Find a lawyerOur capabilitiesYour careerSearch
Locations
Our capabilities
News

Select language:

Locations
Our capabilities
News

Select language:

hamburger menu showcase image
  1. Our thinking
  2. Transformational M&A
  3. Bundling small projects from SME developers into portfolios to create scale
Bundling small projects from SME developers into portfolios to create scale
10 key trends in transition M&A
hero-image-0
Striking the right balance between development and generating assets in a renewables portfolio is very important.

As with any other nascent industrial sector, in recent years we have also seen project developers grappling with the question of how to monetise the new asset classes they are developing.

With renewables projects in particular, project sizes in many parts of the world, including emerging regions such as Southeast Asia, have historically been small. The more successful project sponsors have sought to construct portfolios of assets, which combine cash-flow generative, power producing assets with a clear and committed development pipeline and a robust management and operational team. Portfolio or platform creation has allowed developers in many cases to raise further equity funding and green finance in various forms to support the development of their businesses.

Critically, from an M&A perspective, this has also facilitated the creation of companies of sufficient scale to attract material interest as acquisition targets from a range of strategics, private capital investors, and pension and other institutional funds.

This has led to a number of hotly contested auction processes globally in recent years, such as the $1.55bn Sprng Energy sale in India and the $605m sale of Nexif Energy to Ratch Group in Southeast Asia, which completed in early 2023.

A clear geographic strategy will often be important for the creation of a successful renewables portfolio for an M&A exit, says Philip Morgan, Freshfields Partner and head of the firm’s energy and natural resources practice in Asia. 'Platform sponsors will need to determine at an early stage whether they will be geographically diversified or focused on particular countries, regions or market types, for example, developed versus developing economies.'

A platform may focus on a single jurisdiction in countries such as India or the US where the domestic opportunity is huge. Or it could be more regional but thematic, as in developed economies in the Asia-Pacific region.

This approach may afford opportunities to reach scale domestically on an accelerated basis and allow for a narrower management focus.

quotemarks-dblue.png

Platform sponsors will need to determine at an early stage whether they will be geographically diversified or focused on particular countries, regions or market types, for example developed versus developing economies.

Philip Morgan
Freshfields Partner and head of the firm’s energy and natural resources practice in Asia

More globally diversified portfolios will have the advantage of greater insulation from regulatory or market change in particular jurisdictions and may be able to draw on global best practices as a differentiator in developing markets, Philip Morgan says.

'Irrespective of the approach taken, developing a coherent business philosophy and strategy for the portfolio’s geographic growth, which is aligned with the emerging operational and regulatory landscape, will be critical when presenting a compelling target business to potential acquirors.'

As noted above, striking the right balance between development and generating assets in a renewables portfolio is very important. Producing assets demonstrate the management team’s capabilities and provide cash flow for debt repayments and to fund the development pipeline.

Whilst portfolio building has been a clear feature of the renewables industry, and one which has assisted in its growth to date, it remains to be seen whether portfolios will be replicated in other emerging, decarbonising industries such as biogas or battery energy storage systems (BESS), where scale and scalability remains uncertain in the short- to medium-term.

At present, and in a bid to reduce unit production costs to an economically viable level, most hydrogen projects are being conceived on a scale that would not lend itself well to portfolio creation, says James Chapman, Freshfields Partner advising on the energy transition, including project development and investment 'But this could change as the cost of key technologies reduces and technologies become easier and cheaper to deploy on a smaller scale and using more modular technology, as we have seen to some extent in recent years with LNG regasification.'

Related services
ESG and sustainability
Energy
Energy transition
ESG competition and collaboration
Mergers and acquisitions
Private capital
Sustainable finance and investment
Sustainable transactions
Transformational M&A 10 key trends

Transformational M&A 10 key trends

Transformational M&A
Reports
4 Jun 2024
Increased vertical and horizontal integration

Potential ramifications of government subsidies and incentives granted to a target require detailed investigation.

Reports
4 Jun 2024
Traditional players moving outside of their comfort zones

M&A and JVs allow for a much speedier move into markets where one partner or target has access to and knowledge of a particular territory or has finessed a particular business line.

4 Jun 2024
New technology providers and specialist operators entering projects earlier

Parties should anticipate the path to final investment decision and project commissioning, ensuring appropriate off-ramps.

4 Jun 2024
Geography is critical for many low-carbon technologies

A in new jurisdictions or sub-sectors needs robust diligence, appropriate deal structuring and contractual protections. Allocate more time to scenario planning and contingent downside risk evaluation.

4 Jun 2024
No business is an island: low-carbon investment requires a full value chain

Sellers unable to credibly explain how key business inputs can reliably support the target business may struggle in transactions.

4 Jun 2024
Setting up businesses/projects to facilitate M&A and realise synergies in future is critical

Balancing the need for the right partners at the right time – providing construction expertise, IP, a route to market etc – with the need for shareholders to exit and recycle capital is often critical in a new business area.

4 Jun 2024
Sources of capital driving M&A activity (and their constraints) are changing

A positive ESG score cannot mask a poor credit prospect, but can positively affect deals with marginal economics and/or in a busy M&A deal market with constrained debt liquidity.

4 Jun 2024
Private capital trends are affecting energy transition M&A

Financial investors are discovering the difficulty of assessing and reporting on the (often varied) ESG characteristics and impact of their investments.

4 Jun 2024
Antitrust and FDI controls are influencing energy transition M&A

Getting M&A over the antitrust hurdle primarily requires demonstrating positive externalities (a climate benefit) that offsets harms to competition.

4 Jun 2024
Outlook for transition M&A

M&A is not the only mechanism by which the energy transition will be delivered, but has a far more important role than many appreciate. More conservative and organic change will likely not be enough.

Contacts
London
James ChapmanPartner
Singapore
Philip MorganPartner
London
Jake ReynoldsHead of Client Sustainability and Environment
Hamburg, London
Natascha DollPartner
FIND US IN
All locations
NAVIGATE TO
About usYour careerOur thinkingOur capabilitiesNews
CONNECT
Find a lawyerAlumniContact us
NEED HELP
Fraud and scamsComplaintsTerms and conditions
LEGAL
AccessibilityCookiesLegal noticesTransparency in supply chains statementResponsible procurementPrivacy

© 2025 Freshfields. Attorney Advertising: prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome

Select language: