Linklaters advises ARISE IS on its acquisition of a 35% stake in Aera Group

Linklaters is advising ARISE Infrastructure Services (ARISE IS), the pan-African infrastructure developer and operator, on its acquisition of a 35% stake in Aera Group, the leading trader of environmental certificates in Africa, based on a valuation of €28.5 million.

This strategic investment is a key step for ARISE IS which aims to neutralise the carbon emissions of its projects. This new partnership will help ensure all its activities, including industrial zones in Gabon, Togo and Benin, are carbon neutral and climate positive.

Aera Group targets the acquisition of 50 MT of CO2 emissions reduction equivalent in Africa in 2021 to consolidate its portfolio, the largest for environmental certificates in Africa to date (39 projects contracted in 16 countries). The company has also announced an extension of its trading lines to cover new products: renewable energy production certificates, biodiversity protection and water management benefits.

The Linklaters team was led by Bertrand Andriani, Energy & Infrastructures partner and Mehdi Boumedine, Corporate managing associate, with Gaëtan Le Page, associate in Corporate; Lionel Vuidard, partner and Cécile Boulé, associate in Employment Law; Cyril Boussion, partner and Constance Mathais, associate in Tax; and Ngoc-Hong Ma, counsel, Emma Vernhes and Héloïse Daste, associates in Financial Regulation; and Kerry Liebenberg, counsel (London) on environmental certificate matters.