Rabobank cleantech team expands to the Americas

The Netherland-based Rabobank said today it is adding to its roots in North America. The Dutch financier is starting up a Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Finance team in the Americas, where it has had a New York branch since 1981.

The Rabobank finance team has employees in Europe, Asia, and now in New York, focused on the Americas. The team is tasked with expanding the bank’s development of sustainable energy supplies and technologies.

The team is active in financing wind, solar, biofuels, and biomass projects. The group is expected to specialize in non- and limited-recourse finance solutions in renewable energy, bioenergy, and energy infrastructure projects.

According to a news release, Rabobank plans to set up relationships with developers, owners and operators of renewable energy facilities and technologies in the Americas. The bank plans to initially participate in and co-underwrite project financings, and eventually lead such transactions.

In conjunction with the announcement, Managing Director Thomas Emmons was named its head. Rabobank is one of the world’s 25 largest banks. Emmons joined Rabobank on July 1, from New York’s HSH Nordbank, where he assisted in building a renewable energy finance business for the region. 

Earlier this month, Rabobank, among other investors, participated in a €9.6 million ($13.4 million) raised by the Netherlands-based Emergya Wind Technologies. The company manufactures and supplies advanced direct-drive (gearless) wind turbines and turnkey wind parks (see SolFocus closes $77.6M round, readies for manufacturing ramp).

Last month, Robeco Private Equity had a successful first close of €50 million ($70.35 million) for its Robeco Responsible Private Equity Fund II. Robeco, the investment arm of Rabobank, said investors in the first close include established institutional investors from the Netherlands and Italy. The fund has a target size of €250 million (see VantagePoint triple-dips in cleantech).