Ecofin Limited ("Ecofin"), a London based investment manager
specialising in the utilities and infrastructure sectors with
approximately $5,400 million of assets under management, is pleased to
announce a major new investment in Solel Solar Systems Limited
("Solel").
Ecofin, on behalf of its funds and certain co-investors, has
invested $105 million in shares of Solel through a combination of
subscription for new equity and secondary share purchases. Solel will
be undertaking an additional round of capital raising, following which
Ecofin will hold a significant minority stake in the company.
Solel specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of
solar fields and critical solar field components for large scale power
generation. Solel is the world´s largest solar thermal company with
over 20 years experience in the sector. It specialises in the
commercially proven technology - parabolic troughs which have been
operational since 1985 in the Mojave Desert. These nine solar energy
generating system ("SEGS") plants produce 354MW of clean, renewable
electricity per annum using Solel equipment and technology. They
supply the needs of half a million consumers and eliminate the need
for 2 million barrels of oil a year.
Solel is currently in the process of constructing 150MW of solar
thermal plants in Spain. Research and development carried out by
Solel´s team of engineers has improved the output of the solar thermal
field by more than 40% compared to the original SEGS plants. In
addition, Solel has signed a power purchase agreement with the Pacific
Gas & Electric company to supply a solar thermal power field of 553MW
in California and is in discussions with a number of other utilities
about similar projects.
Solel employs approximately 300 staff and its headquarters and R&D
centre are based in Bet Shemesh, Israel. It has subsidiary offices in
Spain and the United States.
Commenting on the transaction, Bernard Lambilliotte, Ecofin´s
Chief Investment Officer said:
"We are delighted to make this investment in Solel and look
forward to supporting the company through a period of rapid growth.
The use of parabolic troughs in the creation of solar thermal power
plants represents a real opportunity to develop a utility scale
solution to renewable energy. Solel has the longest track record in
this industry, having built the original SEGS plants, and we fully
support the entrepreneurial approach to reducing the cost of solar
thermal power followed by their CEO Avi Brenmiller and his team."
Avi Brenmiller, CEO of Solel also commented:
"We are very pleased to welcome Ecofin as a long term shareholder
and also onto the Board of Solel. We look forward to leveraging
Ecofin´s specialist utility and financial skills to continue the
development of the Company. Ecofin has a strong track record of
successful investment in the renewable sector and we welcome its
experience and input on how best to achieve Solel´s goals."
About Ecofin
Ecofin is an investment and advisory firm, founded in 1992, which
specialises in the global utility and infrastructure industries. The
firm is based in London and provides discretionary fund management
services and advice to institutional and corporate clients.
Ecofin is an independent firm owned by its principals and private
investors. The firm´s principal operating company, Ecofin Limited, is
an English company which has offices in London and New York. Ecofin is
authorised and regulated by the U.K. Financial Services Authority and
is also SEC registered. EFM Limited is an associated company based in
Jersey, with offices in Geneva and Hong Kong. Further information on
Ecofin can be found in its web site www.ecofin.co.uk.
Further information about Solel can be found in its web site
www.solel.com.
