Alantra creates transversal Group to address the Energy Transition
Date 15 February 2023
Type Press Releases
- The Energy Transition Group will be co-chaired by François de Rugy, former French energy transition minister, and Nemesio Fernandez-Cuesta, former Spanish Secretary of State for Energy and former Chairman of Eolia Renovables
- The new Group will allow Alantra to render a transversal offering to investors, companies, and entrepreneurs aiming to transform their energy models, drive sustainable innovation, invest in clean energy technology or renewable energy infrastructure
- Leveraging its current transversal capabilities, Alantra plans to further expand the Energy Transition Group’s offering by adding complementary high value-added advisory services and investment strategies for clients and investors
Paris/Madrid/Milan – Alantra, a global asset management and investment banking services firm, announced the launch of its Energy Transition Group, which will be co-chaired by François de Rugy, former French Energy Transition Minister, and Nemesio Fernandez-Cuesta, former Spanish Secretary of State for Energy and former Chairman of Eolia Renovables.
The new business will provide highly specialized advisory (M&A, Debt and ECM), asset management, technology and strategic advisory to investors, companies, and entrepreneurs looking to enhance energy efficiency by decarbonizing their operations or by investing in clean energy innovations and renewable energy infrastructure projects in Southern Europe.
To limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2030, investments of $47 trillion are required in the next 10 years[1], out of which an estimated amount of $4 trillion[2] will have to be invested in France, Italy, and Spain. A significant part of this figure will flow into the private sector, notably in projects connecting technology innovation, production, distribution, and storage infrastructure, and the transformation of companies.
Today, Alantra has more than 65 professionals dedicated to Energy Transition and Sustainability advisory and investment across its businesses. In Asset Management, Alantra is currently aiming to mobilize c. €2bn for solar infrastructure and clean energy innovation, building on its experience of launching Eolia Renovables in 2007[3].
In addition, Alantra’s investment banking division has completed c. 70 sustainable or green deals in the past five years, including advising Audax Renovables on the origination, structuring and closing of a Market Access partnership with Shell Energy Europe; KKR on the sale of a minority stake in CMC Machinery to Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund; Solaria on a recap refinancing of two solar PV projects; and BiFire on its IPO on Euronext Growth Milan.
The firm recently acquired a majority stake in Deko Data, a newly-founded company focused on helping companies create value through Advanced Data Analytics & AI solutions at scale, and has completed more than 200 projects in the space – including advising global energy and utilities companies.
Nemesio Fernandez-Cuesta and François de Rugy
“I am pleased to welcome Nemesio and François, two highly recognized experts in the fields of clean energy and sustainability,” Santiago Eguidazu, Alantra’s Executive Chairman, commented. “Alantra’s long-standing experience in the field, both in asset management and investment banking, combined with their expertise, will position us at the forefront of accelerating the energy transition. Going forward, we plan to expand our offering with further complementary high value-added advisory services and investment strategies for our clients and investors.”
Nemesio Fernandez-Cuesta was Spanish Secretary of State for Energy from 1996 to 1998. He held C-level roles at energy and infrastructure companies: He spent more than 20 years at Repsol, where he was responsible for the Commercial and Exploration and Production areas and COO, and he was Chairman of Eolia Renovables. Mr. Fernandez-Cuesta occupied further executive positions such as Chairman and CEO of Diario ABC and Vice Chairman of Vocento. He is a lecturer at IE University (Energy Transition & Climate Change) and Carlos III University in Madrid.
“I am excited to join Alantra together with François at a time of a critical challenge and opportunity. We consider the energy transition and decarbonization of the global economy as a clear value creation factor that will be differential in the years to come, both to realize efficiencies and generate sustainable new business opportunities,” Nemesio Fernandez-Cuesta, Co-Chairman of Alantra Energy Transition, said.
In France, Alantra’s Energy Transition Group will have a particular focus on supporting the growth of nascent businesses committed to driving the decarbonization of the economy and sustainable innovation. Alantra’s strategic partner Avolta, a tech M&A boutique, will play a key role in supporting the development of these businesses.
“The energy transition is a major challenge for our planet and our economy,” François de Rugy, Co-Chairman of Alantra Energy Transition, added. “With the launch of this new business, we are bringing together in-depth experience and expertise across Alantra’s full service offering to ensure the right deployment of capital as part of our global efforts to reach net zero.”
François de Rugy served as President of the French National Assembly from 2017 to 2018 and was French Minister of Ecological and Solidary Transition from 2018 to 2019. In addition to his committee assignments, Mr. de Rugy chaired the France-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group.
[1] The International Renewable Energy Agency’s World Energy Transitions Outlook 2022 (excl. fossil fuel and nuclear investments)
[2]European Commission
[3]In 2007, N+1 (which later rebranded to Alantra) founded Eolia Renovables as an independent power producer engaged in the development, construction and operation of wind farms and solar photovoltaic plants that over time reached an aggregated capacity of 1.4 GW. The company was sold to Oaktree in 2015.