Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised French solar developer Smart Energies on a €87m fundraising from investors Plenium Partners and SWEN Capital Partners to accelerate the deployment of rooftop, car park and small ground-mounted solar projects in Europe.
Plenium Partners, through its fund Ecualia Capital, and SWEN Capital Partners, through its SWEN Impact Fund for Transition strategy dedicated to investments in renewables, join Smart Energies’ long-standing existing shareholders as well as RGREEN INVEST, which has supported the developer since 2022.
Created in 2012, Smart Energies is an independent power producer specialising in the development, financing, construction and operation of solar projects across. Europe. It currently operates 500+ solar sites in France, Italy and Greece, with 160 MWp operational or under construction. The group’s consolidated revenues exceeded €40m in 2023.
Plenium Partners is an independent Spanish investment group specialising in sustainable infrastructure to support the transition to renewable energy and the circular economy. Since its creation in 2007, it has raised over €7.5bn in investments.
Founded in 2008 as part of the OFI group, SWEN Capital Partners is an unlisted responsible investment firm specialising in private equity, unlisted infrastructure and private debt with €8bn+ AUM.
The cross-border multi-disciplinary WFW team that advised Smart Energies was led by Paris Regulatory and Public Law Partner Laurent Battoue and Corporate Partner Thomas Rabain. Laurent was assisted by Counsel Antoine Bois-Minot and Associates Juliana Brandao-Marques and Catherine Masquelet and Thomas by Senior Associate Pierre Chipaux and Associates Lucile Mazoué and Chloé Léonard. Partner Laurence Martinez-Bellet provided financing expertise, supported by Associates Simon Allain and Chloé Moriceau. Rome Partner Tiziana Manenti, assisted by Senior Associate Anthony Bellacci and Associates Antimo Rocco Nersita, Marco Iannotti and Francesco Vanzaghi, advised on Italian corporate law. Athens Seniors Associates Vasso Koumpli and Georgia Mathiopoulou and Associates Iliana Tsetsa, Katerina Maria, Anthi Antonakou and Alexia Zeriti, advised on regulatory, corporate and financing law matters pertaining to Smart Energies’ Greek projects.
