Octopus Renewables Infra Trust PLC Completion of sale of Swedish Onshore Wind Farm

RNS Number : 8804B

Octopus Renewables Infra Trust PLC

28 August 2024

 

28 August 2024

 

LEI: 213800B81BFJKWM2JV13

 

Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust plc

 

("ORIT" or the "Company")

 

Completion of sale of Swedish Onshore Wind Farm

 

Further to the Company's announcement on 18 July 2024, Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust plc announces that it has completed the sale of the Ljungbyholm onshore wind farm in Sweden to DWS Infrastruktur Europa, a DWS core infrastructure fund (the "Transaction"). The sale price of €73.7 million delivers an IRR of 11.3% over the lifetime of the Company's investment. The proceeds represent a premium of £1.4 million to the prevailing valuation of Ljungbyholm prior to agreeing the sale, of which £0.8 million was incorporated into the Net Asset Value as at 30 June 2024, with the additional c.£0.6 million to be reflected in the 30 September 2024 Net Asset Value, which will be published in early November 2024.

 

The proceeds of the Transaction will predominantly be used to partially repay the Company's short-term debt facility, following which short-term debt is expected to reduce to approximately £134 million and total gearing is expected to fall from 46% as at 30 June 2024 to 43%.¹

 

ORIT acquired the 48 MW wind farm at pre-construction stage in March 2020, investing c. €68 million in the project. The Investment Manager, Octopus Energy Generation managed the construction phase, successfully bringing the wind farm into operation in June 2021.

 

The Transaction is part of the Company's previously announced capital recycling programme, and follows the sale of two Polish onshore wind assets in December 2023, and the divestment of an option over a Spanish solar PV project in January 2024. Post the Transaction, the capital recycling programme has to date generated gross proceeds of approximately £159 million.

 

ORIT was advised on the Transaction by Newsec Energy Transition AB.

 

Phil Austin, Chairman of Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust plc, commented:

"We are pleased to complete the latest phase of ORIT's capital recycling programme, securing an attractive sale price at a premium to the asset's holding value and which once again provides support to the Company's valuations. The proceeds enable ORIT to repay a significant proportion of its short-term debt, which has been a key focus for the Company. Completion of the sale also further demonstrates our Investment Manager's ability to manage the construction and successful operation of renewable energy assets."

 

Notes

 

1.    Prior to approximately £30 million of committed investments due to be made in 2024, the majority of which relates to the acquisition of the fifth site at the Ballymacarney solar complex in Ireland.

 

     

For further information please contact:

 

Octopus Energy Generation (Investment Manager) Chris Gaydon, David Bird	Via Buchanan
Peel Hunt (Broker) Liz Yong, Luke Simpson, Huw Jeremy (Investment Banking) Alex Howe, Chris Bunstead, Ed Welsby, Richard Harris, Michael Bateman (Sales)	020 7418 8900
Burson Buchanan (Financial PR) Charles Ryland, George Beale, Samuel Adams	020 7466 5000
Apex Listed Companies Services (UK) Limited (Company Secretary)	020 3327 9720

 

 

Notes to editors

 

About Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust

 

Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust ("ORIT") is a premium-listed, closed-ended investment company incorporated in England and Wales focused on providing investors with an attractive and sustainable level of income returns, with an element of capital growth, by investing in a diversified portfolio of renewable energy assets in Europe and Australia. As an impact fund, ORIT is helping accelerate the transition to net zero by investing in green energy, whilst also contributing to a broader set of UN Sustainable Development Goals through its impact initiatives. ORIT's investment manager is Octopus Energy Generation.  

 

 

Further details can be found at www.octopusrenewablesinfrastructure.com 

 

About Octopus Energy Generation

 

Octopus Energy Generation is driving the renewable energy agenda by building green power for the future. Its specialist renewable energy fund management team invests in renewable energy assets and broader projects helping the energy transition, across operational, construction and development stages. The team was set up in 2010 based on the belief that investors can play a vital role in accelerating the shift to a future powered by renewable energy. It has a 13-year track record with approximately £6.7 billion of assets under management (AUM) (as of 31 March 2024) across 20 countries and total 4.0GW. These renewable projects generate enough green energy to power 2.5 million homes every year, the equivalent of taking over 1.5 million petrol cars off the road. Octopus Energy Generation is the trading name of Octopus Renewables Limited.

Further details can be found at www.octopusenergygeneration.com 

 

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