Actis buys Welspun’s six road projects for $775 million

The UK’s global investor Actis has acquired a portfolio of six operating highway toll road projects in India from Welspun Enterprises Limited (WEL), part of the Welspun Group, for a total value of $775 million (Rs 60 billion). The portfolio is a stable mix of annuity and toll cash flows, with projects strategically located across India, including the most prominent North-South highway corridor. This will be the first road investment made by Actis Long Life Infrastructure Fund (ALLIF) in India. ALLIF seeks to invest in stabilised operating assets across multiple infrastructure sectors that provide investors with a high cash yield. Five of the six toll roads have hybrid annuity concessions, wherein the concessionaire receives a fixed payment to ensure road availability.