Transitioning Italian service station areas into EV charging infrastructure hubs

IP Group is an integrated and independent energy company operating Italy's largest private network of almost 4,500 service stations. The company had been working on its energy transition strategy and Macquarie Capital identified an opportunity to support their objectives.

Leveraging Macquarie Capital’s flexible balance sheet capital, decades of infrastructure and energy expertise, along with strong relationships with local financial institutions, IPlanet was established – a joint venture between Macquarie Capital and IP, aimed at the electrification of service areas on urban and suburban roads across the country.

Our teams partnered closely with IP’s management and key stakeholders, providing infrastructure, financial and debt advisory services as well as technical development and construction expertise. Macquarie also arranged minority third-party equity investments, including Tages Capital SGR, to help establish IPlanet. Together, we delivered a customised solution to facilitate the rollout of fast and ultrafast EV charging stations at IPlanet service areas.

Macquarie Capital sold its remaining shareholding in IPlanet to Spanish asset manager Bestinver and Italian asset manager Tages Capital, in accordance with the team’s strategy of developing new infrastructure companies to attract long-term capital. Moving forward, Bestinver and Tages Capital alongside IP, are set to continue supporting IPlanet’s further growth.