Grant Thornton advises Contact Solar

Contact Solar is a, North-West based business with over a decade of experience in domestic solar panel and battery storage installation services. The business had achieved exponential growth in the six years prior to completion underpinned by a certified ‘Excellent’ 4.9 rating on Trustpilot, to become a leading UK player in the domestic solar market by project volume.

Our initial mandate was to advise the shareholders on an existing offer and support them in upscaling their position. However, given our assessment that the offer was undervalued, we recommended against accepting it and embarked on a full market process, utilizing our extensive sector-specific knowledge and network.

Our team worked closely with Management to create the optimal process that balanced speed of transaction with maximising shareholder returns. A hands-on approach in respect of data collection and meeting preparation was also taken to guide Management through the rigours of a transaction process.

Despite multiple offers, EDF was chosen as the ideal home for Contact Solar linked to EDF’s deliverability underpinned by their history of completing transactions, commitment to Net Zero and significant consumer exposure. Our involved approach and deal expertise ensured we could navigate a 10 week exclusivity period that ultimately delivered a deal that exceeded shareholder’s valuation expectations.