Breda, 28 juni 2023 – Opcharge, de Nederlandse leverancier voor laadoplossingen voor de publieke en semi-publieke markt, heeft zich verzekerd van een investering van EUR 32 miljoen. Het Brabantse bedrijf werkte hiervoor samen met het Corporate Finance-team van IBS Capital Allies. Met de kapitaalinjectie, die afkomstig is van grootaandeelhouder Ramphastos Investments, ASN Bank en door Aegon Asset Management beheerde investeringsvehikels kan het bedrijf haar netwerk van laadpalen in binnen- en buitenland nog sneller uitbreiden.
The transaction is the largest investment ever raised in the Netherlands by an independent charging station operator.
Cyriel van Bree, CEO and partner of Opcharge: “Both the share of fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids on Dutch roads is growing rapidly. Among other things, improved technology, the large supply and shorter delivery times are responsible for this important development in the energy transition. The Netherlands is now running into a major challenge, namely the availability of charging stations for all these cars. Thanks to this raised funding, we can further accelerate our ambitious growth strategy to help meet this demand.”
Climate Agreement
According to the Climate Agreement, all new cars sold in the Netherlands from 2030 must be emission-free.
In that year, it is estimated that there will be two and a half million electric cars driving around the Netherlands and this will require about one million public charging points.
Van Bree: “We face an enormous challenge to realize this. My experience is that the goodwill is great, but that many parties lack the knowledge for setting up a good infrastructure of charging stations.”
Opcharge focuses on municipalities, housing associations, companies and associations.
The company distinguishes itself by thinking with these parties as a partner from the very beginning.
“This involves locations of the charging stations, but also, for example, the consequences for traffic flows, developments in the field of generating and storing green energy, as well as practical matters such as expected maintenance. In addition, we can take care of the financing so there is no obstacle to realizing this important facility,” Van Bree continued.
Accelerate growth
The EUR 32 million capital injection was raised by three Dutch financiers: major shareholder Ramphastos Investments, ASN Bank and investment vehicles managed by Aegon Asset Management (with the investment by these investment vehicles being made possible in part by the European Investment Fund with support from the European Union).
Diedrik Oost, Principal at Ramphastos Investments said, “When we invested in Opcharge over a year ago, we initiated an ambitious growth strategy together with management. The financing now concluded shows that this strategy is the right one and enables Opcharge to grow even faster, both in the Netherlands and abroad.”
Van Bree adds: “We have installed the first charging stations in Germany and the United Kingdom, and we have advanced plans to become active in the Belgian, French and Spanish markets. Our ambition is to connect 75,000 charging points by 2030, at least half of which will be outside the Netherlands.”