Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT) is selling its Ljungbyholm wind farm in Sweden for around â‚¬74m as part of an ongoing capital-recycling programme.

ORIT said the 48MW Ljungbyholm wind farm is being acquired by a German institutional investor at a price in line with the company’s 31 March 2024 valuation.

The sale is expected to generate an internal rate of return of around 11% over ORIT’s investment period which started in 2020.

ORIT invested €68m in March 2020 to acquire the Ljungbyholm wind farm at a pre-construction stage. ORIT’s investment manager, Octopus Energy Generation managed the construction phase, bringing the wind farm into operation in June 2021.

The London-listed fund said the latest divestment is part of its capital-recycling programme, adding that once the deal is completed, the programme will have generated approximately £159m (€189m).

“Other capital recycling projects are in progress and the company will provide further updates when appropriate,â€� ORIT said.

ORIT said the net proceeds from the sale of the asset are expected to be used predominantly to repay part of ORIT’s short-term debt facility.  

Phil Austin, chairman of ORIT, said: “We are pleased to enter this transaction, which is another key part of ORIT’s capital-recycling programme. The agreed price further supports the company’s valuations, and once the transaction is completed it will enable us to reduce our short-term debt which, as we have previously communicated, is a key objective for us at this time. 

Windfarm

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“Ljungbyholm was the company’s first investment following ORIT’s IPO, and the exit further demonstrates our Investment manager’s ability to manage the construction and operation of new renewable-energy assets, which helps to drive the transition to net zero.â€�

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