Orion Energy Partners Completes Team with Key Additions

Orion Energy Partners, L. P. (“Orion Energy”), a private equity firm providing creative debt and preferred equity solutions to middle market energy infrastructure businesses, is pleased to announce the completion of its team of 14 professionals, including key additions in investments, risk optimization, finance and operations that have taken place since Q3 2015. Orion Energy was formed by Nazar Massouh, Gerrit Nicholas and Rob Rusk and is actively pursuing credit and preferred equity investments in the midstream, downstream, conventional power, renewables, asset-heavy services and other energy subsectors.

Joining Orion Energy Partners in New York City as members of its senior management team are:

• Rui Viana, Managing Director and Head of Risk Optimization. Rui comes to Orion Energy with more than a decade of experience in risk analytics, credit risk management and structuring in the commodities group of Goldman Sachs. He worked on numerous transactions with Messrs. Massouh and Nicholas for approximately five years at Goldman Sachs. Rui will become a member of Orion Energy’s Investment Committee.
• Karen Vejseli, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer. Karen brings to Orion Energy years of experience in private equity and credit as CFO and Managing Director of the Global Market Strategies division of the Carlyle Group, which includes its credit investing business. Prior to her private equity experience, Karen was an audit partner of Ernst & Young focused on asset management clients including private equity firms.

Orion Energy also announces several other key hires that have taken place since Q3 2015 which round out its team. Lauren Key joined Orion Energy as a Vice President of Fund Operations and Finance in November 2015 from Ernst & Young where she was an audit Manager in the New York office, dedicated to private equity and other asset management clients. Ines Tovo will join Orion Energy as a Senior Associate in June 2016 from Energy Capital Partners, where she worked with Mr. Massouh as an Associate on the credit investment team. Tim Mister will join Orion Energy as a Senior Associate in June 2016 from Goldman Sachs, where he was an Associate focused on energy and natural resources transactions. Indy Shukla joined Orion Energy in April 2016 as an Associate from RBC Capital Markets in Houston, where he was exclusively focused on natural resources, including midstream, energy services and upstream transactions. Sandra Evans joined Orion Energy in May 2016 as Office Manager from the commodities group at Goldman Sachs, where she worked closely with Messrs. Massouh and Nicholas.

“We are very pleased to announce that over the last several months we completed the expansion of our investing and operations team. This group of talented and experienced individuals represents the full buildout of our initial staffing plan as originally envisioned when we founded Orion Energy in June 2015”, said Nazar Massouh, CEO and Managing Partner. “Our team is extraordinarily accomplished in energy finance, credit/risk, investment management and fund management/operations; and positions Orion Energy to thoughtfully construct, manage and realize a portfolio of attractive investments.”

“We have robust, proven, and long-term working relationships throughout our entire team, and all the investing experience that comes with that history. These factors anchor an exceptional environment for our continued success,” said Gerrit Nicholas, Managing Partner.

About Orion Energy Partners

Orion Energy Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing creative debt and preferred equity solutions to middle market energy infrastructure businesses across North America and select international markets in the midstream, downstream, conventional electric power, renewable energy and storage, asset-heavy energy services and other energy subsectors. Orion Energy Partners is committed to facilitating the long-term success and sustainability of the companies in which it invests. The firm’s differentiated strategy and approach is focused on establishing and building collaborative partnerships with management teams, owners and sponsors, and serving as a knowledgeable, trusted capital partner that can invest flexibly through a range of customized credit and preferred equity solutions. For additional information, visit: www.OrionEnergyPartners.com.

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