CITY GREEN LIGHT RECEIVES 197 MILLION FOR SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS WITH ITALIAN MUNICIPALITIES

The resources will be earmarked for the company’s growth plan, which specialises in offering solutions to local authorities in the field of public lighting, energy efficiency and smart services, for digitalisation and energy saving initiatives

The financing was granted by Intesa Sanpaolo, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, UniCredit, BNL BNP Paribas and Sparkasse - Cassa di Risparmio di Bolzano and is partially assisted by the SACE Green Guarantee

Milan, 22 September 2023 - City Green Light, a company which operates in the field of public lighting, energy efficiency and smart city services, has obtained resources of just under EUR 200 million from a pool of financial institutions to support its growth plan and investments in energy efficiency and digitalisation, including new business lines and M&A transactions.

The resources will mainly be used to implement investment projects dedicated to the energy transition and digitalisation of public administrations, thus promoting integrated energy efficiency solutions in key sectors, including public lighting, public building management and energy communities.

Specifically, the banks involved in the operation, partially assisted by the SACE Green Guarantee for EUR 96 million, are Intesa Sanpaolo, which through its IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division acted as Lender Coordinator, Bookrunner, Mandated Lead Arranger, Agent Bank and Sace Agent, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, UniCredit, BNL BNP Paribas and Sparkasse - Cassa di Risparmio di Bolzano as Bookrunners and Mandated Lead Arrangers. Intesa Sanpaolo also acted as Green Loan Coordinator for the structuring of the green lines, amounting to EUR 192 million out of the total EUR 197 million financing, aimed at supporting the green projects included in the Company's plan.

City Green Light, established in 2017, is jointly owned by the Italian Energy Efficiency Fund, Marguerite Infrastructure Italy II, and the European Investment Bank - EIB (through Ipin 2E). It serves more than 250 municipalities throughout Italy, boasting strong experience in the management of more than 900,000 lighting points, 100 road tunnels and 1,600 security cameras.

The funding, with a duration of about 7 years, falls within the Green New Deal objectives, due to the positive impact in terms of climate change mitigation.

“In a general context that, as never before, imposes priority on the implementation of actions to favour the green transition, the financing operation just concluded will allow us to continue with the execution of a transformative business plan that aims to complete our evolution from a pure operator in the public lighting sector to a leader in the supply of smart and energy-efficient services to Italian public administrations at all levels”, says Eugenio Colla, Chief Financial Officer of City Green Light.

Michele Sorrentino, Head of the Italian Network of Intesa Sanpaolo's IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division, says: “We are very pleased to be able to support City Green Light's virtuous development plan. Making cities more sustainable and smarter with a more rational use of public lighting is essential and indicates a turning point towards energy transition. The Intesa Sanpaolo Group has always been sensitive with regard to this issue and it drives us to support companies working in this direction, also in line with the objectives set out in the Green Revolution and Ecological Transition Mission of the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan)”.

Carlo Lamari, Head of Infrastructure at CDP, said: “Promoting investments that have a clear impact on local communities and at the same time accelerate the energy and digital transition of public administrations is one of the main objectives of CDP's Strategic Plan. The transaction that we have concluded today, in synergy with the banking system and Sace, in favour of City Green Light makes us proud because it represents a further important step on the path towards an increasingly green economy”.

Cristina Morelli, Managing Director Business Corporate at SACE, underlines: “Accelerating the ecological transition of Italian businesses is a pillar of our INSIEME2025 business plan. Thanks to our cross team of experts, SACE is able to promote excellence and support the community by carrying out this systemic transaction in the public lighting, while maintaining the path set by our mission”.

Francesco Iannella, North East Regional Manager at UniCredit, comments: “For us at UniCredit, supporting City Green Light has a twofold significance. On the one hand, it allows us to support a dynamic company that has made sustainability its core business and will now be able to offer itself as a partner in the processes for improving the energy efficiency of public bodies. On the other, it is concrete proof, yet again, of our sense of responsibility towards the communities in which we operate”.

Stefano Manfrone, BNL BNP Paribas North East Territorial Director: “BNL BNP Paribas’ support for City Green Light is part of the Bank's commitment towards entrepreneurial ventures that combine development, innovation and sustainability. Through its investment in transactions of this type, BNL confirms its active presence in the territories, to assist companies in their national and international growth plans for the benefit of the country's economy and for the further dissemination of Italian manufacturing and technological excellence throughout the world”.

The Head of the Corporate Banking and International Services Department of Sparkasse-Cassa di Risparmio di Bolzano, Emiliano Picello, states: “The pool of banks, among which Sparkasse - Cassa di Risparmio di Bolzano plays an important role, decided to support City Green Light's strategic development plan aimed at pursuing sustainability, safety and energy efficiency goals.

By participating in this important initiative, Sparkasse - Cassa di Risparmio di Bolzano is illustrating how the objectives stated in its Strategic Plan are fulfilled on a daily basis by financially supporting enterprises that deserve attention and demonstrate that they are fully realising their growth objectives compatible with the ESG sustainability KPIs adopted by the bank”.

SACE, the financial insurance group led by Alessandra Ricci, plays a leading role in Italy's ecological transition by issuing green guarantees on domestic projects that promote economic activities with a lower environmental impact.

The company was assisted by Vitale&Co as financial advisor, PwC Strategy& and SINLOC as industrial advisors and Ashurst as legal advisor, while the financing banks were assisted by Legance.

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Intesa Sanpaolo

Corporate & Investment Banking and Governance Areas

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