Tikehau Mathieu Chabran

Tikehau Capital plans to hire around 10 to 12 staff in New York as it raises a North American energy transition PE fund, Tikehau co-founder Mathieu Chabran told New Private Markets.

The French asset management firm has committed $200 million of its own capital to the North America Decarbonization Fund and energy company Total has committed a further $100 million, New Private Markets understands.

The launch is hot on the heels of Tikehau’s European Decarbonization Fund, which closed last month on $1.1 billion. Tikehau and Total each committed $100 million to the European fund.

Chabran is based in the firm’s New York office, which was established two years ago with around 40 staff. The firm expects to bring a further seven senior investment professionals and five additional support staff to its New York office to manage the portfolio through a combination of internal transfers and new hires.

Tikehau will seek capital from insurance companies, pension funds family offices and corporates.

The fund will invest in established, profitable North American companies focused on low-carbon mobility, renewable energy supply and maximising energy efficiency, Chabran said.