Impact investment
KKR backs Australia environment services player
KKR has made an investment of undisclosed size in GreenCollar, an environmental services provider that helped establish Australia’s carbon credit market.
Rise Fund buys solar plants from Chinese developer
The Rise Fund, TPG’s impact investment business, has purchased solar projects with a combined capacity of 970 megawatts from China-based Trina Solar for approximately $700 million.
ESG and VC: Deferred dialogue
Institutional LPs are traditionally less engaged with VC versus PE when it comes to responsible investment standards. A multitude of drivers are changing this, but not quickly
ADB Ventures raises $50m for debut fund
ADB Ventures, a VC unit of the Asian Development Bank launched earlier this year, is set to begin investment after raising $50 million for its debut impact fund.
LeapFrog leads $55m round for India's MedGenome
MedGenome, an India-focused provider of genetic testing solutions, has raised $55 million in a funding round led by LeapFrog Investments.
Fund focus: 8F reels in $358m
Singapore's 8F Asset Management is taking sector specialization to a new level with a $358 million fund that focuses exclusively on salmon aquaculture projects
Singapore GP nets $358m for salmon farm fund
Singapore impact investor 8F Asset Management has closed its debut fund at $358 million, beating a target of $300 million. It is dedicated to building a global salmon fishing business.
KKR looks to invest one-third of its impact fund in Asia
KKR expects to deploy one-third of its recently closed debut global impact fund in Asia and is adding dedicated resources in the region to work on deal sourcing and execution.
Northern Arc reaches first close on India debt fund
Northern Arc Investments, an India-focused private debt investor, has achieved a first close of $23 million on its Northern Arc India Impact Fund.
Rise Fund buys Bangladesh hospital operator
Evercare, a South Asia and Africa-focused healthcare delivery platform controlled by The Rise Fund, TPG Capital’s impact investment unit, has acquired Bangladesh-based Apollo Hospitals Dhaka.
KKR raises $1.3b for global impact fund
KKR has closed its debut global impact investment fund with $1.3 billion in commitments. It will back companies that provide commercial solutions to environmental or social challenges, based on criteria set out in the UN sustainable development goals...
SDG-focused platform to pump $500m into emerging markets
Several public sector organizations have committed $500 million to six funds managed by Bamboo Capital Partners under a new investment platform dedicated to achieving the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).
New Zealand impact fund backs sustainable packaging player
New Zealand’s Impact Enterprise Fund (IEF) has confirmed an investment in local sustainable packaging supplier Grounded.
Impact investment: Gray areas
The notion of delivering measurable positive social and environmental impact while simultaneously generating risk-adjusted financial returns has struck a chord with many LPs. But impact strategies can still be a tough sell
KKR's impact business makes senior lateral hire in Asia
KKR has named Sharon Yang, who has worked on the firm’s private equity, growth equity and real estate strategies in Asia, as a senior investor in the region in its impact investment division.
CDC names Bangladeshi head, invests local bank
UK-based development finance institution CDC Group has cemented its presence in Bangladesh through an investment in local lender BRAC Bank and the naming of a country director.
Deal focus: LGT plugs Aspada into global impact platform
LGT Group aims to create new inroads for global investors looking to enter the impact space by acquiring Aspada, an Indian platform focused on digital inclusion and small business finance
OPIC commits $185m to India SME sector
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a development finance arm of the US government, will invest $185 million in India’s small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector.
500 Startups, UN launch Indonesia accelerator
500 Startups has teamed up with a unit of the United Nations to launch an impact-focused start-up accelerator in Indonesia.
Lok seeks $150m for fourth India fund
Indian venture capital firm Lok Capital is targeting $150 million for its fourth fund, which will invest in growth-stage companies with a potential for positive social impact.
LGT acquires India impact investor
LGT Group has acquired a majority stake in Indian impact investor Aspada from an investment arm of Open Society Foundations, a George Soros-founded charitable institute.
Q&A: Choson Exchange's Geoffrey See
Geoffrey See is an advisor on Korean Peninsula affairs to the World Economic Forum and a serial tech entrepreneur who helps incubate start-ups in North Korea through his organization Choson Exchange
Q&A: Jupiter Impact Partners' Melissa Kang
Melissa Kang helped raise Morgan Stanley’s first global impact fund before striking out on her own with Jupiter Impact Partners. She explains why Southeast Asia should prove fertile ground for the strategy
Q&A: TriLinc Global's Paul Sanford
Paul Sanford, CIO of credit-focused impact investment firm TriLinc Global, explains why Southeast Asia has proved a challenging market and how he is preparing for a spike in institutional investor interest