different aspects of economical-financial sustainability and in supporting the  in the definition of the procedural options and activities for subsequent implementation of the project.

Sinloc is the technical partner of a project presented by the Municipality of Padua, in consortium with other public and private partners, which has the aim of creating or replicating innovative services for renovation and energy upgrade in a residential context, initially in the city, subsequently expanding the area of intervention to the whole “metropolitan” area of Padua and to the two “follower” cities Timisoara (Romania) and Plovdiv (Bulgaria).

The managemement of the “Fondo di Ricerca ed Innovazione destinato al finanziamento alle imprese”, created by the MIUR (Ministry of Education, of University and Research) in implementation of the National Operational Programme (PON) on Research and Innovation 2014-2020, will be implemented by the Banco di Sardegna and by Sinloc, co-manager of the fund. The Banco di Sardegna is in fact the successful winner of the international call for tenders issued by the European Investment Bank (EIB). With an endowment of 62 million Euros, the Fund will promote investments in research and innovation, with the aim of contributing to reduce the gap existing in such areas between the south of Italy and the rest of the country, based upon the provisions of the European Union’s policy on  economic and social cohesion. The regions involved are those in transition (Sardinia, Abruzzo and Molise) and those less developed (Campania, Calabria, Apulia, Sicily and Basilicata). The presentation of the Fondo di Ricerca e Innovazione took place on 26 September 2018 at the Auditorium of the Banco di Sardegna in Cagliari. The speakers included Antonio Rigon, CEO of Sinloc. This objective was reached also due to the winning collaboration between Banco di Sardegna and Sinloc SpA, already consolidated with Jessica Sardegna (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas), an initiative of the European Commission realized in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). With the 40 million Euros of the Jessica Fund, an important operation of economic development, which allowed an investment of roughly 110 million in eleven strategic projects, was initiated. In particular, the Fund has allowed the building of the new cruise ship terminal in Cagliari and three new gas distribution networks, the delivery of 14 new trolley buses to Cagliari CTM, the planning, realization and management of an integrated centre for rehabilitation of people with disabilities, the renovation and expansion of Oristano’s city market, the renovation of a building for tourism purposes in the municipality of Borutta (SS), the completion of the swimming pool facilities in the Municipality of Alghero, and the upgrading of the Serradimigni sports arena in Sassari.

Sinloc has acquired from Rekeep S.p.A. (formerly Manutencoop Facility Management) a further 26.98% of the share capital of Progetto Isom S.p.A., thus acquiring the majority of the capital of the Bolognese Special Purpose Entity with a total share capital of 51.98%. This important investment by Sinloc, which today has exceeded 8 million, bears witness to the extent to which the Company believes in the project and in its capacity of becoming a point of reference for enhancing the energy efficiency of the country’s public healthcare structures. Isom is the special purpose entity established by Sinloc together with partners Manutencoop and Siram, which was responsible for planning, financing, realizing and managing the large-scale upgrade and energy efficiency enhancement of Sant’Orsola hospital in Bologna, one of the largest hospital areas in Italy. The total intervention was for more than 45 million Euros and allowed the realization of one of the biggest hospital trigeneration plants – a massive electricity, heating and cooling system – besides upgrading and enhancing the efficiency of the structure of the plant. The intervention has allowed a significant increase in the performance of the plants, so much so that, when fully operational, a reduction of roughly 27% of energy consumption of the hospital structure is estimated, with an important saving of public resources. In terms of polluting emissions, a reduction of around 31% of CO2 is estimated. This important investment was financed, as well as through resources owned by the promoters, among which Sinloc holds a special place, by developing and placing on the market the first project bond in 2013. This innovative and complex financial solution was possible thanks in particular to Sinloc’s contribution. The project was winner of the CESEF Energy Efficiency Awards 2015 in the finance category, of the Best Practice Public Assets Award at the PA Forum 2017 and was selected as good practice in Paris at the World Climate Conference.

Sinloc has been appointment by CambiaMo Spa, Urban Transformation Company established by the Municipality of Modena and ACER, to accompany it in Business Plan evaluation activities and in the definition of the financing strategy of the upgrading interventions of some areas of the city of Modena at town planning and social level. Following the initial analyses carried out and the kick-off meeting, Sinloc is preparing the ”Information Memorandum” to start the dialogue with potential financers. The estimated financing is between 8 and 9 million Euros.

Sinloc was awarded the tender for the consultancy service of the Cost-Benefits Analysis of the future Martina Franca Healthcare District, thus supporting the Taranto Local Health Service in providing the documents necessary for realization of the work. The new structure will concentrate in a single building the functions that are currently subdivided between five different zones of the city. The evaluation developed by Sinloc is focused on estimating the socio-economic impacts of centralization of such functions in a single modern structure, evaluating the extent to which this project responds to the needs of the Local Health Service to reduce  management costs, to improve efficiency and quality of the service offered, at the same time reducing environmental impacts.

Sinloc and Fondaco SGR sold Società di Biotecnologie S.p.A. to Holding Infrastrutture S.r.l. and infrastructure holding company that is part of the Ersel Group. Società di Biotechnologie is an SPV constituted in 2003 by Sinloc, Finpiemonte Partecipazion S.p.A., DE-GA S.p.A. and Iren S.p.A. following a tender offer for the project financing for the construction of the New School of Biotechnology in Turin on behalf of the University of Turin. The total investment in the project was approximately € 20 million with construction finishing in September 2006. The building is now home to more than 1000 students and 200 instructors who enjoy the use of the classrooms, laboratories, and services. Sinloc not only invested in Società di Biotechnologie but also supported its growth through a variety of advisory activities.

Sinloc is now a partner of the Galaxity initiative which aims to develop innovative and sustainable energy districts in urban areas through organic business models contributing to the pace at which it can be adopted throughout the city. The project aims to improve the energy levels of two specific cities: Padua and Lund, with the aim to improve the cities’ annual energy costs. In this respect Sinloc has identified a business model able to improve the efficiency of the districts identified, one that may also be attractive to investors. Sinloc has studied how the business models would be applied in 7 other cities around Europe. Part of Horizion 2020 and EURAC, the project counts as its partners the City of Padua, the University of Padua, the Chamber of Commerce of Padua, Acegas-APS and the Association of APRE Research. Currently the initiative is under evaluation by the European Commission to commence operations by the end of 2018.

Invimit SGR expressed an irrevocable manifestation of interest in supporting financially the construction of new educational facilities in the Province of Lucca on behalf of the local government. € 50 million were invested in the project aiming to improve the energy efficiency and earthquake safety of the educational facilities in the Province. The objective being to decrease the costs of maintenance costs and improve the quality of the facilities. Sinloc identified 18 potential investments in 13 municipalities under the mandate of Fondazione Lucca and supports the local authorities in structuring the investment proposals and subsequent investment by Invimit into the Local Fund that will administer the project.

Sinloc is promoting the EE4WATER initiative for energy efficiency for public water infrastructure in Central Europe that has the objective of renewing the public water infrastructure and reducing the associated energy costs, which includes identifying the appropriate investment vehicles to promote investment in the sector. With the help of the Hera Group and ERVET S.p.A., the project consists of identifying and implementing innovative strategies to improve the energy efficiency of the water infrastructure. The project was part of the third tender offer for the European Territorial Cooperation Program that co-finances projects in the themes of innovation, energy, natural resources, culture, and transportation. The program encompasses nine European countries including Italy. European partners of the initiative are utility and local development entities in Slovenia, Croatia, and Austria. The project is currently under evaluation and is expected to be active at the beginning of 2019.