Séchilienne Sidec has become majority shareholder in Methaneo, a pioneer in the field of bio-methanization in France, thus consolidating its leadership position in energy generation from biomass resources

For immediate release – May 10, 2012

Séchilienne Sidec has become majority shareholder of Methaneo, acquiring the 60% of the company that was held by Demeter Partners and Omnes Capital (formerly Crédit Agricole Private Equity). Methaneo’s two founders, Yann Mercier and Sébastien Couzy, will keep their 40% stake and will continue to manage the company.

Since its creation in 2007, Methaneo has built up a unique portfolio of 22 bio-methanization projects that aim to use waste from livestock and from agribusiness in general to produce biogas, a renewable energy source available around the clock. As well as helping to limit the impact that farming has on the environment, bio-methanization also serves to improve the quality of organically produced fertilizers.

Methaneo’s aim is to have around 25 MW of installed capacity over the next five years. The first of its projects, TIPER, with a capacity of 2 MW is currently being developed in Thouars in the Poitou Charentes region and is due to be commissioned in 2013.

France offers considerable growth potential for bio-methanization, as installed capacity in that country comes to only 10 MW, compared with 3000 MW in Germany. Through Methaneo, Sechilienne Sidec will be in the vanguard of this new segment of the energy industry, whose growth prospects are of the order of 30% per annum in the coming years.

Methaneo and Séchilienne Sidec share a similar growth model, based on secure biomass resources with no conflict of use, long-term sales contracts, solid project financing mechanisms, and a durable partnership with farmers and agribusiness.

“France has three huge sources of biomass : bagasse extracted from sugar cane, fermentable agricultural waste, and wood. Séchilienne Sidec is already the undisputed leader in energy produced from bagasse and now, thanks to Methaneo, it will benefit from the rapid growth in the market for energy generated from by-products of the agricultural industry”, said Jacques Petry, Séchilienne Sidec’s CEO.

Methaneo’s founders Yann Mercier and Sébastien Couzy said: “We have chosen to team up with Séchillenne Sidec, which is committed to investing the amounts needed to fund our growth and to providing its technical expertise to build and manage our projects. We have been seeking a partnership with an industrialist in tune with our development model, which will be key to the success of this transaction both for us and for our local partners.”

“We are especially proud of having been a partner of Methaneo’s over the past four years and of having contributed to the emergence of a bio-methanization industry in France. As a new stage in the industry’s development commences, Methaneo will benefit from the support of its new shareholder and industry peer”, declared Serge Savasta, in charge of renewable energy business at Omnes Capital and Olivier Dupont, chairman of Demeter Partners.

About Séchilienne Sidec

Séchilienne Sidec is an independent energy producer, with 20 years of experience in generating electricity from biomass resources. The group specializes in operating medium-sized power plants in complex environments where close cooperation with biomass suppliers is essential. Séchilienne Sidec is also a leading producer of solar power-generated electricity.

About Methaneo

Methaneo is a company that specializes in the development and funding of local methanization projects using biomass generated by farming and agribusiness. The company was set up in 2007 by Yann Mercier and Sébastien Couzy, both experts in the field of biogaz durable development.

About Omnes Capital (former Crédit Agricole Private Equity)

Omnes Capital is a major player in private equity, with a commitment to financing SMEs. With €1.9 billion in assets under management, Omnes Capital provides companies with the capital needed to finance their growth and with key expertise in a number of areas: mid-cap LBO & Expansion Capital, Venture Capital in technology and life sciences, Renewable Energy, Secondary Funds of Funds, Co-Investment. Omnes Capital, formerly Crédit Agricole Private Equity, was a subsidiary of Crédit Agricole until March 2012 when the company was acquired by Coller Capital, the global leader in the secondary private equity market. Omnes Capital is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

About Demeter Partners

Demeter Partners, an independent management company founded in 2005, manages two equity funds totaling € 310 million, dedicated to SMEs in eco-industries (water, waste, air, soil …) and eco-energies (renewable energies, Energy efficiency, green buildings, clean transportation …) located mainly in France, Germany and Spain. Since its inception, it has invested in 36 companies in the cleantech sector. Through the Funds it manages, Demeter Partners takes substantial minority participations which allow it to establish a close relationship with the executive team and to offer them the support of an experts’ network, research organizations and government agencies that surround it. Demeter Partners Funds are sponsored by CDC and IFP New Energy and subscribed by some twenty French and foreign institutional investors. The company currently has offices in Paris, Berlin and Madrid.

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