Facility is first acquisition made by Ancala’s anaerobic digestion portfolio company Biogen

London – Ancala Partners LLP (‘Ancala’), the independent mid-market infrastructure investment manager, has acquired a 1.5MW operational anaerobic digestion facility located in Millerhill, Edinburgh, from Kelda Water Services for an undisclosed sum.

The facility will be integrated into Ancala’s UK anaerobic digestion platform, Biogen, a leading owner and operator of anaerobic digestion plants in the UK.

The facility is an important long-term component of the Zero Waste Plan being delivered by The City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council to meet the Scottish Government target of no more than 5 per cent of waste being sent to landfill by 2025.

Discarded food collected by the two partner councils plus additional waste from local businesses and industries are recycled at the facility. Methane gas is then produced and converted through a CHP engine into electricity. The process generates enough electricity to power approximately 3,300 homes. In addition to producing renewable green electricity, the facility converts food waste into a nutrient-rich biofertiliser that is PAS110-certified.

Spence Clunie, Managing Partner, Ancala Partners LLP, commented:
“The Millerhill facility is an excellent asset serving an important market. By being integrated into our Biogen platform it will benefit from the resources and expertise of the Biogen team. This acquisition is another example of our ability to secure add-on investments to our platforms and promote businesses that benefit local communities.”

Adam Feneley, Managing Director, Biogen, commented:
“The Millerhill facility is an ideal addition to the Biogen portfolio and marks the first step of growth for the business since we became a part of Ancala last year. We look forward to working with the Edinburgh & Midlothian councils to facilitate their recycling targets, benefiting both the local community and wider Scottish environment.”

In May last year, Biogen was listed in the London Stock Exchange’s 1,000 Companies to inspire Britain Report, which identifies the fastest-growing and most dynamic SMEs across the UK.

Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan sets out the Scottish Government’s vision for a zero-waste society. This vision describes a Scotland in which all waste is seen as a resource and the amounts put into landfills are minimised. Ancala actively supports this vision.

For more information, see the website: www.ancala.com or contact:

Ancala Partners LLP
Spence Clunie, Managing Partner
Tel: +44 (0) 203 440 3516
Email: moc.alacna@einulc.ecneps

Ankur Ajmera, Vice President
Tel: +44 (0) 203 440 3886
Email: moc.alacna@aremja.rukna

Notes to Editors

About Ancala Partners
Ancala Partners is an independent infrastructure investment manager founded in 2010.

Ancala launched its UK Mid-Market Infrastructure Platform in 2015 to meet the requirements of long-term investors looking for enhanced returns from core mid-market infrastructure investments in the UK. Ancala now has over £850 million in funds under management (as at end-October 2017).

The investment team combines experienced infrastructure investors with operational leaders who have a proven track record of de-risking businesses and improving cashflow through pro-active asset management, thereby protecting and enhancing returns.

Ancala is based at 40 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0BT.

About Biogen
Biogen was established in 2005 and completed its first anaerobic digestion plant in Bedfordshire in 2006. The company’s eight anaerobic digestion plants recycle around a quarter of a million tonnes of food waste each year, representing around 15% of the current food waste anaerobic digestion market.

Biogen’s own environmental experts worked with the British Standards Institute (BSI), The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the Renewable Energy Association (REA) to develop the national specification BSI PAS110 for bio-fertiliser produced from anaerobic digestion.  

Biogen is the recipient of several industry awards and was named ‘Recycling Business of the Year’ at the 2016 Awards for Excellence in Recycling & Waste Management. Biogen’s head office is located at Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.