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Bucharest, May 23, 2022 - Agista, an alternative investment fund pending formal authorization dedicated to accelerating local SMEs through the capital market, part of Impetum Group, is acquiring a 15% minority stake in the Romanian company Eplus Smart Energy (Eplus), which provides energy management services ranging from electricity and gas meter reading to analysis and data optimization and the implementation of smart metering projects, including also industrial process automation, digitalization and energy efficiency solutions for all types of customers. This is the first transaction in this industry. 

"Eplus Smart Energy is a Romanian company that has grown organically in the energy services market for domestic and business consumers and demonstrated a strong business in an increasingly competitive market. Agista decided to invest in Eplus Smart Energy because this company develops solutions for efficient and responsible management of energy consumption at the highest standards, a key economic target, particularly nowadays when the importance of environmental protection and sustainability is engaging the countries and companies around the world to promote a circular economy of energy. With this investment, Agista acts as an anchor investor validating the potential of sustainable energy and the projects that the company intends to develop towards reducing the carbon footprint in the Romanian energy industry", declared Nicolae Kovacs, CEO, Agista. 

"We are delighted to form a partnership with Agista and I have a firm belief that we together will continue to develop solutions and services dedicated to Romanian companies and consumers, enabling them to become more energy efficient. We are ready to support our customers in their transformation process, in the current context where sustainability and digitalization are in main focus. We aim to give our customers more resources and more time to put emphasis on developing their own businesses, therefore we see ourselves as a partner of our customers, joining efforts together and having common development goals," declared Frank Hajdinjak, CEO, Eplus Smart Energy.  

After adoption of the European Green Pact, which established ambitious targets for all EU Member States in terms of carbon footprint reduction, the recent instability on the energy markets in Europe or the consequences posed by the conflict in Ukraine are influencing Romania's energetic strategy for medium-term and long-term. Even if Romania, compared to the EU average, has a slight lead in the share of renewable energy, our country still needs to take more steps in this direction. Therefore, by transitioning to green energy, automation and responsible consumption by all consumers, Romania has the opportunity to advance towards the goal of decarbonizing the Romanian energy sector and facilitating the achievement of climate neutrality.

"With this investment, Agista joins the Board of Directors of Eplus Smart Energy with an active role, a position from which it will be responsible for the principles of corporate governance, the streamlining of processes and activities of the group. We have found within the group a professional team with expertise in the field and with the necessary internal resources to scale solutions, becoming an important player in the field. Together with the Eplus team, in the near future we will aim to list the company on the stock market, in order to accelerate its ongoing projects and to take it to the next level of evolution by undertaking new projects", completes Aurel Podariu, Senior Investment Manager Agista. 

Recently launched, Agista is the first Romanian investment fund pending authorization dedicated to the AeRO market that sustains local SMEs to be listed, to obtain funding and to accelerate their growth through the capital market. The core business is comprised by PRE-IPO/PPO investments and investments in listed shares of emergent companies that demonstrated potential for growth. By acquisition of a minority stake in the Romanian company Eplus Smart Energy is aligning with the investment policy of identifying and accelerating the scaling potential of a company, assisting closely the entrepreneur in strategic decisions to support the company's development through complementary expertise (financial, administrative, human resources, communication, marketing, etc.).  

In 2021, the Eplus Group achieved a turnover of about 80 million lei, a 31% growth compared to 2020, a consequence of the projects developed. Three other companies, Eplus Automation, Eplus Laboratory and Eplus Smart Energy are included in EPLUS Group. The group companies provide services for monitoring, processing and collection of field data; verification of gas and electric energy meters for compliance and quality, implementation of smart metering, metrological check of meters, metering group management and services for industrial process automation and digitalization. 

About Agista

Agista is the first Romanian investment fund in the process of being authorised dedicated to accelerating local SMEs to enter the AeRO market, through capital market instruments. Agista is a brand of Impetum Group, the Romanian group formed by the reunion of the 4 brands: CITR, the leader of the Romanian insolvency, with 20 years of experience in crisis management, ROCA Investments, a private equity aiming to consolidate and scale SMEs, ROCA X, a venture capital for disruptive start-ups on the tech market, and, as of today, Agista, an investment fund which scales local SMEs through the capital market. Impetum Group is a Romanian entrepreneurial ecosystem that brings together capital, management and resources. Agista Investments is in the process of being authorised by the ASF as a closed-end, private equity alternative investment fund for specialized investors.

About Eplus Smart Energy 

Eplus Smart Energy is a Romanian entrepreneurial group in the energy industry, specialized in developing and providing innovative energy services and solutions. The company provides energy management services such as services for monitoring, processing and collection of field data; verification of gas and electric energy meters for compliance and quality, implementation of smart metering, metrological check of meters, metering group management and services for industrial process automation and digitalization, as well as energy optimization solutions. Eplus Smart Energy has a countrywide presence with over 400 employees operating from 27 locations. 

 Contact person: Diana Pearsică - diana.chindris@impetumgroup.com, 0765 025 964