Binyamin Ali

The blended finance fund manager previously structured the $1.6bn Galapagos debt-for-nature swap, in which CI2 was an investor.

Barchemy is a Pennsylvania-based specialist in chocolate and confectionery ingredients for a range of industries.

Natara Global is a UK-based specialist in aroma and ingredient extracts with a global manufacturing footprint.

The pension is rebalancing its real assets portfolio and will increase its weighting to non-core real estate and infrastructure in search of higher returns.

Debt-for-nature swaps surged in 2023, but have slowed sharply since. The reason lies less with sovereign appetite than with the availability of political risk insurance.

The venture capital fund will target areas including maritime decarbonization, ocean renewable energy and green shipping infrastructure.

The firm launched its first dedicated timberland strategy in 2024 following a majority-sake acquisition in International Woodland Company in 2022.

The vehicle targets consumer businesses in food and beverage, retail and restaurants, and consumer brands.

The vehicle will make investments in areas such as afforestation and sustainable land use in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Cushon’s carbon price plan and Nest’s billion-dollar forestry mandates show the UK DC market is serious about the asset class. GPs capable of providing flexible entry points and diversified exposure are best placed to capture their commitments.