AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Electric Power Engineers (“EPE”), a leading energy and power systems engineering and consulting firm, announced today it received a significant strategic growth investment from Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners (“Berkshire”).
EPE has deep expertise in renewables generation, energy storage, transmission and distribution, grid modernization, and digital transformation. The company collaborates with blue-chip global power and energy clients, providing a wide range of consulting services and proprietary software solutions that include utility engineering, resource development, reliability and compliance, as well as advanced integrated grid analytics.
“EPE is continually building on its position as the industry’s premier advisory firm, focused on delivering a reliable and sustainable integrated energy future through unique expertise and software,” said EPE CEO Hala Ballouz. “This investment from Berkshire will enable us to accelerate growth in pursuit of our goals, expanding our capabilities and enhancing our technological advantage, including through strategic acquisitions.”
EPE COO Stephanie Badr added, “EPE has a unique opportunity to influence and facilitate the unparalleled energy transformation underway in the U.S. and across the globe. Berkshire’s distinctive resources and experience helping high-growth industry leaders make them an ideal partner as we capitalize on that opportunity to lead in engineering the delivery of reliable and affordable electricity.”
“Record growth in data centers, manufacturing, and electrification are creating unprecedented levels of electricity demand. Combined with the power generation being developed to meet that demand and an increasingly complex electrical grid, we expect an extraordinary need for power systems engineering and knowledge over the coming decade and beyond,” said Blake Gottesman, Managing Director at Berkshire Partners. “We are excited to partner with Hala, Stephanie, and the EPE team as they rapidly grow to meet that need with innovative solutions.”
Ms. Ballouz, Ms. Badr, and the other members of EPE management will continue to lead the company and be significant investors. Private equity firm Lime Rock New Energy, which invested in EPE in December 2021, has fully realized their investment.
“Lime Rock New Energy was a great partner for the business over the last three years, assisting EPE in the tremendous growth we achieved,” Ballouz said.
“We are pleased to have supported the EPE team as they built an industry-leading company and look forward to seeing the company’s exciting next growth phase,” said Mark Lewis, Managing Director at Lime Rock New Energy.
AEC Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisor to EPE. Houlihan Lokey acted as exclusive financial advisor to Berkshire Partners.
About Electric Power Engineers (EPE)
A leader in grid reliability and resiliency, Electric Power Engineers (EPE) is a global advisory firm focused on the energy transition. Founded in 1968, the firm is committed to planning, designing and developing the infrastructure that supports the integrated grid of the future. With a mission centered on leveraging innovative technology to secure grid reliability, resiliency, flexibility and affordability, EPE’s highly experienced team of detail-oriented consultants are passionate about helping clients holistically address complex engineering and grid modeling challenges, bridging gaps and providing solutions to the evolving demands of our energy systems. For additional information, visit www.epeconsulting.com.
About Berkshire Partners
Berkshire Partners is a 100% employee-owned, multi-sector specialist investor in private and public equity. The firm’s private equity team invests in well-positioned, growing companies across business services & industrials, consumer, healthcare, and technology & communications. Berkshire recently announced the close of its 11th private equity fund – Fund XI – with approximately $7.8 billion in commitments. Since inception, Berkshire Partners has made more than 150 private equity investments and has a strong history of collaborating with management teams to grow the companies in which it invests. The firm’s public equity group, Stockbridge, founded in 2007, manages a concentrated portfolio seeking attractive long-term investments. For additional information, visit www.berkshirepartners.com.
About Lime Rock New Energy
Lime Rock New Energy is a growth equity investment partner for entrepreneurs building differentiated, innovative, and growing energy transition businesses. LRNE invests in companies across three critical sectors: products and services to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and grid modernization, energy efficiency for industry and the built environment, and the decarbonization of transportation. In partnering with entrepreneurs leading growing businesses that reduce carbon emissions, the Lime Rock New Energy team seeks to accelerate company growth with capital, strategic and process experience, operational expertise, and the team’s deep network of relationships across all facets of the new energy economy. For more information, please visit www.lrnewenergy.com.
Contacts
Greg Winter; gwinter@berkshirepartners.com; 617-316-6260