The Little Green Energy Company sold to Hometree

Renewable energy installer The Little Green Energy Company has been sold to Hometree, the fast-growing residential energy services company.

Based in Tonbridge, Kent, The Little Green Energy Company (LGEC) has pioneered the installation of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicle chargers across the South East since 2010.

From left: James Deane, MD of The Little Green Energy Company (LGEC), Carla Stockton-Jones, COO of Hometree, LGEC founders Julia Dudson and Simon Dudson, with Hometree founder and CEO Simon Phelan

PKF Francis Clark acted as lead advisors to founders Simon and Julia Dudson. Our team – comprising Andrew Killick, Tom Hicks, Tom Slade, Rob Gear, Kate Culley and Adam Kefford – advised on the complete transaction process, from pre-sale preparation to marketing, negotiation support, vendor assist due diligence support and tax structuring, including advice on the enterprise management incentives (EMI) scheme.

Who knew it could be so much fun working with M&A advisors?

Simon Dudson, CEO of The Little Green Energy Company, said: “As I have come to realise over the last 12 months, selling a business is not easy. You may know your business inside and out, but M&A is different. I chose to work with the corporate finance team at PKF Francis Clark, who have a lot of experience in the energy sector.

“As the deal progressed, I worked daily (and through some evenings) with Tom Hicks and Rob Gear, who not only were very supportive but also hands-on throughout the whole process, always there to discuss the deal or any other concerns I might have. Andy Killick was also always in the background to keep things moving along. The other advantage was the complete package they offer, helping to set up an EMI scheme, as well as tax advice and due diligence assistance.

“I think it is important when doing a transaction like this to get on with the people you work with. I can honestly say this was the case and, although hard, it made the process actually enjoyable and I learnt a lot. I would not hesitate to recommend their services. Who knew it could be so much fun working with M&A advisors?”

We look forward to seeing the business continue to grow and be successful alongside Hometree in helping the UK to achieve its net zero ambition.

Tom Hicks, corporate finance associate director at PKF Francis Clark, said: “Over the past 14 years, Simon and Julia have built a very successful business in the green energy space with an excellent team. The Little Green Energy Company is a leading brand in its marketplace and it’s been a pleasure to work with Simon, Julia and the team over recent months. We look forward to seeing the business continue to grow and be successful alongside Hometree in helping the UK to achieve its net zero ambition.”

Simon added: “Our mission has always been to help homes and businesses to transition to solar panels and battery storage, reducing the impact on the planet. Working with Hometree will help us achieve that on a much larger scale, enabling more homes to join the green renewable energy revolution.”

Founded in 2015, Hometree has become a leading UK challenger brand in residential energy services. With an initial focus on home emergency breakdown and insurance, the business has since expanded into renewable installations and financing. Hometree has raised over £85 million in funding and this latest acquisition comes after it secured its first debt facility from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock.

Hometree founder and CEO Simon Phelan said: “I’m incredibly excited to be partnering with Simon Dudson and the Little Green Energy team and look forward to helping them scale the company significantly.”

Legal advice to LGEC’s shareholders was provided by Michelmores (Harry Trick, Chris Smedley, Emma Cheshire, Anthony Reeves, Rachael Lloyd and Tegan Osborne-Brown).

Find out more about PKF Francis Clark’s complete financial advisory service to the renewable energy & infrastructure sector.