Investment valuation model for sustainable infrastructure systems: Mezzanine debt for water projects
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 12 March 2019
Issue publication date: 30 May 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an investment valuation model using the mezzanine debt mechanism based on blue bonds that explicitly allude to public–private partnerships (P3s) and project finance (PF). Additionally, this study proposes the financial captured value (FCV) theory for measuring how much financial value lenders may capture by becoming sponsors through financing of sustainable infrastructure systems (SIS).
Design/methodology/approach
The investment valuation model was validated through the Aguas Claras wastewater treatment plant as a case study.
Findings
The empirical results show that lenders may capture financial value by converting outstanding debt into equity shares throughout the operation and maintenance stage. Furthermore, case study results provide new insights into the implications of the debt–equity conversion ratio on the relationship between the sponsors’ internal rate of return and the FCV.
Research limitations/implications
The most significant limitation is the lack of primary and secondary information on blue bonds. Thus, robust statistical analyses to contrast results were not possible.
Practical implications
Researchers and practising professionals can improve their understanding of how mezzanine debt, P3s and PF into an investment valuation model allows financing SIS using a non-conventional financial mechanism. The recommendations will benefit both the academia as well infrastructure industry in bridging the gap between design theory and practice.
Originality/value
Sustainability components have not been addressed explicitly or combined in the financing’s structuring. Therefore, the investment valuation model could be considered a novel methodology for decision making related to financing and investment of SIS.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Aguas Nacionales for their assistance during the preparation of the case study and especially to Mr Hernán Andrés Ramírez Ríos, former CEO, and his support was more than valuable. The authors really appreciate it. Any assumptions, conclusions, findings or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Aguas Nacionales E.S.P. S.A. Finally, the authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their invaluable insights, constructive comments and direction that allowed improving the quality and comprehension of the paper. Likewise, the authors thank Dr Baabak Ashuri (Georgia Institute of Technology) for his extremely helpful comments to the first versions of this paper and Ignacio Vélez-Pareja (MSc) (Researcher and Consultant on Finance) for the rewarding talks about valuation. The authors are responsible for any error or omissions.
Citation
Gonzalez-Ruiz, J.D., Arboleda, A., Botero, S. and Rojo, J. (2019), "Investment valuation model for sustainable infrastructure systems: Mezzanine debt for water projects", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 26 No. 5, pp. 850-884. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2018-0095
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited