CAPITAL AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

SolarKapital invests equity and entrepreneurship into corporations and projects in the solar sector.

SolarKapital is an owner-managed financial services provider who invests equity and know how along the entire value chain of the solar sector as an active partner. Applying hands-on attitude, SolarKapital supports innovative enterprises in their pursuit of strong and sustainable growth. We are looking for enterprises, which not only focus on the questions “what?” and “how?” (what are we doing and how do we do it?). More important for us is their clear answer to the question “why do we do it?”. In addition to corporate investments, SolarKapital acquires solar projects as an Independent Power Producer (IPP).
For corporate investments the regional focus is on firms based in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. For project investments the regional focus currently is on all European countries. The long term experience of the partner team in Private Equity, Corporate & Project Finance, Midcap Business and Renewable Energy make SolarKapital the ideal partner for investments in the solar sector. Our “Why” is the pleasure of being part of the build-up of leading/great/unique companies. Mediocracy is not an option. We strive for an attractive risk/return profile for our investors. We do not just manage third party investor funds but also invest our own capital in our portfolio companies and projects. These investments ensure full alignment of interests. The development of the companies is part of our success. SolarKapital offers its investors investment opportunities with relatively low complexity and in tried and tested legal structures following German law.

We are pleased to get in contact with you.

MOTIVATION

There are multiple reasons for the focus on the solar sector:

Solar is a comparatively young sector. Thus, there is still large potential for development and growth. Growth is an important driver for our investments.

Solar offers the chance to implement experience and successful business concepts from different industries. Thus, solar companies and projects offer many opportunities to improve operating results and to bring about a sustainable increase in the value of our investments.

Solar is an international market. Thus, solar companies have the chance to internationalize their business model. Cross border activity is one further driver and success factor for our investments.

Solar represents already a substantial component in the energy mix and will continue to do so in the future. Thus, solar companies and projects may not only be economically successful but play an important role in the restructuring of the energy industry.

Solar is inexhaustible and climate friendly. Solar investments meet the concerns of environment and society.

BUSINESSMODEL

The solar market is highly attractive:

  • multiple value drivers for corporate investments (market growth, operating profit improvement, consolidation/buy&build, restructuring, internationalisation)
  • stable cash flows, high debt ratio and efficiency potential for park investments
  • limited correlation with other asset classes

We provide solar companies with equity capital up to an amount of EUR 5 million. We focus on the complete value chain i.e. solar machinery suppliers, wafer-, cell- and module producers, inverter suppliers, mounting structure suppliers, EPC/turn key suppliers, park operators, monitoring systems and O&M service providers.

We advise entrepreneurs in all business aspects, i.e. strategy, corporate structure, sales, management, finance, internationalisation and M&A. We do not take over day to day business but provide coaching support in a “workshop culture”.

While applying defensive investment criteria, we target an investment with an appropriate relationship between opportunities and risks. Our investment history complies with these benchmarks.

 

Active partner for a time - network forever

All our investments benefit from the large network of SolarKapital, which gives access to important decision makers. We actively play the role of a „co-entrepreneur“ based on advisory as well as supervisory mandates. We want to ensure a regular exchange of views and ideas and are open for any questions any time. SolarKapital is equity partner for some time – the normal investment period is 5 years.

Transparent participation, no sales commissions

SolarKapital transacts its investments in legally proven structures with low complexity (i.e. limited partnerships under German law). Premiums and selling commissions do not exist. Apart from a management fee, SolarKapital is only rewarded on a success basis ("carried interest").

Management

The SolarKapital team relies on many years of business experience.
We are entrepreneurial investors having an open ear (and a big heart) for entrepreneurs.

Dr. Andreas Leimbach

Managing Partner

  • 20+ years corporate banking, structured finance and private equity (member of the boards of managing directors of Dresdner Bank AG, IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG);
  • 12+ years entrepreneurial investor in solar companies and projects
  • Experience in managing large organizations (strategy, human resources, sales & distribution, process management)
  • MBA, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

Dr. Andreas Leimbach

Dr. Tobias Engelhardt

Managing Partner

  • 15+ years private equity, 12+ years investments in renewable energies
  • Expertise as entrepreneur, consultant (Roland Berger Strategy Consultants) and investor
  • Involvement in 30 private equity transactions including investments in the solar industry
  • Experience in advising, managing and financing midcap companies as well as in executing successful exits

Dr. Tobias Engelhardt

Rudolf Vossen

Partner

  • 20+ years corporate banking and corporate finance incl. project- and capital market financing (executive positions at Banque Indosuez, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, JP Morgan, Dresdner Bank)
  • 12+ years experience in consulting in the solar industry

Rudolf Vossen

Constantinos Sioumis

Commercial Director – Greece

  • Dipl. Mechanical Engineering, University of Thessaly, MBA, University of Macedonia, M.Sc. Energy Systems, Int. Hellenic University Greece
  • 17+ years corporate advisory
  • 10+ years Renewable Energy Sources

Constantinos Sioumis

Thomas Leimbach

Partner

  • District administrator ret.
  • District president ret.
  • Public law attorney
  • 20 + years of experience in public service
  • 12 + years project development of commercial real estate

Thomas Leimbach

 
Team

Sebastian Leonhard

Investment Manager

  • M.Sc. Strategy & Finance, University Gießen, Germany
  • 4+ years Renewable Energy Sources

Sebastian Leonhard

Sylvain Deshayes

Development and Engineering Manager

  • Dipl. Energy Engineer, University of Belfort, France
  • 7+ years PV Development and Engineering
  • 9+ years Renewable Energies

Sylvain Deshayes

Nikolaos Stratos

Investment Analyst - Greece

  • B.Sc. Accounting & Finance Athens University of Economics and Business, Greece
  • 4+ years Renewable Energy Sources

Nikolaos Stratos

 

Christiane von Plotho

Asset- and Office Management
  • MBA,
  • 22+ years banking
  • 8+ years Renewable Energy Sources

 

Britta Leimbach

Asset Management
  • 22+ years project & marketing management
  • 5+ years Renewable Energy Sources

 

Nikos Papazoglou

Operations & Maintenance - Greece

  • Production & Management Engineer, Technological University of Crete
  • 10+ years technical O&M for pv plants

 

Marcia Kettern

Investment Analyst

  • M.Sc. Energy Systems Management,
  • University San Francisco, USA
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Elisavet Kourtoglou

Asset Manager - Greece

  • Dipl. Civil Engineering, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki
  • M.Sc. Technical Works Management, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki
  • 13+ years licensing and management of construction works
  • 2+ years Renewable Energy Sources
 

Athanasios Kyriakis

Head of Finance/Accounting - Greece

  • B.Sc. Economics, Athens University
  • A Class Accountant/Tax Advisor
  • 26+ years Accounting/Tax Advisory Services
  • 17+ years Renewable Energy Sources

Jean-Michel Buil

Operations & Maintenance - France

  • Electrical Engineer
  • 23+ years electrical engineering and Renewable Energy Sources

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Extended Team

The partner team is complemented by a team of specialists, in most cases supporting the partners already since 2007. The specialist team provides strategic, operational, technical and accounting resources. The members of the specialist team also have complementary qualifications and can rely on a long-standing expertise in their respective fields.

 

Alexander Pawlak

Elektrotechnical Engineering / Construction Supervision / ITB
  • Dipl. in Engineering
  • 28+ years plant engineering & construction

 

Eleftheria Drosaki

Legal Advisor
  •  
  • BSc in Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  • LL.M in IP Law, London Metropolitan University
  • 17+ years in Civil & Banking Law
  • 12+ years Renewable Energy Sources