Nysnø invests in Europe's largest impact growth fund to build resilient communities, fuel the energy transition and promote sustainable consumption

14.01.2022, Stavanger – Nysnø Climate Investments invests in Verdane Idun I, an impact focused fund investing in technology-enabled businesses in Northwestern Europe that contribute to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The fund is at the time of closing Europe's largest impact growth fund and is classified as "Article 9" under the European Union’s Finance Disclosure Regulation.

Verdane Idun I will invest in ambitious growth companies that develop solutions for resilient communities, the energy transition, and sustainable consumption. Every investment that Idun makes will have to meet both financial and elevated impact criteria, with impact defined as addressing at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Nysnø is pleased to partner with Verdane on a shared mission to enable a low-emission society, and more equitable world overall. Drawing on the unique values and technological prowess of the Northern European region, funds focusing on combining tech with sustainability stand to make impact at scale. We are proud to be on this journey with an investor boasting a proven track record of investing in tech-enabled solutions that create a better everyday life for all, contributing to reduced climate gas emissions, while generating outstanding investor returns,” says Lars Hvam, Investment Director at Nysnø.

Verdane is a specialist growth equity investment firm that partners with tech-enabled and sustainable Northern European businesses to help them reach the next stage of international growth. Idun's dedicated team combines entrepreneurial and impact investment experience and will be integrated with Verdane's wider platform of over 90 investment professionals and operational experts. Verdane partner duo Erik Osmundsen and Christian Jebsen will be dedicated to Idun full time and run the fund based out of Verdane’s Oslo office.

“As we enter 2022 and announce the final close of Idun, we are seeing a very strong pipeline of potential investment opportunities across Northwestern Europe, as demonstrated by the Fund’s early deployments into three compelling and ambitious new portfolio companies. We believe that sustainability is an increasingly competitive strategy, especially as the growth and private equity industry is steadily moving towards a more impact-driven mindset. As both a technology and sustainability growth partner, Verdane is strongly positioned to add value and scale its partner businesses, and we look forward to working alongside management teams to drive positive impact,” says Christian Jebsen, Partner at Verdane.

Nysnø Climate Investments invests NOK 170 million, and the total investments in the fund is NOK 3 billion (EUR 300 million).

Contacts:

Lars Hvam, Investment Director, Nysnø Climate Investments, lars@nysnoinvest.no, +47 986 84 372

Christian Jebsen, Partner, Verdane, christian.jebsen@verdane.com, tlf: +47 404 01 441

About Nysnø Climate Investments
Nysnø Climate Investments (Nysnø) is the Norwegian state's climate investment company. We invest in companies that provide profitable and smart solutions to the challenges of climate change. Through total assets of NOK 2.9 billion, Nysnø invests in renewable energy, digital technologies, resource efficiency, sustainable consumption, and the circular economy. Nysnø is headquartered in Stavanger and is owned by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. For more information see www.nysnoinvest.no/en/

About Verdane
Verdane is a specialist growth equity investment firm that partners with tech-enabled and sustainable European businesses to help them reach the next stage of international growth. Verdane can invest as a minority or majority investor, either in single companies or through portfolios of companies, and looks to deploy behind three core themes; the Digital Consumer, Software Everywhere and Sustainable Society. Verdane funds hold €3.6bn in total commitments and have made over 135 investments in fast-growing businesses since 2003. Verdane’s team of over 90 investment professionals and operating experts, based out of Berlin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Oslo and Stockholm, is dedicated to being the preferred growth partner to tech-enabled and sustainable businesses in Europe. More info: www.verdane.com, Follow Verdane on LinkedIn