Carbon tracking experts Cogo are collaborating with ING’s innovation accelerator, ING Labs Brussels, as one of the 2022 cohort of start-ups. ING will work with Cogo to validate its unique capability to integrate their carbon tracking technology into digital banking propositions. The first step will be to develop a proof of concept over the next sixteen weeks.   The Proof of Concept will be developed in a banking context, to demonstrate the capabilities of Cogo’s current technologies.  ING Labs Brussels also announced earlier that regtech start-up Sygno and data visualisation tool Solidatus will also be part of the 2022 cohort. 

Actis, a leading global investor in sustainable infrastructure has entered a deal to purchase a 50% stake in Emirates District Cooling Company (EMICOOL) from Dubai Investments – a diversified investment company listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), at a corporate valuation of $1 billion, forming a JV to grow Emicool. With an extensive network in multiple geographies, the JV is aimed at supporting Emicool in its vision towards becoming one of the leading providers of sustainable and efficient district cooling services in the wider MENA region. The deal is one of largest transactions in the district cooling industry in

Gioconda, the Italian subsidiary of LBO France, is to acquire a majority stake in Astidental Bquadro, an Italian company specialising in the distribution of dental consumables and equipment for dentists, dental laboratories and dental clinic networks. The investment which is being made alongside existing shareholders Paolo Gibellino and Franco Ravanetti, as well as company management, is being made by the Small Caps Opportunities II fund. Gibellino will continue ti lead the company as President and CEO.

Ribonexus, a biotechnology start-up developing new therapies that can overcome resistance to current targeted therapies in cancer patients, has received €2 million ($2.19m) in funds from the French public investment bank Bpifrance. This financing, which has been granted in connection with the French government’s ‘Deeptech Plan’, will enable Ribonexus to select the best drug candidate to enter preclinical development and leverage its proprietary platform based on a key selective pathway.   The company will receive two instalments via the French government’s ‘Future Investments Program’: €1.4m ($1.53m) in the form of a repayable advance and €600k ($658k) in grants.

Thomas H Lee Partners (THL), a premier private equity firm investing in middle market growth companies, has made a strategic growth investment in Carpe Data, a provider of emerging and alternative data products for the insurance industry. With the investment, THL will become the majority shareholder of Carpe Data, while the company’s founders and management will continue to hold a meaningful stake, as well as a group of existing strategic investors. Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, Carpe Data uses proprietary algorithms and AI to transform emerging and alternative data into predictive and actionable insights for insurance carriers across the globe.

The Change Company, America’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and its affiliates have raised $88 million of cumulative, perpetual preferred equity membership interests (Preferred Equity) through two private placement offerings. The Change Company and its affiliates have successfully raised over $400 million over the past eighteen months to expand access to capital to low-income borrowers and communities. The Offerings – which received investment grade ratings from Egan Jones – were completed through issuances of cumulative, preferred equity at both The Change Company and its subsidiary, Change Lending, LLC. Performance Trust Capital Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to The

Night Store Limited (Night Store), a Derbyshire-based nightwear retailer and wholesaler, has secured a GBP500,000 funding package from MEIF Maven Debt Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners (Maven), to expand its product range and create new job roles. The funding will enable the business to invest in marketing to grow its digital presence online, and to purchase new stock to expand its product portfolio, as well as increasing its warehouse capacity to service its growing number of customers. Night Store also aims to strengthen its senior management team by making three key hires in the next 12 months. Based at

Turquoise, a UK merchant bank specialising in energy, environment and efficiency, has announced a follow-on investment by Low Carbon Innovation Fund 2 (LCIF2) in SKOOT ECO GROUP. This forms part of a capital raising round of over £1 million, which will support the business up to a planned institutional Series A in the next 12 months.   SKOOT was founded in 2019 to promote and facilitate lift sharing amongst friends and colleagues. Since then, SKOOT’s services have expanded to support companies on their low- carbon journey, including measuring emissions, where possible avoiding or reducing emissions, and offsetting the difference. LCIF2

Bengaluru headquartered PhableCare, one of India’s largest chronic disease management company, has raised Series B funding of $25 million within one year of closing its Series A. The round was led by Kalaari Capital with participation from Aflac Ventures, Digital Horizon, Stride Ventures. Existing investors, Omron Ventures, SOSV, Social Starts, and Fresco Capital also participated in the round. The start-up has plans to acquire other players through strategic investments, which will consolidate PhableCare’s position in the category. The company has allocated capital and secured additional venture debt to invest in other health-tech startups that can potentially create a thriving healthcare

LucaNet AG (LucaNet), a German-headquartered financial consolidation and planning software business, has agreed a strategic investment from Hg, a global software and services investor. This marks a key milestone in the company’s growth and ambition to become a global leader in Corporate Performance Management software. Hg will invest a majority stake in the business alongside the current majority shareholders – Rolf-Jürgen Moll, Oliver Schmitz, and Dominik Duchon – who will maintain a substantial minority share and support the company in its next phase of growth. Duchon will serve as the CEO.  Terms of the transaction, which is subject to customary