Antin Infrastructure Partners has acquired Sapphire Gas Solutions from funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, marking the eighth investment from Antin’s Flagship Fund V.
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Conroe, Texas, Sapphire Gas Solutions provides compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas solutions to utility, commercial and industrial, and renewable natural gas customers. The company operates across 30 U.S. states and serves more than 120 customers through infrastructure that compresses, liquefies, transports, and stores natural gas.
The acquisition comes as demand for energy in the United States continues to outpace existing infrastructure capacity, particularly due to growth in commercial and industrial usage and data centers. Sapphire’s integrated natural gas solutions offer a lower carbon alternative and provide on site reliability, especially when paired with renewable natural gas.
Sapphire’s founder and CEO Sam Thigpen will continue to lead the company, supported by Antin’s infrastructure investment platform as it seeks to expand operations and deepen its presence across key markets. The company is positioned to benefit from long term trends tied to energy reliability and sustainability.
The transaction aligns with Antin’s broader strategy of investing in infrastructure businesses across energy, digital, transport, and social sectors. The firm manages more than €33 billion in assets and operates globally across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Advisors on the deal included TD Securities and Kirkland and Ellis for Antin, while RBC Capital Markets and Vinson and Elkins advised Sapphire and Apollo.
KEY QUOTES
“We are delighted to be partnering with Sapphire to support the company’s next growth phase. Energy demand in the US is exceeding existing infrastructure capacity, making certainty of supply of integrated, low carbon natural gas solutions critical. Sapphire is ideally positioned to benefit from the long-term tailwinds driving the US energy sector, and we are greatly looking forward to working closely with Sam and his leadership team to seize the many growth opportunities ahead.”
Ryan Shockley, Senior Partner, Antin Infrastructure Partners; David Vence, Partner, Antin Infrastructure Partners
“I am excited to partner with Antin as Sapphire begins its next phase of growth. Apollo has been an exceptional partner over the past several years, helping us build a strong operational and financial foundation for the company. With Antin’s global infrastructure platform and long-term investment perspective, we believe Sapphire is well positioned to accelerate our expansion, deepen our presence across key markets and further support our customers’ energy infrastructure needs.”
Sam Thigpen, Founder And CEO, Sapphire Gas Solutions
“Over the course of our partnership with Sam and his team, Sapphire has achieved meaningful growth, expanding its integrated energy platform and accelerating its ability to deliver reliable, low-carbon solutions nationwide in support of secular industrial demand tailwinds. We are proud to have backed the company as it executed important operational and commercial initiatives to enhance its competitive positioning, while refocusing its contracting base toward highly creditworthy industrial, municipal and utility counterparties. We believe Antin’s deep infrastructure expertise makes them an ideal partner to build on this strong foundation as Sapphire continues to scale its business.”
Wilson Handler, Partner, Apollo Global Management
