3 Family Offices Investing in Renewable Energy

In utilizing the FINTRX family office data and research platform, which provides intel into thousands of direct deal transactions made by 3,190+ family offices worldwide, we explore three family offices directly investing in the renewable energy space...

1. United Green

United Green is a London, UK-based single-family office managing the assets of an undisclosed family. The firm provides the family with investment management and strategy, deal origination, due diligence, and risk management. United Green manages a globally diversified portfolio of holdings across several geographies and sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure, fast-moving consumer goods, commodities, manufacturing, construction, trade, agriculture, specialty lending, nutrition, and technology. United Green allocates mainly to private equity, venture capital, and real estate investments. Regarding real estate, United Green specializes in commercial, retail, and residential property acquisitions, with a focus on opportunities in central London. The firm's renewable energy investments focus on large-scale wind and solar parks in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Regarding technology investments, United Green targets emerging and existing businesses in the UK and the Middle East. United's venture capital investments mainly target seed, early-stage, emerging, and emerging growth companies. They are impact investors and are open to co-investment opportunities and strategic joint ventures. United Green will invest in emerging markets. The firm's specialty lending transactions focus on providing financing solutions to middle-market firms, with a specialization in trade finance. United Green comprises approximately 30 investment professionals and has an additional office in Dubai.

In July 2020, United Green acquired Rodds Bay Solar Farm, a project being developed by Renew Estate, an Australian renewable energy company with a proven track record in delivering large-scale solar farm projects, with the help of Periurban Property Development. Periurban Property identifies potential sites, engages with property owners, and conducts initial negotiations. Their vision is to deliver a flexible and authentic engagement process with all landowners, government, and community stakeholders, throughout the life-cycle of the project. 

Rodds Bay Solar Farm is a 300-megawatt solar farm project near the township of Bororen. A solar farm of this size is expected to produce 625 GWh of renewable energy each year, enough to power approximately 88,000 homes. The operational lifetime of the solar farm would be 30 years, at which time the site will either be decommissioned or continue to operate (after potentially being refurbished). 

2. ARB Family Office (Harry Halloran Family Office)

Established in 1996, ARB Family Office (Harry Halloran Family Office) is a West Conshohocken, PA-based single-family office managing the wealth of its Chairman and majority shareholder, Harry Halloran. Mr. Halloran is the Chairman and CEO of American Refining Group and ARG Resources and is regarded as a pioneer in the US wind industry. Halloran founded several companies in the wind development/operations, wind technology, and wind services sectors. ARB Family Office manages a portfolio of wind assets, private companies, private equity funds, and project equity investments.

ARB is an impact investor and focuses on making investments in climate change-driven sectors and industries including renewable energy technologies and services, water technologies and services, waste to value, energy efficiency, solar, CleanTech, health and wellness, education technology, environment, GreenTech, biomass and biofuels, food, infrastructure, and sustainable agriculture. The firm's portfolio comprises early, mid, and late-stage investments. ARB Family Office will act as the lead investor or will co-invest alongside like-minded investment firms, funds, and other family offices. ARB makes full acquisitions, majority, and minority investments, and typically takes a board or observer seat at its portfolio companies. The group targets innovative companies with strong business models that address the economic pressures and opportunities that climate change creates.

In September 2007, ARB Family Office made an undisclosed investment in 3Degrees Group Inc., a San Francisco, CA-based company that makes it possible for businesses to take urgent action on climate change. The 3Degrees team has deep expertise in sustainability consulting, environmental markets, renewable energy, carbon project development, transportation decarbonization solutions, and utility renewable energy programs. Since 2002, 3Degrees has worked with over 400 clients in 60 countries and has been recognized for its industry leadership and award-winning programs. The company has additional offices in Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and Richmond, Virginia.

In January 2012, ARB Family Office made an undisclosed investment in Soil Reef LLC, an integrated biochar product development, marketing, and sales company whose products improve human well-being by addressing soil, water, air, and carbon-based environmental challenges. In July 2015, ARB made an undisclosed investment in Natural System Utilities (NSU), a leader in water reclamation and reuse innovation with over 37 years of experience planning, engineering, operating, and maintaining water recycling systems. NSU manages 250+ onsite systems along with 150+ innovative/alternative Title V facilities across North America.

In July 2018, ARB made an undisclosed investment in Cool Planet Energy Systems, a renewable energy semiconductor manufacturing company based in Greenwood Village, CO. Cool Planet was founded in 2009 to commercialize a groundbreaking technology that produces engineered bio-carbon and renewable, carbon-negative fuel from biomass. The company focuses on deploying its proprietary Cool Terra engineered bio-carbon platform, which significantly improves soil health while sequestering carbon. With society demanding more food grown sustainably, the Cool Terra engineered bio-carbon platform contributes to a healthier planet that feeds more people and delivers higher grower profitability.

3. Ahlstrom Capital (Ahlstrom Single Family Office)

Founded in 2001, Ahlstrom Capital (Ahlstrom Single Family Office) is a Helsinki, Finland-based single-family office serving as the investment vehicle for the Ahlstrom family. The source of the family's wealth dates back to the 1850s when Antti Ahlstrom began the family business, A. Ahlström Osakeyhtiö, which became the largest industrial company in all of Finland. The business has since expanded internationally, now including subsidiaries across 33 countries.

Today, Ahlstrom Capital manages approximately $1B in assets on behalf of the family. The firm makes public equity, private equity, and venture capital investments with a focus on industrials, renewable energy, medical devices, forest assets, and real estate. Regarding private equity, Ahlstrom makes both direct and indirect (fund) investments. For non-listed companies, the group seeks to be the majority owner, however; they are open to co-investment opportunities. Ahlstrom also makes forest investments and currently owns approximately 33,000 hectares of forest holdings. Regarding industrial investments, the firm targets public and private businesses, providing fiber-based materials, industrial technology, and related services. Ahlstrom Capital also manages a CleanTech fund, which makes investments in growth-stage companies. 

In May 2014, Ahlstrom Capital acquired Destia, a private Finnish infrastructure and construction service company that builds, maintains, and designs living environments, traffic routes, and industrial environments. Services range from underground construction to comprehensive surface operations and energy/engineering construction. Destia implements advanced solutions that enable the movement of people, goods, services, and energy as a natural part of the world economy. Customers include industrial and commercial companies, municipalities and cities, as well as government organizations. Destia is part of the international Colas Group. 

In June 2017, Ahlstrom Capital made an undisclosed investment in Glaston Corporation, a leader in the glass processing industry offering equipment and services to the architectural, automotive, solar, and display industries. As environmental awareness increases, demand for more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable glass solutions is growing. Glaston contributes to the construction of a more energy-efficient society by offering a wide range of products and services that enable them to manufacture more energy-efficient windows and insulating glass units. Glaston operates globally with manufacturing, services, and sales offices in 10 countries.

In September 2020, Ahlstrom Capital acquired Ahlstrom-Munksjö, a Helsinki, Finland-based manufacturing company with a mission to expand the role of fiber-based solutions for sustainable, everyday life. Offerings include filter materials, release liners, food & beverage processing materials, decor papers, abrasive and tape backings, electro-technical paper, glass fiber materials, medical fiber materials, diagnostics, and energy storage solutions.

In December 2021, Ahlstrom Capital acquired M&J Recycling, a leading supplier of industrial waste shredders for the recycling industry. Formerly known as Metso Waste Recycling, the company aims to reduce the size of waste materials effectively and reliably. With over 1,000 installations worldwide, the company maintains a comprehensive approach to sustainability and works actively with ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria by incorporating targets related to UN Global Compact principles and UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

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