Ashfords has advised Viridor, the UK’s leading operator of energy-from-waste facilities, on the sale of a substantial minority stake to major UK infrastructure investor Equitix, from global investment firm KKR.
The scale of the deal and the involvement of multiple stakeholders made this a large, high-profile project with intricate regulatory and structuring considerations, and strengthens Viridor's position for future growth and innovation.
Viridor plays a critical role in the UK’s transition to a circular economy, providing essential infrastructure for sustainable waste management and energy recovery. The company operates 12 energy-from-waste facilities across the UK, with two additional plants under development, processing 3.4 million tonnes of waste and recycling annually.
Brian Farrell, partner and head of the energy and resource management sector led on the transaction, with support from Fergus Baker (partner, corporate), Ben Thomson (senior associate, commercial), Ben Morgan (solicitor, commercial), Frank Alden (solicitor, commercial) and Barney Sykes (senior associate, corporate). The transaction was also supported by experts across real estate, banking and finance, employment, environment, and intellectual property.
The Ashfords team’s deep expertise in energy infrastructure, and working closely with the Viridor and KKR teams, enabled us to provide responsive, commercially focused advice, ensuring the transaction aligned with the client’s objectives.
This transaction enhances Viridor’s foundation for future progress and innovation, supporting its role in sustainable waste management and energy recovery. This strategic investment builds on Equitix’s existing shareholding in Viridor’s energy division, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure.
Following regulatory approvals, the transaction will complete over the course of the next few months.
Brian Farrell said: “We're proud to have supported Viridor on this significant transaction, which reflects our long-standing relationship with the business and its team. Viridor continues to lead the way in sustainable waste management and energy recovery, and we are delighted to play a role in enabling its growth and innovation.”
Ashfords' energy and resource management team advises across the full lifecycle of legal issues, from securing investment, refinancing, to advising on the project’s commercial contracts. The team has significant expertise working with different technologies, solutions and resources helping to deliver projects that often involve many different stakeholders.
For further information, please contact our energy and resource management team.
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