FINANCING SOLUTIONS FOR A GREEN ECONOMY
/ Investment Advisory / Project development / Sustainable Financing / Greentech and Energy /
Deal Sourcing / Startup management / Communication
ABOUT BIRKAP
YOUR PARTNER FOR
FUNDING AND DEVELOPING
OF GREEN PROJECTS
We are a team of experienced fund and project managers with project finance, economics, legal, and PR background. We connect equity partners for decarbonization projects and accompany project-owners in countries outside the EU towards funding solutions. Our job is done when a project reached bankability, ready to grow. If we believe that funding for a “green” project will not be provided, we tell the project-initiator and recommend what could be done better.
vision
We trust in a prosperous European Union, which integrates its neighboring countries to its economic system. We believe in the EU’s “Green Deal” that will decarbonize the continent through joint efforts of the EU, its member, trade partners, and neighboring countries. Connecting green projects in third countries with EU markets and vice versa, will increase stability and prosperity, but also create commercial benefits for decarbonization projects.
MISSION
Without alignment with the climate policies of neighboring countries and other regions, the green deal will fail. Therefore, we contribute to projects outside the EU to adjust them towards the needs and expectations of strategic and financial partners, public or private funds, syndicates, and banks. Our job is to develop a green project towards commercial viability and “bankable” structures, allowing investors and financial institutions to contribute to good ideas.
Our VALUES
Decades of experience in emerging markets have made us aware of the compliance risks in countries outside the European Union. As European investors, rooted in a system of trust and lawfulness, we follow the highest ESG standards in line with our Code of Conduct. Furthermore, we are keen to transfer them to our partners and promote our values and our understanding of ESG impact in the regions we work, but without jeopardizing business cases.
GEOGRAPHY
Why we link the EU neighborhood with partners and funding from the European Union:
First, because stabilization and increased cooperation with these regions is substantially needed in such times of geopolitical challenges. Second, these areas need our assistance to prepare themselves and their projects towards “bankability” in a European definition.
CENTRAL EUROPE – Most of our projects related to green Hydrogen value-chain and battery-electric driving and storage solutions for industrial players are located in Germany, Belgium, and increasingly also in Poland. Luxembourg is the financial hub, where we structure financing solutions with our partners.
CENTRAL ASIA – Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, mostly projects related to renewable energy production, circular economy and greentech projects. We believe in the region’s large potential as a trade partner for EU countries and deploy our large network to facilitate projects along with investment solutions.
AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST – we see suppliers in both regions as crucial partners for delivery "green" hydrogen or its derivatives to the EU. Working on solutions to finance green H2, because without financing projects will miss bankability. But without large scale imports from regions with green electricity production capacities, H2 volumes will not be sufficient in the near future.
SOUTHEAST EUROPE – the next big story of markets, which are going to be integrated closely into the European economic systems: We contribute to the development of a post-war Ukraine as a supplier of biomethane through our Leipzig-based UAG:Energy GmbH. In the Balkan countries we are involved in created "use cases" for indstrial decarbonization solutions and the implementation of circular economy projects.
Our Solutions
WE CO-INVEST WITH OUR PARTNERS
AND FINALIZE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
IN ORDER TO REACH FID
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
- Accompanying startups and venture projects towards scalability, bankability, project execution
- Linking projects with strategic partners, equity partners, financing institutions
- Preparation and adjustment of business plans and financial models
- Governmental relation, public relation, relationship management
FUNDRAISING
- Co-investment in green projects (i.e., Biomethane projects in Ukraine)
- Financial structuring via Luxembourg with our partner Petraal S.A., aiming to reach bankability and FID
- Promotion of projects to potential investors in Europe, US, Asia, GCC
- Mandated by large financial and strategic investors to search for investment opportunities according to targets (H2 value chain, renewable energy projects)
climate projects
- Access to projects suitable for carbon credit issuance
- ESG strategy for infrastructure projects as a precondition for EU funding
- Adjustment of projects towards ambitious ESG-related objectives
- Preparation of “green” bond application / issuance with partners
Strategic Advisory
- Organizational consulting
- Financial structuring
- Turnaround management / restructuring
- Scalability concepts for investment projects
- Business intelligence in challenging markets
CURRENT GREENTECH PROJECTS
Empowering Eco-Friendly Initiatives:
Decarbonization through Innovative Projects
and Certified Carbon Solutions
Currently we are working on several green energy and decarbonization projects in the European Union and neighboring countries, where we are involved in deal sourcing and project development, dedicated to issue carbon certificates according to international standards and methodologies.
Hedging hydrogen price-risks: We bridge the gap between fixed prices (H2 producer) and variable prices (customer) by hedging these differences with capital markets instruments. Project on behalf of large energy companies in Europe.
Deal Sourcing for value chains: We have access to hydrogen origination projects in countries outside the European Union and develop “Use Cases” for green economy projects EU and its neighboring countries.
Carbon offset: We pre-qualify projects in countries outside the EU as eligible for issuing carbon credits. This provides “up front” an early-stage funding, without which a project might not be started
Biomethane from Ukraine: We enable entrepreneurs in Ukraine to develop biomethane projects for export markets such as Germany. Therefore, we arrange financing solutions and bring expertise as well as off-takers.
Our Team
Birkap Forms A Dynamic Team
The team is being accomplished by legal, political, and technological experts, who are involved in projects case-by-case according to the knowledge needed. Our partner for fundraising and financial structuring in Luxembourg is Petraal S.A.
Florian Willershausen
acts as a general manager and co-founder of Birkap. Florian is a seasoned deal sourcing and business development expert, who spent 8 years in the Luxembourg PE sector. He developed the ESG and investment strategy for a clean energy fund and participated in various greentech and renewable energy transactions. Prior to this he built a vast network in Europe‘s political and economic sectors as a leading business journalist (Handelsblatt, WiWo). Holds an MBA as well as degrees in history and social science.
Patrick Pohlit
Co-Founder of Birkap. Deploys his vast international experience and network as Tax advisor and Attorney at law in 25 years of professional practise for Birkap economic advisory, project development and investment projects along the “green” value chains.
THORSTEN SCHUBERT
Associate Partner of Birkap, adivising in organizational change, restructuring, turnaround management. Economist / MBA with industry experience (automotive, logistics, building materials). Prior to joining Birkap, Thorsten worked in top-management of Knauf Group CIS and several funds and financial institutions (DZ Bank, S8 Capital, Profine Group, Delton AG). Startup-Investor with track record of IPO in IT industry.
Ruslan Zaidan
Brings 16 years of experience in financial industry. Throughout his career, he has been involved in transactions worth over 3 bln EUR, while working for private equity funds and banks. His sectoral experience includes the chemical, energy, and construction. He holds BSc (Hons) Economics and Management from Aston, UK, and MSc in Economics and International Financial Economics from Warwick, UK. Ukraine-born Luxembourg citizen, fluent in English and Arabic.
