International investors are pouring money into Germany's energy sector, and Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is at the forefront of these transactions. WFW recently advised Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) on a significant €100 million investment in empact GmbH (empact), a German energy service provider specializing in decentralized, renewable solutions for building energy supply. This investment is part of SDCL's Green Energy Transition Fund (GETF), which aims to promote scalable platforms for energy efficiency and urban electrification.
The deal showcases the growing interest in innovative German energy service providers, as noted by WFW's Dirk Janssen. He highlights the increasing similarity between these investments and traditional private equity transactions in terms of structure and complexity. This trend is likely driven by the global shift towards sustainable energy solutions and the European Union's InvestEU program, which supports GETF.
Empact's existing shareholders, including the Bauwens-Adenauer Group and the HOPP and Strungman family offices, retained their stakes in the company. This investment aligns with GETF's strategy to support decentralized, renewable energy solutions, contributing to the decarbonization of properties across various asset classes.
The WFW team that advised SDCL was led by Dirk Janssen and Dr. Christian Bauer, with support from a multidisciplinary group of lawyers, including Carolin Woggon, Tatjana Giutronich, Sarah Wolf, Dr. Sarah-Sophie Jacob, Christian Schulten-Baumer, Felix Wörner, Philipp Vogl, and Tetiana Arkhipova. Additional expertise in financing was provided by Dr. Stefan Kilgus, Dr. Marlene Kowerk, and Helena Hopmann. Regulatory advice was offered by Dr. F. Maximilian Boemke, Dr. Christine Bader, Britta Wißmann, Rebecca Trampe-Berger, Dr. Philipp Kleiner, Wiebke Westermann, and Dr. Julien Lamott. Tax law matters were addressed by Verena Scheibe and Manuel Rustler.
This transaction highlights WFW's comprehensive expertise in advising on deals at the intersection of energy, infrastructure, and sustainable transformation. It also underscores the firm's strength in both sector-specific knowledge and transactional experience, making it a key player in the global transition to a sustainable energy future.
