Power REIT closes its second solar transaction for $1.6 million

On July 12 Power REIT closed on the previously announced acquisition of approximately 100 acres of land that supports over 20MW of utility scale solar projects located near Fresno, California. The solar projects benefit from long-term power purchase agreements with either Southern California Edison (SCE) or Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). The total acquisition price was approximately $1.6 million, including transaction costs. The acquired land is leased pursuant to 25-year lease agreements with total lease payments of $157,500 per annum commencing upon achieving commercial operation of the solar projects. The solar projects are currently in construction and are expected to commence operation in early 2014. The transaction was structured to provide for monthly interim lease payments commencing October 1 until the projects achieve commercial operation. The leases provide two extension options to the lessee at fair market rental rates that, if exercised, would take the leases through 2048. The transaction was financed by acquisition bridge financing provided by Hudson Bay Partners, LP, (HBP) an affiliate of our chairman and CEO. The company intends to refinance the bridge financing with permanent debt and equity financing. As previously announced, the company recently refinanced a previous acquisition bridge financing from HBP related to its 2012 acquisition of a solar power property in Massachusetts with long term debt from a regional bank. David Lesser, chairman & CEO said, "We expect to generate equity yields in the mid to high-teens upon securing permanent financing for this new acquisition. We project the transaction will be accretive to earnings beginning in 2014. This acquisition advances a number of our business objectives, including demonstrating our ability to invest in late stage development and in-construction transactions and establishing a presence for us in California, the most active solar market in the U.S."