Gresham establishes energy and environmental team

Gresham, the mid market private equity firm today announces the creation of a dedicated energy and environmental team that aims to build on the successful investments the firm has already made in these sectors. The team will be headed up by Andy Marsh and Christian Bruning.

Within the energy sector, the UK has a wealth of leading businesses with an international reach and this global outlook is one of the key attractions for Gresham. Indeed, there are a number of positive changes driving growth in the sector. These include:

Sustained high energy prices and the technological advances resulting from research and development investment have made many previously uneconomic oil and gas reserves now viable. The UK, with its strong and developed expertise built up in the mature North Sea oilfields has many world leading businesses in the sector.
In line with global trends to reduce non-core activities, many, multinational and global oil companies are outsourcing more operational requirements to third parties, such as skilled UK-based businesses.

Andy Marsh, Gresham partner commented; “We want to increase our level of investment in companies that benefit from the structural and technological changes currently being experienced in the sector. We are particularly attracted to firms that have an exposure to sub- sea oil and gas production.”

At the same time, companies increasingly need to source alternative forms of energy and show they are able to handle their waste management in an environmental fashion in order to establish their green credentials.

Christian Bruning, Gresham partner, said: “For companies of all sizes, minimising environmental impact is increasingly becoming an economic issue as well as a social responsibility issue. We are keen to help companies in waste management and recycling industries.”

Current sector investments include Swift, the oil & gas recruitment company and Olaer which produces hydraulic components used in wind and wave power generation. Both have benefited from a growing number of companies focusing on their environmental credentials.