Pinsent Masons MPillay advises Proparco on strategic Asia Pacific energy investment

Law firm Pinsent Masons MPIllay has advised French development finance institution Proparco (Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Économique) on its investment in Singapore-headquartered energy-as-a-service (EaaS) infrastructure platform August Energy.

The deal will see Proparco invest in August Energy via a holding company established by asset management firm Aravest to assist with the development of the company’s portfolio of EaaS infrastructure projects in India and South East Asia. August Energy develops, owns and operates EaaS projects for a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, automotive suppliers, healthcare and data centres.

EaaS allows organisations to fulfil their sustainability and zero emissions targets by purchasing access to energy systems without the need to own the asset.

Proparco is a subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement group (AFD) whose aim includes building sustainable solutions to environmental and social challenges in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

The Pinsent Masons MPillay team on the matter was partner Mark Tan, senior associate Bryan Chapman and associate Chen Litong. Pinsent Masons MPillay is Pinsent Masons’ joint venture firm in Singapore.

Commenting on the matter, Mark Tan said: ‘We are extremely pleased to have supported Proparco on this strategic investment into sustainable infrastructure for India and South East Asia. Funding energy-as-a-service projects is an innovative way for companies to more conveniently access renewable energy platforms and to allow them to play a role in achieving net zero in their operations.’