TOP NEWS: Rolls-Royce completes funding for nuclear with Qatar deal

(Alliance News) - Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC on Monday said it has reached an agreement with Qatar ...

Alliance News 20 December, 2021 | 8:55AM
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(Alliance News) - Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC on Monday said it has reached an agreement with Qatar Investment Authority to invest GBP85 million in new venture Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor.

Rolls-Royce SMR will construct mini nuclear reactors - a tenth the size of current ones - that each can power a million homes. QIA will take 10% of the equity in the venture, joining BNF Resources UK and Exelon Generation as shareholders alongside Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce said the SMR business is now fully funded, having secured GBP490 million through commercial equity and UK government grants.

"We have successfully raised the capital we need to establish Rolls-Royce SMR," said Rolls-Royce Chief Executive Officer Warren East, "and it is encouraging to confirm that the business is now set up to succeed."

The QIA is the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar, formed in 2005 to manage state reserves. High-profile investments include luxury department store Harrods and the Shard skyscraper in London. It also owns Paris Saint-Germain football club.

"QIA is investing in the energy transition and funding the technologies that enable low carbon electricity generation," said CEO Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud.

UK Business & Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng commented: "This investment is a clear vote of confidence in the UK's global leadership in nuclear innovation and follows the GBP210 million of government investment in the development in Small Modular Reactors. It represents a huge step forward in our plan to deploy more home-grown, affordable clean energy."

Rolls-Royce shares were down 4.3% at 109.39 pence early Monday in London, underperforming the wider FTSE 100 index, which was off 2.0%.

By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

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Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 418.10 GBX 2.85

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