Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised Sustainable Development Capital LLP (“SDCL”) on its approximately €100m investment in empact GmbH (“empact”) through its Green Energy Transition Fund (GETF). empact’s existing shareholders, including the Bauwens-Adenauer Group and the HOPP and Strungman family offices office retain their stakes in the company.
This investment aligns with GETF’s strategy to promote scalable platforms that contribute to energy efficiency and the electrification of urban real estate. GETF is also supported by the European Union’s InvestEU programme.
SDCL is an investment company specialising in sustainable energy infrastructure. With offices across Europe, North America and Asia, it develops and finances energy-efficient and decentralised solutions to reduce emissions and strengthen security of supply.
empact is a German energy service provider focussed on decentralised, renewable solutions for the energy supply of buildings. It handles the planning, financing, construction and operation of integrated systems for the decarbonisation of properties in all asset classes.
The multidisciplinary WFW team that advised SDCL was co-led by Munich Corporate Partners Dirk Janssen and Dr Christian Bauer. They were supported by Hamburg Partner Carolin Woggon, Counsel Tatjana Giutronich, Senior Associates Sarah Wolf and Dr. Sarah-Sophie Jacob, Associates Christian Schulten-Baumer, Felix Wörner and Philipp Vogl and Transaction Lawyer Tetiana Arkhipova. Hamburg Partner Dr Stefan Kilgus, Managing Associate Dr Marlene Kowerk and Associate Helena Hopmann provided financing expertise. Regulatory advice was provided by Hamburg Partners Dr F. Maximilian Boemke and Dr Christine Bader, Düsseldorf Partner Britta Wißmann, Counsel Rebecca Trampe-Berger and Associates Dr Philipp Kleiner, Wiebke Westermann and Dr Julien Lamott. Hamburg Partner Verena Scheibe and Managing Associate Manuel Rustler advised on tax law matters.
Dirk commented: “This transaction demonstrates the continuing strong interest of international investors in innovative German energy service providers. In terms of structure and complexity, these investments are becoming increasingly like traditional private equity transactions”.
Christian added: “We are delighted to have advised SDCL on this important investment. This instruction is testimony to our comprehensive expertise advising on deals at the interface between energy, infrastructure and sustainable transformation and demonstrates both our strength in sector and transactional experience”.