A Perth developer of small-scale hydro electric projects has been bought over by a London-based infrastructure fund.
Green Highland Renewables, which has its headquarters at Inveralmond Industrial Estate in Perth and which also operates a Dingwall office, has been taken over by Ancala Partners.
The new owner was formed in 2010 in order to execute and manage mid-market infrastructure investments on behalf of institutional investors.
It has previously been involved in an advisory capacity on multi- million pound deals within the oil and gas sector and in the food service industry but its move for Green Highland takes it into the clean energy sector for the first time.
No details of the deal value were disclosed by either side yesterday and no one from Ancala was available for comment on the acquisition.
However, it was confirmed that the current management team and staff were to be retained following completion of the deal.
The new owners, who have well-known business heavyweight Sir Gerry Robinson on their team as an industry partner, will also continue to trade the business under its current name and continue development of its tranche of small-scale hydro power projects.
Since its formation in 2007, Green Highland quickly established itself as a leading independent hydro developer and it manages operational assets of 4.2MW and has a further 21.9MW in various stages of development.
Ancala is keen to significantly increase the firm’s current portfolio and has vowed to make new capital available to management in Perth to drive the business forward and develop new schemes.
The sale comes less than a year after former Aquamarine Power executive Richard Round, left, took over at the helm of the business.
“This is very positive news for Green Highland Renewables and the small-scale hydro sector in general,” he said.
“Well constructed and financed hydro schemes offer stable long-term returns and this is clearly attractive to institutional investors.
“Ancala Partners has given us a strategic mandate to secure further development in order to grow our operational asset base.
“Their backing will enable us to build on our portfolio both organically and through acquisition.”
The new owners take over from previous shareholders including leading technology investor Scottish Equity Partners and the Scottish Investment Bank.
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