Combined business to operate under the Aura Power brand, backed by CVC DIF
Verdant Energy and Aura Power Developments have merged to create one of the UK’s leading solar and battery energy storage system ('BESS') independent power producers, led by Aura Power’s Founder and Chief Executive, Simon Coulson, who retains a minority stake.
The merger will bring together Verdant’s operating and under-construction solar and BESS asset base with Aura Power’s complementary, contracted portfolio to create a platform comprising c.1GW of operating and under-construction solar and battery storage assets in the UK, alongside a further c.10GW development pipeline, with selective continued development of Aura Power’s BESS pipeline in Europe. In parallel with the merger, CVC DIF secured financing from Eiffel Investment Group to support the transaction, refinance existing junior facilities and fund future growth of the combined pipeline.
Founded in 2013, Aura Power has created more than 2.1GW of solar and battery storage projects to ready-to-build or commercialised stage in the UK and internationally in partnership with exiting shareholder ib vogt. Recently, the company successfully pivoted to an IPP model, reaching financial close on six UK solar projects and energising its first project, Kemble, earlier this year. Since launch in 2022, Verdant has created a portfolio of c.660MW of assets, forming an operating and under-construction asset base of utility-scale solar and co-located battery storage assets across the UK. The combined business will employ over 75 people with leadership drawn from senior individuals from both businesses across development, construction, commercial, legal and finance.
Simon Coulson, Founder and Chief Executive of Aura Power, commented: 'This merger with Verdant Energy, with the backing of CVC DIF, marks a transformative milestone for Aura Power. By combining our extensive development pipeline with Verdant’s robust delivery track-record, we are perfectly positioned to scale our IPP model. The deal provides us with both the financial strength and operational expertise to accelerate the delivery of critical solar and battery storage infrastructure, helping the UK meet its ambitious green energy targets.'
Caine Bouwmeester, Partner and Head of Renewable Energy at CVC DIF, added: 'This transaction builds on our original investment in Verdant, bringing together two highly complementary businesses to create a leading UK solar and BESS IPP with the scale, pipeline and delivery capability to generate long-term value. We look forward to partnering with Simon and the team as they take the business into its next phase of growth.”
CVC DIF’s investment has been made through DIF Infrastructure VII ('DIF VII').
Akereos Capital acted as financial and debt adviser, CMS acted as legal adviser, TLT acted as real estate adviser, DNV acted as technical adviser and PwC advised on financial, tax and structuring matters to CVC DIF. Burges Salmon acted as legal adviser to Aura Power and Norton Rose Fulbright acted as legal adviser to ib vogt.
Source: Aura Power
