AI Terminal

MODULE: AI_ANALYST
Interactive Q&A, Risk Assessment, Summarization
MODULE: DATA_EXTRACT
Excel Export, XBRL Parsing, Table Digitization
MODULE: PEER_COMP
Sector Benchmarking, Sentiment Analysis
SYSTEM ACCESS LOCKED
Authenticate / Register Log In

DOWNING RENEWABLES & INFRASTRUCTURE

Annual Report Apr 14, 2022

5141_10-k_2022-04-14_d6eb8fc1-7a14-4805-a2b1-b613656eaa0a.html

Annual Report

Open in Viewer

Opens in native device viewer

CL 262843_Perivan_Security_Cover ID22 CL 00_262843 Downing AR Cover Spread (9.5mm spine) ID22 CL 01_262843 Downing AR_Cpp01-pp12 ID22 CL 02_262843 Downing AR-pp13-pp25 ID22 CL 03_262843 Downing AR_pp26-pp36 ID22 CL 04_262843 Downing AR-pp37-pp54 ID22 CL 05_262843 Downing AR-pp55-pp67 ID22 CL 06_262843 Downing AR-pp68-pp81 ID22 CL 07_262843 Downing AR-pp82-pp103 ID22 CL 08_262843 Downing AR-pp104-pp107 ID22 CL 09_262843 Downing AR-pp108-pp138 ID22 CL 10_262843 Downing AR_pp139-end ID22 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust PLC Annual report for the period from incorporaon on 8 October 2020 to 31 December 2021 Contents Company Overview 2 Highlights 4 Key Metrics 5 About Us Strategic Report 6 Chairman’s Statement 10 Sustainability and Responsible Investment 26 Strategy and Business Model 35 The Investment Manager 37 Porolio Summary 38 Porolio 40 Investment Manager’s Report 55 Secon 172(1) Statement 59 Risk & Risk Management 65 Going Concern and Viability Governance 68 Board of Directors 70 Directors’ Report 73 Corporate Governance Statement 82 Nominaon Commiee Report 83 Management Engagement Commiee Report 84 Audit and Risk Commiee Report 87 Directors’ Remuneraon Report 93 Statement of Directors’ Responsibilies 96 Independent Auditor’s Report Financial Statements 104 Statement of Comprehensive Income 105 Statement of Financial Posion 106 Statement of Changes in Equity 107 Statement of Cash Flows 108 Notes to the Financial Statements Other Information 139 Alternave Performance Measures 142 Glossary 144 Cauonary Statement 145 Company Informaon 146 Shareholder Informaon Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 1 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 2 Highlights Successfully raised gross proceeds during the period of £137.4 million through aplacing,anoerforsubscriponandanintermediariesoeratanissue price of 100 pence per ordinary share at IPO in December 2020 (£122.5 million) and a placing at 102.5 pence per ordinary share in October 2021 (£14.9 million). SwideploymentofthemajorityofIPOproceedsthroughthecompleonof twoinvestments,invesng£102 million: – porolioofeightoperaonalhydropowerplantsincentralandsouthern Sweden for £60 million in February 2021; and – a96MWpporolioofUKSolarPVassetsfor£42 million in March 2021. Strong operaonalperformancemeantoperangprotofinvestmentswas 16.9%aboveexpectaons(beingthebudgetguresusedwhenacquiringthe assets).Poroliogeneraonof195 GWh, 4.7%aboveexpectaons. ReecngitsimpaculinvestmentsandspecicSustainableInvestment Objecves,theCompanybecameanArcle9fundpursuanttotheEU taxonomyandtheEUSustainableFinanceDisclosureRegulaons(“SFDR”). Netassetvalue(“NAV”)as at 31 December 2021 of 103.5 pence per ordinary share, up 5.5 pence per ordinary sharecomparedtotheNAVimmediatelypost IPO of 98 pence per ordinary share. Interim dividends per ordinary share of 2.25 pence paid during the period and a further 1.25 pence per ordinary share declared (but not accrued)relangtothe period to December 2021. Target dividend from 1 July 2021 onwards has been increased against guidance at IPO to 5 pence per ordinary share per annum. Cash dividend cover of 1.21x 1 1 Thesearealternaveperformancemeasures Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 3 Entered,viawhollyownedsubsidiaries,intotwoseparateloanfacilityagreements: a £25 millionRevolvingCreditFacility(“RCF”)withSantanderUKplcandaseven-year EUR 43.5 milliondebtfacilitywithSkandinaviskaEnskildaBankenAB(“SEB”)foritsSwedish hydropower assets. Post Year End Highlights Acquiredtwooperaonalporoliosofhydropowerplants,locatedincentralSwedenfor £20.1 million. – Theporolioconsistsofc.12GWhpa ofhydropowerplantslocatedintheSE3electricity pricingzoneandac.36GWhpa poroliolocatedintheSE2zone. Completedtheacquisionofanoperaonal46MWonshorewindfarm located in north eastern Sweden for £19.8 million. – Theprojecthasbeenoperaonalsince2011andhasastrongoperaonaltrackrecord. Theassetisexpectedtogeneratec.108GWhofelectricityperannum. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 4 Key Metrics As at or for period ending 31 December 2021 Total Shareholder Return 1,2 5.8% NAV total return since IPO 1,2,3 7.9% Share price 103.5 pence Market capitalisaon £141.8m GAV 1,4 £220.9m Dividends per Ordinary share declared for FY21 3.5 pence NAV £141.8m NAV per share 103.5 pence Environmental Performance Assets avoided 90,523 tonnes of CO 2 and powered the equivalent of 41,973 homes 1 Thesearealternaveperformancemeasures. 2 Total returns in sterling, including dividend reinvested. 3 BasedonNAVatIPOof£0.98/share. 4 A measure of total asset value including debt held in unconsolidated subsidiaries. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 5 About Us Downing Renewables & Infrastructure TrustPLC(“DORE”orthe“Company”) is a closed ended investment company incorporatedinEnglandandWales.The Company aims to provide investors with anaracveandsustainablelevelof income, with an element of capital growth, byinvesnginadiversiedporolioof renewable energy and infrastructure assets intheUK,IrelandandNorthernEurope. The Company’s strategy, which focuses ondiversicaonbygeography, technology,revenueandprojectstage, is designed to deliver the stability of revenues and the consistency of income to shareholders. TheCompanyisanArcle9fundpursuant totheEUtaxonomyandtheEUSustainable FinanceDisclosureRegulaons(“SFDR”).The coresustainableInvestmentObjecveofthe Companyistoacceleratethetransiontonet zero through its investments, compiling and operangadiversiedporolioofrenewable energy and infrastructure assets to help facilitatethetransiontoamoresustainable future. This directly contributes to climate changemigaon. DOREisaGreenEconomyMark(London StockExchange)accredited company with anESGframeworkthataimstoprovide investorswitharacvereturnswhile contribungtothesuccessfultransionto anet-zerocarboneconomy-resulngina cleaner, greener future. As at 31 December 2021, the Company had 137,008,487 ordinary shares in issue which are listed on the premium segment of theOcialListandtradedontheLondon StockExchange’sMainMarket. DOREismanagedbyDowningLLP (the“InvestmentManager”or“Downing”). Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 6 Chairman’s Statement On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the rst annual report of Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust PLC covering the period since incorporaon on 8 October 2020 to 31 December 2021 (the “Annual Report”). Inial Public Oering & Equity Issuance On 10 December 2020 the Company’s ordinaryshareswereadmiedtotrading on the premium segment of the main marketoftheLondonStockExchange following the Company’s IPO. The IPO raised gross proceeds of £122.5 million through which we were delighted to welcome a very broad range of shareholders to the register. Inordertoaidourconnuinggrowth plans and to enable us to pursue value creangopportunies, we issued a further 14.5 million new ordinary shares on 19 October 2021 at a price of 102.5 pence per share, raising gross proceeds of £14.9 million. Acquisions During the period, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Group”) have successfully invested £102 million in new porolioinvestments and a further £39.9millionaertheyearend,viaDORE Hold Co Limited, the main investment vehicle for the Group. The Company now hasaporoliothatisexpectedtogenerate 355GWhofrenewableelectricityper year.Theseacquisionshaveenabledusto deploy alltheproceedsofequity issuance since incorporaonintoa porolio diversiedbytechnologyandgeography. In my Interim report to Shareholders on the period to 30 June 2021, I commented on how our investment strategy is to invest in adiversiedporolioofhydropower,solar, wind, geothermal and other infrastructure assetsacrosstheUK,IrelandandNorthern Europe.Invesngindierenttechnologies reduces our reliance on any given renewable energy resource and provides exposuretoassetswithdierenteconomic lives, leading to more stable returns. I am very pleased to report that the InvestmentManagerhasconnuedto make great progress in deploying the The well-publicised increases in power prices and inflation create strong tailwinds for us and I am confident that the Company is well positioned to benefit from these factors as we move into a new phase of growth with intended capital raising and deployment. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 7 Company’sequityissuanceproceeds. Since the period end, the Company has completedtheacquisionofa46MWp operaonalwindfarminnortheastern Sweden for £19.8 million. The Company hasalsoaddedtoitsexisnghydropower poroliowiththeacquisionofa2.9MWp porolioofsmall-scalehydropowerassets and6MWpporolioofthreehydropower plants in southern and central Sweden. Theaddionalhydropowerassetswere acquiredfor£20.1million. Debt Facilies Intheinterestsofcapitaleciencyandto enhanceincomereturns,long-termcapital growthandcapitalexibility,theCompany ispermiedtomaintainaconservave levelofgearing.Toallowexibilitywith making new investments, the Company, via wholly owned subsidiaries, entered into twoseparateloanfacilityagreements:a £25millionRCFwithSantanderUKplcand aseven-yearEUR43.5milliondebtfacility withSEB.Furtherinformaononthese faciliescanbefoundintheInvestment Manager’s Review. TheRCFwillgivetheGrouptheaddional exibilitytoenabletheInvestment Manager to capitalise on its current investment pipeline, whilst also facilitang future growth. Financial Results DuringtheperiodtheNAVperordinary share increased from 98 pence at admission(aercosts)to103.5 pence at 31 December 2021, an increase of 5.5 pence. Including dividends paid to date of 2.25 pence per ordinary share, gives aNAVtotalreturnsince IPO of 7.9%.Thisincreasereectsthe netearningsandthevaluaonupli of both our hydropower and solar assetsfollowingstrongoperaonal performancesinceacquisionalongside a favourable economic environment. Theporoliocompanies distributed £4.7 million to the Company by way of shareholder loan repayments and interest during the period. An element of this cash, £2.6 million was retained in the Company’ssubsidiaryDOREHoldCoand formspartofthevaluaon. TheCompanymadeaprotfortheperiod fromincorporaonto31December2021 of £10.1million,resulnginearnings per ordinary share of 9.4 pence. As per theaccounngstandards,thisincludes therevaluaonoftheassets. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 8 Porolio Performance The3,234operangassetsproduced approximately 195 GWh of clean electricityduringthereporngperiod. TheBoardconnuestobepleasedby thestrongoperaonalperformanceof theporolio.Generaonhasexceeded expectaonsby4.7%and,inaddion tostronggeneraonperformance, theCompanyhasbenetedfrom strengthening power prices in both jurisdicons,parcularlySweden. Together, these factors have driven asignicantincreaseinrevenueand cashows. Dividends and Returns As I set out in the Company’s Interim Report, at IPO the Company set out a dividend target of three interim dividends totalling 3 pence per ordinary share in respectofthenancialperiodfromIPO to 31 December 2021, rising to a target annualised dividend yield of 5 pence per ordinary share against the IPO price of 100 pence per ordinary share, in respect ofthenancialyearto31December 2022.Thereaer,theCompanyintends to adopt a progressive dividend policy. As announced in September 2021, following the rapid deployment of theequityissuanceproceedsandthe connuedstrongtradingperformance sincethetwoporolioswereacquired, theBoardannounceditwasincreasingits dividend guidance to 5 pence per share per annum from30June2021(represenng a dividend per share of 1.25 pence for thequarterendingSeptember2021and thereaer). In line with the improved guidance, the Company has paid interim dividends to Shareholders of 1 penny per share for the period from IPO to 30 June 2021 and 1.25pencepershareforthequarterto 30 September 2021. I am pleased that a further dividend of 1.25 pence per share has been announced and will be paid for thequarterto31December2021. The Companyconnuestomeettheincreased dividend guidance target. The Company achieved a cash dividend cover of 1.21x for the dividends of 2.25 pence per share paid during the period. Dividend cover is presented excluding dividends paid immediately following the issuance of new shares. If these are included, the dividend cover would be 1.14x. TheNAVreectsthefairmarketvaluaon oftheCompany’sporoliobasedona discountedcashowanalysisoverthe lifeofeachoftheGroup’sassets plus the fair value of other assets and less the Company’sliabilies.Theassumpons whichunderpinthevaluaonareprovided bytheInvestmentManagerandtheBoard hassaseditselfwiththecalculaon methodologyandunderlyingassumpons. Outlook TheBoardisverysasedwith the £142.8milliondeployedintheve investments made todate.Ataporolio level,theInvestmentManager’sin-house assetmanagementteamwillconnueits focusondeliveringconnuedposive operaonalperformance, along with opmisaoniniaveswhereappropriate. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 9 TheCompanywillconnuetoleverage theexperseoftheInvestmentManager todeliverstrongoperaonalperformance whilst placing its sustainability goals at the centreofitsoperaonalobjecves. Thewell-publicisedincreasesinpower pricesandinaoncreatestrongtailwinds for the CompanyandIamcondent thattheCompanyiswellposioned tobenetfromthesefactorsaswe move into a new phase of growth with intended capital raising and deployment. OurInvestmentManagerconnuesto take a discerning approach to pursuing investmentopportuniesthatwilldeliver the greatest value to shareholders. The Companyisacvelyprogressingseveral hundreds of millions of pounds of pipeline opportunies.OpportuniesspanUK and Nordic hydropower, wind, solar and baeries,Nordiculiesandessenal infrastructure. NetZerohasconnuedtodominate the agenda during the period, with the long-awaitedCOP26climatesummit having takenplaceinGlasgow in November 2021. The size and complexity ofthechallengeisenormous,requiring intervenonsacrossallsectors. Despitesignicantheadwayonseveral fronts,naonalclimateandnancing commitmentssllfellshortofwhatis needed to come to grips with the climate challenge. It remains clear that more renewableenergygeneraonisnecessary. CountriessignalledtheirintenonatCOP26 tobeginthephasingoutoftradional energy systems, and this means renewable energies must take the place of fossil fuels. Thescale-upofrenewablesneededwillbe substanal.Aseconomiesaroundtheworld move towards this carbon neutral future, theCompanyiswellposionedtotake advantageofthistransion. In order to increase the Company’s diversicaon,driveecienciesofscale attheporoliolevel,spreadthexed costs over a wider asset base and increase liquidityforcurrentandfutureshareholders theBoardintendsoverme to increase the size of the Company through the issue of further shares. Any such issuance will be priced at a premium to the prevailing net asset value and will be dependent on demand from investors as well as the availability of pipeline investments. The Company and the Investment Managerconnuetomonitortheongoing conictbetweenRussiaandUkraineand itseectonEuropeanpowermarkets. I would like to thank my fellow Directors and our Investment Manager for their eortssincetheCompany’sIPOand I would like to thank shareholders for their support of the Company, whichIamcondentiswellplacedto connueitsgrowthanddeliveronits InvestmentObjecves. Hugh W M Lile Chair 4 March 2022 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 10 TheOECDesmatesthat$630billionof newinvestmentisrequiredforeachyear ofthenextdecadeinordertodeliverjust a66%chanceoflimingtemperature increase on the earth’s surface to below 2 degrees. 5 It is easy to be dwarfed by the vast scale of eortneeded, however by raising capital, deploying it into the renewable energy sector and then managingourgeneraoncapacityinthe mostecientmanner,thecompanyis makingatangiblecontribuon. Meengtheworld’senergyneedswill requirelargescalelandareastobe converted for renewable energy use. This highlights the need for responsible stewardship of the land and strong engagementwithlocalcommunies 6 . These aspects are priority aspects of the Company and Downing’s approach to responsible development of energy projects,andarealsocloselymonitoredby theBoard. Power density is the metric used to describethequantyoftheearth’s surfacerequiredtogenerateaunitof energy.Typically,thepowerdensiesof renewabletechnologiesaresignicantly lower than fossil fuels 7 and therefore the amountoflandrequiredishigher. Sustainability and Responsible Investment Environmental performance Acquision – 31 December 2021 Key Performance Indicators 3,255 Numberofrenewablegeneraonassets 121.4 MW MWofinstalledrenewablegeneraoncapacity 195GWh GWhenergygenerated 90,523 GHGemissionsavoided(tCO2e) 41,973 Equivalenthomes powered 4 Number of beehives 12 Number of bird boxes 10 Number of bat boxes Social performance £19,646 Annual community funding Governance 14 Number of health and safety audits 0 Numberofaccidents,injuries,seriousinjuries 5 OECD(2017),InvesnginClimate,InvesnginGrowth,OECDPublishing,Paris, hps://doi.org/10.1787/9789264273528-en. 6 hps://www.carboncommentary.com/blog/2020/8/23/how-much-space-will-a-100-renewables-uk-require 7 hps://net-zero.blog/book-blog/land-use-by-energy-source#:~:text=Power%20density%20is%20a%20 measure,%2C%20industry%2C%20and%20convenience%20living. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 11 Beyondjustraisinganddeploying capital, we have an important part to play in raising awareness on climate change,educangaroundthesoluons andinvesnginthelandscapeand communiesthatwe areprotecng. Taken together, these aspects of how we behave all add up to our social licence to operate 8 .They are notjust‘nicetohaves’, theyarecricalenablers. Green Energy Educaon The Company and Downing are pleased to bepartneringwithEarthEnergyEducaon, acompanydedicatedtogengchildren outoftheclassroomandvisingthe Company’s renewable energy sites across theUKtohelpeducatethemaboutgreen energy and inspire them about this sector. Pursuingthedevelopmentandoperaonof these renewableenergyprojects has now becomeanintergeneraonalresponsibility. Duringthe2021/22schoolyear,Earth EnergyEducaonwillbefacilitang 10 schoolvisitstoseveralground- mountedsolarprojectsownedbythe Company. During these trips, the children will learn what makes solar energy renewableanditsenvironmentalbenets. Perhaps most importantly, the children willlearnandunderstandtherelaonship betweenclimateandenergyconsumpon -importantknowledgewhenaddressing climate change. Addionally,EarthEnergyEducaonwill bearrangingveclassroom“solartoy design and make days” leading to one biginter-schoolsolarcarraceday.By construcngsolartoysandsun-fuelled cars, children will get to grips with how solartechnologycanbeusedinahands- on session. Finally,thegroupwillbeholdingve “poweryourschool”workshops.Working withaUK-widenetworkofsciensts, children will have the opportunity to record energy data in their school. They will use this data to design the best locaontoinstallsolarpanelsorwind turbines. It will be a valuable exercise for the children who will learn about the ecienciesofinstallingrenewableenergy generators. In all, these vital sessions will reach and hopefully inspire around 1,300 children. Mul-purpose land use During the period, the Company alongside Downing has been working in collaboraonwithlocalbranchesofthe BrishBeekeepersAssociaontohouse beesonitsUKSolarsites.Important factors that had to be considered 8 hps://socialicense.com/denion.html Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 12 includeexibleaccessarrangementsfor the beekeepers and apiary fencing so that grazing sheep don’t get too close. The ongoing goal is renewable energy assets that enhance an ecosystem that encompasses and encourages wildlife. The world is increasingly looking for sustainableandcyclicalbusinesspracces thatbenettheplanetandallthe creatures that live on it; sheep play an important part in the maintenance of land aroundtheCompany’sground-mounted solar panels and the performance of renewable energy assets. Long grass can cause shading on the panels and reducetheireciency.The underperformance of one panel willaecttheproducvityof all the other panels surrounding it as they are connected in a series.Itisessenaltokeepthe grass around the solar panels trimmed,butusingtradional diesel-poweredmowersisme consuming, expensive and not environmentally friendly. Sheep maintain the land in afullysustainableandeco- friendly way while enabling dual purpose land use. The sheep support the biodiversity of the area by avoiding the use ofpescides,thusallowing local wildlife and pollinators toourishandthrive.They alsooeralowcostyethighlyeecve method for stopping grass and weeds from overgrowing. It also minimises the risks of damaging the solar panel infrastructurethatatradionalmower can pose. Weareproudtobedemonstrang ourcommitmenttotheBRENaonal Solar Centre’s Agricultural Good Pracce Guidance for Solar Farms 9 and the 10 Commitmentsofgoodpracce establishedbytheUKSolarTrade associaon. 10 We currently operate 8 grazing licences and 4 beehives across 247acresofmul-useland. 9 NSC_-Guid_Agricultural-good-pracce-for-SFs_0914.pdf(bre.co.uk) 10 SolarFarms:10Commitments•SolarEnergyUKh Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 13 “Stewardship is the responsible allocaon, management and oversight of capital to create long-term value for clients and beneciaries leading to sustainable benets for the economy, the environment and society.” UK Stewardship Code 2021 When we use the term ‘Responsible Invesng’ we are principally referring to avoiding, migang and managing risks on behalf of our investors and the environment and society that we share. The base line for this approach is the Downing exclusion policy. Downing LLP’s investment exclusions are expressions of principles that we share in common with our investors. They are the lines in the sand that collecvely we will not cross. Briey summarizing the policy; exclusions are not applied on the basis of sectors but are informed by two areas: products and behaviors. There are certain corporate behaviors which we believe that society in the form of customers, suppliers, competors and regulators will not tolerate and therefore avoiding these companies protects our investors from reputaonal risk and poor performance outcomes. These behaviors are typically ones which we would not condone in our own business operaons or our supplier’s and we are aligned with our investors in not wishing to associate ourselves with them. Our framework for acceptable Corporate Behavior is the United Naons Global Compact. Dened breaches of the Global Compact would constute an investment exclusion. The Investment Manager is a Responsible Investor. This responsibility is contextualized by two key commitments; Downing is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (supported by the United Naons) and the Financial Reporng Council’s UK Stewardship Code. Both commitments share in common the integraon of Environmental, Social and Governance factors in investment decision-making and the principle of acve ownership. ESG Integraon is the systemac and explicit inclusion by investment managers of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors into nancial analysis. Acve ownership is the use of the rights and posion of ownership to inuence the acvies or behaviour of investee companies. We believe that ESG factors are nancially material and present both risks and opportunies for investors. Acvely managing material risks and opportunies is how we protect and enhance value for our investors. The terms ‘Responsible’ and ‘Sustainable’ are frequently used interchangeably but we believe that they mean subtly dierent things. As Investment Manager we are responsible to our investors for the execuon of their investment mandate. We put our investor’s interests ahead of our own. However, our responsibility is not just owed to our investors, as responsible stewards of capital we have a broader responsibility to society too: Downing’s Approach to Sustainability Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 14 There are some products which although we cannot uninvent them, we can refuse to fund their producon. These products are typically those where there is sucient internaonal consensus that refusing to invest is a meaningful act, that supports the containment of a product which we believe has no legimate purpose. Product level exclusions would apply to companies deriving revenue from dened controversial weapons, the manufacture of tobacco products and companies with specic types and levels of fossil fuel exposure. When we talk about Responsible Investment, we recognize the natural relaonship between exclusion, engagement and divestment. Whilst adherence to the principles of the UN Global Compact Is a key tenet of our exclusion policy, proacvely encouraging best pracce across the themac areas of the compact Is the foundaon for our rm-wide engagement policy. We are used to thinking about our responsibility to our investors, it is implicit in our duciary duty. It is also not unusual for us to be thinking about our investor’s beneciaries too because our investors are frequently invesng for their children’s future. The same principle applies to society; when we think about our responsibility to society, in the context of Sustainability we are also thinking about the society of the future. “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generaons to meet their own needs.” The Brundtland Commission, Our Common Future Sustainability, on the face of it is just about the rate at which something can be maintained. Its most frequently used to describe resource eciency. However, within nancial regulaon, ‘Sustainable Investment’ is a dened term: ‘Sustainable investment’ means an investment in an economic acvity that contributes to an environmental objecve… or… a social objecve… provided that such investments do not signicantly harm any of those objecves and that the investee companies follow good governance pracces. EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulaon The Company was proud to be awarded The Green Economy Mark by the London Stock Exchange at IPO in December 2020. The Green Economy Mark was introduced in 2019 and recognises listed companies and funds that derive 50% or more of their revenue from environmental soluons. The award is recognion that the Company meets the required industry standards of the Company’s commitment to a sustainable investment approach. It also provides transparency for investors, giving those seeking a sustainable and strong risk-adjusted returns the reassurance that they are invesng in a greener future and supporng the UK’s commitment to a net-zero economy. Porolio alignment to EU taxonomy Aligned Not Aligned 46% 31% 22% Electricity generaon from Hydropower Electricity generaon photovoltaic technology using Solar Cash In addion to a high degree of taxonomy alignment, the United Naons Sustainable Development Goals are frequently used to describe the posive contribuon that our investments make to help solve some of the most pressing needs facing our environment and society. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 15 maximised through the proacve monitoring and incident response within the asset management team. Long term generaon prospects are improved through ensuring long term maintenance strategies are appropriate to keep the assets working eecvely. In addion, the program underway to extend the generang life of the ground mount solar assets will substanally increase the ancipated generaon from exisng assets. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrot industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use eciency and greater adopon of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking acon in accordance with their respecve capabilies Since acquiring the UK solar porolio the asset manager has undertook an upgrade to its infrastructure by parcipang in the Energy Network’s Associaon program to ensure compliance with its engineering recommendaons. These changes designed to help Naonal Grid ESO operate the electricity network more eciently, reduce balancing costs and therefore provide savings to electricity customers. Target 13.3: Improve educaon, awareness-raising and human and instuonal capacity on climate change migaon, adaptaon, impact reducon and early warning In December 2021 Downing is pleased to be partnering with Earth Energy Educaon, a company dedicated to geng children out of the classroom and vising renewable energy sites across the UK to educate them about green energy. During the 2021/22 school year, Earth Energy Educaon will be facilitang 10 school visits to several ground-mounted solar projects managed by Downing. During these trips, the children will learn what makes solar energy renewable and its environmental benets. Perhaps most importantly, the children will learn Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to aordable, reliable and modern energy services The UK solar porolio is highly diversied across individual assets and geographies. A signicant level of solar generaon from the commercial and residenal rooops assets is provided on a free or discounted basis to the property owner. During the period of ownership, 9,908 MWh was made available to residenal occupants at no cost. In addion, 7,263 MWh has been made available to commercial landlords on a discounted basis. Although not all energy generated is used by the property and any excess is exported to the grid, the retail value of the electricity generated is in excess of £2.8m. Our hydropower porolio also provides electricity to local residents. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substanally the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix The renewable generaon porolio is proacvely managed to maximise nancial return from each asset, oen meaning that generaon is increased over the short and long term. Short term generaon is Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 16 and understand the relaonship between climate and energy consumpon – important knowledge when addressing climate change. Target 15.5: Take urgent and signicant acon to reduce the degradaon of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the exncon of threatened species Across our ground mount solar porolio, we are now stewards of 358 acres of land. Over preceding generaons, intensive farming pracces, the use of ferlisers, herbicides and pescides have had a detrimental impact on farmland birds, pollinators, and the ower-rich habitats themselves 11 . Our ongoing land management plans have seen the sewing of region-specic wildower seed mixes, the re-introducon of pollinators through partnership with local branches of the Brish Beekeepers Associaon and specic measures to encourage UK Internaonal Union for Conservaon of Nature Red list species back onto the land. Going forward, we are planning an ongoing program of ecological site surveys to idenfy rene and opmise our contribuon to SDG 15. Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into naonal and local planning, development processes, poverty reducon strategies and accounts Target 15.a: Mobilize and signicantly increase nancial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems Environmental, Social and Governance Objecves Over the period, we have agreed a set of ESG KPIs against which we intend to track the ESG performance of our investments over me. Environmental Social Governance Renewable energy capacity Jobs supported Board independence & experse Renewable electricity / heat generated Number of accidents, injuries and fatalies Rao male to female board members (where funds do not control investments) GHG emissions avoided Existence of a formal community engagement / complaints handling process ABC policies in place and regularly reviewed GHG emissions (scope 1 and 2) Number of engagements with stakeholders including local community complaints Material contractor due diligence Proporon of purchased energy from renewable sources Ability to host educaon visits Acon taken to avoid or minimise habitat degradaon Educaon/community visits Natural habitat creaon / restoraon Community fund contribuons Environmental incidents including non- compliance with permits / regulaons 11  State-of-Nature-2019-UK-full-report.pdf (nbn.org.uk) Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 17 Task Force for Climate Related Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”) The TCFD Recommendaons are designed to encourage consistent and comparable reporng on climate- related risks and opportunies by companies to their stakeholders. The TCFD Recommendaons are structured around four content pillars: (i) Governance; (ii) Strategy; (iii) Risk Management; and (iv) Metrics & Targets. Throughout this report, the Company has reported in line with TCFD recommendaons. The Company strives to maintain the highest standards of corporate governance and eecve risk management at both a Company and a porolio level. Although the Company is not required to report under the recommendaons of the TCFD, many of those recommendaons are followed in order to enhance the Company’s disclosures. Governance Governance is the responsibility of the Board, with key funcons delivered through delegated commiees with the oversight of the Board and the ongoing support of the Investment Manager. The Board meets on at least a quarterly basis, with addional ad-hoc meengs arranged as appropriate. Informaon relang to the Company’s acvies in fullling its sustainable Investment Objecve are presented on at least a quarterly basis. This data enables the Board to sasfy itself that it is fullling the climate migaon obligaons explicit in the Company’s sustainable Investment Objecve; “to accelerate the transion to net zero through its investments, compiling and operang a diversied porolio of renewable energy and infrastructure assets to help facilitate the transion to a more sustainable future. This directly contributes to climate change migaon.” On at least an annual basis the Board reviews climac data, specic to the geographies and asset types in the porolio, in order to review and develop the Company’s strategy in relaon to the risks and opportunies from climate change. The remit of the Board and its Commiees are set out in more detail in the Corporate Governance Statement on pages 73 to 81. However, specically the role of the Audit and Risk Commiee is to monitor the eecveness of the Company’s nancial reporng, service providers, systems of internal control and risk management, and the integrity of the Company’s external audit processes. In fullling this purpose, the Commiee has oversight of nancial disclosures, including TCFD reporng. In addion to the Board’s oversight funcons, the Directors have appointed an Investment Manager and delegated the day-to-day management of the Company to the Investment Manager. Rather than creang new structures to govern and oversee the management of climate change risks and opportunies, the Investment Manager has integrated climate change into its exisng structures, processes and risk registers. On the instrucon of the Board, the Investment Manager gathers porolio data on an ongoing basis, that enables the board to oversee the delivery of the Company’s sustainable Investment Objecve. The Investment Manager also provides dedicated subject maer experse to support the Board’s annual review and development of strategy in relaon to climate change risks and opportunies. The Investment Manager integrates Environmental, Social and Governance factors into its investment processes, with climac factors forming integral components of the investment thesis. Finally, the Investment Manager operates an Investment Commiee to oversee and approve the acquision and disposal of assets on behalf of the porolio. Climac factors are reviewed as crical components of the investment thesis. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 18 Strategy Scenario Analysis for Strategy Development In order to analyse the potenal range of risks and opportunies associated with climate change, the Board selected three scenarios from the potenal six developed by The Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (“NGFS”). Selecng one scenario from each of the available boxes, enabled the board to consider the possible combinaons of physical and transional risks. NGFS Scenarios Physical risks arise from the changes in weather and climate that impact infrastructure and economic acvity. They are typically sub-divided into acute risks like extreme weather events or chronic risks like rising sea levels, dierenated by the me taken to have a given eect. Transion risks are the societal changes arising from a transion to a low-carbon economy. They could arise from changes in public sector policies, innovaon or the aordability of certain technologies, investor or consumer senment towards behaviours or products. The three selected scenarios are: 1. The Current Policies Scenario (Base Case) assumes that only currently implemented policies are preserved, leading to high physical risks. Emissions grow unl 2080 leading to about 3°C of warming and severe physical risks. This includes irreversible changes like higher sea levels. This scenario will be updated to reect progress made at COP26 but remains the base case scenario with the greatest probability. 2. The Delayed Transion Scenario assumes global annual emissions do not decrease unl 2030. Strong policies are then needed to limit warming to below 2°C. Negave emissions are limited. This scenario assumes new climate policies are not introduced unl 2030 and the level of acon diers across countries and regions based on currently implemented policies. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 19 3. The Net Zero 2050 Scenario is an ambious scenario that limits global warming to 1.5°C through stringent climate policies and innovaon, reaching net zero CO₂ emissions around 2050. Some jurisdicons such as the US, UK, EU and Japan reach net zero for all greenhouse gases by this point. This scenario assumes that ambious climate policies are introduced immediately. Physical risks are relavely low, but transion risks are high. Scenario Probabilies These scenarios are not predicons and instead are presented as hypothecal outcomes. However, an analysis of their relave probability indicates how strategy may develop over me or indeed where the Board focused their analysis. At this point in me, the Net Zero 2050 Scenario is assessed to be the least probable of the three scenarios recognizing the lack of sucient internaonal consensus, co-operaon and investment. The Net Zero 2050 Scenario is dependent upon near term variables and so without signicant change, its probability will drop sharply in the near term. Whilst the Current Policies Scenario will be updated to reect progress made at COP26, it remains the base case scenario with the greatest probability. If policy progress remains limited, the probability aributed to this >3˚C scenario will increase over me. The probability of achieving a Delayed Transion Scenario is dependent upon future unknown variables, therefore without any signicant change over the medium term, its probability will reduce over me. Recognising that the Current Policies Scenario is considered the most probable, the Board’s analysis of Climate risks was focused on an assumpon of higher physical risks and lower transional risks. The relave probability of these scenarios will be reviewed on at least an annual basis and will inform future strategy development. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 20 Analysis Periods for Strategy Development Recognising the internaonal climate policy focus on the next 30 years and the projected lifespan of a number of the assets within the Company’s porolio, the Board’s scenario analysis was considered over a 30-year period, sub divided into three me horizons: short-term 2022-2030; medium term 2031–2040; and long-term 2041-2050. The illustrave table below shows how the relave combinaons of physical and transional risks might be expected to develop over me and why the Board’s analysis focused on physical risks. Illustrave Risk Composion over me Risk Composion Short Term 2022 - 2030 Medium Term 2031 - 2040 Long Term 2041 - 2050 Current Policies Physical High Higher Highest Transional Low Low Low Delayed Transion Physical High Higher Low Transional Low Highest High Net Zero 2050 Physical Low Lower Lowest Transional Low Lower Lowest Physical Factors, Porolio Impacts and Modelling Whilst climate change is a complex phenomenon, physical risks and opportunies to the porolio were idened across four principal factors: air temperature change, wind speed change, precipitaon level change and change to incidence rate of extreme weather events. In addion to the data above, porolio eciency, micro and macro-economic data is reported to the Board on a quarterly basis. Data relang to generaon and porolio eciency is ulised to assess the eect of any physical risks to the porolio and the company’s delivery of its sustainable Investment Objecve. Micro and macro-economic data, for example energy commodity prices, carbon emissions allowance prices and subsidy rates are ulised to assess the impact of transional risks. For each risk factor, the porolio technology and geographic exposure were considered to assess the potenal impact on the porolio. An appropriate modelling input was then idened to enable the Board to assess the potenal impact of the factor. For example, the table below describes how a projected change in precipitaon may require changes to ground maintenance acvity associated with the solar porolio and therefor how operaonal costs could change over me to reect this. Meanwhile changes to precipitaon rates could aect generaon from hydropower assets. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 21 Physical Factors, impact and modelling table Physical Factors Solar Hydropower Impact on Porolio Assumpon to ex Impact on Porolio Assumpon to ex Air Temperature Δ Change in tech eciency due to temperature uctuaons Performance rao Timing of spring melt Generaon prole Wind Δ Mounng structure maintenance, potenal to reduce surface temperature of modules Operaonal costs Nil N/A Precipitaon Δ Ground maintenance acvity, potenal to impact on surface dust of modules Operaonal costs relang to land management More water ow and generaon capability Generaon Extreme Weather Δ Damage to equipment Operaonal costs (insurance premiums) / Capex on drainage Spill (eciency during high water ow) / equipment damage Generaon / Capex A worked example - precipitaon change under the current policies scenario The company’s solar assets are predominantly located in the United Kingdom. The le and middle maps show the projected change in Precipitaon (in %) in United Kingdom since the reference period 1986-2006, in the years 2030 and 2050 under a NGFS current policies scenario. The third map shows the dierence between the two. Precipitaon Change UK Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 22 Short Term: Solar modules are typically hydrophobic, making it unlikely that increased precipitaon would result in mineral build-up on the modules, however prolonged periods of cloud cover may marginally reduce generaon over the short term. Increased precipitaon could increase growth of vegetaon around module arrays and require more frequent maintenance as a result. To monitor these short-term eects, the eciency of modules and their generaon proles are monitored on an ongoing basis with this data built into ongoing porolio valuaons. Valuaon models already allow for ad hoc maintenance costs within operaonal expenditure. Medium Term: Consistently higher precipitaon rates may require addional capital expenditure to improve site drainage. The Company’s hydropower assets are predominantly located in Sweden. The le and middle maps show the projected change in Precipitaon (in %) in Sweden since the reference period 1986-2006, in the years 2030 and 2050 under a NGFS current policies scenario. The third map shows the dierence between the two. Precipitaon Change Sweden Short, Medium and Long Term: Increased precipitaon rates are likely to have a posive eect on generaon from hydropower assets. Marginal increases to roune maintenance are likely to be oset by increased generaon. This worked example focused solely on projected precipitaon changes in isolaon from other factors, across two technology types and geographies. When considered alongside other factors like changes in air temperature and wind speed, the potenal future variaon in water supply to Nordic hydropower assets was assessed to have a more signicant potenal impact on porolio valuaons than the marginal impact from UK based solar assets. For this reason, signicant work is undertaken before the acquision of the hydropower porolio and the forecast impact of climate change on the specics assets was included within nancial pricing models. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 23 Increased precipitaon, both on an annual basis and on shorter meframes can challenge the ability to handle high water ow. Temperature drives the melng of snow reservoirs and milder winters can result in earlier spring oods and increased ow during the winter months. When the data is available, we consider using seasonal inow a more accurate measure than precipitaon alone as it reects the dimensioned ow that the power plant will get, both in terms of producon and excess water ow. The projected changes to the climate bring several other consideraons in terms of potenal impact to asset valuaons. Increased inow during winter months can be benecial if it connuous to correlate with higher electricity market prices, although changes can also impact the level of wind generaon and changing demands for heat. The relave impact of Physical and Transional risks Changes to physical factors are projected from modelled greenhouse gas emissions, extrapolated principally from populaon growth, economic acvity, energy ulisaon and the generaon mix. Many of these physical factors are omni- direconal and the potenal eects are assessed to be gradual. Transional factors can have a much wider spread of potenal outcomes as a result of concentrated human decision- making. For example, populaon growth is inuenced by billions of unconnected human decisions and therefore the probability of direconal changes to populaon growth over the short term are extremely low. In contrast policy changes to government subsidies can be inuenced by a relavely small number of people over a short period of me. Across each of the three scenarios there is an assumpon that policies and consumer preferences are likely to become more supporve of renewable energy generaon over me. Whilst harder to project than the porolio eects of physical risks, transional factors are likely to remain supporve of porolio valuaons. Porolio Sensivity Analysis Building on the scenario modelling and assumpons set out above, and data provided by NGFS for the most likely scenario we are able to quanfy the impact on environmental factors over an appropriate meframe. Metric 2022 - 2030 2031 - 2040 2041 - 2050 Solar - UK Air Temperature Δ temperature of air masses two meters above the Earth's surface 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% Wind Δ velocity of an air mass 10 metres above ground (0.3%) (0.8%) (1.7%) Precipitaon Δ mass of water (both rainfall and snowfall) falling on the Earth's surface (0.1%) 2.0% 2.9% Extreme Weather Δ percentage change in the cost of damage from such events 6.9% 15.3% 23.3% Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 24 Metric 2022 - 2030 2031 - 2040 2041 - 2050 Hydropower - Sweden Air Temperature Δ temperature of air masses two meters above the Earth's surface 0.4% 0.9% 1.2% Wind Δ velocity of an air mass 10 metres above ground (0.1%) (0.8%) (1.2%) Precipitaon Δ mass of water (both rainfall and snowfall) falling on the Earth's surface 0.8% 1.5% 1.9% Extreme Weather Δ level of damage from river oods that is expected to occur every year, measured in USD 16.0% 56.0% 34.8% Taking the changes into account and making appropriate adjustments to valuaon assumpons, through generaon proles and levels, operaonal expenditure (including insurance premiums) and capital expenditure provides us with an esmate of the potenal nancial impact of climate change to the Company. As all climate related consideraons are already included within our investment case, the esmated impact on the NAV of the Company would be approximately 0.74 pence per share. Strategic Implicaons and Resilience of DORE’s Climate Change strategy The physical risks of climate change present manageable risks to the porolio, as described throughout the rst secon of this report, however society’s transion to a lower carbon economy presents signicant opportunies and upside potenal for the Company. The Company’s investment objecve is to provide investors with an aracve and sustainable level of income returns, with an element of capital growth, by invesng in a diversied porolio of renewable energy and infrastructure assets in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe. Signicant growth in renewable energy and its associated infrastructure is crical to meeng the required emission reducons across an expanding electricity generaon sector. This posions the Company well to connue delivering value to investors through its robust climate change strategy. Risk Management The ongoing performance of the company’s porolio and all material factors aecng valuaon are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Market, climac factors and events aecng valuaon are constantly monitored by the Investment Manager, with any extraordinary events leading to material changes to valuaon, communicated to investors. The Investment Manager ulises in-house subject maer experse to prepare reports for the board throughout the reporng period. These reports incorporate policy perspecves and data sourced from respected third-party policy experts. On the basis of these reports, the board undertake an annual review and development process in support of the company’s climate change strategy, idenfying and evaluang the principal climate risks and opportunies. The board’s standard reporng pack contains data that enables them to oversee the delivery of the company’s sustainable investment objecve, explicitly delivering output that supports Climate Change Migaon. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 25 Metrics and Targets The following data is currently ulised to support modelling of risks and opportunies in relaon to the porolio’s technical generaon mix and geographic exposure. The three common factors across analysis of the porolio are air temperature, wind speed and precipitaon. In addion to these three common factors a fourth data source has been selected for each geography and porolio technology, as a proxy for potenal changes to costs of extreme weather events. The common source of the data is the NGFS Current Policies Scenario and the me period selected aligns to the short, medium and long term horizons idened during scenario analysis for strategy development. Projected Air Temperature Change (UK and Sweden) Projected Wind Speed Change (UK and Sweden) Projected Precipitaon Rate Change (UK and Sweden) Projected annual % change in cost of expected damage from tropical cyclones (UK) Projected annual % change in cost of expected damage from river oods (Sweden) These data sources will be updated and reviewed on an at least an annual basis to connue to support scenario analysis and strategy development. Over me, addional data sources may be selected to reect the porolio’s diversicaon by technology and geography. In addion to the data above, porolio eciency, micro and macro-economic data is reported to the board on a quarterly basis. Data relang to generaon and porolio eciency is ulised to assess the eect of any physical risks to the porolio and the company’s delivery of its sustainable investment objecve. Micro and macro-economic data, for example energy commodity prices, carbon emissions allowance prices and subsidy rates are ulised to assess the impact of transional risks. Scope 1 Emissions: When considering the direct emissions of the company, we assess these to be negligible, recognising that over the reporng period, all company’s business has been conducted virtually. Scope 2 Emissions: The Scope 2 emissions of the porolio are esmated to be 4,325 kg C02e. These emissions stem principally from electricity ulised by the hydropower assets within the porolio and are esmated on the basis of electricity usage and geographically specic residual grid emissions factors. Scope 3 Emissions: The Scope 3 emissions of the porolio are esmated to be 13,033 kg CO2e. These emissions are esmated principally on the basis of grass-cung and panel cleaning across the Ground Mounted Solar poron of the porolio and the accrued mileage of contractors making roune site visits throughout the reporng year. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 26 Strategy and Business Model The Board is responsible for the Company’s Investment Objecve and Investment Policy and has overall responsibility for ensuring the Company’s acvies are in line with such overall strategy. The Group’s Investment Objecve and Investment Policy are published below. Corporate Summary The Company is a closed ended investment company incorporated in England and Wales with registraon number 12938740. The Company aims to provide investors with an aracve and sustainable level of income, with an element of capital growth, by invesng in a diversied porolio of renewable energy and infrastructure assets in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe. As at 31 December 2021, the Company had 137,008,487 ordinary shares in issue which are listed on the premium segment of the Ocial List and admied to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market. Investment Objecve The Company’s investment objecve is to provide investors with an aracve and sustainable level of income returns, with an element of capital growth, by invesng in a diversied porolio of renewable energy and infrastructure assets in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe. The core sustainable investment objecve of the Company is to accelerate the transion to net zero through its investments, compiling and operang a diversied porolio of renewable energy and infrastructure assets to help facilitate the transion to a more sustainable future. The Company believes that this directly contributes to climate change migaon. The Company has made disclosures under the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulaon (“SFDR”) as part of its commitment to sustainability. The Company is an Arcle 9 fund under SFDR. Investment Policy The Company will seek to achieve its Investment Objecve through investment in a diversied porolio of renewable energy and infrastructure assets in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, comprising (i) predominantly assets which generate electricity from renewable energy sources; and (ii) other infrastructure assets and investments in businesses whose principal revenues are not derived from the generaon and sale of electricity on the wholesale electricity markets (“Other Infrastructure”) (together “Assets” and each project being an “Asset”). Assets may be operaonal, in construcon or construcon-ready, at the me of purchase. In-construcon or construcon-ready Assets are assets which have in place the required grid access rights, land consents, planning, perming and regulatory consents in order to commence construcon. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company will not acquire or fund Assets that are at an earlier stage of development than construcon ready. The Company intends to invest in a porolio of Assets that is diversied by: (i) the principal technology ulised Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 27 to generate energy from renewable sources, for example solar photovoltaic, wind, hydropower-electric or geothermal (“Technology”); (ii) geography; and (iii) the stage of development of a project, being one of operaonal, construcon-ready or in-construcon (each a “Project Stage”). Whilst the Company intends primarily to take controlling interests, it may acquire a mix of controlling and non-controlling interests in Assets and the Company may use a range of investment instruments in the pursuit of its Investment Objecve, including but not limited to equity and debt investments. In circumstances where the Company does not hold a controlling interest in the relevant investment, the Company will seek to secure its shareholder rights through contractual and other arrangements, inter alia, to ensure that the Asset is operated and managed in a manner that is consistent with the Company’s Investment Policy. Investment Restricons The Company will observe the following investment restricons when making investments: • the Company may invest no more than 60% of Gross Asset Value in Assets located in the UK; • the Company may invest no more than 60% of Gross Asset Value in Assets located in Ireland and Northern Europe (combined); • no more than 25% of Gross Asset Value will be invested in Assets in relaon to which the Company does not have a controlling interest; no investments will be made in companies which generate electricity through the combuson of fossil fuels or derive a signicant poron of their revenues from the use or sale of fossil fuels unless the purpose of the investment is to transion those companies away from the use of fossil fuels and toward sustainable sources; and • the Company will not invest in other UK listed closed-ended investment companies. The Company will observe the following investment restricons when making investments, with the relevant limits being calculated on the assumed basis that the Company has gearing in place of 50% of Gross Asset Value: • the Company may invest no more than 50% of Gross Asset Value in any single Technology; • the Company may invest no more than 25% of Gross Asset Value in Other Infrastructure; • the Company may invest no more than 35% of Gross Asset Value in Assets that are in construcon or construcon-ready; Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 28 • the Company may invest no more than 30% of Gross Asset Value in any one single Asset, and the Company’s investment in any other single Asset shall not exceed 25% of Gross Asset Value; and • at the me of an investment or entry into an agreement with an Oaker, the aggregate value of the Company’s investments in Assets under contract to any single Oaker will not exceed 40% of Gross Asset Value. Following full investment of the Net Proceeds and following the Company becoming substanally geared (meaning for this purpose by way of long-term debt of 50% of Gross Asset Value being put in place), the Company’s porolio will comprise no fewer than six Assets. Compliance with the above restricons will be measured at the me of investment and non-compliance resulng from changes in the price or value of Assets following investment will not be considered as a breach of the investment restricons. The Company will hold its investments through one or more SPVs and the investment restricons will be applied on a look-through basis to the Asset owning SPV. Borrowing Policy Long-term limited recourse debt at the SPV level may be used to facilitate the acquision, renancing or construcon of Assets. Where ulised, the Company will seek to adopt a prudent approach to nancial leverage with the aim that each Asset will be nanced appropriately for the nature of the underlying cashows and their expected volality. Total long-term structural debt will not exceed 50% of the prevailing Gross Asset Value at the me of drawing down (or acquiring) such debt. In addion, the Company and/or its subsidiaries may make use of short-term debt, such as a revolving credit facility, to assist with the acquision of suitable opportunies as and when they become available. Such short-term debt will be subject to a separate gearing limit so as not to exceed 10% of the prevailing Gross Asset Value at the me of drawing down (or acquiring) any such short-term debt. The Company may employ gearing at the level of an SPV, any intermediate subsidiary of the Company or the Company itself, and the limits on total long-term structural debt and short-term debt shall apply on a consolidated basis across the Company, the SPVs and any such intermediate holding enes (disregarding for this purpose any intra-Group debt (i.e. borrowings and debt instruments between members of the Group)). In circumstances where these aforemenoned limits are exceeded as a result of gearing of one or more Assets in which the Company has a non-controlling interest, the borrowing restricons will not be deemed to be breached. However, in such circumstances, the maer will be brought to the aenon of the Board who will determine the appropriate course of acon. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 29 Currency and Hedging Policy The Company will adopt a structured risk management approach in seeking to deliver stable cash ows and dividend yield. This may include entering into hedging transacons for the purpose of ecient porolio management. This could include: • foreign currency hedging on a poron of equity distribuons; • foreign currency hedging on construcon budgets; • interest and/or inaon rate hedging through swaps or other market instruments and/or derivave transacons; and • power and commodity price hedging through power purchase arrangements or other market instruments and/or derivave transacons. Any such transacons will not be undertaken for speculave purposes. Cash management The Company may hold cash on deposit and may invest in cash equivalent investments, which may include short-term investments in money market type funds (“Cash and Cash Equivalents”). There is no restricon on the amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents that the Company may hold and there may be mes when it is appropriate for the Company to have a signicant Cash and Cash Equivalents posion. Holding and Exit Strategy It is intended that Assets will be held for the long-term. However, if an aracve oer is received or likely to be available, consideraon will be given to the sale of the relevant Asset and reinvestment of the proceeds. Changes to and Compliance with the Investment Policy Any material changes to the Company’s Investment Policy set out above will require the approval of Shareholders by way of an ordinary resoluon at a general meeng and the approval of the FCA. In the event of a breach of the investment guidelines and the investment restricons set out above, the AIFM shall inform the Board upon becoming aware of the same and if the Board considers the breach to be material, nocaon will be made to a Regulatory Informaon Service. Business Model The Company was incorporated on 8 October 2020 as a public company limited by shares. The Company intends to carry on business as an investment trust within the meaning of secon 1158 of the Corporaon Tax Act 2010 and was listed on the premium segment of the main market of the London Stock Exchange on 10 December 2020. The Company holds and manages its investments through a parent holding company, DORE Hold Co Limited, of which it is the sole shareholder, DORE Hold Co in turn holds investments via a number of intermediate holding companies and Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 30 SPVs. The jurisdicons in which the SPVs are incorporated is typically determined by the locaon of the assets, and further porolio-level holding companies may be used to facilitate debt nancings. As at 31 December 2021, the Company owns a porolio of 3,234 Renewable Energy Assets totalling 121 MW of operaonal capacity. Medium term structural debt is in place for the United Kingdom solar porolio and, as at 31 December 2021, this comprised outstanding principal amounts of £79.3 million lent by Aviva and BlackRock. Downing Hydro AB, the intermediate holding company which holds the Swedish hydropower assets has access to a seven-year EUR 43.5 million debt facility with Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (“SEB”). Following the period end, EUR 27.4 million was drawn against this facility to fund the acquision of two addional Swedish hydropower schemes. The remainder of the undrawn facility is predominately to fund future capital expenditure requirements. Short term debt nancing is available through a £25 million RCF which may be drawn on by DORE Hold Co Limited to facilitate future growth plans. The Company has a 31 December nancial year end and announces half- year results in or around September and full-year results in or around March. The Company intends to pay dividends quarterly, targeng payments in or around March, May, August and November each year. The Company has an independent board of non-execuve directors and has appointed Gallium Fund Soluons Limited as its AIFM to provide porolio and risk management services to the Company. The AIFM has delegated the provision of porolio management services to the Investment Manager, Downing LLP. Further informaon on the Investment Manager is provided in the Investment Manager’s Report. As an investment trust, the Company does not have any employees and is reliant on third party service providers for its operaonal requirements. Likewise, the SPVs do not have any employees and services are also provided through third party providers. Each service provider has an established track record and has in place suitable policies and procedures to ensure they maintain high standards of business conduct and corporate governance. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 31 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust PLC 12938740 DORE HOLD CO LIMITED 13081088 Figure 1: Company Operang Model Shareholders Debt Providers Santander UK Plc Revolving credit facility Shareholder Loan Equity Services Key Debt Company Service Providers Broker: Singer Capital Markets Company Secretary: Link Company Maers Administrator: Gallium Fund Soluons Registrar: Link Company Maers Auditors: BDO PR Advisor: TB Cardew Tax Adviser: EY Legal: Gowling WLG for illustraon purposes, this is a simplified structure. Some investments in SPVs may be held indirectly through porolio level holding companies. UK SPVs Non-UK SPV Porolio Investments in SPVs AIFM Gallium Fund Soluons Investment Manager Downing LLP Debt Providers Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB Aviva BlackRock Asset level debt facilies Asset Manager Downing LLP Independent Board of Directors Day to day management subcontracted to Downing LLP Objecves and Key Performance Indicators The Company sets out below its KPIs which it uses to track the performance of the Company over me against the objecves, as described in the Strategic Report on page 26. The Board is of the opinion that the KPIs detailed in the table below, alongside the environmental, social and governance objecves set out on page 16 provide shareholders with sucient informaon to assess how eecvely the Company is meeng its objecves. The Board will connue to monitor these KPIs on an ongoing basis. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 32 Financial Objecves Objecve KPI and Denion Relevance to Strategy Performance Explanaon Aracve and sustainable level of income Dividends per share (pence) The dividend reects the Company’s ability to deliver a low risk but growing income stream from the porolio. The Company has paid dividends to date of 2.25 pence per share. The company has declared a further 1.25 pence per share to be paid in respect of the period to 31 December 2021. The Company targeted an inial yield of 3 pps in respect of the period from IPO to 31 December 2021. The company will have paid 3.5 pps in respect of this period exceeding the inial target set at IPO. Cash dividend cover 12 Reects the Company’s ability to cover its dividends from the income received from its porolio. 1.21x – excluding dividends paid immediately following the issuance of new shares 1.14x. – including dividends paid immediately following the issuance of new shares The Company, through DORE Hold Co received distribuons of £4.7m from the underlying projects enabling the Company to pay full covered dividends. £2.5 million was paid up via loan interest from DORE Hold Co in the period. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 33 Objecve KPI and Denion Relevance to Strategy Performance Explanaon Capital preservaon with an element of capital growth NAV per share (pence) 12 The NAV per share reects our ability to preserve capital value and also provide an element of capital growth throughout the life cycle of our assets. 103.5 pence per share £141.8m / 103.5 pence per share as at 31 December 2021. NAV has increased since IPO (from 98p), aer taking into account dividends paid and further equity issuance during the year. Total NAV return (%) 12 The total NAV return measure highlights the gross return to investors including dividends paid. 7.9% The Company’s NAV has increased due to the upward revaluaon of the Company’s Investment in Hold Co, and its investments in a porolio of renewable energy assets. Total Shareholder return since IPO 12 The share price appreciaon plus reinvested dividends over a period, is a measure of a company’s capital growth over the long term. 5.8% The Company’s closing share price as at 31 December 2021 was 103.5 pence per share. The Company’s shares were issued at 100 pence per share. Ongoing charges rao 12 Ongoing charges shows the drag on performance caused by the operaonal expenses incurred by the Company. 1.6% Company level budgets are approved annually by the Board and actual spend is reviewed quarterly. Transacon budgets are approved by the Board and potenal abort exposure is carefully monitored. 12 These are alternave performance measures Read more about the Company’s approach to sustainability and ESG on pages 10 to 25. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 34 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 35 About Downing The Company is managed by Downing LLP, an established investment manager with over 30 years’ experience and a considerable track record in the core renewables space. Downing is authorised and regulated by the FCA and, as at 30 November 2021, had over £1.5 billion of assets under management. The Investment Manager has over 180 sta and partners. The team of 39 investment and asset management specialists who focus exclusively on energy and infrastructure transacons are supported by business operaons, IT systems specialists, legal, HR and regulatory and compliance professionals. The Investment Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Company’s investment porolio in accordance with the Company’s Investment Objecve and policy, subject to the overall supervision of the Board. The Investment Manager has managed investments across various sectors in the UK and internaonally and idened the Energy & Infrastructure sector as a core area of focus from as early as 2010. Since then, to date it has made 141 investments in renewable energy infrastructure projects and currently oversees 474 MWp of electricity generang capacity, covering ve technologies across c.7,300 installaons. The Investment Manager Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 36 Tom Williams Partner, Head of Energy and Infrastructure Tom joined the Investment Manager as Partner in the Energy & Infrastructure team in July 2018. Tom heads up the team and has 23 years of experience as principal and adviser across the private equity and private debt infrastructure sectors. Tom has carried out successful transacons totalling in excess of £13 billion in the energy, ulies, transportaon, accommodaon and defence sectors. Tom started his career working as a project nance lawyer in 1999 before moving into private equity with Macquarie Group in London and the Middle East. Tom holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Pracce from the Royal College of Law and a BA in law from Cambridge University. Henrik Dahlström Investment Director Henrik joined the Investment Manager as Investment Director in June 2020 to expand its European presence and lead transacons in the Nordic regions. Before joining the Investment Manager, Henrik spent 17 years with Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (“MIRA”). At MIRA, Henrik was a Director responsible for covering the Nordic region. This role included the originaon and execuon of transacons in the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors as well as holding asset management and board responsibilies. Henrik has worked across renewable energy and infrastructure sectors as a principal for investments in the UK and in Europe. Henrik holds a master’s degree in nance from Gothenburg School of Economics. Tom Moore Partner, Head of Fund Reporng and Co-Head of Asset Management Tom joined the Investment Manager in May 2019 to build a full-service asset management team to provide investors with an ecient and class leading asset management service. Since joining in May 2019, the team has grown to 21 full me employees with experse split across nancial, technical and commercial sectors. The team manages over 474 MWp of energy generang assets across ve separate technologies. Tom is also responsible for the reporng and investment operaons across the unquoted investment teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Tom was a Director at Foresight Group, where he had oversight of a signicant porolio of renewable energy investments. Tom is a chartered accountant and holds a BSc in Economics from the University of York. Danielle Strothers Co-Head of Asset Management Danielle joined the Investment Manager in September 2019. Alongside Tom, she manages the asset management funcon, focussing on asset performance, business operaons and compliance. Danielle is also responsible for the coordinaon of the valuaon process across the energy porolio. Prior to joining Downing, Danielle was a Senior Porolio Manager at Foresight Group, where she was responsible for the operaons of their renewable energy porolio. Danielle is a chartered accountant and holds a BSc in Accounng & Finance from the University of Birmingham. The key individuals responsible for execung the Company’s investment strategy are: Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 37 Portfolio Summary At the period end, through its main subsidiary, the Company owned 121 MWp of hydropower and solar assets with an annual generation of around 200 GWh. The portfolio is diversified across 3,255 individual installations and across four different energy markets. Following the period end the Group has added an additional 54 MW of wind and hydropower assets with an additional annual generation of 156 GWh. The entire portfolio now stands at 175 MWp with a combined annual generation of 355 GWh. The Group currently has no exposure to any assets under construction. Hydro Solar Cash Porolio composion by valuaon, as at the balance sheet date Technology Geography/Power Market Exposure Sweden Great Britain Cash Northern Ireland Sweden Great Britain Cash Northern Ireland Porolio composion by valuaon, as at 31 January 2022 Hydro Solar Wind Cash Technology Geography/Power Market Exposure 262841 Tissue Regenix Cover Spread Opon 3 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 38 Norway Hydro Solar Wind Hydro 2022 acquisitions2021 acquisitions Portfolio Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 39 Investment Technology Date Acquired Locaon Power Market / Subsidy Installed capacity (MW) Expected annual generaon (GWh) Ugsi Hydropower Feb-21 Älvadalen, Sweden SE3 / n/a 1.8 10 Båthusströmmen Hydropower Feb-21 Älvadalen, Sweden SE3 / n/a 3.5 14 Åsteby Hydropower Feb-21 Torsby, Sweden SE3 / n/a 0.7 3 Fensbol Hydropower Feb-21 Torsby, Sweden SE3 / n/a 3 14 Rödbjörke Hydropower Feb-21 Torsby, Sweden SE3 / n/a 3.3 15 Väls Hydropower Feb-21 Torsby, Sweden SE3 / n/a 0.8 3 Torsby Hydropower Feb-21 Torsby, Sweden SE3 / n/a 3.1 13 Tvärforsen Hydropower Feb-21 Torsby, Sweden SE2 / n/a 9.5 37 Suon Bridge Ground mount solar Mar-21 Somerset, England UK / ROC 6.7 7 Andover Aireld Ground mount solar Mar-21 Hampshire, England UK / ROC 4.3 4 Kingsland Barton Ground mount solar Mar-21 Devon, England UK / ROC 6 6 Bourne Park Ground mount solar Mar-21 Dorset, England UK / ROC 6 6 Laughton Levels Ground mount solar Mar-21 East Sussex, England UK / ROC 8.3 9 Deeside Ground mount solar Mar-21 Flintshire, Wales UK / FiT 3.8 3 Redbridge Farm Ground mount solar Mar-21 Dorset, England UK / ROC 4.3 4 Iwood Ground mount solar Mar-21 Somerset, England UK / ROC 9.6 9 New Rendy Ground mount solar Mar-21 Somerset, England UK / ROC 4.8 5 Redcourt Ground mount solar Mar-21 Carmarthenshire, Wales UK / ROC 3.2 3 Oakeld Ground mount solar Mar-21 Hampshire, England UK / ROC 5 5 Kerriers Ground mount solar Mar-21 Cornwall, England UK / ROC 10 10 RSPCA Llys Nini Ground mount solar Mar-21 Swansea, Wales UK / ROC 0.9 1 Commercial porolio Rooop Solar Mar-21 Various, England UK / FiT 0.3 0 Commercial porolio Rooop Solar Mar-21 Various, England & Wales UK / ROC 5.2 4 Commercial porolio Rooop Solar Mar-21 Various, N. Ireland SEM / NIROC 0.7 1 Bombardier Rooop Solar Mar-21 Belfast, N. Ireland SEM / ROC 3.6 3 Residenal porolio Residenal rooop solar Mar-21 Various, N. Ireland SEM / NIROC 13.1 10 TOTAL AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2021: 121.5 199 Addions following the Balance Sheet Date: Lemmån Hydropower Jan-22 Älvdalen, Sweden SE3 / n/a 0.6 3 Ryssa Övre Hydropower Jan-22 Mora, Sweden SE3 / n/a 0.7 3 Ryssa Nedre Hydropower Jan-22 Mora, Sweden SE3 / n/a 0.6 2 Rots Övre Hydropower Jan-22 Älvdalen, Sweden SE3 / n/a 0.7 3 Rots Nedre Hydropower Jan-22 Älvdalen, Sweden SE3 / n/a 0.3 1 Gabrielsberget Syd Vind Wind Jan-22 Aspeå, Sweden SE2 / n/a 46.0 108 Vallhaga Hydropower Jan-22 Edsbyn, Sweden SE2 / n/a 2.1 12 Österforsens Krastaon Hydropower Jan-22 Edsbyn, Sweden SE2 / n/a 1.9 12 Bornforsen 1 Hydropower Jan-22 Edsbyn, Sweden SE2 / n/a 0.5 3 Bornforsen 2 Hydropower Jan-22 Edsbyn, Sweden SE2 / n/a 1.5 9 TOTAL AS AT THE DATE OF THIS REPORT: 175.4 355 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 40 Investment Manager’s Report Introducon We are delighted with the progress made during the Company’s inaugural year. During the reporng period, the Company announced two acquisions deploying the majority of proceeds from the IPO. In addion to deploying capital quickly, the assets acquired by the Company are of high quality and oer the diversicaon of technology, geography and power market exposure that is central to the aims of the Company. Acquisions We have remained busy following the period end and have invested a further £39.9 million into three acquisions in both wind and hydropower investments. This includes a 46 MWp operaonal wind farm in north eastern Sweden and two addional Swedish hydropower porolios to complement the Company’s exisng porolio. All acquisions are owned 100% by the Group. The discussion below presents further informaon on these acquisions. Downing Hydro AB The Group completed its rst investment in a porolio of eight operaonal hydropower plants located in central and southern Sweden on 1 February 2021 for £59.9 million. The eight hydropower plants are located across three dierent rivers in Sweden in two dierent price zones, with an expected annual average producon of 108 GWh. The porolio has a robust operang track record spanning more than ve decades and enjoys storage capacity, in the form of dammed rivers, of 105.6 million cubic meters. This capacity regulates water ow to the turbines and allows the assets to capture periods of higher power prices through the controlled dispatch of generaon. In January 2022, the Group acquired two operaonal porolios of hydropower plants located in central Sweden for £20.1 million. The acquision consisted of a c. 12 GWh per annum porolio of hydropower plants and a c. 36 GWh per annum porolio. These acquisions were largely funded through a drawdown on the Downing Hydro AB (DHAB) Swedish hydropower porolio debt facility signed in November 2021. The rst porolio comprises ve hydropower plants located on three dierent rivers in central Sweden. The sites also benet from a long operaonal history and are located in the county of Dalarna, which is in the aracve SE3 price area. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 41 The second of the two new porolios includes four run-of-river hydropower plants situated on a single river in central Sweden. The sites benet from a long operaonal history and were refurbished between 2010 and 2013. The hydropower plants are located in and around the Swedish town Edsbyn in the SE2 zone. A framework agreement is in place with Axpo (a leading Swiss energy company) which allows DHAB to lock in prices. DHAB has hedged posions in line with the requirements under the debt facility. The hydro assets do not aract government subsidy payments. More informaon on the synergies within the Swedish hydropower porolio can be seen in the Porolio and Asset Management secon on page 43. Chalkhill Solar Porolio On 19 March 2021 the Group completed its rst UK investment, the acquision of a porolio of solar PV assets located across the UK. The porolio was acquired for a consideraon of £42 million. The acquision target, Chalkhill Life Holdings Limited, benets from £67.9 million senior debt from Aviva and £10.8 million debt from BlackRock. The porolio, described as the “Seed Assets” in the IPO Prospectus, comprises: • 13 ground-mounted sites located across mainland Great Britain totalling c. 73 MWp; • 28 commercial rooop assets totalling c. 10 MWp; and • 7 residenal rooop porolios in Northern Ireland totalling c. 13MWp. Most ground mounted PV assets have a long-term power oake agreement with Statkra. The Solar companies have been locking in prices due to the high-power prices in the market. Gabriel Wind Project On 2 February 2022 the Group completed its rst onshore wind investment. The Company acquired an operaonal 46 MW onshore wind project located in Nordmaling, north eastern Sweden for approximately £19.8 million. The project has been operaonal for c. 10 years and consists of 20 turbines with an expected annual producon of 108 GWh. Gabriel has a short-term oake agreement with Centrica. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 42 Porolio Performance The Company received the economic benet of the porolios acquired from 1 February 2021. For the period of operaons between 1 February 2021 and 31 December 2021, operang prot for the combined porolios was 16.9% above expectaons, driven primarily by generaon being 4.7% above expectaons and achieving higher than ancipated power pricing. 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 Actual (MWh) Expected (MWh) SolarHydro Actual (MWh)Expected (MWh) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 SolarHydro Actual (£’000)Expected (£’000) Asset Generation vs Budget Asset Operating Profit vs Budget Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 43 The Downing Hydro AB porolio had a strong period with the hydropower assets generang 108.1 GWh, 9.1% above expectaons. The signicant upli in generaon during the period was aributable to a combinaon of strong plant availability as well as a favourable combinaon of precipitaon and reservoir levels. Operang prot was 92.8% over budget for the period, driven by favourable power prices and producon exceeding expectaons. The Solar porolio performed in line with expectaons, with the solar installaons generang 86.9 GWh. In terms of operang prot, the porolio performed above expectaons, generang an operang prot of £10.25m, 5.2% above budget. Average irradiaon levels across the solar porolio were 1.9% above budget during the period. The small deviaon between irradiaon and generaon was mainly due to DNO outages at two of the ground mounted installaons. In both instances, the O&M were able to ulise these periods of downme by conducng intrusive preventave maintenance that would otherwise have caused downme of their own. Porolio and Asset Management Downing has invested signicantly in an in-house asset management team capable of providing a full scope service to a wide range of generaon and storage technologies. Established in 2019, the team totals 21 and includes experse across power markets, engineering, data analycs, nance and commercial management. Solar Hydro 86,969 108,113 Generation by Technology (MWh) Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 44 The asset management team works in parallel to the investment team and ensures work is started long before an asset is acquired. Prior to acquision, Downing carries out a comprehensive onboarding process to ensure that new assets are transioned smoothly into the wider energy porolio. The plan captures all key milestones that need to be completed as part of the transion, including the collecon and storage of a range of key documents including project contracts and design documents, as well as detailed historic performance data. The onboarding process also involves a detailed review to ensure that the assets are embedded into exisng processes, such as contract management and compliance, incident tracking, monitoring, and reporng. Assets are fully incorporated within the asset management team’s porolio reporng systems within 60 days of compleon. This reporng environment allows real me, exible reporng to internal stakeholders. Health and Safety The health and safety of contractors and the public is a fundamental part of management processes. Throughout the period, a range of workstreams were carried out by the Asset Manager in line with the Company’s approach to Health and Safety management. A dam safety framework was established to ensure eecve management of the risks surrounding hydropower acvies and classied dams in Sweden. The framework, which is based on industry best pracce, focusses on regular inspecons, the experse of operators and the frequency and content of reporng. Downing signicantly increased its operaonal experse with the appointment of Ulf Wennilsjo in January 2022. Ulf has over 25 years of experience in the operaon and management of large hydropower porolios in Sweden. As part of his experience, Ulf brings a wealth of knowledge in the management of dam safety pracses and procedures. A rolling programme of Health and Safety audits connues across the porolio. These audits are based on a two-er approach, where risks and procedures are audited at the site level and also the operator level. Downing has a process of connuous assessment and feedback of site and operator pracces, ensuring eecve management systems are in place and adhered to. Finally, IT systems are used to thoroughly track all incidents. As well as these systems enabling performance measurement and trend analysis, they also ensure the eecve communicaon, escalaon, and management of incidents. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 45 Opmisaon The acquision of the Downing Hydro AB porolio from Fortum Sweden AB required a detailed transion plan to enable a smooth shi of operaons away from being deeply integrated into the vendor’s processes and across to Downing. Several new hydropower operaonal contracts were placed during the period, including producon planning, dispatch opmisaon and 24/7 control centre arrangements. Together, these contracts focus on opmising the assets and establishing a framework for the ecient growth of the hydropower porolio in the future. The Asset Manager has also commenced a digitalisaon project for the hydro porolio, looking at opportunies to ulise technologies to improve operaonal eciencies and reduce downme. The rst step of this involves a trial at one site, which will be rolled out in March 2022. The trial will focus on automated visual monitoring, aiming to reduce workload of the dispatch centre and on call dues, as well as to reduce maintenance costs and downme. The Asset Manager is also exploring opportunies for implemenng specialist technical performance monitoring equipment, potenally building on the capabilies added to the porolio during 2021. Integral to the acvity of the asset management team are the data and systems analysts. Downing take a data driven approach to the porolio and invest signicant me and experse in enabling porolio improvements through data opmisaon strategies. One of these strategies has seen Downing partner with a leading AI technology company. The project aims to leverage arcial intelligence technology from our partner and renewable energy experse of Downing to beer predict short term maintenance and long-term capital costs, enabling faster response mes through predicve maintenance, opmised maintenance strategies and dynamic capital expenditure forecasng. During the period, the Asset Manager connued to develop monitoring capabilies across the porolio. Using specialised soware, automated string analysis was implemented across the ground mounted solar installaons, allowing O&M providers to complete more focussed site visits and thereby opmise performance. An automated daily feed of half hourly satellite irradiaon data was also implemented during the period, enabling greater performance monitoring across the rooop solar installaons. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 46 Several new and opmised contracts were placed during the period. New O&M contracts were executed across the residenal rooop and hydropower porolios. New contracts brought an improved scope of services as well as reduced pricing, while encouraging proacve monitoring of maintenance requirements which is expected to deliver cost eciencies in the future. New supply and export contracts were also placed and the Asset Manager was able to achieve favourable pricing. Spare parts strategies have been implemented across the porolio to help reduce potenal downme in the event of faults, while taking advantage of the size of the porolio to ensure spare part procurement is ecient and avoids duplicaon of expenditure. A phased opmisaon project connues across the ground mount solar porolio to increase the eciency of modules by reversing the impact of degradaon. Phase 1 is complete and connued analysis is taking place, with inial results suggesng improvements to generang capacity. The ground mount solar porolio has also achieved compliance with the new accelerated loss of mains requirements, using the available funding from Naonal Grid ESO. Works are underway to achieve compliance for the commercial porolio. Financing and Capital Structure The Group adopts a prudent approach to leverage, with the aim that each asset will be nanced appropriately for the nature of its underlying cashows and their expected volality. Long-term debt may be used where appropriate at the SPV level to facilitate acquisions, renancing, capital expenditure or construcon of assets. Total long-term structural debt will not exceed 50% of the prevailing Gross Asset Value. At 31 December 2021, including project level nancing the Group’s leverage stood at 28.0%. Since the period end this has increased to 39%. In addion, the Company and/or its subsidiaries may also make use of short-term debt, such as a revolving credit facility, to assist with the acquision of suitable opportunies as and when they become available. Revolving Credit Facility The Group has entered into a loan agreement through its main subsidiary DORE Hold Co Limited for a £25 million RCF with Santander UK plc. The RCF has a four-year term, with the possibility to be extended for a further year, and also includes an uncommied accordion allowing for an increase in its size to further assist the expected increase of the Company’s investment acvity. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 47 The RCF has the addional benet of being able to be drawn in both GBP and EUR (with the ability to also able to make use of funds in other currencies) and is priced at the Sterling Overnight Index Average (“SONIA”) plus 2.25% per annum. The Group will make use of the RCF mainly to fund the acquision of addional assets. Renancing of Hydropower Assets The Group inially acquired DHAB, its Swedish hydropower porolio, on an unlevered basis in February 2021, shortly aer the Company’s IPO. In light of the strong transacon pipeline and ongoing capital expenditure requirements, DHAB has entered into a seven-year EUR 43.5 million debt facility with SEB, a leading corporate bank in the Nordics. As of 31 January 2022, DHAB had ulised EUR 27.4m of the facilies, predominately as source of funding for acquiring nine further hydropower plants in Sweden from AB Edsbyn Elverk and ÄSI Kra AB. The remainder of the undrawn facility is predominately to fund future capital expenditure requirements. Foreign Exchange The Group’s assets in Sweden earn revenues in EUR and incur operaonal cost in SEK. Assets in UK operate enrely in sterling. The Group, together with its foreign exchange advisor, has developed and implemented its foreign exchange risk management policy in line with the IPO Prospectus. The policy targets hedging the short to medium-term distribuons (up to ve years) from the porolio of assets, that are not denominated in GBP on a “linear reducing basis”, whereby a high proporon of expected distribuons in year one are hedged and the proporon of expected distribuons that are hedged reduces in a linear fashion over the following four years. This is a rolling programme and each year further hedges are expected to be put in place to maintain the prole. In total, 77% of the Group’s EUR dividend receipts from SPVs out to March 2026 were hedged as at the reporng date, meaning only a small poron of these future distribuons are subject to the volality of the spot prices. Power markets and exposure Through its porolio companies, the Group adopts a medium to long-term hedging policy for its generaon assets, providing an extra degree of certainty over the cash ows over the hedged periods. The xed price generaon posion for the porolio as of 31 December 2021 is set out in the chart below, showing the impact of the combinaon of subsidy and xed income from power sales. The hedging posions are connuously reviewed to ensure an appropriate posion is maintained and new hedges are taken out as appropriate. The Russian Conict will have a major impact on power prices in Europe and the UK as gas supply is dominated by Russia. Consequently, the UK gas and UK power markets are likely to stay volale as long as the uncertainty about the Russian gas supply connues. The Company is well protected from this volality, due its high level of xed pricing over the short to medium term, which can be seen on the chart below. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 48 United Kingdom From IPO in December 2020 through to the end of July 2021, forward power prices increased gradually mostly on the back of increasing carbon prices. In Q3 2021, global issues with coal and gas supply, combined with an increased demand, resulted in rising global gas (“LNG”) and coal prices. This combined with low wind levels, outages of domesc CCGTs and nuclear generaon, fears of wider issues with the nuclear eet in France and the unexpected long- term outage of one of the cross-border interconnectors between the UK and France created a perfect storm. High spot prices and high forward prices resulted. By then gas, power and carbon were now all in unprecedented levels relave to the last 10 years, with a signicant upli in September. Given the unprecedented high prices at the me, we took acon to increase the porolio’s hedges. Power prices peaked in October 2021 before declining on the back of falling gas prices. However, the bearish senment was short lived and prices recovered as carbon prices rose again. Escalang Russian acon in Ukraine and associated sancons, new carbon price records and French power supply concerns (with mulple French nuclear plants facing extended 10-year maintenance outages throughout 2022) pushed prices to unprecedented levels. 54,000.00 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 Merchant revenuesFixed revenues 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Power Prices – Fixed vs Merchant Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 49 Nordics Q4 of 2020 saw bearish senments in the Nordic electricity markets mostly due to reduced demand and a hydrological surplus, pushing spot prices to €0/MWh from me to me. Market prices increased during January 2021 due to a cold spell in the Nordics as well as connental Europe. Prices came down a lile aer the cold spell ended but stayed at healthier levels, compared to 2020, throughout the spring and early summer of 2021. Due to a dry summer, the Nordic hydrological decit connued to increase, which resulted in higher power prices by the end of summer 2021. High precipitaon combined with surging wind started to push down the spot and forward prices at the end of September 2021. By the beginning of November 2021, prices started to increase again mostly on the back of the price surge in the European connent due to increasing gas prices. Similar to the UK, the surge rst intensied and then ended in the week leading up to Christmas. At the end of December prices came o signicantly. Forward £/MWh Sport £/MWh UK Summer 23 £/MWH UK Spot £/MWH UK Summer 22 £/MWH UK Winter 22 £/MWH 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 1-Oct-20 1-Jan-221-Jan-21 1-Apr-21 1-Jul-21 1-Oct-21 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 50 Dividends The Company achieved a cash dividend cover of 1.21x for the dividends paid of 2.25 pence per share paid during the period. Dividend cover is presented excluding dividends paid to new shareholders immediately following the issuance of new shares. If these are included, the dividend cover would be 1.14x. The Board has resolved to pay the Company’s third interim dividend of 1.25 pence per share, equivalent to £1.7 million, in respect of the three months to 31 December 2021. This will bring total dividends paid in respect of the rst nancial year to 3.5 pence per share, which is in line with the Company’s updated dividend guidance. The third interim dividend is not reected in the accounts to 31 December 2021. The Company has chosen to designate part of each interim dividend as an interest distribuon for UK tax purposes. Shareholders in receipt of such a dividend will be treated for UK tax purposes as though they have received a payment of interest in respect of the interest distribuon element of this dividend. This will result in a reducon in the corporaon tax payable by the Company. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 Forward €/MWh Sport €/MWh 1-Oct-20 1-Jan-21 1-Apr-21 1-Jul-21 Nordic forward 2023 Nordic SpotNordic forward 2022 1-Oct-21 Dividends in respect of the nancial year to 31 December 2021 are as follows: Dividend Paid For the Period No. of Shares Total Dividend (pence per share) Interest Element (pence per share) Dividend Element (pence per share) September 2021 June 2021 122,500,000 1.00 0.50 0.50 December 2021 September 2021 137,0 0 8,487 1.25 0.81 0.44 March 2022 December 2021 137,0 0 8,487 1.25 0.83 0.42 The Company intends to pay dividends on a quarterly basis, with dividends typically declared in respect of the quarterly periods ending March, June, September and December. Payment of the relevant dividend declared is expected be made within three months of the relevant quarter end. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 51 120.1 (2.9) (1.3) 6.5 4.0 1.1 (0.7) 141.8 NAV (£'m) £115 £120 £125 £130 £135 £140 Opening (IPO) (10-Dec-2020) Management fee Other costs and charges Performance Future power prices Inflaon FX Other Closing 31-Dec-2021 £145 Dividend Fund Raising (0.9) 1.4 14.7 NAV Movement Bridge Valuaon of the porolio Net asset value The Company’s NAV increased by 18% during the period from £120.0 million to £141.8 million. On a pence per share basis it increased by 5.5 pence from 98 pence per share to 103.5 pence per share as at 31 December 2021. The NAV increase was driven by addional fundraising, strong operaonal performance and increases in long term power price forecasts. The bridge below shows the movement in NAV during the period, with each step explained further below. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 51 Opening Represents the NAV at IPO net of launch costs. Dividends Distribuons paid by the Company in the period. Management Fee Fees charged to the Company by the Investment Manager. Other costs and charges Charges incurred by the Company, and its immediate subsidiary DORE Hold Co, in its normal operaons. No transacon costs are included. Performance Represents the balance sheet variance at the porolio company level represenng higher cashows than ancipated in the short term. Power Prices The Group uses long-term, forward-looking power price forecasts from third party consultants for the purposes of asset valuaons. In both the UK and Sweden, an equal blend is taken from the most recent central case forecasts from two leading consultants. Where xed price arrangements are in place, the nancial model will reect this price for the relevant me frame. The impact of our short-term power hedging strategy is also included in this step. Inaon The Group uses a near-term inaon forecast of 2.75%, rising to a medium-term inaon forecast of 3.0% for the purposes of UK asset valuaons. From 2030 onwards, this forecast reduces to 2.25% because of the RPI reform recently announced by the UK Government. Models are updated quarterly to reect inaon to date. For the Swedish asset valuaons, a 2.0% inaon forecast is used, reecve of the Swedish central bank’s target inaon rate. Foreign Exchange The impact of foreign exchange movements on foreign cash balances and on underlying investment valuaons. Other Reects changes to operaonal contracts (such as insurance) and debt terms, and other minor changes. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 52 Key Valuaon Assumpons Asset life Where land is leased from an external landlord, the operaonal life assumed for the purposes of the asset valuaons is valued at the earlier of planning or lease expiry. Where a project has an indenite life, the land it is located on is owned and there are no constraints regarding planning, asset valuaons are based on a perpetual life. This is the basis for the valuaon of the hydropower assets. The asset life assumed for each of the ground mounted solar sites was set taking into consideraon the length of the respecve planning consent and term of leasing agreement in place at the me of acquision. On a capacity-weighted basis this results in an average asset life of close to 25 years. There is an ongoing process underway to extend planning and lease terms to allow the assets to operate for longer than inially expected. This project is expected to increase the weighted useful life of the ground mount porolio to 27.8 years. The extension to asset life assumpons to this level would, if implemented on 31 December 2021, result in a valuaon gain of approximately £1.1m. Discount Rates Discount rates used for the purpose of the valuaon process are representave of the Investment Manager’s and the Board’s assessment of the rate of return in the market for assets with similar characteriscs and risk prole. Discount rates in use across the porolio range from 5.5% to 7.5%, with the weighted value at 7.3%. Foreign Exchange Cashows from assets that are generated in a non-sterling currency are converted in each period they are earned using the actual hedges in place, with the residual amounts converted at the relevant exchange rate. The relevant exchange rate is taken from a forward curve provided by the Company’s foreign exchange advisors for ten years, at which point the exchange rate is held constant due to the impraccalies of hedging currency further into the future. Porolio Valuaon sensivies The NAV of the Company is comprised of the sum of the discounted value of future cash ows of the underlying investments in solar and hydropower assets (being the porolio valuaon), the cash balances of the Company and its holding Company and the other assets and liabilies of the Group. The porolio valuaon is the largest component of the NAV and the key sensivies to this valuaon are considered to be discount rate and the principal assumpons used in respect of future revenues and costs. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 53 A broad range of assumpons are used in the Company’s valuaon models. These assumpons are based on long-term forecasts and are generally not aected by short-term uctuaons in inputs, whether economic or technical. The Investment Manager exercises its judgement and uses its experience in assessing the expected future cash ows from each investment. The impact of changes in the key drivers of the valuaon are set out below. Discount Rate The weighted average discount rate of the porolio at 31 December 2021 was 7.3%. The Investment Manager considers a variance of plus or minus 0.5% is to be a reasonable range of alternave assumpons for discount rates. Energy Yield For the solar assets, our underlying assumpon set assumes the so called P50 level of electricity output based on reports by technical advisors. The P50 output is the esmated annual amount of electricity generaon that has a 50% probability of being exceeded and a 50% probability of being underachieved. For hydropower assets, the expected annual aver a g e p ro d u c  on is a p p l ie d t o t he v a l u a o n , similar to the P50 assumpon applied to solar and wind assets. Given the long operaonal record of the hydropower assets, the annual producon forecast is derived from historic datasets and validated by technical advisors. The Energy Yield sensivies uses a variance of plus or minus 5% applied to the generaon. Power Prices The power price sensivity assumes a 10% increase or decrease in power prices relave to the base case for each year of the asset life. While power markets can experience volality in excess of +/-10% on a short-term basis, the sensivity is intended to provide insight into the eect on the NAV of persistently higher or lower power prices 54,000.00 (8.00) (6.00) (4.00) (2.00) 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 Discount rate (+/- 0.5%) Inflation (+/- 0.5%) Power Prices (+/- 10%) Energy Yield (+/-5%) Solar Energy Yield (+/- 5%) Hydro FX (+/- 10%) NAV Movement (PPS) Positive directional change to assumption Negative directional change to assumption Sensitivities Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 54 over the whole life of the porolio, which is a more severe downside scenario. Inaon The Company’s inaon assumpons are set out above. A long-term inaon sensivity of plus and minus 0.5% is presented below. Foreign Exchange The Company’s foreign exchange policy is set out above. A sensivity of plus and minus 10% is applied to any non-hedged cashows derived from non-sterling assets. The Company will also try to ensure sucient near-term distribuons from any non-sterling investments are hedged. Market development and opportunies Since the IPO of the Company, the demand for electricity around the globe has connued to grow, this has pushed energy prices to unprecedented levels. According to the IEA, global electricity demand grew by more than 6% in 2021 and was the largest in percentage terms since 2010 13 . Although electricity produced from renewable sources grew by 6% in 2021, this was not enough to keep up with the rising demand. There is clearly sll work to be done. The Investment Manager is progressing a signicant pipeline of opportunies across technologies / sectors including wind, solar, hydro and ulies. The geographical focus of the opportunies in progress is the Nordic region and the UK, with certain further opportunies across Northern Europe. A key message coming out of the pandemic has been that governments connue to look to “build back beer” following the uncertainty of the previous years, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This year the UK played host to COP26, which has raised the global ambion on climate acon. The outlook connues to remain favourable for companies involved in the renewable energy and infrastructure space. In 2021, the renewable energy industry remained remarkably resilient. Decreasing costs of renewable energy technologies, along with the growth of baery storage, have made renewables one of the most compeve energy sources in many areas. Following COP26 many countries have set ambious clean energy goals, increasing renewable porolio standards with many also enacng energy storage mandates. The rollout of renewable energy capacity is poised to accelerate in 2022 and beyond, as concern for climate change grow and demand for cleaner energy sources from most market segments accelerates. The outlook for the Company is encouraging; three new acquisions already made in 2022 (including the Company’s rst wind asset) and proven operaonal and nancial performance from the Company’s exisng assets provide a strong foundaon for future growth. 13 Surging electricity demand is pung power systems under strain around the world - News - IEA Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 55 Section 172(1) Statement The following disclosure describes how the Directors have had regard to the maers set out in secon 172(1)(a) to (f) when performing their duty under s172 of the Companies Act 2006 and forms the Directors’ statement required under secon 414CZA of the Companies Act 2006. Secon 172(1) Descripon (a) the likely consequences of any decision in the long term In managing the Company, the aim of the Board and of the Investment Manager is to ensure the long-term sustainable success of the Company and, therefore, the likely long‑term consequences of any decision are a key consideraon. In managing the Company during the period since IPO, the Board and Investment Manager believe they have acted in the way which we considered, in good faith, with a view to promong the Company’s long‑term sustainable success and to achieving its wider objecves for the benet of our shareholders as a whole, having had regard to our wider stakeholders and the other maers set out in Secon 172 of the Companies Act. (b) the interests of the company’s Employees As a closed-ended investment company, the Company does not have any employees, however the interests of any employees within project companies are considered when making decisions. (c) the need to foster the company’s business relaonships with suppliers, customers and others The Board’s approach is described under ‘Stakeholder Engagement’ below. (d) the impact of the company’s operaons on the community and the environment The Board places a high value on the monitoring of ESG issues and sets the overall strategy for ESG maers related to the Company. The Board takes responsibility in managing any climate-related risks for the group, including transparent disclosure of these risks, and takes migang acons to reduce or eliminate them where possible. A descripon of the Company’s sustainable and responsible Investment Policy is set out on pages 10 to 16. (e) the desirability of the company maintaining a reputaon for high standards of business conduct The Board’s approach is described under ‘Culture and Values’ below. (f) the need to act fairly as between members of the company The Board’s approach is described under ‘Stakeholder Engagement’ below. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 56 Culture and Values The Directors’ overarching duty is to promote the success of the Company for the benet of investors, with due consideraon of other stakeholders’ interests. The Company seeks to maintain the highest standards of business conduct and corporate governance and ensures via the Investment Manager that appropriate oversight, control and suitable policies are in place to ensure the Company treats its stakeholders fairly. The Board seeks to ensure the alignment of its purpose, values and strategy with this culture of openness, debate and integrity through connued dialogue and engagement with its key stakeholders. The Board, made up of two male and one female members, aims to achieve a supporve business culture combined with construcve challenge and to provide a regular ow of informaon to shareholders and other stakeholders. Although the Company has no employees, the Company is commied to respecng human rights in its broader relaonships. Both the Company and the Investment Manager have an‑corrupon and bribery policies in place in order to maintain standards of business integrity, a commitment to truth and fair dealing and a commitment to complying with all applicable laws and regulaons. The Company has several policies and procedures in place to assist with maintaining a culture of good governance including those relang to diversity, anbribery (including the acceptance of gis and hospitality), tax evasion, conicts of interest, and Directors’ dealings in the Company’s shares. Further informaon can be seen in the Nominaon Commiee Report on page 82. The Board assesses and monitors compliance with these policies regularly through Board meengs and the annual evaluaon process. The Board seeks to appoint the most appropriate service providers for the Company’s needs and evaluates their services on a regular basis. The Board considers the culture of the Investment Manager and other service providers through regular reporng and by receiving regular informaon well as through ad hoc interacons. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 57 Stakeholder Engagement This secon describes how the Board engages with its key stakeholders, how it considers their interests and the outcome of the engagement when making its decisions, the likely consequences of any decision in the long-term, and further ensures that it maintains a reputaon for high standards of business conduct. Stakeholder Why is it Important to Engage? How has the Company communicated and engaged? What were the key topics of engagement? Key strategic decisions impacng stakeholder group during period Shareholders Shareholders and their connued support is crical to the connuing existence of the business and delivery of our long-term investment strategy. The Company makes regular market announcements where appropriate. The Company has published quarterly fact sheets available on the Company’s website. Views and feedback are sought from instuonal investors via the Company’s corporate broker. A large number of investor meengs were held prior to IPO in December 2020 and in respect of the subsequent fundraising in October 2021 to engage shareholders with the Company’s strategy. The Company made two acquisions during the period which should be accreve to the NAV over the long-term. The Company increased its annual dividend guidance to 5 pence per share, connuing to posion the Company as an aracve proposion for income seeking investors. Investment Manager The Investment Manager is responsible for execung the Investment Objecve within the bounds of the Investment Policy of the Company. The Board maintains regular and open dialogue with the Investment Manager at Board meengs and has regular contact on operaonal and investment maers outside of meengs. In addion to all maers related to the execuon of the Company’s Investment Objecve, the Board engaged with the Investment Manager on the structure of the Group and the interpretaon of investment restricons. Determinaon that the Investment Manager maintains a robust internal control environment, and that the connued appointment of the Investment Manager is in the best interests of shareholders. Service providers As an externally managed Company, we are reliant on our service providers to conduct our core acvies. We believe that fostering construcve and collaborave relaonships with our service providers will assist in the promoon of the success of the Company. The Board maintains regular contact with its service providers, both through Board and Commiee meengs, as well as outside the regular meeng cycle. The Management Engagement Commiee is responsible for conducng periodic reviews of service providers. During the period, the Management Engagement Commiee assessed that the connued appointment of all service providers remained in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Being the inaugural annual report for the Company the Audit and Risk Commiee, in parcular the Chair, have been engaged with the external auditors to ensure the process was undertaken eecvely. The Board sought advice from the Company’s Broker and Legal Counsel in respect of various maers, including the interpretaon of investment restricons. Key service providers have been retained, providing connuity of service and familiarity with the objecves of the Company. During period, there was a non-material amendment to the Investment Policy. For the purpose of acquiring the solar assets, the Company’s Investment Policy was temporarily amended to permit the Company to invest no more than 61% of Gross Asset Value in assets located in the UK. The previous limit was 60%. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 58 Stakeholder Why is it Important to Engage? How has the Company communicated and engaged? What were the key topics of engagement? Key strategic decisions impacng stakeholder group during period Asset-level counterpares Asset‑level counterpares are an essenal stakeholder group and engagement with them is important to ensure assets are operang safely and eecvely and performing as expected. The Group made its rst investment on 1 February 2021. As a result, during the reporng period communicaons with asset‑level counterpares have been limited. As part of connual monitoring of future investments, we expect a regular dialogue w i t h t h e s e c o u n t e r p a r  e s . The key engagement with asset‑level counterpares was during the due diligence process prior to compleng the investment. Acquired two new assets during the period, increasing ongoing servicing requirements from O&M counterpares. Debt-providers Providers of long-term debt are key to supporng the Company’s long- term objecves through enabling the connued nancing of investment opportunies. During the period, the Company, via its unconsolidated subsidiaries, entered into an RCF and also renanced its hydropower assets. This included a comprehensive negoaon of terms. The Company and its unconsolidated subsidiaries provide regular updates on covenant compliance and current posioning. Pricing and sizing of the debt was a key consideraon for the Company. Debt will be a key component of the Company’s funding strategy looking forward and the porolio will ulise the RCF debt facility in the coming months. Following the period end, the hydropower level debt was ulised to acquire further hydropower assets. More informaon on these acquisions can be found on pages 40 and 41. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 59 Risks and Risk Management The Board recognises that eecve risk management is key to the Group’s success and that a proacve approach is crical to ensuring the sustainable growth and resilience of the Group. Risk is described as the potenal for events to occur that may result in damage, liability or loss. Should any of these events occur, the Company may well be adversely impacted, potenally leading to the disrupon of the Company’s business model, as well as potenal damage to the reputaon or nancial standing of the Company. The benet of a risk management framework is that it allows for potenal risks to be idened in advance and may enable these risks to either be migated or possibly even converted into opportunies. The Company’s IPO Prospectus, issued in November 2020 detailed the potenal risks that the Directors considered were material that could occur during the process of implemenng the Company’s Investment Policy. Principal Risks and Uncertaines Procedures to idenfy principal or emerging risks It is not possible to eliminate all risks that may be faced by the Company. The objecve of the Company’s risk management framework and policies adopted by the Company is to idenfy risks and enable the Board to respond to risks with migang acons to reduce the potenal impacts should any of the risks materialise. The Board, through the Audit and Risk Commiee, regularly reviews the Company’s risk register, with a focus on ensuring appropriate controls are in place to migate each risk. Taking considered risk is the essence of all business and investment acvity. The Board considers the following to be the principal risks faced by the Company along with the potenal impact of these risks and the steps taken to migate them. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 60 Risk Idened Risk Descripon Risk Impact Migaon Exposure to wholesale electricity prices and risk to hedging power prices The Company makes investments in Assets with revenue exposure to wholesale electricity prices. The market price of electricity is volale and is aected by a variety of factors, including market demand for electricity, levels of electricity generaon, the generaon mix of power plants, government support f or v a r i o u s fo r m s of p o we r g e n e r a  o n and uctuaons in the market prices of commodies and foreign exchange. Market demand for electricity can be impacted by many factors, including changes in consumer demand paerns, increased usage of smart grids, a rise in demand for electric vehicle charging capacity and residenal parcipaon in renewable energy generaon. Such changing dynamics could have a material adverse eect on the Company’s protability, the NAV and the price of the Ordinary Shares. To the extent that the Company or an SP V enters contract s to x the price it receives on the electricity generated or enters into derivaves with a view to hedging against uctuaons in power prices, the Company or SPV, may be exposed to risk related to delivering an amount of electricity over a specic period. I f th e r e a r e pe r i o d s o f n o n ‑ p r o d u c  o n the Company or an SPV may need to pay the dierence between the price it has sold the power at and the market price at that me. The Investment Manager closely monitors exposure to power price movements. Sensivity to long term forecasts will be disclosed to investors and the Board on a regular basis. Many assets are expected to have a signicant proporon of revenue that is not linked to power price forecasts including subsidies such as feed-in- taris. In addion, assets are geographically diverse, spreading exposure across dierent power markets and price drivers. Short‑ and medium‑term exposure to power prices will be managed by locking power prices on a rolling basis. See chart on page 48 for an illustraon of the porolio’s current xed vs merchant revenues. Exposure to the transaconal eects of foreign exchange rate uctuaons and risks of foreign exchange hedging To the extent the Company invests in non‑sterling jurisdicons, it may be exposed to foreign exchange risk caused by uctuaons in the value of foreign currencies when the net income and valuaons of those operaons in non‑Sterling jurisdicons are translated into Sterling for the purposes of nancial reporng. While the Company and SPVs may enter derivave transacons to hedge such foreign exchange rate exp osures , th ere c an be no guar antee that the Company and/or SPVs will be able to, or will elect to, hedge such exposures, or that were entered into, will be successful. The Company and/or SPVs may be required to sasfy margin calls in respect of hedges and in certain circumstances may not have such collateral readily available. In these circumstances, the Company could be forced to sell an Asset or borrow further funds to meet a margin call or take a loss on a posi on. To the ex tent that the Company and/or SPVs do rely on derivave instruments to hedge exposure to exchange rate uctuaons, they will also be subject to counterparty risk. Any failure by a hedging counterparty to discharge its obligaons could have a material adverse eect on the Company’s protability, the NAV and the price of the Ordinary Shares. Natural hedging of foreign exchange exposure will occur due to an element of costs and debt (for capital structuring purposes) being linked to the local currency. The Company will hedge expected income from foreign assets up to ve years in advance. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 61 Risk Idened Risk Descripon Risk Impact Migaon Non-compliance with the investment trust eligibility condions under secons S1158/ S1159 of the CTA 2010 As an approved investment trust, the Company is exempt from UK corporaon tax on its chargeable gains and capital prots on loan relaonships. If the Company fails to maintain its investment trust status from HMRC, in such circumstances, the Company would be subject to the normal rates of corporaon tax on chargeable gains and capital prots arising on the transfer or disposal of investments and other assets. Which coul d ad ver sel y a ec t the Com pany ’s nancial performance, its ability to provide returns to its Shareholders or the post‑tax returns received by its Shareholders. The Company has contracted out the relevant monitoring to appropriately qualied professionals. The Investment Manager also monitors relevant qualifying condions. The Investment Manager and the Company Secretary report on regulatory maers to the Board on a quarterly basis. The assessment of regulatory risks forms part of the Board’s risk management framework. Construcon risks for certain renewable energy projects SPVs may undertake projects that are in the Construcon Phase or are construcon ready which may be exposed to certain risks, such as cost overruns, construcon delays and construcon defects that may be outside the Company’s control. Should compleon of any project overrun (both in terms of me and budget), there is a risk that payments may be required to be made to (or withheld by) a counterparty in rel a on to th e d el ay. If the c om p le o n of a project overruns, it would also result in a delayed start to receipt of revenues, which could aect the Company’s ability to achieve its target returns, depending on the nature and scale of such delay. Addional costs and expenses, delays in construcon or carrying out repairs, failure to meet technical requirements, lack of warranty cover and/or consequenal operaonal failures or malfuncons may have a material adverse eect on the Company’s protability, the NAV and the price of the ordinary shares. The Investment Manager will monitor construcon carefully and report frequently to the Board and AIFM. The Investment Manager has an experienced asset management team including technical experts to oversee construcon projects. The Investment Manager will undertake an extensive due diligence process prior to investment with input from the Board (including technical experse). Third party experts will be used as required to enhance knowledge and experience. Reliance on third- party service providers The Company, whose Board is non‑execuve, and which has no employees, is reliant upon the performance of third-party service providers for its execuve funcon. The Company relies on the Investment Manager and other s er v ic e pr ov i d e r s a n d t h e ir r ep u t a  on in the energy and infrastructure market. The third-party provider may prove to be insuciently skilled for the role or perform the roles required to an inadequate level, which may cause the Company to underperform, to breach regulaons, or in extremis to go into administraon. There are clear service level agreements in place for all third-party providers and provisions are in place that any provider can be replaced, subject to an inial term or a breach of the agreement occurring. They have all been chosen for being skilled and experienced in their areas of experse. The Board has regular oversight over all the other providers. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 62 Risk Idened Risk Descripon Risk Impact Migaon Lack of availability of suitable renewable energy projects Compeon for renewable energy projects in the primary investment or secondary investment markets, may result in the Company being unable to make investments or on terms that enable the target returns to be delivered. If the Investment Manager is unable to source sucient opportunies within a reasonable meframe, whether by reason of fundamental change in market condions creang lack of available opportunies, too much compeon or otherwise. A greater proporon of the Company’s assets will be held in cash for longer than ancipated and the Company’s ability to achieve its Investment Objecve may be adversely aected. The Company has an Investment Manager in place with a strong track record, who strengthened their team ahead of the fund launch. Through extensive industry relaonships the Investment Manager provides access to a signicant pipeline of investment opportunies. Conicts of interest The Investment Manager and the AIFM may manage from me‑to‑ me other managed Funds pursuing similar investment strategies to that of the Company and which may be in compeon with the Company. The appointment of the AIFM is on a non‑exclusive basis and each of the AIFM and Investment Manager manages other accounts, vehicles and funds pursuing similar investment strategies to that of the Company. This has the potenal to give rise to conicts of interest. The Company may also be in compeon with other Downing Managed Funds for Assets. In relaon to the allocaon of investment opportunies. The AIFM and the Investment Manager have clear conicts of interest and allocaon policies in place. Transacons where it is perceived that there may be potenal conicts of interest are overseen by the Investment Manager’s Conicts Commiee, an independent fairness opinion on valuaon may also be commissioned where deemed necessary. The applicaon of allocaon policy is reviewed by the Investment Managers Compliance Department, and by the Board on annual basis. Further informaon on these procedures can be found in the Company’s Prospectus dated 12 November 2020. Risks relang to the technical performance of assets The long-term performance of the assets acquired does not match the expectaons at the me of the acquision. Incorrect assumpons against technical performance of assets, or the availability of natural resources may lead to addional costs and expenses, carrying out repairs, or reduced revenues. Any delays or reducon in the producon or supply of energy may have a material adverse eect on the performance of the Company, the NAV, the Company’s earnings and returns to shareholders. The Company will appoint third party technical advisors for every transacon. The advisors will undertake a review of the technology, design, installaon (if applicable), and natural resource availability and provide an analysis of expected long term generaon yields. Where Assets are going through construcon, appropriate contractual guarantees will be provided. Operators will oen provide guarantees as to the availability or performance of Assets. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 63 Risk Idened Risk Descripon Risk Impact Migaon Counterpares’ ability to make contractual payments The Company’s revenue derives from the renewable energy projects in the porolio, the Company and its SPVs will be exposed to the nancial strength of the counterpares to such projects and their ability to meet their ongoing contractual payment obligaons. The failure by a counterparty to pay the contractual payments due, or the early terminaon of a PPA by an Oaker due to insolvency, may materially aect the value of the porolio and could have a material adverse eect on the performance of the Company, the NAV, the Company’s earnings and returns to shareholders. The Investment Manager will look to build in suitable mechanisms to protect the income stream from the relevant renewable energy projects, which may include parent guarantees and liquidated damages payments on terminaon. Exposure to defaults may be further migated by contracng with counterpares who are public sector or quasi-public sector bodies or who are able to draw upon government subsidies to partly fund contractual payments. As part of the acquision process, the Investment Manager conducts a thorough due diligence process on all projects. Risks associated with Cyber Security There exists an increasing threat of cyber‑aack in which a hacker may aempt to access the Company’s website or its secure data, or the computer systems that relate to one of its Assets and aempt to either destroy or use this data for malicious purposes. Increased regulaon, laws, rules and standards related to cyber security, could impact the Company’s reputaon or result in nancial loss through the imposion of nes. Suering a cyber breach will also generally incur costs associated with repairing aected systems, networks and devices. If one or several Assets became the subject of a successful cyber‑aack, to the extent any loss or disrupon following from such aack would not be covered or migated by any of the Company’s insurance policies, such loss or disrupon could have an adverse eec t on the per formance of the aected Asset and consequently on the Company’s protability, the NAV and the price of the Ordinary Shares. Cyber security policies and procedures implemented by key service providers are reported to the Board regularly to ensure conformity. Thorough third- party due diligence is carried out on all suppliers engaged to service the Company. All providers have processes in place to idenfy cyber security risks and apply and monitor appropriate risk plans. Further nancial risks are detailed in Note 16 of the nancial statements. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 64 Emerging Risks Emerging risks are characterised by a degree of uncertainty, therefore the Investment Manager and the Board consider new and emerging risks every six months. The risk register is then updated to include these consideraons. The Board has a process in place to idenfy emerging risks, such as climate related risks, and to determine whether any acons are required. The Board relies on regular reports provided by the Investment Manager and the Administrator regarding risks that the Company faces. When required, experts are employed to provide further advice, including tax and legal advisers. Climate Change Environmental laws and regulaons connue to evolve as the UK, Europe and the rest of the world connue to focus their eorts on the goals laid out by the Paris Agreement. In jurisdicons where the Company’s Assets are located, newly implemented laws and/or regulaons may have an impact on a given Asset’s acvies. These laws may impose liability whether or not the owner or operator of the Assets knew of or was responsible. There can be no assurance that environmental costs and liabilies will not be incurred in the future. In a d di  o n , e n v i ro n m e n t a l r e g u l a to r s m a y s e e k to impose injuncons or other sancons on an Asset’s operaons that may have a material adverse eect on its nancial c o n d i  o n a n d v a l u a  o n . C l i m a t e c h a n g e m a y also have other wide-ranging impacts such as an increased likelihood of market reform, insurance coverage availability and cost. Climate change may also lead to increased variability in average weather paerns such as periods of increased or reduced wind speeds or rainfall as well as extreme events which may aect the performance of the Company’s investments. Physical Eects of Climate Change While eorts to migate climate change connue to progress, the physical impacts are already emerging in the form of changing weather paerns. Such as the recent heatwaves experienced in North America and recent ash ooding seen throughout the UK and Europe. Extreme weather events can result in ooding, drought, res and storm damage, which may potenally impair the operaons of e x isn g a nd fut u re po r o lio com p ani e s at a certain locaon or impacng locaons of companies within their supply chain. Transion Risks Much of the conversaon around climate change focuses on environmental impacts, such as rising temperatures and extreme weather events. A big part of climate risk, however, involves transion risk – or the risk that results from changing policies, pracces, and technologies that arise as countries and sociees work to decrease their reliance on carbon. In the near and medium term, transion risks to porolio investments may arise from any unexpected changes to exisng government policies. An increase in renewables build‑out ambion without sucient demand could reduce power price forecasts. This could have a negave impact on the valuaon of the Company’s assets. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 65 Going Concern and Viability Statement Going Concern The Board, in its consideraon of the going concern posion of the Company, has reviewed comprehensive cash ow forecasts prepared by the Company’s Investment Manager which are based on market data and believes, based on those forecasts, the assessment of the Company’s subsidiary’s banking facilies and the assessment of the principal risks described in this report, that it is appropriate to prepare the nancial statements of the Company on the going concern basis. In arriving at their conclusion that the Company has adequate nancial resources, the Directors were mindful that the Group had cash of £33 million as at 31 December 2021, though £39.9 million has been spent on new acquisions since the reporng date. The Group ulised EUR 27.4 million of its facility with SEB to help fund the addional hydropower acquisions. There is EUR 16.1 million remaining of this facility. Through its main subsidiary, DORE Hold Co Limited, the Company has access to an undrawn RCF which is available for either, new investments or investment in exisng projects and working capital. The RCF is currently undrawn. The Company’s net assets at 31 December 2021 were £141.8 million and total expenses for the period ended 31 December 2021 were £2.2 million, which represented approximately 1.6% of average net assets during the period. In light of the ongoing COVID‑19 pandemic the Directors have fully considered each of the Company’s investments. Given the nature of the Company’s porolio, the Directors do not foresee any immediate material risk to the Company’s investment porolio and income from underlying SPVs. The Directors are sased that the Company has sucient resources to connue to operate for the foreseeable future, a period of not less than 12 months from the date of this report. Accordingly, they connue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these nancial statements. Viability Statement In accordance with Principle 21 of the AIC Code, the Board has assessed the prospects of the Group over a period longer than 12 months required by the relevant ’Going Concern’ provisions. In reviewing the Company’s viability, the Directors have assessed the viability of the Company for the period to 31 December 2026 (the ‘Period’). The Board believes that the Period, being approximately ve years, is an appropriate me horizon over which to assess the viability of the Company, parcularly when taking into account the long term nature of the Company’s investment strategy, which is modelled over ve years, and the principal risks outlined above. Based on this assessment, the Directors have a reasonable expectaon that the Company will be able to connue to operate and to meet its Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 66 liabilies as they fall due over the period to 31 December 2026. In making this statement, the Directors have considered and challenged the reports of the Investment Manager in relaon to the resilience of the Group, taking account of its current posion, the principal risks faced in severe but reasonable scenarios, including a stressed scenario, the eecveness of any migang acons and the Group’s risk appete. Sensivity analysis has been undertaken to consider the potenal impacts of such risks on the business model, future performance, solvency and liquidity over the period, both on an individual and combined basis. In parcular, this has considered the achievement of budgeted energy yields, the level of future electricity and gas prices, connued government support for renewable energy subsidy payments and the impact of a downside scenario which includes signicant reducon of projects’ yields under severe power price and generaon volume assumpons. The Directors have determined that a ve‑year look forward to December 2026 is an appropriate period over which to provide its viability statement. This is consistent with the outlook period used in medium-term forecasts regularly prepared for the Board by the Investment Manager and the discussion of any new strategies undertaken by the Board in its normal course of business. These reviews consider both the market opportunity and the associated risks, principally the ability to raise third-party funds and invest capital, or migang acons taken, such as a reducon of dividends paid to shareholders or ulisaon of addional borrowings available under the RCF. Board approval of the Strategic Report The Strategic Report has been approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by the Chair. Hugh W M Lile Chair 4 March 2022 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 67 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 68 Hugh W M Lile Chair Hugh qualied as a chartered accountant in 1982. In 1987 he joined Aberdeen Asset Management (“AAM”) and from 1990 to 2006 oversaw the growth of the private equity business before moving into the corporate team as Head of Acquisions. Hugh rered from AAM in 2015. Since then, he has become chair of Drum Income Plus REIT PLC and CLAN Cancer Support, a Director of Dark Maer Disllers Limited, and a governor of both Robert Gordon University and Robert Gordon’s College. Hugh won the ‘Non-Execuve Director of the Year’ award at the Instute of Directors, Scotland awards ceremony held in 2019. Hugh was appointed as a Director of the Company on 28 October 2020. Joanna de Montgros Non-execuve Director Joanna is a specialist in the technical and commercial elements of energy projects, with 20 years’ experience in renewable energy and exibility investments, building on her academic engineering background. In 2015, Joanna co-founded internaonal consultancy company Everoze. Everoze provides a broad range of engineering and strategic consulng services, plus incubaon and development of other start-ups in this space. Prior to co-founding Everoze, Joanna led the global Project Engineering group within DNV Renewables and was a member of the DNV Renewable Advisory Board. Joanna’s early career included management consultancy (PWC) and project nance (Fors Bank). Jo was appointed as a Director of the Company on 28 October 2020. Ashley Paxton Non-execuve Director Ashley has 25 years’ experience serving the funds and nancial services industry in London and Guernsey. Throughout that period, he has served a large number of London listed fund boards on IPOs and other capital market transacons, audit and other corporate governance maers. Ashley was a partner with KPMG in the Channel Islands (“C.I.”) from 2002 and transioned from audit to become its C.I. Head of Advisory in 2008, a posion he held through to his rerement from the rm in 2019. Ashley is a Fellow of the Instute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a resident of Guernsey. Amongst other appointments he serves on the board of JZ Capital Partners Limited, Twentyfour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited and is Chairman of the Youth Commission for Guernsey & Alderney, a locally based charity delivering high quality targeted services to children and young people to support the development of their social, physical and emoonal wellbeing. Ashley was appointed as a Director of the Company on 28 October 2020. Board of Directors Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 69 The Directors of the Company are pleased to present their report for the period ended 31 December 2021. Directors The Directors who held oce during the year and as at the date of this report are detailed on page 68. Details of the Directors’ terms of appointment can be found in the corporate governance statement and the Directors’ remuneraon report. Share Capital At the general meeng held on 26 October 2020, the Company was granted authority to allot up to 200 million ordinary shares, such authority to expire immediately following admission of the Company’s ordinary shares to trading on the premium segment of the main market of the London Stock Exchange at IPO (“Admission”). On 10 December 2020, the Company issued 122,500,000 ordinary shares at a price of 100 pence per share, with an aggregate nominal value of £1,225,000, raising gross proceeds of £122,500,000. The shares were issued to instuonal and retail investors and admied to trading on the premium segment of the main market of the London Stock Exchange on 10 December 2020. As a consequence of the above and as at the date of this report, the Company’s ability to allot shares under this authority has been exhausted. In addion to and separate from the above authority, at the general meeng held on 26 October 2020, the Company was granted authority to allot ordinary shares and/or C shares of the Company equal in aggregate to 20% of the number of ordinary shares in issue immediately following Admission, amounng to 24,500,000 shares, such authority to expire on conclusion of the Company’s rst AGM. On 19 October 2021, the Company issued 14,508,487 ordinary shares at a price of 102.5 pence per share, with an aggregate nominal value of £145,084.87, raising gross proceeds of £14.87 million. The placing price of 102.50 pence represented a discount of 1.68% to the Company’s closing share price of 104.25 pence per share on 28 September 2021 and a premium of 3.33% to the unaudited ex-dividend net asset value per share as at 30 June 2021. The shares were issued to instuonal and retail investors and admied to trading on the premium segment of the main market of the London Stock Exchange on 10 December 2020. As at 31 December 2021 and the date of this report, the Company has the ability to issue a further 9,991,513 ordinary and/or C shares under this authority. This authority will expire at the conclusion of, and renewal will be sought at, the AGM to be held in April 2022. At the general meeng held on 26 October 2020, the Company was granted authority to purchase up to 14.99% of the ordinary shares in issue immediately following Admission, amounng to 18,362,750 ordinary shares. This authority will expire at the conclusion of, and renewal will be sought at, the AGM to be held in April 2022. Shares bought back by the Company may be held in treasury, from where they could be reissued at or above the prevailing NAV quickly and cost eecvely. This provides the Company with addional exibility in the management of its capital base. No shares were bought back or held in treasury during the period under review or at the period end. At the period end and at the date of this report, the issued share capital of the Company comprised 137,008,487 ordinary shares. At general meengs of the Company, ordinary shareholders are entled to one vote on a show of hands and, on a poll, to one vote for every ordinary share held. At 31 December 2021 and at the date of this report, the total vong rights of the Company were 137,008,487. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 70 Directors’ Report 3 The dividend targets stated above are targets only and not prot forecasts. There can be no assurance that these targets will be met, or that the Company will make any distribuons at all and they should not be taken as an indicaon of the Company’s expected future results. Substanal Shareholdings The Directors have been informed of the following noable interests in the Company’s vong rights as at the date of this report: Shareholder Number of Ordinary Shares % of Total Vong Rights Bagnall Energy Limited 23,902,437 17.45 T Choithram & Sons Ltd (UK) 10,000,000 7.3 0 South Yorkshire Pensions Authority 5,000,000 3.65 Schng Juridisch Eigendom Privium Sustainable Impact Fund 4,500,000 3.28 The Company has not been informed of any changes to the noable interests between 31 December 2021 and the date of this report. Informaon About Securies Carrying Vong Rights The following informaon is disclosed in accordance with The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulaons 2008 and DTR 7.2.6 of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules: • the Company’s capital structure and vong rights and details of the substanal shareholders in the Company are set out above; • proposals to grant powers to the Board to issue and buy back the Company’s shares will be set out in the noce of AGM; and • there are no restricons concerning the transfer of securies in the Company or on vong rights, no special rights with regard to control aached to securies and no agreements between holders of securies regarding their transfer known to the Company. Dividends and Dividend Policy Dividends paid in respect of the period ended 31 December 2021 are set out on in note 20 to the nancial statements. The Company pays dividends on a quarterly basis. The Company may, where the Directors consider it appropriate, use the special distributable reserve created by the cancellaon of its Share premium account to pay dividends. Distribuons made by the Company may take either the form of dividend income, or of “qualifying interest income” which may be designated as interest distribuons for UK tax purposes. At IPO, the Company targeted an inial dividend yield of 3% by reference to the Issue Price in respect of the calendar year to 31 December 2021, rising to a target dividend yield of 5% by reference to the Issue Price, in respect of the calendar year to 31 December 2022. On 2 September 2021, the Company announced that, following the rapid deployment of the IPO proceeds, it was increasing its dividend guidance. Following payment of the rst interim dividend of 1 pence per share for the period to 30 June 2021, the Company intends to increase the dividend to 5 pence for the year to 30 June 2022 (represenng a dividend per share of 1.25 pence for the quarter ending September 2021 and thereaer) 3 . Signicant Agreements During the period under review, the Company entered, via wholly owned subsidiaries, into two separate loan facility agreements: a £25 million Revolving Credit Facility (“RCF”) with Santander UK plc and a seven-year EUR 43.5 million debt facility with SEB for its Swedish hydropower assets. DORE Hold Co Limited has entered into a loan agreement for a £25 million RCF with Santander UK plc. The RCF has a four-year term, with the possibility to be extended for a further year, and includes an uncommied accordion allowing for an increase in its size to further assist the expected increase of the Group’s investment acvity. The RCF can be drawn in GBP and EUR (and also able to make use of funds in other currencies) and is priced at the Sterling Overnight Index Average (“SONIA”) plus 2.25%. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 71 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 72 The Group inially acquired Downing Hydro AB (“DHAB”), its Swedish hydropower porolio, on an unlevered basis shortly aer the Company’s IPO in December 2020. DHAB has a seven-year EUR 43.5 million debt facility with SEB. Both loan facility agreements could alter or terminate on the change of control of the Company. Further details regarding the principal agreements between the Company and its service providers, including the Investment Manager, are set out in note 4 to the nancial statements. Financial Risk Management Informaon about the Company’s nancial risk management objecves and policies is set out in note 16 to the nancial statements. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures Informaon about the Group’s GHG emissions and the Company’s reporng against the TCFD recommendaons is set out in the strategic report on pages 17 to 25. Requirements of the Lisng Rules Lisng Rule 9.8.4 requires the Company to include specied informaon in a single idenable secon of the annual report or a cross reference table indicang where the informaon is set out. The informaon required under Lisng Rule 9.8.4(7) in relaon to allotments of shares is set out on page 70. The Directors conrm that no addional disclosures are required in relaon to Lisng Rule 9.8.4. Audit Informaon The Directors holding oce at the date of this annual report conrm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit informaon of which the Company’s Auditor is unaware. Each Director has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a Director to make themselves aware of any relevant audit informaon and to establish that the Company’s Auditor is aware of that informaon. Streamlined Energy Carbon Reporng As the Company has outsourced operaons to third pares, there are no signicant greenhouse gas emissions to report from the operaons of the Company. The Company qualies as a low energy user and is therefore exempt from disclosures on greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumpon. Further detail on the Company’s environmental reporng can be seen in the Sustainability report on pages 10 to 25. Future Developments Further informaon regarding likely future developments in the business of the Company is set out in the Investment Manager’s Report on pages 40 to 54. Post Balance Sheet Events Dividends On 24 February 2022, The Board declared an interim dividend of 1.25 pence per share with respect to the period ended 31 December 2021. The Dividend is expected to be paid on or around 31 March 2022 to shareholders on the register on 4 March 2022. The ex-dividend date is 3 March 2022. Acquisions The Company, through its main subsidiary acquired two operaonal porolios of hydropower plants, located in central Sweden for £20.1 million and also completed the acquision of an operaonal 46 MW onshore wind project located in north eastern Sweden for £19.8 million. This Directors’ report has been approved by the Board. By order of the Board Link Company Maers Limited Company Secretary 4 March 2022 Corporate Governance Statement This corporate governance statement forms part of the Directors’ report. Introducon from the Chairman I am pleased to introduce this period’s corporate governance statement. In this statement, the Company reports on its compliance with the AIC Code, sets out how the Board and its commiees have operated during the past year and describes how the Board exercises eecve stewardship over the Company’s acvies in the interests of shareholders. The Board is accountable to shareholders for the governance of the Group’s aairs and is commied to maintaining the highest standard of corporate governance for the long-term success of the Company. The Company reviews its standards of governance against the principles and recommendaons of the AIC Code, as published in 2019. The Board considers that reporng against the principles and recommendaons of the AIC Code provides beer informaon to shareholders as it addresses all the principles set out in the UK Code, as well as seng out addional principles and recommendaons on issues that are of specic relevance to investment companies and is endorsed by the FRC. The terms of the FRC’s endorsement mean that AIC members who report against the AIC Code and the AIC Guide fully meet their obligaons under the UK Code and the related disclosure requirements contained in the lisng rules of the FCA. A copy of the AIC Code can be found at www.theaic.co.uk. A copy of the UK Code can be obtained at www.frc.org.uk. Statement of Compliance with the AIC Code Pursuant to the lisng rules of the FCA, the Company is required to provide shareholders with a statement on how the main and supporng principles set out in the AIC Code have been applied and whether the Company has complied with the provisions of the AIC Code. The Board recognises the importance of a strong corporate governance culture and has established a framework for corporate governance which it considers to be appropriate to the business of the Company as a whole. It should be noted that, as an investment trust, all of the Company’s Directors are non-execuve and most of the Company’s day-to-day responsibilies are delegated to third pares. Consequently, the Company has not reported on those provisions of the UK Code relang to the role of the chief execuve, execuve remuneraon or internal audit. The Board has reviewed the principles and recommendaons of the AIC Code and considers that it has complied throughout the year, except that Directors are not appointed for a specic term as all Directors are non-execuve and the Company has adopted a policy of all Directors, including the Chairman, standing for annual re-elecon. The Board is mindful of and will have regard to corporate governance best pracce recommendaons with respect to the tenure of the Chair and in future succession planning. The Company does not have a Senior Independent Director. The Board believes that the appointment of a Senior Independent Director is not necessary at present given the size of the Company. The Principles of the AIC Code The AIC Code is comprised of 18 Principles and 42 Provisions over ve secons covering the following areas: • Board Leadership and Purpose; • Division of Responsibilies; • Composion, Succession and Evaluaon; • Audit, Risk and Internal Control; and • Remuneraon The Board’s Corporate Governance Statement sets out how the Company has complied with each of the Principles of the AIC Code. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 73 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 74 AIC Code Principle How the Company Complies A. A successful company is led by an eecve board, whose role is to promote the long-term sustainable success of the Company, generang value for shareholders and contribung to wider society. Members of the Board are fully engaged and bring diverse skills to the table fostering healthy debate. The Investment Objecve is to provide investors with an aracve and sustainable level of income returns, with an element of capital growth, by invesng in a diversied porolio of renewable energy and infrastructure assets in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe. As part of this the opportunies and risks faced by the business are considered, monitored and assessed on a regular basis, both in terms of potenal and emerging risks that the Company may face. More detail regarding the principal risks and uncertaines and the sustainability of the business model can be found in the Strategic Report on pages 6 to 67. B. The Board should establish the Company’s purpose, values and strategy, and sasfy itself that these and its culture are aligned. All directors must act with integrity, lead by example and promote the desired culture. The purpose of the Company is also the Investment Objecve which is to provide investors with an aracve and sustainable level of income returns, with an element of capital growth, by invesng in a diversied porolio of renewable energy and infrastructure assets in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe. The investment process followed by the Investment Manager is set out on pages 26 to 35. The Board embraces a culture of inclusivity, fairness and responsibility, adopng a responsible governance culture. Transparency and openness are important values both amongst Board members and in the Board’s dealings with the Company’s stakeholders. The Board assesses and monitors its own culture as part of the annual Board evaluaon process, including its policies, pracces and behaviour to ensure that it is appropriately aligned to the Company’s acvies. C. The Board should ensure that the necessary resources are in place for the Company to meet its objecves and measure performance against t he m . Th e Bo a rd s h ou l d als o es t ab l is h a fr am ework of prudent an d eec ve controls, which enable risk to be assessed and managed. The Board and the Management Engagement Commiee regularly review the performance of the Company and the performance and resources of the Investment Manager and other key service providers to ensure that the Company can connue to meet its objecves. The Audit and Risk Commiee is responsible for assessing and managing risks and further informaon about how this is done can be found in the Audit and Risk Commiee Report on pages 84 to 86. D. In order for the Company to meet its responsibilies to shareholders and stakeholders, the Board should ensure eecve engagement with, and encourage parcipaon from, these pares. The Board understands its responsibilies to Shareholders and stakeholders and stakeholder consideraons form an important part of decision making. Further informaon on the Company’s engagement with stakeholders is set out in the Secon 172 statement on pages 55 to 58. The Board considers the impact any decision will have on all relevant stakeholders to ensure that they are making a decision that promotes the long-term success of the Company, including in relaon to dividends, new investment opportunies and capital requirements. The Directors welcome the views of all shareholders and place considerable importance on communicaons with them. All shareholders, while remaining cognisant of any government regulaons on social gatherings, are encouraged to aend the AGM, where they will be given the opportunity to queson the Chairman, the Board and representaves of the Investment Manager. In addion, the Direc tors are available to meet shareholders . Shareholders wishing to communic ate with the Chairman, or any other member of the Board, may do so by wring to the Company Secretary at [email protected]. The Management Engagement Commiee reviews the performance and connuing appointment of the Company ’s key ser vice provider s annually to ensure that per for m ance levels s as fac tor y an d any service issues can be discussed, as appropriate. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 75 AIC Code Principle How the Company Complies F. The chair leads the Board and is responsible for its overall eecveness in direcng the Company. They should demonstrate objecve judgement throughout their tenure and promote a culture of openness and debate. In addion, the Chair facilitates construcve board relaons and the eecve contribuon of all non-execuve directors, and ensures that Directors receive accurate, mely and clear informaon. The Chair is responsible for leading the Board and is responsible for its overall eecveness in direcng the aairs of the Company. The Chair ensures that all Directors receive accurate, mely and clear informaon and promotes a culture of op enne ss and debate in Board meengs and within the Company by encouraging and facilitang the eecve contribuon of other Directors. There is a clear division of responsibilies between the Chair, the Directors, the Investment Manager and the Company’s other third-party service providers. The Boa rd mee ts regular ly through out the ye ar an d repre s enta  ves of the Inves t ment Manager are in aendance, when appropriate, at each meeng and most Commiee meengs. The Board has ag ree d a sc he du le of m a e r s s pe ci c al l y res er ved fo r d ec isi o n by t h e B o ard whi ch is av ail ab le on the Company’s website. Prior to each Board and Commiee meeng, Directors are provided with a comprehensive set of papers giving detailed informaon on the Company’s investment performance, transacons and nancial posion and all Directors have mely access to all relevant management, nancial and regulatory informaon. The review of the per form ance of the Chair was car ried out duri n g th e year by Joanna De Montg ros as the Chair of the Nominaon Commiee as part of the Board evaluaon exercise. The document seng out the role of the Chair is available on the Company’s website. This review concluded that t h e Ch air c on n ue s to m ake a sig ni c a nt co n t ri bu o n to, an d d e v ote s su c ien t me to th e a air s of, the Company and connues to display excellent leadership. G. The Board should consist of an appropriate combinaon of Directors (and, in parcular, independent non- execuve directors) such that no one in d i v i d u al o r sm al l gr ou p of in d iv i d ua ls dominates the Board’s decision making. All of the Directors are non-execuve and are independent of the Investment Manager and the other service providers. The Chair, Hugh Lile, was independent of the Investment Manager at the me of his appointment in 2020 and remains so. No Director is a director of another investment company managed by the Company’s Investment Manager. H. Non-execuve directors should have sucient me to meet their board responsibilies. They should provide construcve challenge, strategic guidance, oer specialist advice and hold third party service providers to account. As part of the Board evaluaon process, the contribuons of each Director, as well as the me commitments made by each Board member are considered and reviewed. The Directors’ other commitments are regularly reviewed and any new appointments are considered by the other Directors to ensure there is no conict of interest or risk of over boarding. Following the Board evaluaon, it was concluded that each Director provides appropriate levels of challenge and provided the Company and the Investment Manager with strategic guidance and specialist advice when required. The Management Engagement Commiee reviews the performance and cost of the Company’s third-party service providers on an annual basis. More informaon regarding the work of the Management Engagement Commiee can be found on page 83. I. The Board, supported by the Company Secretary, should ensure that it has the policies, processes, informaon, me and resources it needs in order to funcon eecvely and eciently. The Directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary through its app ointe d rep r ese n ta  ves and th e Co mpany Se cret ar y is re spo n sible to the Boa rd for ensu ring th at Board procedures are followed and that applicable rules and regulaons are complied with. The Company Secretary is also responsible for ensuring good informaon ows between all pares. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 76 AIC Code Principle How the Company Complies Composion, succession and evaluaon J. Appointments to the Board should be subject to a formal, rigorous and transparent procedure, and an eecve succession plan should be maintained. Both appointments and succession plans should be based on merit and objecve criteria and, within this context, should promote diversity of gender, social and ethnic backgrounds, cognive and personal strengths. The Board has established a Nominaon Commiee, comprising all Directors. This Commiee will lead the appointment process of new Directors as and when vacancies arise and as part of the Directors’ ongoing succession planning. More informaon regarding the work of the Nominaon Commiee can be found on page 82. In accordance with the AIC Code, the Board is comprised of a mixture of individuals who have an appropriate balance of skills and experience to meet the future opportunies and challenges facing the Company. Appointments are made rst and foremost on the basis of merit and taking into account the recognised benets of all types of diversity. The Board ensures that diversity is an important consideraon and part of the selecon criteria used to assess candidates to achieve a balanced Board. The Board is mindful of the current FCA proposals to incorporate the diversity recommendaons fr om th e P ar ker and H amp to n -A le xa nd er rev iew s in to th e L is  ng Rule s on a ‘co mp ly or ex pla in’ basi s which will apply to nancial years commencing 1 Januar y 2022. Once nalised, these proposals will be taken into consideraon in respect of the recruitment of all new Directors of the Company. The Company will report its compliance against this new requirement in the annual report for the year ending 31 December 2022. K. The Board and its commiees should have a combinaon of skills, experience and knowledge. Consideraon should be given to the length of service of the Board as a whole and membership regularly refreshed. The Directors bring a wide range of skills, experience and knowledge to the Board. Further details are set out in their biographies on page 68. The Directors’ skills, experience and knowledge are reviewed as part of the annual Board evaluaon process. When considering new appointments in future, the Board will review the skills of the Directors and seek to add persons with complementary skills or who possess skills and experience which ll any gaps in the Board’s knowledge or experience and who can devote sucient me to the Company to carry out their dues eecvely. L. Annual evaluaon of the Board should consider its composion, diversity and how eecvely members work together to achieve objecves. Individual evaluaon should demonstrate whether each director connues to contribute eecvely. The Board has agreed to evaluate its own performance and that of its Commiees, Chair and Directors on an annual basis. For the period under review, this was carried out by way of a quesonnaire prepared by the Company Secretar y. A report was circulated to the Directors which set out the results of the evaluaon process and the Directors met subsequently to discuss the ndings and take any acons. The Nominaon Commiee led the evaluaon, which covered the f un c o n in g o f t h e B o a rd as a wh o l e, t h e e e c  ve n e ss o f th e Bo a r d C o m mi  e e s , th e pe r fo r m an c e of the Chair and the independence and contribuon made by each Director. The Nominaon Commiee considers the ndings of the evaluaon process when making a recommendaon to the Board regarding the elecon and re-elecon of Directors. Following this review, the Board is sased that the structure, mix of skills and operaon of the Board is eecve and relevant for the Company and it is recommended that shareholders vote in favour of the elecon of the Directors at the AGM to be held in April 2022. Fur ther informaon regarding the proposed elec on of each Dire ctor c an be found in the Noce of AGM. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 77 AIC Code Principle How the Company Complies Audit, risk and internal control M. The Board should establish formal and transparent policies and procedures to ensure the independence and eecveness of external audit funcons and sasfy itself on the integrity of nancial and narrave statements. The Audit and Risk Commiee ensures that any work outside the scope of the standard audit work requires prior approval by the Audit and Risk Commiee. This enables the Commiee to ensure that the Auditor remains fully independent. The Audit and Risk Commiee carries out a review of the per formance of the Auditor on an annual basis. Feedback from other third pares, including the Investment Manager, is included as part of this assessment to ensure that the Audit and Risk Commiee takes into account the views of dierent pares who have a close working relaonship with the Auditor. Further informaon regarding the work of the Audit and Risk Commiee can be found on page 84. N. The Board should present a fair, balanced and understandable assessment of the Company’s posion and prospects. The Board, through the Audit and Risk Commiee, has considered the Annual Report and nancial statement as a whole and agreed that they believe that the document presents a fair, balanced and understandable assessment of the Company’s posion and prospects. O. The Board should establish procedures to manage risk, oversee the internal control framework, and determine the nature and extent of the principal risks the Company is willing to take in order to achieve its long-term strategic objecves. The Audit and Risk Commiee reviews repor ts from the principal service providers on compliance and the internal and nancial control systems in operaon and relevant independent audit reports thereon. The Audit and Risk Commiee has carried out an annual review of the eecveness of the Company’s systems of internal control. Given the nature of the business, and being an Investment Trust, the Company is reliant on its service providers and their own internal controls. The Audit and Ri sk Co mmi e e rev iew s th e c on tr o l sy st em s i n ope ra o n at t h e C om pa ny ’s key s er vi ce prov id er s on an annual basis, insofar as they relate to the aairs of the Company. As set out in more detail in the Audit and Risk Commiee on pages 84 to 86, the Company has in place a detailed system for assessing the adequacy of those controls. P. Remuneraon policies and pracces should be designed to support strategy and promote long-term sustainable success. As outlined in the Remuneraon Policy on page 91, the Company follows the recommendaon of the AIC Code that non-execuve Directors’ remuneraon should reect the me commitment and responsibilies of the role. The Company’s policy is that the remuneraon of non-execuve Directors should reect the experience of the Board as a whole and be determined with reference to comparable organisaons and appointments. Directors are not eligible for bonuses, share opons, long-term incenve schemes or other performance- related benets as the Board does not believe that this is appropriate for non-execuve Directors. The Remuneraon Policy is therefore designed to aract and retain high quality Directors, whilst ensuring that Directors remain focused and incenvised to promote the long-term sustainable success of the Company. All Directors hold shares in the Company, all of which were purchased in the open market and using the Directors’ own resources. More informaon regarding the work of the Remuneraon Commiee can be found in the Remuneraon Report and Policy which are set out on pages 87 to 92. Q. A formal and transparent procedure for developing policy on remuneraon should be established. No Director should be involved in deciding their own remuneraon outcome. T he Rem un er a on Pol ic y has be e n d ev elo p ed wi th r efe re n ce to th e pe er gro up a nd th e pr in cip le s of the AIC Code. There are agreed Directors’ remuneraon levels which all non-execuve Directors receive (irrespecve of experience or tenure) for Directors, for the Audit and Risk Commiee Chair and for the Chair of the Company. Any changes to the Chairman’s fee are considered by the Remuneraon Commiee as a whole, with the excepon of the Chair who excuses himself for this part of the meeng. R. Directors should exercise independent judgement and discreon when authorising remuneraon outcomes, taking account of company and indi vid ual per fo rma nce, and wid er circumstances. Any decision with regard to remuneraon is taken aer considering the performance of the Company and wider market condions and circumstances. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 78 Board of Directors Under the leadership of the Chairman, the Board of Directors is collecvely responsible for the long-term sustainable success of the Company, generang value for shareholders and contribung to wider society. It provides overall leadership, sets the strategic aims of the Company and ensures that the necessary resources are in place for the Company to meet its objecves and full its obligaons to shareholders, within a framework of high standards of corporate governance and eecve internal controls. The Directors are responsible for the determinaon of the Company’s Investment Policy and investment strategy and have overall responsibility for the Company’s acvies, including the review of investment acvity and performance and the control and supervision of the Investment Manager. The Board consists of three non-execuve Directors. It seeks to ensure that it has an appropriate balance of skills and experience, and considers that, collecvely, it has substanal recent and relevant experience of investment trusts and nancial and public company management. The Chairman of the Audit and Risk Commiee, Ashley Paxton, has recent and relevant nancial experience as set out in his biography on page 68. The terms and condions of the appointment of the Directors are formalised in leers of appointment, copies of which are available for inspecon from the Company’s registered oce. None of the Directors has a contract of service with the Company nor has there been any other contract or arrangement between the Company and any Director at any me during the year. Directors are not entled to any compensaon for loss of oce. Board Operaon The Directors have adopted a formal schedule of maers specically reserved for the approval of the Board. These include the following: • approval of the Company’s Investment Policy, long-term objecves and investment strategy; • approval of acquisions from, divestments to, or co- investments by the Company with other funds which are managed by the Investment Manager; • approval of Annual and Interim Reports and nancial statements and accounng policies, prospectuses, circulars and other shareholder communicaons; • approval of the raising of new capital and major nancing facilies; • approval of dividends and the Company’s dividend policy; • Board appointments and removals; • appointment and removal of the Investment Manager, AIFM, Auditor and the Company’s other service providers; and • approval of the Company’s operang budgets. Board Meengs The Company has four scheduled Board meengs a year, with addional meengs arranged as necessary. At each Board meeng, the Directors follow a formal agenda which is circulated in advance by the Company Secretary. The Investment Manager, Administrator, AIFM and Company Secretary regularly provide the Board with nancial informaon, including an annual expenses budget, together with brieng notes and papers in relaon to changes in the Company’s economic and nancial environment, statutory and regulatory changes and corporate governance best pracce. At each Board meeng, representaves from the Investment Manager are in aendance to present reports to the Directors covering the Company’s current and future acvies, porolio of assets and its investment performance over the preceding period. The Board and the Investment Manager operate in a fully supporve, co-operave and open environment and ongoing communicaon with the Board is maintained between formal meengs. Commiees The Board has established four commiees to assist its operaons: the Audit and Risk Commiee, the Management Engagement Commiee, the Remuneraon Commiee and the Nominaon Commiee. Each commiee’s delegated responsibilies are clearly dened in formal terms of reference, which are available on the Company’s website. Given the size and nature of the Board it is felt appropriate that all Directors are members of all Commiees. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 79 Audit and Risk Commiee The Audit and Risk Commiee meets twice a year and is chaired by Ashley Paxton. The Commiee ensures that the Company’s nancial performance is properly monitored, controlled and reported. The Commiee has direct access to the Company’s Auditor and provides a forum through which the Auditor reports to the Board. Representaves of the Auditor aend both scheduled meengs of the Commiee. Further details about the Audit and Risk Commiee and its acvies during the year under review are set out on pages 84 and 86. Nominaon Commiee The Nominaon Commiee meets once a year and is chaired by Joanna De Montgros. The Commiee oversees Board recruitment and succession planning and the annual Board evaluaon process. Further details about the Nominaon Commiee and its acvies during the year under review are set out on page 82. Management Engagement Commiee The Management Engagement Commiee meets once a year and is chaired by Hugh Lile. The Commiee reviews the performance and connuing appointment of the Investment Manager and the Company’s other principal service providers. Further details about the Management Engagement Commiee and its acvies during the year under review are set out on page 83. Remuneraon Commiee The Remuneraon Commiee meets once a year and is chaired by Ashley Paxton. The Commiee conducts an annual review of the remuneraon of the Directors. Further details about the Remuneraon Commiee and its acvies during the year under review are set out on page 79. Meeng Aendance The number of scheduled Board and Audit and Risk Commiee meengs held during the period ended 31 December 2021 and the aendance of the individual Directors is shown below: Board Audit and Risk Commiee Nominaon Commiee Remuneraon Commiee Management Engagement Commiee Number entled to aend Number aended Number entled to aend Number aended Number entled to aend Number aended Number entled to aend Number aended Number entled to aend Number aended Hugh Lile 4 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Ashley Paxton 4 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Joanna De Montgros 4 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 80 A number of addional Board and Audit and Risk Commiee meengs were held by the Company during the period ended 31 December 2021. These meengs were held in respect of the IPO, acquisions and fundraising. Inducon of New Directors A procedure for the inducon of new Directors has been established, including the provision of an inducon pack containing relevant informaon about the Company, its processes and procedures. New appointees have the opportunity of meeng with the Chair, relevant persons at the Investment Manager and the Secretary. Elecon/Re-elecon of Directors Under the Company’s Arcles of Associaon and in accordance with the AIC Code, Directors are required to rere at the rst AGM following their appointment. Thereaer, at each AGM all Directors will seek annual re- elecon. In accordance with the above policy, all Directors will be seeking elecon at the forthcoming AGM. Following formal performance evaluaon as detailed below, the Board strongly recommends the elecon of each of the Directors based on their experience and experse in investment maers, their independence and connuing eecveness and commitment to the Company. Conicts of Interest It is the responsibility of each individual Director to avoid an unauthorised conict of interest situaon arising. The Director must request authorisaon from the Board as soon as he/she becomes aware of the possibility of an interest that conicts, or might possibly conict, with the interests of the Company (“situaonal conicts”). The Company’s Arcles of Associaon authorise the Board to approve such situaons, where deemed appropriate. A register of conicts is maintained by the Secretary and is reviewed at Board meengs, to ensure that any authorised conicts remain appropriate. The Directors are required to conrm at these meengs whether there has been any change to their posion. The Board is responsible for considering Directors’ requests for authorisaon of situaonal conicts and for deciding whether or not the situaonal conict should be authorised. The factors to be considered will include: whether the situaonal conict could prevent the Director from properly performing their dues; whether it has, or could have, any impact on the Company; and whether it could be regarded as likely to aect the judgement and/ or acons of the Director in queson. When the Board is deciding whether to authorise a conict or potenal conict, only Directors who have no interest in the maer being considered are able to take the relevant decision, and in taking the decision the Directors must act in a way they consider, in good faith, will be most likely to promote the Company’s success. The Directors are able to impose limits or condions when giving authorisaon if they think this is appropriate in the circumstances. Insurance and Indemnity Provisions The Board has agreed arrangements whereby Directors may take independent professional advice in the furtherance of their dues. The Company has Directors’ and Ocers’ liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance to cover legal defence costs. Under the Company’s Arcles, the Directors are provided, subject to the provisions of UK legislaon, with an indemnity in respect of liabilies which they may sustain or incur in connecon with their appointment. This indemnity was in force during the year and remains in force as at the date of this report. Apart from this, there are no third-party indemnity provisions in place for the Directors. Performance Evaluaon of the Board The Directors are aware that they need to connually monitor and improve performance and recognise this can be achieved through regular Board evaluaon, which provides a valuable feedback mechanism for improving Board eecveness. The Directors have therefore opted to undertake an internal performance evaluaon by way of quesonnaires specically designed to assess the strengths and independence of the Board and the Chairman, individual Directors and the performance of the Commiees. The evaluaon of the Chair is carried out by the other Directors of the Company, led by the Chair of the Nominaon Commiee. The quesonnaires are also intended to analyse the focus of Board meengs and assess whether they are appropriate, or if any addional informaon may be required to facilitate Board discussions. The Chair acts on the results of the evaluaon by recognising the strengths and addressing any weaknesses of the Board as appropriate. The results of the Board evaluaon process are reviewed and discussed by the Board as a whole. This evaluaon process is carried out annually. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 81 The composion of the Board and, in parcular, succession planning are kept under review by the Board and are considered on an annual basis in December each year in conjuncon with the evaluaon process in order to ensure an orderly refreshment of the Board and to develop a diverse pipeline. Following the evaluaon process conducted during the year under review, the Board considers that all the current Directors contribute eecvely and have the skills and experience relevant to the leadership and direcon of the Company. The Board has sased itself that the Directors have enough me to devote to the Company’s aairs. Internal Control Review The Board is responsible for the systems of internal controls relang to the Company, including the reliability of the nancial reporng process and for reviewing the systems’ eecveness. The Directors have reviewed and considered the guidance supplied by the FRC on risk management, internal control and related nance and business reporng and an ongoing process has been established for idenfying, evaluang and managing the principal risks faced by the Company. This process, together with key procedures established with a view to providing eecve nancial control, was in place during the year under review and at the date of this report. The internal control systems are designed to ensure that proper accounng records are maintained, that the nancial informaon on which business decisions are made and which is issued for publicaon is reliable, and that the assets of the Company are safeguarded. The risk management process and systems of internal control are designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve the Company’s objecves. It should be recognised that such systems can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. The Directors have carried out a review of the eecveness of the systems of internal control as they have operated over the year and up to the date of approval of the report and nancial statements. There were no maers arising from this review that required further invesgaon and no signicant failings or weaknesses were idened. Internal Control Assessment Process Robust risk assessments and reviews of internal controls are undertaken regularly in the context of the Company’s overall Investment Objecve: In arriving at its judgement of what risks the Company faces, the Board has considered the Company’s operaons in light of the following factors: • the nature and extent of risks which it regards as acceptable for the Company to bear within its overall business objecve; • the threat of such risks becoming reality; • the Company’s ability to reduce the incidence and impact of risk on its performance; • the cost to the Company and benets related to the review of risk and associated controls of the Company; and • the extent to which third pares operate the relevant controls. A risk matrix has been produced against which the risks idened and the controls in place to migate those risks can be monitored. The risks are assessed on the basis of the likelihood of them happening, the impact on the business if they were to occur and the eecveness of the controls in place to migate them. This risk matrix is reviewed twice a year by the Audit and Risk Commiee and at other mes as necessary. The principal risks that have been idened by the Board are set out on pages 59 to 64. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 82 Nomination Committee Report I am pleased to present the Nominaon Commiee Report for the period ended 31 December 2021. Meengs The Commiee comprises all Directors of the Company and met once during the period under review. Responsibilies of the Commiee The primary responsibilies of the Commiee are as follows: • to review the structure, size and composion (including the skills, knowledge, experience and diversity) of the Board; • to give full consideraon to succession planning for Directors in the course of its work, taking into account the challenges and opportunies facing the Company, and the skills and experse needed on the Board in the future; • to idenfy and nominate for the approval of the Board, candidates to ll Board vacancies as and when they arise; • to review the results of the Board performance evaluaon process that relate to the composion of the Board; and • to review annually the me required from non- execuve Directors. Appointment of New Directors The nominaon commiee regularly reviews the composion and eecveness of the Board and its commiees with the objecve of ensuring that these have the appropriate balance of skills and experience required to meet the current and future opportunies and challenges facing the Company. When considering the appointment of new Directors, the nominaon commiee will acvely consider a range of factors including the experse and experience required in a prospecve candidate and the diversity of the Board, as set out in the Company’s Diversity Policy below. Diversity Policy In accordance with the AIC Code, the Board is comprised of a mixture of individuals who have an appropriate balance of skills and experience to meet the future opportunies and challenges facing the Company. Appointments are based on merit and objecve criteria that protect against discriminaon and are intended to promote a diversity of gender, social and ethnic backgrounds, cognive and personal strengths. The Board is mindful of the current FCA proposals to incorporate the diversity recommendaons from the Parker and Hampton-Alexander reviews into the Lisng Rules on a ‘comply or explain’ basis which will apply to nancial years commencing 1 January 2022. Once nalised, these proposals will be taken into consideraon in respect of the recruitment of all new Directors of the Company. The Company will report its compliance against this new requirement in the annual report for the year ending 31 December 2022, to be published in 2023. Tenure Policy Directors are not appointed for a specic term as all Directors are non-execuve. The Company has adopted a policy of all Directors, including the Chairman, standing for annual re-elecon. The Board is mindful of and will have regard to corporate governance best pracce recommendaons with respect to the tenure of the Chairman and in future succession planning, as appropriate. Performance Evaluaon of the Board Informaon on the performance evaluaon of the Board can be found in the Corporate Governance report on page 80. Joanna de Montgros Chair of the Nominaon Commiee 4 March 2022 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 83 Management Engagement Committee Report I am pleased to present the Management Engagement Commiee Report for the period ended 31 December 2021. Meengs The Commiee comprises all Directors of the Company and met once during the period under review. Responsibilies of the Commiee The primary responsibilies of the Commiee are as follows: • to monitor and evaluate the performance of the Investment Manager and its compliance with the terms of the investment management agreement; • to monitor and evaluate the performance of the Alternave Investment Fund Manager and its compliance with the terms of the alternave investment fund management agreement; • to consider the appropriateness of the investment management agreement, that it is fair, complies with all regulatory requirements, conforms with market and industry pracce and remains in the best interests of shareholders; • to consider the appropriateness of the alternave investment fund management agreement, that it is fair, complies with all regulatory requirements, conforms with market and industry pracce and remains in the best interests of shareholders; • to consider and review the level and method of remuneraon of the Investment Manager and the Alternave Investment Fund Manager pursuant to the terms of their respecve agreements with the Company; • to consider the connuing appointment of the Investment Manager and Alternave Investment Fund Manager and make recommendaons to the Board; and • to review the performance and services provided by the Company’s other service providers and consider whether the connuing appointment of such service providers under the terms of their agreements are in the interests of shareholders as a whole, and make recommendaons to the Board. Connuing Appointment of the Investment Manager The Board, through the Management Engagement Commiee, keeps the performance and connuing appointment of the Investment Manager under connual review. The Commiee conducts an annual review of the Investment Manager’s performance and makes a recommendaon to the Board about its connuing appointment. The Directors consider that the Investment Manager has executed the Company’s investment strategy according to the Board’s expectaons. Accordingly, the Board believes that the connuing appointment of Downing LLP as the Investment Manager of the Company, on the terms agreed, is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. Hugh W M Lile Chair of the Management Engagement Commiee 4 March 2022 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 84 Audit and Risk Committee Report I am pleased to present the Audit and Risk Commiee Report for the period ended 31 December 2021. Meengs The Commiee comprises all Directors of the Company and met twice during the period under review and once post period end. Responsibilies of the Commiee The primary responsibilies of the Commiee are as follows: • to monitor the integrity of the nancial statements of the Company including its annual and interim reports and any other formal announcements relang to its nancial performance, • to review and report to the Board on any signicant nancial reporng issues and judgements which those statements contain having regard to maers communicated to it by the Auditor; • to review the content of the annual report and nancial statements and advise the Board on whether, taken as a whole, it is fair, balanced and understandable and provides shareholders with sucient informaon to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy; • to keep under review the Company’s internal nancial controls and review the adequacy and eecveness of the Company’s internal control and risk management systems and monitor the proposed implementaon of such controls; • to assess the current posion of the Company’s emerging and principal risks, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity and reputaon, and how they are managed and migated; and the prospects of the Company over such period as deemed appropriate; • to manage the relaonship with the Company’s external Auditor, including reviewing the Auditor’s remuneraon, independence and performance and make recommendaons to the Board as appropriate; • to review the Auditor’s independence and objecvity and the eecveness and quality of the audit process; and • to consider annually whether there is a need for the Company to have its own internal audit funcon. Acvies in the Year • conducted a review of the internal controls and risk management systems of the Company and its third- party service providers; • agreed the audit plan and fees with the Auditor in respect of the audit of the inial accounts, interim review of the Interim Report for the period ended 30 June 2021 and the statutory audit of the Annual Report for the period ended 31 December 2021, including the principal areas of focus; • received and discussed with the Auditor its report on the results of the audit of the inial accounts, the review of the half-yearly nancial statements and the year-end audit; • reviewed the Company’s inial accounts, interim and annual nancial statements and recommended these to the Board for approval; • reviewed the methodology and assumpons applied in valuing the assets of the Company; and • reviewed whether an internal audit funcon would be of value and concluded that this would provide minimal addional comfort at considerable extra cost to the Company. • reviewed the adopon of the investment enty accounng standard. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 85 Signicant issues The Commiee considered the following key issues in relaon to the Company’s nancial statements during the year. A more detailed explanaon of the consideraon of the issues set out below, and the steps taken to manage them, is set out in the Principal Risks and Uncertaines on pages 59 to 64. Valuaon of Investments The discount rates used to determine the valuaon are selected and recommended by the Investment Manager. The discount rate is applied to the expected future cash ows from each investment’s nancial forecasts to arrive at a valuaon (discounted cash ow valuaon). The Audit and Risk Commiee has considered the subjecvity and appropriateness of the discount rates and other key assumpons used to determine the valuaon, of the investments, held through DORE Hold Co, which could aect the NAV and share price of the Company. These were discussed with the Investment Manager and external auditor. Internal controls The Commiee carefully considers the internal control systems by connually monitoring the services and controls of its third-party service providers. The Commiee reviewed, and where appropriate, updated the risk matrix during the year under review. This is done on a biannual basis. The Commiee received a report on internal control and compliance from the Investment Manager, the Administrator and the Registrar and no signicant maers of concern were idened. Going concern and long-term viability of the Company The Commiee considered the Company’s nancial requirements for the next 12 months and concluded that it has sucient resources to meet its commitments. Consequently, the nancial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Commiee also considered the longer-term viability statement within the Annual Report for the period ended 31 December 2021, covering a ve-year period, and the underlying factors and assumpons which contributed to the Commiee deciding that this was an appropriate length of me to consider the Company’s long-term viability. Adopon of Investment enty accounng standard Under IFRS 10, investment enes are required to hold subsidiaries at fair value through the Income Statement rather than consolidate them on a line-by-line basis. There are three key condions to be met by the Company for it to meet the denion of an investment enty. Further detail on this can be found in Note 2 to the Financial Statements. The Directors have reviewed the criteria and are sased that the Company meets the criteria of an Investment Enty under IFRS 10. As explained in Note 2 to the nancial statements, the Directors are of the opinion that the Company meets the requirements of an “Investment Enty”. Assessing whether the Company and certain subsidiaries met the criteria of Investment Enes, in accordance with denion set out in IFRS 10 was seen as a key judgement. The Audit and Risk Commiee debated the appropriateness of adopng the standard with the Investment Manager and independent auditor. The Audit and Risk Commiee concluded that applying the investment enty exempon to IFRS 10 will improve stakeholders’ understanding of the nancial performance and posion of the Group. The Company’s viability statement can be found on page 65. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 86 Audit fees and non-audit services provided by the Auditor The Commiee reviewed the audit plan and fees presented by the Auditor and considered its report on the nancial statements. Total fees for the year payable to the Auditor amounted to £312,500. This gure includes non-audit fees of £88,500 in respect of the audit of the inial accounts and interim review for the period ended 30 June 2021. Professional fees relang to the reporng accountant services and tax-structuring advice pre-IPO totalled £101,000. Other pre-IPO work included the review of the Company’s nancial model and this was charged at £27,000. All non-audit services provided by the Auditor during the year were approved in advance by the Audit and Risk Commiee and Directors. Further informaon on the fees paid to the Auditor is set out in Note 6 to the nancial statements. Eecveness of the external audit The Commiee reviews the eecveness of the external audit carried out by the Auditor on an annual basis. The Chairman of the Commiee maintained regular contact with the Company’s Audit Partner throughout the year and also met with them prior to the nalisaon of the audit of the Annual Report and nancial statements for the period ended 31 December 2021, without the Investment Manager present, to discuss how the external audit was carried out, the ndings from such audit and whether any issues had arisen from the Auditor’s interacon with the Company’s various service providers. Independence and objecvity of the Auditor The Commiee has considered the independence and objecvity of the Auditor and has conducted a review of non-audit services which the Auditor has provided during the year under review. The Commiee receives an annual conrmaon from the Auditor that its independence is not compromised by the provision of such non-audit services. Peter Smith is the Audit Partner allocated to the Company by BDO LLP. The audit of the nancial statements for the period ended 31 December 2021 is his rst as Audit Partner. The Commiee is sased that the Auditor’s objecvity and independence is not impaired by the performance of their non-audit services and that the Auditor has fullled its obligaons to the Company and its shareholders. Appointment of the Auditor Following consideraon of the performance of the Auditor, the services provided during the year and a review of its independence and objecvity, the Commiee has recommended to the Board the appointment of BDO LLP as Auditor to the Company. Shareholder approval of the appointment of BDO as Auditor will be sought at the Annual Gener al Mee ng of the Co mp any to be held o n 6 Apr il 202 2. Ashley Paxton Chair of the Audit and Risk Commiee 4 March 2022 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 87 Directors’ Remuneration Report Statement from the Chair I am pleased to present the Directors’ Remuneraon Report for the period ended 31 December 2021. As set out in the Corporate Governance statement on pages 73 to 81, the Remuneraon Commiee comprises all Directors and meets at least once a year to discuss maers relang to Directors’ remuneraon. The Commiee reviewed Directors’ remuneraon at its meeng in November 2021. During the period ended 31 December 2021, the annual fees were set at the rate of £50,000 for the Chair, £40,000 for the Chair of the Audit and Risk Commiee and £35,000 for a Director. These fees levels were set in 2020, prior to the Company’s IPO. No changes to the fee levels are proposed for the year ending 31 December 2022. Vong at the AGM The Directors’ Remuneraon Report is put to a shareholder vote on an annual basis. The Directors’ Remuneraon Policy is put to a shareholder vote in the rst year of a Company or in any year where there is to be a change to the policy and, in any event, at least once every three years. As this is the Company’s rst reporng period, ordinary resoluons will be put to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM to be held in April 2022 to receive and approve the Directors’ Remuneraon Report and to receive and approve the Directors’ Remuneraon Policy. Performance of the Company The Company was incorporated on 8 October 2020. As such, 31 December 2021 is its rst nancial period end and historical data is not yet available. The graph below compares the total return to shareholders compared to the FTSE All-Share index. The Company does not have a specic benchmark but has deemed the F TSE All- Share Index to be the most appropriate comparator for its performance. This graph has been chosen as a comparison as it is a publicly available broad equity index which focuses on smaller companies and is therefore more relevant than most other publicly available indices. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 88 Directors’ Remuneraon for the Period Ended 31 December 2021 (audited) The remuneraon paid to the Directors during the period ended 31 December 2021 is set out in the table below: Fees Period ended 31 December 2021 £ Expenses Period ended 31 December 2021 £ Total Period ended 31 December 2021 £ Hugh W M Lile 58,333 Nil 58,333 Joanna de Montgros 40,833 Nil 40,833 Ashley Paxton 46,667 Nil 46,667 145,833 Nil 145,833 All Directors were appointed on 28 October 2020. There is no variable component to the Directors’ pay, all pay is xed. 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 10 Dec 2020 10 Jan 2021 10 Feb 2021 10 Mar 2021 10 Apr 2021 10 May 2021 10 Jun 2021 10 Jul 2021 10 Aug 2021 10 Sep 2021 10 Oct 2021 10 Nov 2021 10 Dec 2021 DORE FTSE All-share Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 89 Relave Importance of Spend on Pay The table below sets out in respect of the period ended 31 December 2021: a) the remuneraon paid to the Directors; b) the Investment management fee; and c) the distribuons made to shareholders by way of dividend. Period ended 31 December 2021 £’000 Directors’ remuneraon 146 Investment management fee 1,284 Dividends paid to shareholders 2,938 Directors’ Interests (audited) There is no requirement under the Company’s Arcles of Associaon for Directors to hold shares in the Company. As set out in the Company’s Prospectus, Joanna de Montgros agreed that any fees payable to her in respect of her rst year of service should, save where the Company and the Directors agreed otherwise, be used to acquire shares in the Company. As at 31 December 2021, the interests of the Directors and any connected persons in the shares of the Company are set out below: Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 90 Period ended 31 December 2021 Number of Shares Hugh W M Lile 150,000 Joanna de Montgros 21,085 Ashley Paxton 4 80,000 There have been no changes to any of the above holdings between 31 December 2021 and the date of this report. None of the Directors or any persons connected with them had a material interest in the Company’s transacons, arrangements or agreements during the year. 4 All of Ashley Paxton’s shares are held jointly with Alexandra Paxton, a person closely associated with Ashley Paxton. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 91 Remuneration Policy Introducon The Directors’ Remuneraon Policy is put to a shareholder vote in the rst year of a Company or in any year where there is to be a change to the policy and, in any event, at least once every three years. As this is the Company’s rst reporng period, an ordinary resoluon will be put to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM to be held in April 2022 to receive and approve the Directors’ Remuneraon Policy. Policy The Company follows the recommendaon of the AIC Code that non-execuve Directors’ remuneraon should reect the me commitment and responsibilies of the role. The Board’s policy is that the remuneraon of non- execuve Directors should reect the experience of the Board as a whole and be determined with reference to comparable organisaons and appointments. The fees of the non-execuve Directors are determined within the limits set out in the Company’s arcles of associaon; the Directors are not eligible for bonuses, pension benets, share opons, long- term incenve schemes or other benets. There are no performance condions aaching to the remuneraon of the Directors as the Board does not consider such arrangements or benets necessary or appropriate for non-execuve Directors. Under the Directors’ leers of appointment, there is no noce period, and no compensaon is payable to a Director on leaving oce. It is the Board’s policy that Directors do not have service contracts, but Directors are provided with a leer of appointment as a non-execuve Director. The terms of their appointment provide that Directors shall rere and be subject to elecon at the rst annual general meeng aer their appointment. The Directors are subject to rerement by rotaon in accordance with the arcles of associaon; however, the Company has adopted the policy of annual re-elecon of all Directors. The Company is commied to ongoing shareholder dialogue and any views expressed by shareholders on the fees being paid to Directors would be taken into consideraon by the Board when reviewing the Directors’ remuneraon policy and in the annual review of Directors’ fees. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 92 Directors’ Fee Levels Expected fees for the year ending 31 December 2022 Fees for the period ended 31 December 2021 Chair £50,000 £58,333 Chair of the Audit and Risk Commiee £40,000 £46,667 Director £35,000 £40,833 The approval of shareholders would be required to increase the aggregate limit for Directors’ fees of £300,000 per annum, as set out in the Company’s arcles of associaon. Approval The Directors’ Remuneraon Report was approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by: Ashley Paxton Chair of the Remuneraon Commiee 4 March 2022 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 93 Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities In respect of the nancial statements The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the nancial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulaon. Company law requires the Directors to prepare nancial statements for each nancial year. Under that law the directors are required to prepare nancial statements in accordance with internaonal accounng standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Under company law the Directors must not approve the nancial statements unless they are sased that they give a true and fair view of the state of aairs of the Company and of the prot or loss for the Company for that period. The Directors are also required to prepare nancial statements in accordance with internaonal nancial reporng standards adopted pursuant to Regulaon (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union. Under company law, Directors must not approve the nancial statements unless they are sased that they give a true and fair view of the state of aairs of the Company and of the prot or loss of the Company for that period. In preparing the nancial statements, the Directors are required to: • select suitable accounng policies and then apply them consistently; • state whether applicable IFRS as issued by the IASB) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the nancial statements; • make judgements and accounng esmates that are reasonable and prudent; and • prepare the nancial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will connue in business. The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounng records that are sucient to show and explain the Company’s transacons and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any me the nancial posion of the Company and enable them to ensure that the nancial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevenon and detecon of fraud and other irregularies. The Directors are responsible for ensuring that the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced, and understandable and provides the informaon necessary for shareholders to assess the group’s performance, business model and strategy. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 94 Website publicaon The Directors are responsible for ensuring the annual report and the nancial statements are made available on a website. Financial statements are published on the Company’s website in accordance with legislaon in the United Kingdom governing the preparaon and disseminaon of nancial statements, which may vary from legislaon in other jurisdicons. The maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website is the responsibility of the directors. The Directors’ responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity of the nancial statements contained therein. Directors’ responsibilies pursuant to DTR4 The directors conrm that, to the best of their knowledge: • The nancial statements have been prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounng standards and Arcle 4 of the IAS regulaon and give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilies, nancial posion and prot and loss of the Company. • The annual report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the nancial posion of the Company, together with a descripon of the principal risks and uncertaines that they face. On behalf of the Board. Hugh W M Lile (Chair) 4 March 2022 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 95Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 95 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 96 Independent Auditor’s Report Opinion on the nancial statements In our opinion the nancial statements: • give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s aairs as at 31 December 2021 and of its prot for the period from 8 October 2020 to 31 December 2021; • have been properly prepared in accordance with internaonal accounng standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006; and • have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. We have audited the nancial statements of Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust Plc (the ‘Company’) for the period ended 31 December 2021 which comprise the Statement of comprehensive income, the Statement of nancial posion, the Statement of changes in equity, the Statement of cash ows and notes to the nancial statements, including a summary of signicant accounng policies. The nancial reporng framework that has been applied in their preparaon is applicable law and internaonal accounng standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with Internaonal Standards on Auding (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilies under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilies for the audit of the nancial statements secon of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sucient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Our audit opinion is consistent with the addional report to the audit commiee. Independence Following the recommendaon of the Audit Commiee, we were appointed by the Directors on 10 November 2020 to audit the nancial statements for the period ended 31 December 2021 and subsequent nancial periods. The period of total uninterrupted engagement is one year covering the year ended 31 December 2021. We remain independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the nancial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed public interest enes, and we have fullled our other ethical responsibilies in accordance with these requirements. The non-audit services prohibited by that standard were not provided to the Company. Conclusions relang to going concern In auding the nancial statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounng in the preparaon of the nancial statements is appropriate. Our evaluaon of the Directors’ assessment of the Company’s ability to connue to adopt the going concern basis of accounng included: • Assessing and challenging the inputs in the cashow forecast prepared by the Directors against actual results and contractual commitments, including performing stress tesng considering downside scenarios and assessing the impact on the Company’s liquidity posion; • Assessing assumpons used within the valuaon models to supporng documentaon per the Key Audit Maer noted below; • Reviewing the future commitments of the Company and checking they have been appropriately incorporated into the forecast; and • Reviewing the amount of headroom in the forecasts of both base case and downside scenarios (e.g. loan facility or viability of future placements). Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 97 Based on the work we have performed, we have not idened any material uncertaines relang to events or condions that, individually or collecvely, may cast signicant doubt on the Company’s ability to connue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the nancial statements are authorised for issue. In relaon to the Company’s reporng on how it has applied the UK Corporate Governance Code, we have nothing material to add or draw aenon to in relaon to the Directors’ statement in the nancial statements about whether the Directors considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounng. Our responsibilies and the responsibilies of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant secons of this report. Overview Key audit maers Valuaon of investments Materiality Company nancial statements as a whole £2.125 million based on 1.5% of net assets Lower tesng threshold £217,000 based on 10% of gross expenditure for items impacng on realised return. An overview of the scope of our audit Our audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Company and its environment, including the Company’s system of internal control, and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the nancial statements. We also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including assessing whether there was evidence of bias by the Directors or Investment Manager that may have represented a risk of material misstatement. Key audit maers Key audit maers are those maers that, in our professional judgement, were of most signicance in our audit of the nancial statements of the current period and include the most signicant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we idened, including those which had the greatest eect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocaon of resources in the audit, and direcng the eorts of the engagement team. This maer was addressed in the context of our audit of the nancial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on this maer. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 98 Key audit maers How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit maer Valuaon of Investments See note 9 and accounng policy on page 114. The valuaon of unquoted investments is calculated using discounted cash ow models. This is a highly subjecve accounng esmate where there is an inherent risk of bias arising from the investment valuaons being prepared by the Investment Manager, who is remunerated based on the net asset value of the company. These esmates include judgements including future power prices, power generaon, discount rates, useful economic life of assets, tax and inaon. 100% of the underlying investment porolio is represented by unquoted equity and loan investments. Investments at fair value through prot or loss is the most signicant balance in the nancial statements and is the key driver of performance therefore we determined this to be a key audit maer. In respect of the equity investments valued using discounted cash ow models, we performed the following specic procedures: • Obtained and reviewed purchase agreements and contracts and considered whether inputs were accurately reected in the valuaon model • Used spreadsheet analysis tools to assess the integrity of the valuaon models • Agreed power generaon and power price forecasts to power purchase agreements and independent reports prepared by management’s experts . We assessed the competency, independence and objecvity of the management’s expert • Challenged the appropriateness of the selecon and applicaon of key assumpons in the model including the discount rate, inaon, asset life, energy yield and power price applied by benchmarking to available industry data and consulng with our internal valuaons experts • Reviewed the corporaon tax workings within the valuaon model and considered whether these had been modelled accurately in the context of current corporaon tax legislaon and rates • Agreed a sample of cash and other net assets to bank statements and investee company management accounts • Considered the accuracy of forecasng by comparing forecasts from acquision date to period end against actual results For loan investments we vouched the balances recorded to loan agreements and veried the terms of the loan. For each of the key assumpons in the valuaon models, we considered the appropriateness of the assumpon by benchmarking to available industry data and consulng with our internal valuaons experts and considering whether alternave reasonable assumpons could have been applied. We considered each assumpon in isolaon as well as in conjuncon with other assumpons and the valuaon as a whole. Where appropriate, we sensised the valuaons where other reasonable alternave assumpons could have been applied. We also considered the completeness and clarity of disclosures regarding the range of reasonable alternave assumpons in the nancial statements. Key observaons Based on our procedures performed we found the valuaon of the investment porolio to be acceptable. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 99 Our applicaon of materiality We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluang the eect of misstatements. We consider materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, could inuence the economic decisions of reasonable users that are taken on the basis of the nancial statements. In order to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that any misstatements exceed materiality, we use a lower materiality level, performance materiality, to determine the extent of tesng needed. Importantly, misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the nature of idened misstatements, and the parcular circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluang their eect on the nancial statements as a whole. Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the nancial statements as a whole and performance materiality as follows: 2021 Materiality £2.125 million Basis for determining materiality 1.5% net assets Raonale for the benchmark applied Net Asset Value is a key indicator of performance and as such the most relevant benchmark on which to base materiality for the users of the nancial statements. Performance materiality 70% materiality (£1.487 million) Basis for determining performance materiality Risk assessment of control environment and consideraon of potenal errors due to this being a rst year audit and the rst year in which nancial statements have been produced. Lower tesng threshold We also determined that for items impacng realised return, a misstatement of less than materiality for the nancial statements as a whole could inuence the economic decisions of users. As a result, we determined a lower tesng threshold for these items to be 10% of gross expenditure being £217,000. Reporng threshold We agreed with the Audit Commiee that we would report to them all individual audit dierences in excess of £42,000. We also agreed to report dierences below this threshold that, in our view, warranted reporng on qualitave grounds. Other informaon The Directors are responsible for the other informaon. The other informaon comprises the informaon included in the annual report other than the nancial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the nancial statements does not cover the other informaon and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other informaon and, in doing so, consider whether the other informaon is materially inconsistent with the nancial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we idenfy such material inconsistencies or apparent Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 100 material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the nancial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other informaon, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. Corporate governance statement The Lisng Rules require us to review the Directors’ statement in relaon to going concern, longer-term viability and that part of the Corporate Governance Statement relang to the Company’s compliance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code specied for our review. Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we have concluded that each of the following elements of the Corporate Governance Statement is materially consistent with the nancial statements or our knowledge obtained during the audit. Going concern and longer-term viability • The Directors’ statement with regards to the appropriateness of adopng the going concern basis of accounng and any material uncertaines idened set out on page 65; and • The Directors’ explanaon as to their assessment of the Company’s prospects, the period this assessment covers and why the period is appropriate set out on page 66. Other Code provisions • Directors’ statement on fair, balanced and understandable set out on page 93; • Board’s conrmaon that it has carried out a robust assessment of the emerging and principal risks set out on page 59; • The secon of the annual report that describes the review of eecveness of risk management and internal control systems set out on page 59; and • The secon describing the work of the Audit Commiee set out on page 84. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 101 Other Companies Act 2006 reporng Based on the responsibilies described below and our work performed during the course of the audit, we are required by the Companies Act 2006 and ISAs (UK) to report on certain opinions and maers as described below. Strategic report and Directors’ report In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: • the informaon given in the Strategic report and the Directors’ report for the nancial period for which the nancial statements are prepared is consistent with the nancial statements; and • the Strategic report and the Directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not idened material misstatements in the strategic report or the Directors’ report. Directors’ remuneraon In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ remuneraon report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. Maers on which we are required to report by excepon We have nothing to report in respect of the following maers in relaon to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: • adequate accounng records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or • the nancial statements and the part of the Directors’ remuneraon report to be audited are not in agreement with the accounng records and returns; or • certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneraon specied by law are not made; or • we have not received all the informaon and explanaons we require for our audit. Responsibilies of Directors As explained more fully in the statement of Directors’ responsibilies, the Directors are responsible for the preparaon of the nancial statements and for being sased that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparaon of nancial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the nancial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to connue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, maers related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounng unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Company or to cease operaons, or have no realisc alternave but to do so. Auditor’s responsibilies for the audit of the nancial statements Our objecves are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the nancial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to inuence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these nancial statements. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 102 Extent to which the audit was capable of detecng irregularies, including fraud Irregularies, including fraud, are instances of non- compliance with laws and regulaons. We design procedures in line with our responsibilies, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularies, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecng irregularies, including fraud is detailed below: We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the Company and the industry in which it operates, and considered the risk of acts by the company which were contrary to applicable laws and regulaons, including fraud. We considered the signicant laws and regulaons to be compliance with Companies Act 2006, the FCA lisng and DTR rules, the principles of the UK Corporate Governance Code, requirements of s.1158 of the Corporaon Tax Act, and applicable accounng standards. Our procedures included: • agreement of the nancial statement disclosures to underlying supporng documentaon; • enquiries of the board and relevant Service Organisaons regarding known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulaon and fraud. We corroborated our enquiries through our review of board meeng minutes for the year and other evidence gathered during the course of the audit; and • obtaining an understanding of the control environment in monitoring compliance with laws and regulaons. We assessed the suscepbility of the nancial statements to material misstatement, including fraud and considered the fraud risk areas to be the valuaon of investments and management override of controls. Our procedures included: • the procedures set out in the Key Audit Maers secon above; and • tesng a sample of journal entries to supporng documentaon and evaluang whether there was evidence of bias by the Directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud. Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the nancial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecng a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecng one resulng from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentaons or through collusion. There are inherent limitaons in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulaons is from the events and transacons reected in the nancial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it. A further descripon of our responsibilies is available on the Financial Reporng Council’s website at: www.frc.org. uk/auditorsresponsibilies. This descripon forms part of our auditor’s report. Use of our report This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those maers we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permied by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed Peter Smith (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor London, United Kingdom 4 March 2022 BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127). Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 103Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 103 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 104 Statement of Comprehensive Income For the Period from 8 October 2020 to 31 December 2021 Notes Revenue 31 December 2021 £’000s Capital 31 December 2021 £’000s Total 31 December 2021 £’000s Income Return on investment 5 4,978 7,327 12,305 Total income 4,978 7,327 12,305 Expenses Investment management fees 4 (1,284) – (1,284) Directors’ fees 18 & 22 (146) – (146) Other expenses 6 (745) – (745) Total expenses (2,175) – (2,175) Prot before taxaon 2,803 7,327 10,130 Taxaon 7 – – – Prot aer taxaon 2,803 7,327 10,130 Prot and total comprehensive income aributable to: Equity holders of the Company 2,803 7, 327 10,130 Earnings per share – Basic & diluted (pence) 8 2.6 6.8 9.4 The total column of this statement is the Statement of Comprehensive Income of the Company prepared in accordance withInternaonalFinancialReporngStandards(IFRS)asadopted.Thesupplementaryrevenuereturnandcapital columnshavebeenpreparedinaccordancewiththeAssociaonofInvestmentCompaniesStatementofRecommended Pracce(AICSORP). Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 105 Statement of Financial Position As at 31 December 2021 Notes 31 December 2021 £’000s Non-current assets Investmentsatfairvaluethroughprotandloss 9 131,508 131,508 Current assets Trade and other receivables 10 280 Cash and cash equivalents 15 11,254 11,534 Total assets 143,042 Current liabilies Trade and other payables 11 (1,201) (1,201) Total liabilies (1,201) Net assets 141,841 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 12 1,370 Share Premium 13 14,506 Special distributable reserve 13 118,435 Revenue reserve 203 Capital reserve 7,327 Shareholders’ funds 141,841 Net asset value per ordinary share (pence) 14 103.5 TheauditednancialstatementsofDowning Renewables and Infrastructure Trust PLC were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 4 March 2022 and are signed on behalf of the Board by: Hugh W M Lile Chair Companyregistraonnumber12938740 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 106 Statement of Changes in Equity For the Period from 8 October 2020 to 31 December 2021 Notes Share Capital £’000s Share Premium £’000s Capital Reserve £’000s Revenue Reserve £’000s Special Distributable Reserve £’000s Total £’000s Balance at the start of the period – – – – – – Gross proceeds from share issue 12 1,370 136,001 – – – 137,371 Bonus shares 12 – (52) – – – (52) Share issue costs 12 – (220) – – (2,450) (2,670) Dividends 20 – – – (2,600) (338) (2,938) Transfer to special distributable reserve 13 – (121,223) – – 121,223 – Total comprehensive income for the period – – 7,327 2,803 – 10,130 Net assets aributable to shareholders at 31 December 2021 1,370 14,506 7,327 203 118,435 141,841 TheCompany’sdistributablereservesconsistoftheSpecialdistributablereserve,Capitalreserveaributableto unrealisedgainsandRevenuereserve.Therehavebeennorealisedgainsorlossesatthereporngdate. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 107 Statement of Cash Flows For the Period from 8 October 2020 to 31 December 2021 Notes Incorporaon to 31 December 2021 £’000s Cash ows from operang acvies Protbeforetaxaon 10,130 Adjusted for: Interest income 5 (4,978) Unrealised gains on investments at fair value 5 (7, 327) Increase in receivables (280) Increase in payables 1,201 Net cash oulows from operang acvies (1,254) Cash ows from invesng acvies Purchase of investments 9 (121,749) Loan Interest Received 9 2,546 Net cash oulows from invesng acvies (119,203) Cash ows from nancing acvies Gross proceeds of share issue 12 137,371 Bonus shares 12 (52) Dividends 20 (2,938) Share issue costs 12 (2,670) Net cash ows from nancing acvies 131,711 Increase in cash and cash equivalents 11,254 Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period – Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 15 11,254 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 108 Notes to the Financial Statements 1. General Informaon The Company is registered in England and Wales under number 12938740 pursuant to the Companies Act 2006 and its registered oce Beaufort House, 51 New North Road, Exeter, England, EX4 4EP. The Company was incorporated on 8 October 2020 and is a Public Limited Company and the ulmate controlling party of the group. The Company’s ordinary shares were rst admied to the premium segment of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Ocial List and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the cker DORE on 10 December 2020. The audited nancial statements of the Company (the “nancial statements”) are for the period from incorporaon on 8 October 2020 to 31 December 2021 and comprise only the results of the Company, as all of its subsidiaries are measured at fair value in line with IFRS 10 as disclosed in Note 2. The Company’s objecve is to generate an aracve total return for investors comprising stable dividend income and capital preservaon, with the opportunity for capital growth through the acquiring and realising value from a diverse porolio of renewable energy infrastructure projects. The Company currently makes its investments through its principal holding company and single subsidiary, DORE Hold Co Limited (“Hold Co”), and intermediate holding companies which are directly owned by the Hold Co. The Company controls the Investment Policy of each of the Hold Co and its intermediate holding companies in order to ensure that each will act in a manner consistent with the Investment Policy of the Company. The Company has appointed Downing LLP as its Investment Manager (the “Investment Manager”) pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement dated 12 November 2020. The Investment Manager is registered in England and Wales under number OC341575 pursuant to the Companies Act 2006. The Investment Manager is regulated by the FCA, number 545025. 2. Basis of preparaon These nancial statements have been prepared in accordance with internaonal accounng standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the applicable legal requirements of the Companies Act 2006. In addion to complying with internaonal accounng standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the nancial statements also comply with internaonal nancial reporng standards adopted pursuant to Regulaon (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union. The nancial statements have also been prepared as far as is relevant and applicable to the Company in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Pracce: Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts (“SORP”) issued in October For the Period from 8 October 2020 to 31 December 2021 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 109 2019 by the Associaon of Investment Companies (“AIC”). The nancial statements are prepared on the historical cost basis, except for the revaluaon of certain nancial instruments at fair value through prot or loss. The principal accounng policies adopted are set out below. These policies are consistently applied. The nancial statements are presented in Sterling, which is the Company’s funconal currency and are rounded to the nearest thousand, unless otherwise stated. Esmates and underlying assumpons are reviewed regularly on an on-going basis. Revisions to accounng esmates are recognised in the period in which the esmates are revised and in any future period aected. The signicant esmates, judgement or assumpons for the period are set out on page 111. There are no comparaves as this is the Company’s rst accounng period. Basis of Consolidaon The sole objecve of the Company and through its subsidiary DORE Hold Co Limited is to own Renewable Energy Infrastructure Projects, via individual corporate enes. Hold Co typically will issue equity and loans to nance its investments. The Directors have concluded that in accordance with IFRS 10, the Company meets the denion of an investment enty having evaluated the criteria that needs to be met (see below). Under IFRS 10, investment enes are required to hold subsidiaries at fair value through prot or loss rather than consolidate them on a line-by-line basis, meaning Hold Co’s cash, debt and working capital balances are included in the fair value of the investment rather than in the Company’s assets and liabilies. Hold Co has one investor which is the Company. However, in substance, Hold Co is invesng the funds of the investors of the Company on its behalf and is eecvely performing investment management services on behalf of many unrelated beneciary investors. Characteriscs of an investment enty There are three key condions to be met by the Company for it to meet the denion of an investment enty. For each reporng period, the Directors will connue to assess whether the Company connues to meet these condions: • It obtains funds from one or more investors for the purpose of providing these investors with professional investment management services; • It commits to its investors that its business purpose is to invest its funds solely for the returns (including having an exit strategy for investments) from capital appreciaon, investment income or both; and • It measures and evaluates the performance of substanally all its investments on a fair value basis. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 110 In sasfying the second criterion, the noon of an investment meframe is crical. An investment enty should not hold its investments indenitely but should have an exit strategy for their realisaon. The Company intends to hold its renewable energy infrastructure assets for the remainder of their useful life to preserve the capital value of the porolio. However, as the renewable energy infrastructure assets are expected to have no residual value aer their useful lives, the Directors consider that this demonstrates a clear exit strategy from these investments. Subsidiaries are therefore measured at fair value through prot or loss, in accordance with IFRS 13 “Fair Value Measurement”, IFRS 10 “Consolidated Financial Statements” and IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”. The Directors believe the treatment outlined above provides the most relevant informaon to investors. Going concern The Directors have adopted the going concern basis in preparing the Annual Report. The following is a summary of the Director’s assessment of going concern status of the Company. In reaching this conclusion, the Directors have considered the liquidity of the Company’s porolio of investments as well as its cash posion, income and expense ows. As at 31 December 2021, the Company had net assets of £141.8 million including cash balances of £11 million which are sucient to meet current obligaons as they fall due. Since the period end £39.9 million has been spent on new acquisions. The Group, through one of its unconsolidated subsidiaries, ulised EUR 27.4 million of its facility with SEB to help fund the addional hydropower acquisions. Through its main subsidiary, DORE Hold Co Limited, the Company has access to an undrawn RCF of £25 million which is available for either, new investments or investment in exisng projects and working capital. The RCF is currently undrawn. In the period since incorporaon, COVID-19 has connued to have a negave impact on the global economy. As the United Kingdom and the developed world connue to roll out their vaccinaon programmes, the outlook for both the UK and global economy is beginning to look more posive, although it should be noted, with the potenal for addional variants of the virus to become more prevalent, COVID-19 connues to raise potenal uncertaines and addional risks for the Company. The Directors and the Investment Manager connue to acvely monitor this and its potenal eect on the Company and its investments. In parcular, they have considered the following specic key potenal impacts: • Unavailability of key personnel at the Investment Manager or Administrator; and • Increased volality in the fair value of investments. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 111 In considering the above key potenal impacts of COVID-19 on the Company’s operaons, the Directors have assessed these with reference to the migaon measures in place. The key personnel at the Investment Manager had successfully implemented business connuity plans prior to incorporaon to ensure business disrupon was minimised, including remote working, and all sta are connuing to assume their day-to-day responsibilies. SPV revenues are derived from the sale of electricity, although approximately 89 per cent of the porolio’s revenue in 2022 is not exposed to oang power prices. Revenue is received through power purchase agreements in place with large and reputable providers of electricity to the market and also through government subsidies. In the period since acquision and up to the date of this report, there has been no signicant impact on revenue and cash ows of the SPVs. The SPVs have contractual operang and maintenance agreements in place with large and reputable providers. Therefore, the Directors and the Investment Manager do not ancipate a threat to the Group’s revenue. Based on the assessment outlined above, including the various risk migaon measures in place, the Directors do not consider that the eects of COVID-19 have created a material uncertainty over the assessment of the Company as a going concern. The Directors have reviewed Group forecasts and projecons which cover a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of this report, considering foreseeable changes in investment and trading performance, which show that the Group has sucient nancial resources to connue in operaon for at least the next 12 months from the date of approval of this report. On the basis of this review, and aer making due enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectaon that the Company has adequate resources to connue in operaon and accordingly, they connue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the nancial statements. Segmental reporng The Chief Operang Decision Maker (the “CODM”) being the Board of Directors, is of the opinion that the Company is engaged in a single segment of business, being investment in renewable energy infrastructure. The Company has no single major customer. The internal nancial informaon to be used by the CODM on a quarterly basis to allocate resources, assess performance and manage the Company will present the business as a single segment comprising the porolio of investments in renewable energy infrastructure assets. Crical accounng judgements, esmates and assumpons In the applicaon of the Company’s accounng policies, which are described in Note 3, the Directors are required to make judgements, esmates and assumpons about the fair value of assets and liabilies that aect reported Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 112 amounts. It is possible, that actual results may dier from these esmates. The preparaon of the nancial statements requires management to make judgements, esmates and assumpons that aect the applicaon of the accounng policies and the reported amount of assets, liabilies, income and expenses. Esmates, by their nature, are based on judgement and available informaon, hence actual results may dier from these judgements, esmates and assumpons. The key assumpons that have a signicant impact on the carrying value of investments that are valued by reference to the discounted value of future cashows are the useful life of the assets, the discount rates, the rate of inaon, the price at which the power and associated benets can be sold and the amount of electricity the assets are expected to produce. The sensivity analysis of these key assumpons is outlined in note 9 to the nancial statements, on page 120. Useful lives are based on the Investment Manager’s esmates of the period over which the assets will generate revenue which are periodically reviewed for connued appropriateness. Where land is leased from an external landlord, the operaonal life assumed for the purposes of the asset valuaons is valued at the earlier of planning or lease expiry. Where a project has an indenite life, the land it is located on is owned and there are no constraints regarding planning, asset valuaons are based on a perpetual life including long term capital expenditure assumpons. This is the basis for the valuaon of the hydropower assets. The actual useful life may be a shorter or longer period depending on the actual operang condions experienced by the asset. The discount rates are subjecve and therefore it is feasible that a reasonable alternave assumpon may be used resulng in a dierent value. The discount rates applied to the cashows are reviewed regularly by the Investment Manager to ensure they are at the appropriate level. The Investment Manager will take into consideraon market transacons, where of similar nature, when considering changes to the discount rates used. The revenues and expenditure of the investee companies are frequently partly or wholly subject to indexaon and an assumpon is made as to near term and long-term rates. The price at which the output from the generang assets is sold is a factor of both wholesale electricity prices and the revenue received from the Government support regimes. Future power prices are esmated using external third-party forecasts which take the form of specialist consultancy reports, which reect various factors including gas prices, carbon prices and renewables deployment, each of which reect the UK and global response to climate change. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 113 The Company’s investments in unquoted investments are valued by reference to valuaon techniques approved the Directors and in accordance with the Internaonal Private Equity and Venture Capital (“IPEV”) Guidelines. As noted above, the Board have concluded that the Company meets the denion of an investment enty as dened in IFRS 10. This conclusion involved a degree of judgement and assessment as to whether the Company meets the criteria outlined in the accounng standards. New, revised and amended standards applicable to future reporng periods There were no new standards or interpretaons eecve for the rst me for periods beginning on or aer incorporaon that had a signicant eect on the Company’s nancial statements. Furthermore, none of the amendments to standards that are eecve from that date had a signicant eect on the nancial statements. New and revised standards not applied At the date of authorisaon of these nancial statements, the following amendments had been published and will be mandatory for future accounng periods. Eecve for accounng periods beginning on or aer 1 January 2022: • a number of narrow-scope amendments to IFRS 3 “Business combinaons”, IAS 16 “Property, plant and equipment”, IAS 37 “Provisions, conngent liabilies and conngent assets” and annual improvements on IFRS 1 “First-me Adopon of IFRS”, IFRS 9 “Financial instruments”, IAS 41 “Agriculture” and the Illustrave Examples accompanying IFRS 16 “Leases”. Eecve for accounng periods beginning on aer 1 January 2023: • Narrow-scope amendments to IAS 1 “Presentaon of Financial Statements”, Pracce statement 2 and IAS 8 “Accounng Policies, Changes in Accounng Esmates and Errors”. • Amendments to IAS 12, ”Income Taxes” – deferred tax related to assets and liabilies arising from a single transacon. • Amendments to IFRS 17, “Insurance contracts” – this standard replaces IFRS 4, which currently permits a wide variety of pracces in accounng for insurance contracts. Eecve for accounng periods beginning on or aer 1 January 2024: • Amendments to IAS 1 on classicaon of liabilies clarify that liabilies are classied as either current or non- current, depending on the rights that exist at the end of the reporng period. The impact of these standards is not expected to be material to the reported results and nancial posion of the Company. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 114 3. Signicant Accounng Policies Financial Instruments Financial assets and nancial liabilies are recognised on the Company’s Statement of Financial Posion when the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets are to be de-recognised when the contractual rights to the cash ows from the instrument expire or the asset is transferred, and the transfer qualies for de-recognion in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. Financial assets The Company classies its nancial assets as either investments at fair value through prot or loss or nancial assets at amorsed cost. The classicaon depends on the purpose for which the nancial assets are acquired. Management determines the classicaon of its nancial assets at inial recognion. Investments at fair value through prot or loss (“FVTPL”) The fair value of investments in renewable energy infrastructure projects is calculated by discounng at an appropriate discount rate future cash ows expected to be received by the Company’s intermediate holdings, from investments in both equity (dividends and equity redempons), shareholder and inter-company loans (interest and repayments). Investments are designated upon inial recognion as held at fair value through prot or loss. Gains or losses resulng from the movement in fair value are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income at each valuaon point. As shareholder loan investments form part of a managed porolio of assets whose performance is evaluated on a fair value basis, loan investments are designated at fair value in line with equity investments. The Company’s loan and equity investments in Hold Co are held at fair value through prot or loss. Gains or losses resulng from the movement in fair value are recognised in the Company’s Statement of Comprehensive Income at each valuaon point. Financial assets are recognised/ derecognised at the date of the purchase/ disposal. Investments are inially recognised at cost, being the fair value of consideraon given. Transacon costs are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income as incurred. Fair value is dened as the amount for which an asset could be exchanged between knowledgeable willing pares in an arm’s length transacon. Fair value is calculated on an unlevered, discounted cashow basis in accordance with IFRS 13 and IFRS 9. Financial assets at amorsed cost Loans and other receivables are measured at amorsed cost using the eecve interest method, less any impairment. They are included in current assets, except where maturies are greater Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 115 than 12 months aer the reporng date, in which case they are to be classied as non-current assets. The Company’s nancial assets held at amorsed cost comprise “other receivables” and “cash and cash equivalents” in the statement of nancial posion. Impairment Impairment provisions for loans and receivables are recognised based on a forward-looking expected credit loss model. All nancial assets assessed under this model are immaterial to the nancial statements. Financial liabilies Financial liabilies are classied as other nancial liabilies, comprising: • other non-derivave nancial instruments, including trade and other payables, which are to be measured at amorsed cost using the eecve interest method. Financial liabilies and equity Debt and equity instruments are classied as either nancial liabilies or as equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement. Equity instruments The Company’s Ordinary Shares are classied as equity and are not redeemable. Costs associated or directly aributable to the issue of new equity shares are recognised as a deducon in equity and are charged either from the share premium account or the special distributable reserve, created on court cancellaon of share premium account. Taxaon The Company is approved as an Investment Trust Company (“ITC”) under secons 1158 and 1159 of the Corporaon Taxes Act 2010 and part 2 Chapter 1 Statutory Instrument 2011/2999. The approval is subject to the Company connuing to meet the eligibility condions of the Corporaon Tax Act 2010. The Company intends to ensure that it complies with the ITC regulaons on an ongoing basis and regularly monitors the condions required to maintain ITC status. Under the current system of taxaon in the UK, the Company is liable to taxaon on its operaons in the UK. Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the period, using tax rates that have been enacted or substanvely enacted at the date of the Statement of Financial Posion. Dividends Dividends to the Company’s shareholders are recognised when they become legally payable. In the case of interim dividends, this is when they are paid. In the case of nal dividends, this is when they are approved by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeng. Income Income includes investment income from nancial assets at FVTPL and nance income. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 116 Investment income from nancial assets at FVTPL is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income within income when the Company’s right to receive payments is established. Finance income comprises interest earned on intercompany loans and is recognised on an accruals basis. Expenses Expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis. Share issue expenses directly aributable to the lisng of shares are charged through prot and loss with incremental costs associated with raising capital charged through the Special Distributable Reserve or Share Premium Account. The Company’s investment management fee, administraon fees and all other expenses are charged through the Statement of Comprehensive Income. In respect of the analysis between revenue and capital these items are presented and charged 100% as revenue items. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances, deposits held on call with banks and other short-term highly liquid deposits with original maturies of three months or less. Deposits to be held with original maturies of greater than three months are included in other nancial assets. There are no expected credit losses as the bank instuons will have high credit rangs assigned by internaonal credit rang agencies. Seasonal and cyclical variaons The Company’s results do not vary signicantly during reporng periods. 4. Investment management fees Under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, the Investment Manager is entled to a management fee from the Company, which is calculated quarterly in arrears at 0.95% of NAV per annum up to £500 million and 0.85% per annum of NAV in excess of £500 million. The Company paid £353,135 of management fees during the period, investment management fees of £933,414 were accrued at the period end. No performance fee is payable to the Investment Manager under the Investment Management Agreement and there are no provisions that would entle the Investment Manager to a performance fee in respect of future periods. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 117 5. Return on investment 31 December 2021 £’000s Unrealised movement in fair value of investments (Note 9) 7, 327 Interest due on loans to investment (Note 9) 4,978 12,305 6. Other expenses 31 December 2021 £’000s Alternave investment fund manager fee 110 Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts 96 Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for other services 89 Company secretarial fee 62 Legal fees 87 Depositary fee 48 Hedging advisory 39 Markeng fee 53 Broker fee 53 Retainer fee 34 Other fees 74 745 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 118 Total fees payable to BDO for non-audit services during the year were £88,500 for the audit of the Company’s inial accounts and interim review. These services were pre- approved by the Audit and Risk Commiee and are not subject to the fee cap. During the Company’s IPO professional fees paid to BDO relang to reporng accountant services and tax structuring advice of £101,000 were charged. Professional fees of £27,000 were also charged for the review of the Company’s nancial model. These IPO costs were allocated against the Company’s capital reserves. 7. Taxaon Taxable income during the period was oset by expenses and the tax charge for the period ended 31 December 2021 is £Nil. As described above, the Company is recognised as an ITC for accounng periods and is taxed at the current main rate of 19%. To the extent that there is insucient group tax relief available to eliminate taxable prots, the Company may make interest distribuons to reduce taxable prots to nil. (a) Analysis of charge in the period Revenue £’000 Capital £’000 Total £’000 Analysis of tax charge / (credit) in the period: Current tax UK corporaon tax on prots of the period – – – Adjustments in respect of previous periods – – – Deferred tax: Originaon & reversal of ming dierences – – – Adjustments in respect of previous periods – – – Tax charge / (credit) on prot on ordinary acvies – – – Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 119 (b) Factors aecng total tax charge for the period The eecve UK corporaon tax rate applicable to the Company for the period is 19%. The tax charge diers from the charge resulng from applying the standard rate of UK corporaon tax for an investment trust company. The dierences are explained below. Revenue £’000 Capital £’000 Total £’000 Prot / (Loss) on ordinary acvies before tax 2,803 7, 327 10,130 Prot on ordinary acvies mulplied by standard rate of corporaon tax in the UK of 19% 533 1,392 1,925 Eect of: Capital prots not taxable – (1,392) (1,392) Non-taxable income – – – Expenses non deducble 10 – 10 Interest distribuons (543) – (543) Timing dierences – – – Group relief – – – Excess management expenses – – – Total charge / (credit) for the period – – – HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) has granted approval to the Company’s status as an investment trust, and it is the Company’s intenon to connue meeng the condions required to obtain approval in the foreseeable future. Investment companies which have been approved by HMRC under secon 1158 of the Corporaon Tax Act 2010, as amended are exempt from tax on capital gains. The March 2021 Budget announced a further increase to the main rate of corporaon tax to 25% from 1 April 2023. This rate has been substanvely enacted at the balance sheet date. There is no unrecognised deferred tax asset or liability at 31 December 2021. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 120 8. Earnings per share Revenue £’000s Capital £’000s Total £’000s Revenue and capital prot aributable to equity holders of the Company 2,803 7,327 10,130 Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue 107, 86 4 107,86 4 107, 86 4 Basic and diluted earnings per share (pence) 2.6 6.8 9.4 Basic and diluted earnings per share are the same as there are no arrangements which could have a diluve eect on the Company’s ordinary shares. 9. Investments at fair value through prot and loss Total £’000s Fair value at start of the period – Loan advanced to DORE Hold Co Limited 113,749 Shareholding in DORE Hold Co limited 8,000 Unrealised gain on investments at FVTPL 7,327 Loan Interest 2,432 Fair value at end of the period 131,508 There is a loan agreement between the Company and DORE Hold Co Limited for £120,000,000. At the reporng date £113,748,641 had been advanced. The rate of interest on the loan is a rate agreed between DORE Hold Co Limited and the Company and has been set at 6% per annum. Interest accrued at the period end and outstanding at the reporng date amounted to £2,432,398. Interest is repayable at the repayment date of 31 December 2030 unless otherwise agreed between the pares to repay earlier. The company received interest payments of £2,546,000 during the period. Included in the fair value are cash balances at DORE Hold Co of £21.8 million. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 121 The Company owns nine shares in DORE Hold Co Limited that were alloed for a consideraon of £8,000,000. Fair value measurements IFRS 13 “Fair Value Measurement” requires disclosure of fair value measurement by level. The level of fair value hierarchy within the nancial assets or nancial liabilies ranges from level 1 to level 3 and is determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is signicant to the fair value measurement. The fair value of the Company’s investments is ulmately determined by the underlying net present values of the SPV (“Special Purpose Vehicle”) investments. Due to their nature, they are always expected to be classied as level 3 as the investments are not traded and contain unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels: • Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in acve markets for idencal assets or liabilies. • Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices). • Level 3 – Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs). Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 122 The following table analyses the Company’s assets at 31 December 2021: Level 1 £’000s Level 2 £’000s Level 3 £’000s Total £’000s Investment porolio summary Unlisted investments at fair value through prot and loss – – 131,508 131,508 Total – – 131,508 131,508 The determinaon of what constutes ‘observable’ requires signicant judgement by the Company. Observable data is considered to be market data that is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and veriable, not proprietary, and provided by independent sources that are acvely involved in the relevant market. The only nancial instruments held at fair value are the instruments held by the Group in the SPVs, which are fair valued at each reporng date. The investments have been classied within level 3 as the investments are not traded and contain unobservable inputs. The Company’s investments are all considered to be level 3 assets. As the fair value of the Company’s equity and loan investments in Hold Co is ulmately determined by the underlying fair values of the SPV investments, the Company’s sensivity analysis of reasonably possible alternave input assumpons is the same as for the Group. There have been no transfers between levels during the period. Valuaons are derived using a discounted cashow methodology in line with IPEV Valuaon Guidelines and take into account, inter alia, the following: i. due diligence ndings where relevant; ii. the terms of any material contracts including PPAs; iii. asset performance; iv. power price forecasts from leading market consultants; and v. the economic, taxaon or regulatory environment. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 123 The DCF valuaon of the Group’s investments represents the largest component of GAV and the key sensivies are considered to be the discount rate used in the DCF valuaon and assumpons in relaon to inaon, energy yield, foreign exchange and power price. The shareholder loan and equity investments are valued as a single class of nancial asset at fair value in accordance with IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. Sensivity Sensivity analysis is produced to show the impact of changes in key assumpons adopted to arrive at the valuaon. For each of the sensivies, it is assumed that potenal changes occur independently of each other with no eect on any other base case assumpon, and that the number of investments in the porolio remains stac throughout the modelled life. Accordingly, the NAV per share impacts shown below assume the issue of further shares to fund these commitments. Informaon on climate related sensivies can be found on pages 23 and 24. The analysis below shows the sensivity of the porolio value (and its impact on NAV) to changes in key assumpons as follows: Discount rate The weighted average valuaon discount rate applied to calculate the porolio valuaon is 7.3%. An increase or decrease in this rate by 0.5% points has the following eect on valuaon. Discount rate NAV per share impact -0.5% change £’000s Total porolio Value £’000s +0.5% change £’000s NAV per share impact Directors’ valuaon – Dec 2021 4.05 5,547 131,508 (5,072) (3.70) Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 124 Energy yield The table below shows the sensivity of the porolio valuaon to a sustained decrease or increase of energy generaon by minus or plus 5% on the valuaon, with all other variables held constant. The fair value of the solar investments is based on a “P50” level of electricity generaon for the renewable energy assets, being the expected level of generaon over the long term. For hydropower assets, the expected annual average producon is applied to the valuaon, similar to the P50 assumpon applied to solar and wind assets. A change in the forecast energy yield assumpons by plus or minus 5% has the following eect. Energy Yield NAV per share impact -5% change £’000s Total porolio Value £’000s +5% change £’000s NAV per share impact Directors’ valuaon – Dec 2021 (6.36) (8,718) 131,508 8,750 6.39 Power prices The sensivity considers a at 10% movement in power prices for all years, i.e. the eect of adjusng the forecast electricity price assumpons in each of the jurisdicons applicable to the porolio down by 10% and up by 10% from the base case assumpons for each year throughout the operang life of the porolio. A change in the forecast electricity price assumpons by plus or minus 10% has the following eect. Power Prices NAV per share impact -10% change £’000s Total porolio Value £’000s +10% change £’000s NAV per share impact Directors’ valuaon – Dec 2021 (5.89) (8,070) 131,508 8,079 5.90 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 125 Inaon The projects’ income streams are principally a mix of subsidies, which are amended each year with inaon, and power prices, which the sensivity assumes will move with inaon. The projects’ operang expenses typically move with inaon, but debt payments are xed. This results in the porolio returns and valuaon being posively correlated to inaon. The weighted average long-term inaon assumpon across the porolio is 2.4%. The sensivity illustrates the eect of a 0.5% decrease and a 0.5% increase from the assumed annual inaon rates in the nancial model for each year throughout the operang life of the porolio. Inaon NAV per share impact -0.5% change £’000s Total porolio Value £’000s +0.5% change £’000s NAV per share impact Directors’ valuaon – Dec 2021 (2.12) (2,899) 131,508 3,108 2.27 Foreign exchange The Company, where appropriate, seeks to manage its exposure to foreign exchange movements, the objecve being, ensuring that the Sterling value of known future investment commitments is xed. The porolio valuaon assumes foreign exchange rates based on the relevant foreign exchange rates against GBP at the reporng date. A change in the foreign exchange rate by plus or minus 10% (Euro against Swedish Krona, has the following eect on the NAV, with all other variables held constant. The eect is shown aer the eect of current level of hedging which reduces the impact of foreign exchange movements on the Company’s NAV. Foreign Exchange NAV per share impact -10% change £’000s Total porolio Value £’000s +10% change £’000s NAV per share impact Directors’ valuaon – Dec 2021 (1.55) (2,130) 131,508 1,728 1.26 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 126 10. Trade and other receivables 31 December 2021 £’000s Prepayments 14 VAT 266 280 11. Trade and other Payables 31 December 2021 £’000s Accounts Payable 51 Accruals 1,150 1,201 Included in the accruals amount at the period end, £933,042 relates to the management fee charged by Downing LLP during the period. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 127 12. Called up share capital Alloed, issued and fully paid: Number of Shares Opening Balance at 8 October 2020 – Alloed upon Incorporaon Ordinary Shares of 1p each 1.00 Management Shares 50,000 Alloed/redeemed following admission to LSE Ordinary Shares issued – IPO 122,499,999 Management Shares redeemed (50,000) Ordinary Shares issued – 19 October 2021 14,508,487 Closing Balance of Ordinary Shares at 31 December 2021 137,008,487 The inial placing of 122,500,000 ordinary shares took place on 10 December 2020, raising gross proceeds of £122,500,000. Each ordinary share has equal rights to dividends and has equal rights to parcipate in a distribuon arising from a winding up of the Company. Following the Court approval on 20 April 2021, the share premium cancellaon was eecve. Bonus shares with a consideraon of £52,123 were issued and allocated to the Share Premium account. The share premium account of £121,223,000 at 20 April 2021 was transferred to a special distributable reserve account. The issue costs of £2,450,000 relang to the inial lisngs were oset against the special distributable reserve account. The Company issued 14,508,487 addional ordinary shares on 19 October 2021 raising gross proceeds of £14,871,199. At 31 December 2021 the special distributable reserve account was £118,435,271. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 128 13. Special distributable reserve As indicated in the Company’s Prospectus dated 12 November 2020, following admission of the Company’s Ordinary Shares to trading on the London Stock Exchange, the Directors applied to the Court and obtained a judgement on 20 April 2021 to cancel the amount standing to the credit of the share premium account of the Company. As stated by the Instute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (“ICAEW”) and the Instute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland (“ICAS”) in the technical release TECH 02/17BL, The Companies (Reducon of Share Capital) Order 2008 SI 2008/1915 (“the Order”) species the cases in which a reserve arising from a reducon in a company’s capital (i.e., share capital, share premium account, capital redempon reserve or redenominaon reserve) is to be treated as a realised prot as a maer of law. The Order also disapplies the general prohibion in secon 654 on the distribuon of a reserve arising from a reducon of capital. The Order provides that if a limited company having a share capital reduces its capital and the reducon is conrmed by order of court, the reserve arising from the reducon is treated as a realised prot unless the court orders otherwise. The amount of the share premium account cancelled and credited to the Company’s special reserve is £121.2 million which can be ulised to fund distribuons by way of dividends to the Company’s shareholders. The share premium created on the issue of addional ordinary shares on 19 October 2021 has yet to be cancelled. At the reporng date, the amount standing to the credit of the share premium account was £14,506,291. At 31 December 2021 the special distributable reserve account was £118,435,271. 14. Net asset value per ordinary share The basic total net assets per ordinary share is based on the net assets aributable to equity shareholders as at 31 December 2021 of £141,841,774 and ordinary shares of 137,008,487 in issue at 31 December 2021. There is no diluon eect and therefore no dierence between the diluted total net assets per ordinary share and the basic total net assets per ordinary share. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 129 15. Cash and Cash equivalents At the period end, the Company had cash of £11.3 million. This balance was held by the Royal Bank of Scotland. 16. Financial Risk Management The Company’s investment acvies expose it to a variety of nancial risks, including, interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, power price risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for overseeing the management of nancial risks, however the review and management of nancial risks are delegated to the AIFM. Each risk and its management are summarised below. Foreign exchange risk Foreign exchange risk is dened as the risk that the fair value of future cash ows will uctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. The Company monitors its foreign exchange exposures using its near-term and long-term cash ow forecasts. Its policy is to use foreign exchange hedging to provide protecon to the level of sterling distribuons that the Company aims to receive from porolio companies over the medium-term, where considered appropriate. This may involve the use of forward exchange. The Company’s sensivity to foreign exchange risk can be seen in Note 9. Interest rate risk Interest rate risk arises from the possibility that changes in interest rates will aect future cash ows or the fair values of nancial instruments. The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its cash balances held with counterpares, bank deposits, advances to counterpares through loans to its subsidiaries. The Company may be exposed to changes in variable market rates of interest as this could impact the discount rate and therefore the valuaon of the projects as well as the fair value of the loan receivables. The Company is not considered to be materially exposed to interest rate risk. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 130 The Company’s interest and non-interest bearing assets and liabilies as at 31 December 2021 are summarised below: Assets Interest Bearing £’000s Non- Interest bearing £’000s Total £’000s Cash and cash equivalents – 11,254 11,254 Trade and other receivables – 280 280 Investments at fair value through prot and loss 113,749 17,759 131,508 Total assets 113,749 29,293 143,042 Liabilies Accrued expenses – (1,201) (1,201) Total liabilies – (1,201) (1,201) Liquidity risk Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company may not be able to meet its nancial obligaons as they fall due. The Investment Manager, AIFM and the Board connuously monitor forecast and actual cash ows from operang, nancing, and invesng acvies to consider payment of dividends, repayment of trade and other payables or funding further invesng acvies. The Company ensures it maintains adequate reserves and will put in place banking facilies and it will connuously monitor forecast and actual cash ows to seek to match the maturity proles of nancial assets and liabilies. At the period end, the Company’s investments were in secured loan and equity investments in private companies, in which there is no listed market and therefore such investments would take me to realise, and there is no assurance that the valuaons placed on the investments would be achieved from any such sale process. The Company’s Hold Co is the enty through which the Company holds its investments, the liquidity of Hold Co is reecve of the investments in which it holds. The Company’s main subsidiary holds an RCF, which has currently been undrawn. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 131 Less than 1 year 1-5 years More than 5 years Total £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 Assets Investments at fair value through prot and loss (note 9) – – 131,508 131,508 Trade and other receivables 280 – – 280 Cash and cash equivalents 11,254 – – 11,254 Liabilies Trade and other payables (1,201) – – (1,201) 10,333 – 131,508 141,841 Credit risk Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty of the Company will be unable or unwilling to meet a commitment that it has entered into with the Company. It is a key part of the pre-investment due diligence. The credit standing of the companies which the Company intends to lend or invest is reviewed, and the risk of default esmated for each signicant counterparty posion. Monitoring is on-going, and period end posions are reported to the Board on a quarterly basis. Credit risk may also arise from cash and cash equivalents and deposits with banks and nancial instuons. The Company and its subsidiaries may migate their risk on cash investments by only transacng with major internaonal nancial instuons with high credit rangs assigned by internaonal credit rang agencies. The carrying value of the investments and cash represent the Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 132 The Company’s credit risk exposure as at 31 December 2021 is summarised below: As at 31 December 2021 £’000s Loan Investment 113,749 Cash and cash equivalents 11,254 Total 125,003 Price risk Price risk is dened as the risk that the fair value of a nancial instrument held by the Company will uctuate. Investments are measured at FVTPL. As at 31 December 2021, the Company held two investments through its intermediate holding company. The value of the underlying renewable energy investments held by Hold Co will vary according to a number of factors including: discount rate used, asset performance and forecast power prices. Capital risk management The capital structure of the Company at the year-end consists of equity aributable to equity holders of the Company, comprising issued capital and reserves. The Board connues to monitor the balance of the overall capital structure so as to maintain investor and market condence. The Company is not subject to any external capital requirements. Market risk Returns from the Company’s investments are aected by the price at which the investments are acquired. The value of these investments will be a funcon of the discounted value of their expected future cash ows, and as such will vary with, inter alia, movements in interest rates, market prices and the compeon for such assets. The Investment Manager carries out a full valuaon quarterly and this valuaon exercise takes into account changes described above. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 133 17. Unconsolidated subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures The following table shows subsidiaries of the Group. As the Company is regarded as an Investment Enty as referred to in note 2, these subsidiaries have not been consolidated in the preparaon of the nancial statements: Investment Place of Business Ownership Interest as at 31 December 2021 DORE Hold Co Limited 16 England 17 100% DORE Sweden Hold Co Limited 18 England 17 100% Downing Hydro AB 18 Sweden 12 100% Abercomyn Solar Ltd 21 England 17 100% Andover Aireld Solar Developments Ltd 20 England 17 100% Appleton Renewable Energy 20 England 17 100% Appleton Renewables 21 England 17 100% Beeston Solar Energy Ltd 21 England 17 100% Beeston Solar Ltd 21 England 17 100% Bourne Park Solar Ltd 22 England 17 100% Brookside Solar Ltd 21 England 17 100% Brown Argus Trading Ltd 23 England 17 100% Chalkhill Commercial PV Ltd 23 England 17 100% Chalkhill Life Holdings Ltd 18 England 17 100% Deeside Solar Farm Ltd 23 England 17 100% Emerald Isle Solar Energy Ltd 24 Northern Ireland 17 100% Emerald Isle Solar Ltd 21 Northern Ireland 17 100% Greenacre Redbridge Ltd 25 England 17 100% Greenacre Solar Energy Ltd 25 England 17 100% Greenacre Solar Ltd 21 England 17 100% Heulwen Solar Ltd 21 England 17 100% Hulse Energy Ltd 21 Northern Ireland 17 100% Hulse Renewable Energy Ltd 26 Northern Ireland 17 100% KPP132 Ltd 27 England 17 100% KPP141 Ltd 33 Northern Ireland 17 100% Moray Energy Ltd 27 Northern Ireland 17 100% Moray Power (UK) Ltd 27 Northern Ireland 17 100% Moray Power Ltd 21 Northern Ireland 17 100% Newton Solar Energy Ltd 21 England 17 100% Newton Solar ltd 21 England 17 100% Penarth Energy Ltd 21 England 17 100% Ridgeway Solar Energy Ltd 29 England 17 100% Ridgeway Solar ltd 21 England 17 100% Ringlet Trading Ltd 23 England 17 100% ROC Solar (UK) Ltd 30 Northern Ireland 17 100% ROC Solar ltd 21 Northern Ireland 17 100% Solar Finco 1 Limited 31 England 17 100% Solar Finco 2 Limited 32 England 17 100% Solar Finco 3 Limited 23 England 17 100% Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 134 Investment Place of Business Ownership Interest as at 31 December 2021 TGC Solar Oakeld Ltd 29 England 17 100% Triumph Renewable Energy Ltd 33 Northern Ireland 17 100% Triumph Solar Energy ltd 33 Northern Ireland 17 100% Triumph Solar ltd 21 Northern Ireland 17 100% Voltaise (UK) Ltd 34 England 17 100% Voltaise ltd 21 England 17 100% Wakehurst Renewable Energy Ltd 35 Northern Ireland 17 100% Wakehurst Renewables Ltd 21 Northern Ireland 17 100% York NIHE Ltd 36 Northern Ireland 17 100% York Renewable Energy Ltd 36 England 17 100% York Renewables Ltd 21 Northern Ireland 17 100% 16 DORE Hold Co is the intermediate holding company of the Group, this is 100% owned by DORE PLC 17 The Registered oce is St Magnus House, 3 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6HD 18 These Companies are 100% owned by DORE Hold Co Limited 19 The registered oce is c/o Cirio Advokatbyra Box 3294, 103 65 Stockholm 20 Appleton Renewable Energy Ltd is 100% owned by Appleton Renewables, Appleton Renewable Energy Ltd, in turn owns 100% of Andover Aireld Solar Developments Ltd 21 These companies are 100% owned by Solar Finco 1 Ltd 22 Bourne Park Solar is 100% owned by Penarth Energy Ltd 23 These companies are 100% owned by Chalkhill Life Holdings Ltd 24 Emerald Isle Solar Energy Limited is 100% owned by Emerald Isle Solar Ltd 25 Both companies are 100% owned by Greenacre Solar Ltd 26 Hulse Renewable Energy Ltd is 100% owned by Hulse Energy Ltd 27 Moray Energy Ltd and Moray Power (UK) are 100% owned by Moray Power Ltd, Moray Power (UK) Ltd owns 100% of KPP 132 Ltd 28 Newton Solar Energy is 100% owned by Newton Solar Ltd 29 Both companies are 100% owned by Ridgeway Solar Ltd 30 ROC Solar (UK) Ltd is 100% owned by ROC Solar Ltd 31 Solar Finco 1 Ltd is 100% owned by Solar Finco 2 Ltd 32 Solar Finco 2 Ltd is 100% owed by Solar Finco 3 Ltd 33 Triumph Solar Energy is 100% owned by Triumph Solar Ltd, Triumph Solar Energy Ltd in turn owns 100% of Triumph Renewable Energy Ltd and KPP 141 Ltd 34 Voltaise (UK) Limited is 100% owned by Voltaise Ltd Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 135 35 Wakehurst Renewable Energy Ltd is 100% owned by Wakehurst Renewables Ltd 36 These Companies are 100% owned by York Renewables Ltd 18. Employees and Directors The Company is governed by a Board of Directors, all of whom are independent and non-execuve. During the period, they received fees for their services of £145,833. The Company has 3 non-execuve Directors. Other than the Directors, the Company had no employees during the period. 19. Conngencies and commitments The Company has no commitments or conngencies. 20. Dividends declared As outlined on page 8 of the Chairman’s statement, in the IPO Prospectus on 12 November 2020, the Company was targeng an inial annualised dividend yield of 3% by reference to the IPO price of £1.00, in respect of the nancial period from IPO on 10 December 2020 to 31 December 2021 (equang to 3.0 pence per share), rising to a target annualised dividend yield of 5% by reference to the IPO price in respect of the nancial year to 31 December 2022. Interim dividends paid during the period ended 31 December 2021 Dividend per share pence Total dividend £’000s With respect to the quarter ended 30 June 2021 1.00 1,225 With respect to the quarter ended 30 September 2021 1.25 1,713 2.25 2,938 Interim dividends declared aer 31 December 2021 and not accrued in the year Dividend per share pence Total dividend £’000s With respect to the quarter ended 31 December 2021 1.25 1,713 1.25 1,713 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 136 On 24 February 2022, The Board declared an interim dividend of 1.25 pence per share with respect to the period ended 31 December 2021. The Dividend is expected to be paid on or around 31 March 2022 to shareholders on the register on 4 March 2022. The ex-dividend date is 3 March 2022. As announced in September 21, following the rapid deployment equity issuance proceeds and the connued strong trading performance since the two porolios were acquired, the Board announced it is increasing its dividend guidance. The Company intends to increase the dividend to 5 pence for the year to 30 June 2022 (represenng a dividend per share of 1.25 pence for the quarter ending September 2021 and thereaer). During the period, The Board declared two interim dividends of 1 pence per share on 1 September 2021 and 1.25 pence per share on 25 November 2021, with respect to the periods ending 30 June 2021 and 31 December 2021. As outlined in the Company’s Prospectus, the Company has chosen to designate part of these interim dividends as an interest distribuon. The dividend for the period to 30 June 2021, was paid as 0.50 pence per share as an interest payment and 0.50 as an ordinary dividend. The dividend paid for the period to 31 December 2021 was paid as 0.8125 pence per share as an interest payment and 0.4375 as an ordinary dividend. Shareholders in receipt of such a dividend will be treated for UK tax purposes as though they have received a payment of interest in respect of the interest distribuon element of this dividend. This will result in a reducon in the corporaon tax payable by the Company. 21. Events aer the balance sheet date Dividends On 24 February 2022, The Board declared an interim dividend of 1.25 pence per share with respect to the period ended 31 December 2021. The dividend is expected to be paid on or around 31 March 2022 to shareholders on the register on 4 March 2022. The ex-dividend date is 3 March 2022. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 137 Acquisions The Company, through its main subsidiary acquired two operaonal porolios of hydropower plants, located in central Sweden for £20.1 million and also completed the acquision of an operaonal 46 MW onshore wind project located in north eastern Sweden for £19.8 million. EUR 27.4 million was drawn against the facility with SEB to help fund the hydropower acquisions. 22. Related party transacons The amounts incurred in respect of the Investment Management fees during the period to 31 December 2021 was £1,284,177. Of this amount, £933,042 were unpaid at 31 December 2021. The placing agreement entered into on 12 November 2020 between the Company, the Directors, the AIFM, the Investment Manager, Singer Capital Markets Advisory LLP and Singer Capital Markets Securies Limited provided, amongst other things, that the Investment Manager (i) would contribute to the costs of the IPO such that the Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share at Admission would not be less than 98 pence and (ii) would be paid commission in respect of investors introduced by it to the IPO. The net eect of this receipt from, and payment to, the Investment Manager was a payment made by the Company of £648,290. These terms of the placing agreement were disclosed in the IPO Prospectus. Each of the underling investments of the Group entered into an asset management agreement with the Asset Manager. The total value of recurring services Invoiced to the companies during the period was £370,635 with a further £222,801 accrued. The £222,801 which has been accrued remained unpaid at the period end. The amounts incurred in respect of Directors fees during the period to 31 December 2021 was £145,833. These amounts had been fully paid at 31 December 2021. The amounts paid to individual directors during the period were as follows: Hugh W M Lile (Chair) £58,333 Jo De Montgros £40,833 Ashley Paxton £46,667 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 138 Tony McGing and Tom Williams were Directors of the Company from 8 October 2020 to 28 October 2020, they received no remuneraon during the period. Due to the Company being an externally managed investment company, there are no other fees due to key management personnel. Transacons with a Shareholder – Acquision of the Seed Assets Bagnall Energy Limited is a shareholder in the Company. Its shareholding can be seen on page 71. As idened in the Company’s Prospectus dated 12 November 2020, the Company beneted from an opon to acquire a porolio of c.96 MWp of operaonal solar PV projects located in the UK. The Seed assets were previously owned by Bagnall Energy Limited, a Downing Managed Fund, managed by the Investment Manager on a discreonary basis. This acquision of the Seed Assets represented a conict of interest as the Investment Manager provided investment management services to both the Company and Bagnall Energy Limited. To migate this conict, the Investment Manager put in place several procedures, including disclosure of the relevant conicts to the independent boards of both the Company and Bagnall Energy Limited, separate buy and sell side external legal advisers and a fairness opinion, addressed to the Company, on the value of the Asset to be acquired was sought from an independent expert. Intercompany Loans During the period interest totalling £4.98 million was charged on the Company’s long-term interest-bearing loan between the Company and its subsidiary. At the period end, £2.4 million remained unpaid. The loan to DORE Hold Co Limited is unsecured. As at the balance sheet date, the loan balance stood at £113.7 million. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 139 In reporng nancial informaon, the Company presents alternave performance measures, (“APMs”), which are not dened or specied under the requirements of IFRS. The Company believes that these APMs, which are not considered to be a substute for or superior to IFRS measures, provide stakeholders with addional helpful informaon on the performance of the Company. The APMs presented in this report are shown below: Gross Asset Value or GAV A measure of total asset value including debt held in unconsolidated subsidiaries. As at 31 December 2021 Page £’000s NAV a 105 141,841 Debt held in unconsolidated subsidiaries b n/a 79,250 Gross Asset Value a + b 221,091 NAV Total Return A measure of NAV performance over the reporng period (including dividends paid). NAV total return is shown as a percentage change from the start of the period. It assumes that dividends paid to shareholders are reinvested at NAV at the me the shares are quoted ex-dividend. Period Ended 31 December 2021 Page NAV NAV at IPO pence a n/a 98.00 NAV at 31 December 2021 pence b 105 103.5 Reinvestment assumpon pence c n/a 0.02 Dividends paid pence d 8 2.25 Total NAV Return ((b + c + d)/a) - 1 7.9% Alternative Performance Measures Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 140 Total Shareholder Return A measure of share price performance over the reporng period (including dividends reinvested). Share price total return is shown as a percentage change from the start of the period. It assumes that dividends paid to shareholders are reinvested in the shares at the me the shares are quoted ex- dividend. Period Ended 31 December 2021 Page Share Price Issue price at IPO (10 December 2020) pence a n/a 100.00 Closing price at 31 December 2021 pence b 4 103.50 Benets of reinvesng dividends pence c n/a 0.03 Dividends paid pence d 8 2.25 Total Return ((b + c + d)/a) - 1 5.8% Ongoing Charges A measure, expressed as a percentage of average net assets, of the regular, recurring annual costs of running the Company per Ordinary Share. This has been calculated and disclosed in accordance with the AIC methodology. Period Ended 31 December 2021 Page £’000s Average NAV a n/a 126,443 Annualised Expenses b n/a 2,056 Ongoing charges rao b / a 1.6% Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 141 Dividend yield This is the annualised measure of the amount of cash dividends paid out to shareholders relave to the IPO price of £1.00 per share and the issue price. Period Ended 31 December 2021 Page £’000s Dividend from IPO to 31 December 2021 pence a n/a 3.50 Ordinary Share price as at 31 December 2021 pence b 4 103.50 Issue price at IPO pence c n/a 100.00 Annualisaon factor d n/a 0.95 Dividend yield by reference to share price (a/b * d) 3.20% Dividend yield by reference to Issue Price (a/c * d) 3.31% Dividend Cover Dividend cover illustrates the number of mes the Company’s cash ow can cover it dividend payments to Shareholders. Dividend Cover Period Ended 31 December 2021 Page £’000 Cash ows (from porolio companies) a n/a 4,678 Cash expenses (Company and Hold Co) b n/a (1,339) Dividends for FY 2021 (excluding new equity) c n/a 2,756 Dividends for FY 2021 (including new equity) d n/a 2,938 Dividend Cover excluding new equity (a + b) / c 1.21 Dividend Cover including new issuance (a + b) / d 1.14 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 142 Glossary 2016 Paris Agreement an agreement within the United Naons Framework Convenon on Climate Change, dealing with greenhouse-gas-emissions migaon, adapon, and nance, signed in 2016 AIC Associaon of Investment Companies Asset Manager INFRAM LLP a company operated by Downing LLP. Downing LLP is the controlling member. CCGT Combined Cycle Gas Turbines Corporate PPA a PPA with a corporate end-user of electricity rather than with an electricity ulity CO2 Carbon dioxide CO2e Carbon dioxide equivalent COP26 The 2021 United Naons Climate Change Conference DHAB Downing Hydro AB distribuon network low voltage electricity network that carries electricity locally from the substaon to the end-user ESG environmental, social and governance FiT feed-in tari GAV Gross asset value – the aggregate value of the Group’s underlying investments, cash and cash equivalents, and third-party borrowings. GBP Pounds Sterling GHG Greenhouse Gas Group the Company and its subsidiaries GW Gigawa GWh Gigawa hours Investment Manager Downing LLP (Company No: OC341575) IPO Inial Public Oering KPI key performance indicator MW Megawa MWh Megawa hour MWp Megawa peak NAV Net asset value NIROC/s Northern Ireland ROC/s Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 143 O&M operaons and maintenance Ofgem the Oce of Gas and Electricity Markets Oaker a purchaser of electricity and/or ROCs under a PPA PPA a power purchase agreement PPS Pence per share RCF revolving credit facility Renewable Energy Direcve EU Renewable Energy Direcve (2009/28/EC) RO Renewables Obligaon ROC/s renewables obligaon cercate/s SE2 South Sweden SE3 North Sweden SEB Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB SEK Swedish Kroner SEM Single Electricity Market SFDR Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulaon Solar PV photovoltaic solar SORP Statement of recommended pracse SPV Special purpose vehicle Sustainable Development Goals Set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Naons Member States in 2015 transmission network high voltage power lines that transport electricity across large distances at volume, from large power staons to the substaons upon which the distribuon networks connect Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 144 Cautionary Statement The Review Secon of this report has been prepared solely to provide addional informaon to shareholders to assess the Company’s strategies and the potenal for those strategies to succeed. These should not be relied on by any other party or for any other purpose. The Review Secon may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward- looking statements”. These forward-looking statements can be idened by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “esmates”, “ancipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “will” or “should” or, in each case, their negave or other variaons or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all maers that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this document and include statements regarding the intenons, beliefs or current expectaons of the Directors and the Investment Manager concerning, amongst other things, the Investment Objecves and Investment Policy, nancing strategies, investment performance, results of operaons, nancial condion, liquidity, prospects, and distribuon policy of the Company and the markets in which it invests. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertaines because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company’s actual investment performance, results of operaons, nancial condion, liquidity, distribuon policy and the development of its nancing strategies may dier materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements contained in this document. Subject to their legal and regulatory obligaons, the Directors and the Investment Manager expressly disclaim any obligaons to update or revise any forward- looking statement contained herein to reect any change in expectaons with regard thereto or any change in events, condions or circumstances on which any statement is based. In addion, the Review Secon may include target gures for future nancial periods. Any such gures are targets only and are not forecasts. This Annual Report has been prepared for the Company as a whole and therefore gives greater emphasis to those maers which are signicant in respect of Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust PLC and its subsidiary undertakings when viewed as a whole. Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 145 Company Information Directors (all non-execuve) Hugh W M Lile (Chair) Joanna de Montgros Ashley Paxton Registered Oce Beaufort House 51 New North Road Exeter EX4 4EP AIFM and Administrator Gallium Fund Soluons Limited Gallium House Unit 2 Staon Court Borough Green Sevenoaks Kent TN15 8AD Investment Manager Downing LLP 6 th Floor St Magnus House 3 Lower Thames Street London EC3R 6HD Sponsor and Financial Adviser Singer Capital Markets LLP One Bartholomew Lane London EC2N 2AX Company Secretary Link Company Maers Limited Beaufort House 51 New North Road Exeter EX4 4EP Solicitors to the Company Gowling WLG (UK) LLP 4 More London Riverside London SE1 2AU Registrar Link Group 10th Floor Central Square 29 Wellington Street Leeds LS1 4DL email: [email protected] Depositary Gallium P E Depositary Limited Gallium House Unit 2 Staon Court Borough Green Sevenoaks Kent TN15 8AD Auditor BDO LLP 55 Baker Street London W1U 7EU Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Annual Report | 146 Shareholder Information Key Dates March 2022 Annual results announced Payment of fourth interim dividend April 2022 Annual General Meeng June 2022 Company’s half-year end Payment of rst interim dividend September 2022 Interim result announced Payment of second interim dividend December 2022 Company’s year end Payment of third interim dividend * These dates are provisional and subject to change. Frequency of NAV Publicaon The Company’s NAV is released to the London Stock Exchange on a quarterly basis and is published on the Company’s website. Share Register Enquiries The register for the Company’s shares is maintained by Link Group. If you have any queries in relaon to your shareholding, please contact the Registrar on 0371 664 0300 or on +44 (0)371 664 0300, UK Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable internaonal rate. Lines are open between 09:00 - 17:30, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. You can also contact the Registrar by email at enquiries@ linkgroup.co.uk or by sending a leer to Link Group, 10 th Floor, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL. Sources of Further Informaon Copies of the Company’s Annual and Interim Reports, stock exchange announcements and further informaon on the Company can be obtained from the Company’s website www.doretrust.com. Contacng the Company Shareholder queries are welcomed by the Company. While any queries regarding your shareholding should be raised with the Registrar, shareholders who wish to raise any other maers with the Company may do so by emailing the Company Secretary at [email protected]. This report has been printed on Revive 100 Silk. Made from FSC® Recycled cered post-consumer waste pulp. Manufactured in accordance with ISO cered Carbon Balanced standards for environmental, quality and energy management. CBP011443 Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust plc Interim Report | A Visit doretrust.com Made using 100% recycled paper. St Magnus House 3 Lower Thames Street London EC3R 6HD 020 7416 7780 Designed and printed by Perivan

Talk to a Data Expert

Have a question? We'll get back to you promptly.