ImpactAlpha’s deal news coverage for the week:
Agrifood investing. Phatisa’s African Agriculture Fund has sold its majority stake in Zambian affordable egg supplier Goldenlay to Belgium-based feed and protein manufacturer Vanden Avenne Group. The deal will also give an exit to AgDevCo, a long-term debt backer of Goldenlay… PlasmaLeap raised $21 million to build green fertilizer plants on Australian farms.
AI economy. German foodtech startup Foodforecast, which uses AI to forecast food demand as a way to reduce waste, clinched €8 million ($9.4 million) in Series A funding, co-led by the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund and SHIF Invest… UK-based ivee raised $1 million to upskill workers for the AI economy in a seed round backed by Social Impact Enterprises, Techstars and other investors.
Disability-lens investing. Enable Ventures invested in Wheel the World’s disability-inclusive travel… Three Hills, a Europe and North America-focused private investor and B Corp., raised €300 million ($349 million) for Three Hills Impact, which invests in mid-sized European companies. Early investments include UK-based SmartBox, which makes speech assistance tools.
Energy transition. BCI and Norges teamed up with Brookfield to hold renewable energy assets… BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, EQT, California Public Employees’ Retirement System and Qatar Investment Authority teamed up to buy AES, a global sustainable energy company. AES said the take-private deal will give it the backing it needs to meet growing demand for power… Vantage Capital and Greenpoint Capital invested 635 million rand ($39 million) in SolarAfrica Energy, an owner and operator of commercial and industrial solar and battery storage assets.
Fund news. ALIVE closed Latin American fund with backing from Proparco and Impact Fund Denmark… Clean Break Fund aims to do climate investing differently… Hlayisani Capital landed $30 million for financial inclusion, health and education in South Africa.
Inclusive lending. Aavishkaar Capital led a $6.6 million financing round for Gurgaon-based Freed, which helps lenders and borrowers restructure debt that is in arrears… Belgian impact investor Incofin Investment Management secured an exit from Montenegro small business lender Lovćen Banka. Incofin’s stake was sold to real estate developer and existing investor Zetagradnja.
Investing in health. Aurum Impact, Capricorn Partners, SwissHealth Ventures and other investors backed an €11 million ($12.8 million) seed round for Frankfurt-based Oska Health… Honest Health, a Nashville-based company partnering with health systems and providers to expand access to value-based care, raised $140 million from NewSpring Healthcare, K2 HealthVentures, Rubicon Founders, Oak HC/FT and other investors… Mirepa Capital backed Revna Biosciences to expand precision medicine in Africa.
Low-carbon transition. Dutch pension fund investor PGGM led an €83 million ($96 million) Series B investment in Dutch climate tech company RIFT to commercialize its iron fuel technology for industrial decarbonization. Invest-NL, Oost NL and Rubio Impact Ventures also participated… XeleratedFifty acquired Singapore-based carbon and sustainability management platform Terrascope, from Nupo Ventures, the venture arm of agribusiness group Olam.
Regenerative ag. Beneficial Returns provided a $200,000 impact-linked loan to Heincke, which helps Colombia’s smallholder farmers transition to regenerative agriculture. The loan will support Heincke’s work with sugarcane farmers… ResponsAbility backed regenerative agricultural exporters in Chile, Peru and Mexico.
Social services. TPG’s Rise Fund invested $250 million in Austin-based Findhelp, a “social care technology platform” that links people to verified community services including food, housing and transportation.
Sustainable packaging. French impact firm Alter Equity backed Shellworks’ eco-friendly cosmetics packaging.
