COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho & NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–KORE Power, Inc., (“KORE Power” or “KORE”) the leading U.S.-based developer of battery cell technology for the energy storage and electric transportation industries, announced that it has formed a strategic partnership with Cleanhill Partners (“Cleanhill”), a private equity firm pursuing investments in the energy transition sector that contribute to decarbonization. Cleanhill has invested in KORE Power as part of the strategic partnership.
Rakesh Wilson and Ash Upadhyaya, founders of Cleanhill, have joined KORE Power as special advisors to Founder and CEO Lindsay Gorrill. As veterans of the energy finance and investment sector, Rakesh and Ash will guide KORE’s strategy on growth and investment opportunities.
“Rakesh and Ash bring over 40 years of combined experience in ESG, power, energy and infrastructure,” said CEO Lindsay Gorrill. “We are excited to partner with them to tap into their rich experience to position KORE as the leader in the energy transition sector.”
Ash Upadhyaya is a founder and Managing Partner at Cleanhill Partners. He has over 20 years of experience in private equity and engineering, focusing on the energy value chain. Ash was a Managing Director at Centerbridge Partners and a Director at KKR. He has engineering degrees from Stanford University and the University of Mumbai and an MBA from Stanford University.
“I’m thrilled to work with KORE Power to expand the design and manufacturing of lithium-ion battery cells in the U.S.,” said Ash. “Through my experience with energy storage, I see the critical role that batteries will play in the clean energy transition. I look forward to adding value to KORE’s expert team.”
Rakesh Wilson has over 20 years of energy finance and private equity experience and is a founder and Managing Partner at Cleanhill Partners. He previously served as a Senior Partner at Apollo Global Management and led private equity investments across the energy value chain. Rakesh was also with Morgan Stanley’s Commodities Division and Goldman Sachs’ investment banking and equity research divisions. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and received his MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.
“Working with KORE Power is a natural extension of my work on battery storage projects, renewable infrastructure, distributed generation, energy trading funds and carbon offsets,” said Rakesh. “The lithium-ion cell is at the center of the clean energy future, and I look forward to accelerating the clean energy transition by working with KORE.”
Evercore served as financial advisor to KORE Power and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Cleanhill Partners.
ABOUT KORE Power
KORE Power, Inc., is a leading US-based developer of battery cell technology for the clean energy industry, serving energy storage, e-mobility, utility, industrial and mission-critical markets across the globe. KORE Power designs and manufactures its proprietary NMC and LFP cells, VDA modules and packs, optimized by the battery management system. Through its global partnerships, KORE designs and manufactures top-tier energy storage systems (ESS).
KORE Power’s differentiated approach provides customers with direct access, unparalleled service, superior technology, and Tier 1 product availability. We care about building sustainable communities, clean energy jobs and green economic expansion. KORE Power is proud to offer a functional solution to real-world problems that fulfill growing market demand and contribute to a zero-carbon future. For more information, visit www.korepower.com.
ABOUT Cleanhill Partners
Cleanhill Partners is a private equity firm pursuing investments in the energy transition sector that contribute to decarbonization. We invest in scalable businesses with visibility into revenues, earnings and cash flow growth. We leverage our thesis-driven approach and our operational expertise to enhance value in each of our investments. Our long-term investment philosophy to decarbonize and create value aligns our stakeholders, our communities and the businesses we invest in. The firm has offices in New York and Houston. To learn more, please visit www.cleanhillpartners.com.