Climate & environment

Spanish impact investor CREAS has raised €40m at first close for its €70m Creas Impacto II fund and announced its first two investments.

The Swedish impact investor’s inaugural venture fund was backed by European institutional investors and will back companies developing solutions to address future health and environmental challenges.

LUMO Labs is planning to support tech companies that make a positive contribution to society in areas including social care, education, climate and sustainable living.

Plus BII’s $20m loan to improve remittance flows into Africa | GRI /UN Global Compact update SDG reporting tool.

Seaya’s founder Beatriz González is optimistic about prospects for the sector, despite the current tough investment environment and political uncertainties surrounding the pace of the energy transition.

In a new report, the consultancy highlights how private debt funds continue to support growing companies in emerging markets, with the total target size of funds currently open for investment standing at €44bn. 

The new fund is focused on emerging markets and made its first two investments into social enterprise One Acre Fund and into a blue bond issued by the International Bank of Ecuador.

This is the third climate tech fund by the Dutch investment platform which has seen assets under management jump 80% in a year.

The FAIR-La Croix barometer of social finance has revealed a 15% increase in retail solidarity-based savings, with total savings exceeding €30bn.

Impact Expansion has raised €150m for Impact Expansion Fund I and announced the fund’s first investment in Belgium into sustainable energy solutions provider BeliVert.