Energy Finance and M&A

Solar PV & Wind
Nearing the critical mass needed for C&I and ABS to converge. Securitization of C&I projects used extensively in residential solar.
Tax changes expected to reduce tax equity to wind and solar by 8% and 3%, respectively. Since the details of the tax bill emerged, one or two tax equity investors have exited the market.
35 tax equity investors for both wind and solar:

• 2018 - Forecast tax equity $10-11 BN.
• 2017 - Tax equity $10 BN: $6 BN for wind and $4 BN for solar.
• 2016 - Tax equity $11 BN.
• 2015 - Tax equity $13 BN.

 
Energy Storage
Utilities will see kWh revenue decay from solar + energy storage. Solar + Energy Storage grid parity is already here or coming soon for most utility customers. Eventual demise of traditional utility rate recovery model.
C&I smart grid and energy storage solutions.
Energy storage solutions for off-grid mining companies.
 
Oil & Gas
Oil prices hit 3-year highs. Growth in US, Canada and Brazil will offset Venezuela.
Brent crude oil prices briefly touched $70/bbl. Propulsion of the upside was due to short-covering and no buying.
 
Latest News
The inflation conundrum is global, for now. Cheap US services and wholesale prices. Tough for interest rates to go up unless inflation leads the way. US strengthening domestic consumer demand. Moody’s expects that the annual increase by pretax operating profits will quicken from 2017’s prospective 4.8% to 2018 6.1%. Investors have favored switching from credit to stocks. High yield credit spreads lowest in a decade. VC investing down to a calmer level. 2018 League Tables select results:

• MLA - MUFG, Mizuho, Santander, SMBC, NordLB, BNP Paribas
• Lenders - SMBC, Santander, Siemens, IFM (Australia), Westpac (Australia)
• Project Finance FA - RBC, Green Giraffe, Macquarie (Australia), MUFG
• Tax Equity - BAML, WF, Citi, BH, BNY
• M&A - GE, Siemens
• M&A FA - GCA, CS, Rothschild, Clearview, MS, JP