What Can Orion Do For You?

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Orion’s Approach to African Power Sector Challenges

Orion is well positioned to support your organisation to navigate the African power sector (IPP, C&I, distributed energy, solar home systems and transmission) in the following situations, among others: 

The Challenge	The Service	The Outcome
1. Growing the Business overhead vs deal flow balancing resources with effective results and avoiding IRR erosion	– Review the business, benchmark performance and potential – Assess market opportunity – risk and margins	– Right size the overhead to match the opportunities  – Pivot towards more appropriate, valuable deal flow
2. Exiting / Entering Businesses – what is the optimal timing, value, and counterparty	– Assess what is an opaque secondary market for the buyer or seller – Understand market position, potential and risk  – Support DD, negotiations, financing	– Sale/purchase which reflects the market and is positioned to maximise value  – Understand the risks and opportunities clearly and connect with the right counterparties to achieve the win/win
3. Financing Deals – opportunity looks good but who, how, when and on what terms should the capital be raised?	– Assess the equity and/or debt options using Orion’s wide network – Negotiate and support DD to raise the capital required	– Optimal structure, pricing, and position of the incoming capital to make the most of the opportunity
4. Management performance – fresh, independent ideas are needed but unsure where to start	– Assess shareholders’ objectives  – Review business, management capacity, resourcing and the market position – Provide training/recruiting where needed	– Potential adjustments to management – Revitalising the approach and setting realistic targets to optimise the business’s output
5. Deal challenges – Team needs support / insights to unlock a deal and reach financial close or improve operations	– Pragmatic review of the challenge and use the wide network of sector players to find the right solution  – Either simply assess or work alongside the team until the deal is compete	– Ensure the optimal result following a clinical and dispassionate review of the challenges – Creative solutions often come from  experienced, fresh pair of eyes and renewed energy
6. Lender Support – considering a deal to lend or a distressed asset which requires a workout	– Utilise experience to understand the risk and mitigation measures  – Align sponsors with lender requirements and off-taker challenges	– Save time but managing expectations and cutting to the key issues  – Find the appropriate, custom made solution
7. Investment Oversight – expertise required to oversee investments in an operating business	– Represent the investor at the SPV level – Provide good governance and expertise to the management and report to the investor	– An efficiently run business with a good and aligned relationship between the investor and the asset

2023-25: Orion Services Provided and Deals Done

Service / Deal	Services Provided
Arranged and Facilitated the Purchase of a Controlling Stake in a Private Transmission Company, Southern Africa  (“Target”)	Studied the Target, formed the consortium, conducted and coordinated the due diligence work streams (financial, legal, tax, technical, E&S, business integrity, market study, etc), advised on the purchase, supported the debt raising and concluded the deal in a remarkably short period.
Globeleq Independent Business Review and Strategic Analysis	On behalf of the shareholders, reviewed the company, its market, its strategy, its portfolio, its culture among other aspects and worked with management to recommend a strategic shift and cost cutting to succeed in the African power sector and be better positioned for new investors.
Serengeti Energy Independent Business Assessment	Conducted an assessment of the business on behalf of the Board which involved reviewing each aspect of the business (financials, O&M strategy, business development approach, executive team, market review, shareholder relations, site visits, etc) and produced a road map for the business to consider (short and medium term)
CrossBoundary Energy (“CBE”) Board Member	Represents Norfund on the Development Committee and Board advising on this growing and complex Pan African C&I platform.  Aso advising the business on its markets, company structure, capital raise and strengthening the development team.
Serengeti Energy Investment Committee (“IC”) Member	Independent representative, as an IPP expert, reviewing deals brought to the IC
International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) Hydro Advisory	Provides advice to IFC and other DFIs on a new approach to facilitate a more effective approach to develop medium and large scale hydro in Africa.
PowerGen Board Member	After successfully restructuring the company’s debt and raising new capital, was appointed as the Independent Board Member by the new shareholders to support the business in growing its mini grid and smaller scale C&I platform.
BBOXX Board Member	Work is ongoing to restructure the company, revise the business plan and attract new capital to ensure the business in the Pay Go / Distributed Energy sector thrives.  Appointed by InfraCo to join the Board.
Advisor to FQM Copper Mines in Zambia	Advise the largest consumer of power in Zambia on its power purchasing.  The focus is on negotiating with IPPs and Traders for longer term offtake alongside ZESCO and the upcoming Open Access framework
Oxford University Lecturer, MBA and MSc of Energy	Guest lectures at both the MBA and MSC Energy programmes focusing on the energy access gap in Africa, its challenges, and possible solutions.

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