RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Aug. 11, 2023 — To address the growing need for health care professionals in the region, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and University of La Verne are collaborating to create a brand-new resource: the IEHP Health Career Academy.

The not-for-profit health plan has committed $1.5 million to launch the academy under the University of La Verne Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Social Impact — a pillar of the university’s emerging education and innovation corridor located off D Street, between North Sultana and North Plum avenues in Ontario.

The academy’s goal is to fill critical workforce needs and retain talent to address health disparities within one of the fastest-growing population regions in the country. Funding will support the creation of certification for three critical frontline career fields: nursing assistants, medical assistants and central service technicians. The first program cohorts are expected to launch late spring 2024.

“This seed funding will support and enhance the great work University of La Verne is already doing to educate the next generation of frontline health care workers,” said Jarrod McNaughton, IEHP’s chief executive officer. “The new IEHP Health Career Academy will help to bolster the emerging workforce for the future of health care in the Inland Empire.”

The academy complements and aligns with the vision for the corridor, which will include programs that focus on entrepreneurship, law, public service, health equity, community well-being and educational advancement in historically underserved communities, according to the university.

“The new IEHP Health Career Academy will help address the critical shortage of frontline health care workers and accelerate professional training and certification in new and emerging subdisciplines requiring technological and interdisciplinary expertise in addressing patient and community challenges,” said University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman.

One highlight of the new academy will be the Earn-to-Learn program, which provides students the opportunity to pursue necessary field certification while working in related entry-level positions and earning experience and pay. This model is a “practical way of alleviating a burden by providing a more financially inclusive and accessible education,” according to both entities. Participants can also receive entrepreneurial skills in the healthcare industry to support related start-up businesses, officials said.

About IEHP

With a mission to heal and inspire the human spirit, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans, the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid plan in the country and for the third year in a row, certified as A Great Place To Work®. In its 27th year, IEHP supports more than 1.6 million Riverside and San Bernardino County residents enrolled in Medicaid or IEHP DualChoice (those with both Medi-Cal and Medicare). Today, IEHP has a growing network of 7,000 providers and 3,000 team members who are fully committed to the vision: We will not rest until our communities enjoy optimal care and vibrant health. To learn more, visit iehp.org.

About University of LaVerne

The University of La Verne is a nonprofit comprehensive institution offering a wide-range of liberal arts and professional programs incorporating the same core values it was founded on in 1891 – lifelong learning, ethical reasoning, civic and community engagement, and diversity and inclusivity. With more than 70 percent of students from underrepresented groups, the federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution is among the most diverse small private universities in the nation. The Southern California-based university has five colleges and offers classes at the historic La Verne campus, through regional campuses, and online. The University of La Verne is nationally recognized and consistently holds rankings on the U.S. News & World Report National University, Best Value Schools, Top Performers on Social Mobility, and Best Online Programs lists.

SOURCE Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)

WUHAN, China and SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11, 2023 — Neurophth Therapeutics, Inc. (“Neurophth”), a China’s leading gene therapy company for ophthalmic diseases, announced the closing of nearly 95 million USD in Series C+ financing. The round was co-led by Yangtze River-CMB International Industry Fund, Wuhan Optical Valley Financial Holding Group, Wuhan Hi-Tech Holding Group, Hubei KTLC and Guangzhou Jinkong Fund. Additionally, several prominent investment firms participated, including CMG-SDIC Capital, Silicon Paradise Asset Management and Yangtze River Industry Fund. The raised funds will be directed towards advancing clinical trials for Neurophth’s core products, enhancing the firm’s R&D capabilities and expanding its pipeline. 

Neurophth completed its Series C financing in 2021, co-led by CMG-SDIC Capital and Sequoia Capital China, with further investment from Sunshine Life Insurance and China Merchant Bank International Capital. This follows the closing of Series B financing co-led by Guofang Capital and InnoVision Capital, with additional capital from Oriza Holdings, Harvest Capital, Grand Mount Capital, Sequoia Capital China and Northern Light Venture Capital. In early 2020, the firm finalized its Series A financing, co-led by Sequoia Capital China and Fosun, following the conclusion of its angel round of funding in August 2018, co-led by Miracle Light Venture, the venture arm of BGI Genomics, with additional investment from BOHE Angel Fund and Northern Light Venture Capital.

In early 2023, Neurophth’s leading candidate NR082 (rAAV2-ND4) marked a historic milestone as the first gene therapy drug to complete patient enrollment for a Phase III clinical trial in China. Additionally, the company concluded the enrollment of the first patient for Phase I/II clinical trials in the US. NFS-02, Neurophth’s second candidate and the world’s sole gene therapy targeting ND1-LHON, is under development and has received IND approval from both the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, Neurophth is conducting a global multi-center clinical trial of the drug candidate.  

“We’re honored to have earned the trust of top investment institutions in the biopharmaceutical sector,” said Professor Bin Li, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Neurophth. “Since the beginning of this year, we’ve made substantial progress in the clinical trials of our products. We plan to keep focusing on developing gene therapies for ophthalmic patients worldwide. With the support of our investors and our technological acumen, we’re positioned to accelerate our clinical trials and R&D of new drugs, delivering gene therapies to patients more quickly.”

“We extend our sincere gratitude to leading investment firms for acknowledging Neurophth’s past accomplishments and future potential. This round of financing is expected to bolster clinical trials for our key products while helping expedite the development and commercialization of new drugs,” stated Neurophth CFO Su Zhang. “To address the unfulfilled needs of patients, we will remain steadfast in our commitment to increasing R&D investments, enhancing technological capabilities and broadening the pipeline.”  

“Unwavering support from our investors provides a solid foundation for Neurophth’s continuous growth,” stated Eric Lin, Secretary of the Board and Senior Vice President of Neurophth. “The firm is committed to advancing the gene therapy sector through ongoing innovation and R&D of new drugs, aiming to become a global leader in ophthalmic gene therapy, in line with our investors’ support and expectations.”  

“We fully recognize Neurophth’s strength and potential in the gene therapy field, evidenced by their swift progress and outstanding achievements in technology R&D and clinical trials,” noted Yangtze River-CMB International Industry Fund. “This financing round has also received strong support from the state-owned platform Donghu New Technology Development Zone. In the future, we along with various state-owned platforms will further collaborate with Neurophth to support the company’s innovative development on a global scale. We anticipate Neurophth’s continued growth and development of pioneering gene therapies that will benefit patients worldwide.”

“With a strong commitment to the biomedical and healthcare industries, Guangzhou Jinkong Fund provides comprehensive support to exceptional companies across various segments,” commented Huang Cheng, Chairman of Guangzhou Jinkong Fund. “As a distinctive provider of gene therapies, Neurophth boasts significant product advantages, a leading gene therapy R&D platform and cutting-edge CMC production technology. In addition, the founder, Bin Li, contributes a wealth of scientific knowledge and clinical experience. Given the substantial unmet clinical need for ophthalmic diseases and the considerable market potential, we are highly optimistic about Neurophth’s prospects for growth.”

“CMG-SDIC Capital is thrilled to continue our participation in Neurophth’s latest financing,” mentioned the life science team of CMG-SDIC Capital. “We fully acknowledge Neurophth’s leadership in China’s gene therapy sector and plan to continue our partnership with Neurophth to foster the company’s growth and further the development of the industry. We look forward to the launch of Neurophth’s therapies, which will have the potential to benefit patients globally.”

About Neurophth

Neurophth is China’s leading gene therapy company for ophthalmic diseases. With subsidiaries in China (Wuhan, Shanghai and Suzhou) and the US (San Diego, CA), Neurophth is striving to develop genomic medicines for patients suffering from genetic diseases globally. Our AAV platform has been successfully validated through data from an investigator-initiated retinal gene therapy study. The significant findings from the research have been published in Nature-Scientific Reports, Ophthalmology and EBioMedicine. Our most advanced investigational gene therapy drug candidate, NR082, used for the treatment of Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) associated with mtND4 mutation (ND4-LHON), has been granted orphan drug designation (ODD) by the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It is the first Chinese gene therapy drug to receive Investigational New Drug (IND) approval for clinical trials from both China’s NMPA and the FDA. Neurophth has completed patient enrollment for the Phase III clinical trial in China and established several clinical research centers in the U.S. Recently, our second gene therapy drug candidate NFS-02 has been granted IND clearance from the FDA and NMPA and is undergoing a global multi-center clinical trial. The company’s pipeline also includes autosomal dominant optic atrophy, optic neuroprotection, vascular retinopathy, and other preclinical candidates. To learn more about us and our growing pipeline, please visit www.neurophth.com.

About Yangtze River-CMB International Industry Fund

Hubei Yangtze River-CMB International Industry Fund Management Co., Ltd (“Yangtze River-CMB”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMB International, manages Yangtze River-CMB International Industry Fund. The fund has built a strategic presence in a number of high-tech sectors, including medical technology, renewable energy and intelligent manufacturing. Utilizing capital as a key catalyst, the firm remains committed to facilitating the rapid growth of high-tech companies.  

About Guangzhou Jinkong Fund

Guangzhou Jinkong Fund Management Co., Ltd (“Guangzhou Jinkong Fund”), a subsidiary of Guangzhou Finance Holdings Group, is a leading private equity investment fund management platform with a registered capital of 1.1 billion yuan. With headquarters in Guangzhou and a strategic focus on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the company has a global reach in its investment initiatives. Guangzhou Jinkong Fund’s investment strategy centers on fostering innovation and growth throughout various industry chains. To achieve this, the company has developed a diverse portfolio that includes a science and innovation master fund, a state-owned enterprise innovation fund, a district-level investment fund, an urban renewal fund, a rural revitalization fund, a life and health fund, and a hard science fund. Through a unique five-in-one service model, Guangzhou Jinkong Fund emphasizes the attracting of top-tier businesses, development of industrial parks, provision of financial services, creation of listing platforms and formation of industrial clusters. This comprehensive approach enables the company to offer invested enterprises a full spectrum of innovative financial solutions, ranging from industry chain integration and capital operation to leveraging government resources. Currently, Guangzhou Jinkong Fund oversees 26 industrial equity investment funds and 3 government investment funds, with assets under management totaling 48.277 billion yuan. The company’s funds have been invested in 281 projects, including 48 companies that have gone public.

About CMG-SDIC Capital

CMG-SDIC Capital, a leading private equity management firm in China, strategically targets investments in the advanced manufacturing sector. We prioritize technological innovation and place tremendous value on supporting exceptional entrepreneurs and their teams. Our diverse investment portfolio encompasses intelligent manufacturing, smart electric cars, life sciences, and information and communication technology. We are deeply committed to driving the evolution of the manufacturing industry towards sustainability, digitization and service-oriented growth. The team manages cumulative assets exceeding 100 billion yuan, with a diverse investor base that includes financial institutions, social security trust funds as well as state-owned and private companies.

SOURCE Neurophth Therapeutics, Inc.

TEMPE, Ariz., Aug. 11, 2023 — Persefoni, a leading Climate Management & Accounting Platform (CMAP) for enterprises and financial institutions, today announces a $50 million Series C-1 funding round and the launch of PersefoniGPT, the company’s AI co-pilot product for carbon accounting and management. This latest funding round was led by TPG Rise and included participation by Clearvision Ventures, ENEOS Innovation Partners, NGP Energy Technology Partners, Prelude Ventures, Parkway Ventures, Rice Investment Group, Bain and Co., EDF, and Alumni Ventures.

The funding raises the total amount of investment in Persefoni to more than $150 million.

“This Series C round represents a significant vote of confidence in our strategic vision, our product and sales execution, and our commitment to bringing best-in-class climate software solutions to our customers,” said Kentaro Kawamori, CEO and Co-Founder of Persefoni. “This new investment not only ensures our ability to provide industry-leading support to our global customers, but it also enables us to double down on our existing, successful AI developments.

“When we founded the company in January 2020, we incorporated ‘Persefoni AI Inc.’ to cement our investment in AI technologies as being critical to our company ethos. We’re proud to have already delivered on that vision and are pleased to expand upon this early success with the step-change capabilities that generative AI represents. Breakthroughs in GPT and LLM models will drive huge innovation in the Climate Tech space, and Persefoni is excited to be at the forefront here with the launch of PersefoniGPT.” 

Persefoni’s increased investments in generative AI are not only visible in customer-facing products shipping in Q4 2023, but they will also have a significant impact on reducing operating expenses moving forward. Not counting the release of PersefoniGPT, the company has launched several AI capabilities into its core carbon accounting and management platform, which Persefoni’s customers have employed to great fanfare. These innovations are already radically simplifying the complexity of enterprise data management with the help of models that enable, among other functionality, anomaly detection, natural language data matching, and automated data error resolution.

“Our early shift to invest in the transformative power of AI and machine learning technologies continues to pay dividends. Not only are we able to reduce costs, we’re propelling our solutions into a new model of efficiency and intelligence,” said Kim Stroh, Co-founder and Head of AI, Persefoni. “This innovation drives sustainability and efficiency simultaneously, and it’s a key reason why Persefoni is trusted by partners leading in their respective markets, like Workiva, Deloitte, ERM, and Bain & Co.“

About Persefoni

Persefoni AI Inc. provides businesses, financial institutions, and governmental agencies the software fabric for managing their organization’s climate-related data, disclosures, and performance with the same level of rigor and confidence as their financial reporting systems. The company’s software enables users to simplify the calculation of their carbon footprint, identify decarbonization strategies and perform climate trajectory modeling aligned to temperature rise scenarios set forth by the Paris Agreement, and benchmark their impact by region, sector, and/or peer groups.

For more information about Persefoni, please visit https://persefoni.com/

SOURCE Persefoni

NEW YORK and LONDON, Aug. 11, 2023 — Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP (“Davidson Kempner“), a global investment management firm, announces the signing of a binding agreement with X3 Group (“X3”), a subsidiary of ION, for the sale of Prelios S.p.A. (“Prelios”).

Established in 1990 in Milan, Italy, Prelios is the Italian leader in alternative asset management, servicing and specialized property services with more than €40bn of assets under management across non-performing loans, unlikely-to-pay exposures and real estate funds.

Since investment funds advised by Davidson Kempner acquired the business in 2018, Prelios has been able to grow its revenue from €100m to over €300m while significantly improving profitability.

The completion of the transaction is subject to the authorization of the relevant authorities.

Goldman Sachs International acted as financial advisor and Linklaters LLP provided legal advice to Davidson Kempner.

Lazard acted as financing advisor to Prelios.

The law firm Russo De Rosa Associati acted as tax and legal advisors for the management.

UBS acted as financial advisor, Gattai, Minoli, Partners and Chiomenti provided legal advice, Facchini Rossi Michelutti provided tax advice to ION.

Unicredit, Intesa Sanpaolo and BNP Paribas led the consortium of banks, also including Banco BPM, Standard Chartered Bank and Mediobanca, that are providing financing to X3 for the transaction. BNP Paribas and Mediobanca acted as financial advisors to X3. Milbank provided legal advice for the financing to X3 and Latham & Watkins advised the lenders.

About Davidson Kempner Capital Management

Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP is a global investment management firm with over 40 years of experience and a focus on fundamental investing with a multi-strategy approach. Davidson Kempner has more than $37 billion in assets under management and over 500 employees across seven offices: New York, Philadelphia, London, Dublin, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Mumbai. Additional information is available at: www.davidsonkempner.com.

About Prelios

Prelios is the leading, vertically integrated Italian player offering a one-stop shop for investors and banks in alternative asset management and high value-added services across the real estate and credit value chains. Prelios is the first private player in the unlikely-to-pay segment leveraging on its first mover advantage and highly innovative DNA, long-term partnerships with the two leading Italian banks and sizeable management structure in the market, while also leading in the non-performing loans servicing segment. Prelios acts as operating partner of choice for large global and domestic institutional investors ensuring end-to-end coverage from scouting of new market opportunities, structuring, asset management and exit. Additional information is available at: https://prelios.com.

About ION

ION is a permanent capital investment holding company focused on software and data to digitize and automate mission-critical workflows. Additional information is available at:  https://iongroup.com/.

Press Contacts

Davidson Kempner

Greenbrook
Rob White/Teresa Berezowski
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 207 952 2000

Community

Roberto Patriarca
Email: [email protected]
Tel: + 39 335 6509568

ION

https://iongroup.com/media-inquiry/

SOURCE Davidson Kempner; ION

NewRoad Capital Partners Completes Round, Joins Progress Ventures, Top VCs and Investors Gary Vaynerchuk, Marc Lore, and Alex Rodriguez to Back Innovative Data Stack Solution

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2023 — Tracer, the leading data intelligence platform, announced today the completion of an oversubscribed Series A fundraise co-led by NewRoad Capital Partners, Progress Ventures, and BDMI, part of Bertelsmann’s corporate venture arm Bertelsmann Investments. S4S Ventures and Arbour Way Investors also participated in the series. The close of the round was accompanied by the addition of John Sheehy, Operating Partner at NewRoad Capital Partners, to its Board of Directors.

Incubated out of VaynerMedia in 2015 by co-founders Jeffrey Nicholson and Leighton Welch to automate analytics across every client globally, Tracer processed more than $1B in transactions before spinning off into a stand-alone entity in 2021. Today, Nicholson serves as Tracer CEO and Welch as CTO. The company also recently appointed accomplished integrated marketing leader Obele Brown-West as President to spearhead Tracer’s revenue, operations and strategic growth initiatives.

An advertising and media veteran, new board member Sheehy was Global Brand President of Starcom Worldwide and a member of the Publicis Media global leadership team prior to joining NewRoad Capital Partners in 2022. Before Starcom, Sheehy was a member of the Leo Burnett global management team. With more than three decades of marketing and consulting experience, Sheehy will provide valuable guidance to the fast-growing company. Joining Sheehy on the Board, alongside Gary Vaynerchuk who retains his previously held seat: Adriaan Zur Muhlen, Managing Partner of Progress Ventures; Sanja Partalo, Co-founder and Managing Partner of S4S Ventures; and Keith Titan, Partner at BDMI.

“Developed by true industry experts, Tracer has solved a global industry issue: the challenge of ingesting and managing the growing number of moving parts, partners, and channels around digital data management and reporting,” said Sheehy. “Jeff and Leighton are the experts in this battle and have surrounded themselves with world-class talent to carve out their leadership position.”

Tracer has amassed a portfolio of high-profile clients such as Sanofi, Condé Nast, Papa Johns, Headspace, Media.Monks, and January Digital. A growing number of the world’s top brands, agencies and holding companies are turning to the data platform to achieve greater transparency, customization and impact-driven reporting from their modern marketing tech stack.

“Tracer is at a significant inflection point in solving one of the media and marketing industries’ biggest problems: turning data into informed decisions,” said Jeff Nicholson, Tracer co-founder and CEO. “In a challenging funding and growth landscape, we are humbled by the confidence our investors have in our potential. This oversubscribed round is a testament to the value we’ve proven our platform can deliver, and we look forward to working with John [Sheehy], our Board, and the industry giants who have joined as investors to catapult Tracer forward.”

Tracer’s executive vision, strong enterprise client portfolio and remarkable customer retention have contributed to the confidence of its investor group, which includes Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore’s VCP Ventures, Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s Thirty Five Ventures (35V), Stephen Ross and Matt Higgins’ RSE Ventures, S⁴ Capital Executive Chairman Sir Martin Sorrell, and Gary Vaynerchuk.

With offices in New York City and London, and a team of more than 70 across four continents, Tracer’s innovation has been celebrated by reputable industry organizations and publications. Most recently, the company was named to The Lead’s ‘The Leading 100‘ list, which recognizes the most innovative, high-impact tech start-ups driving business value for brands. Tracer was also honored in 2022 for its work with Sanofi by the Association of National Advertisers’ Genius Award for Marketing Analytics Storytelling.

ABOUT TRACER
Tracer is a data intelligence platform that revolutionizes modern data stack management by eliminating technical complexity. Tracer empowers global brands, data partners and agencies to make strategic decisions by seamlessly consolidating data sources and enriching it with business insights. By leveraging its comprehensive and flexible suite of technologies, Tracer provides unparalleled transparency into business performance and delivers a centralized source of truth.

MEDIA CONTACT
Erica Conover
[email protected]

SOURCE Tracer

NEW YORK and ATLANTA, Aug. 10, 2023 — Paccurate, the leading cartonization platform for shipping and fulfillment optimization, today announced the closing of a $3.5M round led by Tech Square Ventures, a leading early-stage investment firm. TSV was joined by Las Olas Venture Capital and Royal Street Ventures, with significant participation from existing investors SpringTime Ventures, Grand Ventures, FirstMile Ventures, and Cannell Venture Partners. The funding will continue to drive Paccurate’s expansion and development of their solution.

Vasant Kamath, a general partner at Tech Square Ventures, said, “We are excited to invest in Paccurate, to bring true spatial optimization to the supply chain and logistics sector. The Paccurate team has built an incredible solution that delivers significant strategic value, paired with a compelling vision for the future of shipping. We are delighted to support James and Pat and help drive the growth of the business.”

Paccurate’s patented technology suggests the optimal packing methodology for every shipment, reducing waste, reducing costs and item damage for shippers of all sizes. Unlike legacy solutions that only utilize 3D simulation and limited variables, Paccurate accounts for critical external factors like labor, material and complex carrier rates to create a truly cost-optimal packing solution. With a lightweight API, Paccurate is an easy drop-in upgrade to existing systems, supplying users with dynamic, real-time suggestions in a short time.

The company optimizes more than 1 million shipments per month and has helped customers save millions of dollars in shipping, cardboard and filler costs. Paccurate’s technology is not only a powerful cost-saving solution, but also a tangible way for companies to reach their ESG goals, helping businesses cut SCOPE-3 emissions by over 15%.

“Partnering with Paccurate has enabled our organization to remain focused on our sustainability goals while managing box utilization, damage reduction and shipping costs,” said Jerry Spence, the Senior Director of Engineering and Planning at Crate & Barrel. “Their software ensures we are using the right box every time and our associates can quickly see how a box should be packed, which increases throughput and lowers our costs.”

James Malley, Co-founder and CEO of Paccurate, said, “With the support of Tech Square Ventures, we are excited to accelerate delivery of a powerful savings and sustainability solution to the market. This funding will accelerate our expansion to meet increasing demand for optimization and allows us to further develop our technology to deliver deeper insights and value for our customers.”

To learn more about Paccurate and its mission to make shipping more cost-effective and sustainable for businesses, please visit: https://paccurate.io/

About Tech Square Ventures

Tech Square Ventures is an Atlanta-based early-stage venture capital firm that partners with visionary entrepreneurs to help them with what they need most – access to markets and customers. Tech Square Ventures’ platform is built on a strategic network of innovation ecosystem, corporate, and university relationships that help founders inform and accelerate go-to-market strategies. For more information, visit www.techsquareventures.com or follow Tech Square Ventures on LinkedIn or Twitter @techsquarev

SOURCE Paccurate, Inc

New Capital will Enable the Company to Accelerate Growth of Land under Green Energy Projects

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2023 — Renewa, a leading land and infrastructure investor in the renewable energy industry, today announced that it has secured $450 million (US) of committed capital, led by QIC, a leading institutional investment manager and advisor. The new capital will enable the company to further its mission to help advance the transition to renewable energy in the United States.  

Renewa, which owns one of the largest independent portfolios of land under clean energy projects in the U.S., provides flexible, long-term capital and other specialized financial solutions to landowners and renewable energy project developers through the acquisition of land and associated rental payments from utility-scale wind, solar, storage, and other critical infrastructure projects. 

With a presence in more than 30 gigawatts of projects, Renewa has one of the most diversified land exposures to U.S. renewable energy.

“The transition to renewable energy takes innovation, financial commitment, policy leadership and arguably the most critical element – land,” said Stephen Lee, Renewa Co-Founder and Co-CEO.  “The support and backing from QIC is a significant step forward – one that will allow Renewa to continue to make bold commitments and consistently deliver on our promises to landowners and project developers.”

Estimates indicate that there will be more than 250 million acres of land needed to house solar, wind, and energy storage facilities in order to achieve U.S. net-zero commitments. This is up from about 81 million acres needed just a few short years ago. 

“There can be no wind or solar project without suitable land to house it,” added Gage Mooring, Renewa Co-Founder and CO-CEO. “Renewa is able to play a vital role to help accelerate the development of renewable energy assets by providing real, financial solutions to developers, landowners, investors and families across the U.S.” 

Projects on Renewa’s ground lease assets are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. by approximately 5 million tons in 2023 – the equivalent of taking approximately 1 million passenger cars off U.S. roads. 

In addition to the committed funding, QIC has appointed energy industry veterans Mark Noyes, Peter Tumminello and Natalie Jackson as independent directors for the company. Their appointments bring extensive expertise to the Renewa team in developing, operating and financing energy projects. Mr. Noyes is CEO of RWE Clean Energy, one of the largest renewable energy companies in the U.S., and formerly served as CEO of Con Edison’s Clean Energy Business. Natalie Jackson, an energy executive with a significant track-record of executing and structuring complex financing transactions, is Chief of Capital Markets and Structuring at TES. Previously, she was Senior Vice President, Head of Capital Markets & Portfolio Finance for Clearway Energy Group. Peter Tumminello, a highly knowledgeable board director, served as Group President of Commercial Businesses for Southern Company Gas (formerly AGL Resources) where he was responsible for operations outside of the regulated entities.

Renewa owns land and ground leases under more than 130 renewable energy facilities across the U.S., acquiring land under projects operated by more than 50 developers, including Acciona, Duke Energy, Enel, Leeward Energy, Lightsource bp, and NextEra Energy, in 26 states.

About Renewa
Renewa is a renewable energy land financing company providing financing solutions to landowners and renewable energy project developers through the acquisition of leasehold interests, land, rental streams and royalty incomes. Renewa is backed by QIC, channeling long-term capital to fund renewable energy projects with local partners and landowners. 

For more information, please visit: www.renewa.com.

Media Contact

Julie Nicholson
860.430.2228
[email protected]

SOURCE Renewa

Led By CAVU Consumer Partners, Funding Will Be Invested Directly Into Accelerating Innovation in Industry-Changing Pet Supplements & Continuing to Expand Retail Footprint

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 10, 2023 — Since launching in 2017, Native Pet, a leading clean label ingredient pet supplement company, has been committed to helping four-legged friends live happier, healthier lives. That mission has been bolstered considerably with the closing of $11 million in Series B funding led by CAVU Consumer Partners. It’s the latest milestone in Native Pet’s rapid growth as the leader in the fast-evolving pet supplement category.

“As of 2023, 50% of U.S. households have a dog* and that number continues to rapidly grow. At the same time, Dog Parents are waking up to the limitations of a kibble only diet,” said Dan Schaefer, CEO and Co-Founder of Native Pet. “Consumer feeding habits are evolving. More than ever, the consumer is adding supplements to their dog’s bowl to customize their diet and use it as an opportunity to drive health outcomes.”

Native Pet is bringing a refreshing mindset to the pet supplements category. Their approach to product development bridges the gap between nutraceutical supplements and the popular demand for clean label, functional nutrition solutions for dogs. Consumers are more regularly reaching for products that utilize whole food ingredients that they recognize and trust. Native Pet has revolved their product R&D around the use of these functional whole foods as active ingredients (such as pumpkin, bone broth, and real chicken protein) that are research-backed for improving the health and wellness of our pets. This innovative approach has led to category-leading efficacy, while also delivering tasty products that dogs love. Conscious pet parents also love that Native Pet’s supplements are formulated alongside Board Certified Vet Nutritionists, PHDa food scientists, and of course—a large number of doggy taste testers that really put the products to the test. The team is driven by their “Native Pet Pact” which encapsulates the company’s commitment to making the highest-quality products in pet nutrition, period.

“The next evolution in the ‘humanization of pets’ is pet wellness. Today’s pet parents are increasingly looking beyond the bowl to improve their pet’s health and well-being,” said Jared Jacobs, Partner at CAVU Consumer Partners and Native Pet Board Member. “Native Pet is at the forefront of this emerging but rapidly growing pet nutrition category, and we are proud to partner with Dan, Pat and the Native Pet team as they aim to build the category defining brand in pet wellness.”

With this funding, Native Pet will accelerate its continued growth through category innovations and retail expansion. Native Pet’s strategy remains simple: invent functional products that add targeted nutrition to our pets’ daily routine with effective results, clean ingredients and truly great taste.

Native Pet is available for purchase at Amazon, Chewy, Thrive Market, CVS , Target and on their website: https://nativepet.com. For more information, visit nativepet.com or @nativepet on Instagram and TikTok.

*American Pet Products Association (2023-2024)

About Native Pet
Native Pet is committed to developing proprietary formulas and formats, offering only the best, most innovative supplements to directly benefit the health of pets. In an industry that has never prioritized the health of our pets, Native Pet is redefining the bar by living up to The Native Pet Pact, the brand’s unwavering commitment to making a real difference in pets’ health.

MediaContact
[email protected]

SOURCE Native Pet

Strategic investment will fuel the development of JUDI^® – the new platform standard for claims processing – and overall growth of full-service customer solutions

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2023 — Capital Rx, the health technology company changing the way prescription drugs are priced and patients are cared for in America, has received a strategic investment from Memorial Hermann Health System, a non-profit health system committed to creating healthier Houston communities. Memorial Hermann joins Capital Rx’s existing investors in supporting the development of JUDI^®, the new standard for backend claims processing platforms in the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) industry, and the overall growth of Capital Rx’s full-service PBM and pharmacy benefit administration (PBA) platform as a service (PaaS) solution.

“We’re thrilled to have the investment support of Memorial Hermann as we work to modernize this country’s claims processing infrastructure and deploy our aligned customer model to more employers, unions, municipalities, and other payers to create enduring change,” said AJ Loiacono, Co-Founder & CEO of Capital Rx. “It’s especially rewarding because we share the same values and prioritize community, compassion, credibility, and having the courage to be innovative in everything we do.”

Capital Rx’s JUDI brings exponential operational efficiency and control to Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans and prescription claims processing. A modern, open, and scalable platform, JUDI allows for seamless communication and data integration between vendors and across the continuum of care. Importantly, its intuitive design and workflows save time, allowing health systems and other payers to allocate resources more efficiently and toward what matters most: caring for patients and members in the communities and populations they serve.

“As we assessed the health care ecosystem for innovative capabilities to help accelerate the evolution of the pharmacy service model and prescription claims processing, Capital Rx’s vision for a framework that prioritizes efficiency and allows for exceptional patient care set the company apart for investment consideration,” said Feby Abraham, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Memorial Hermann. “Capital Rx’s platform is focused on bringing clarity and consistency to drug prices, broadening access to medication, and helping its clients control pharmacy costs, all without sacrificing member service and patient outcomes.”

The Health Management Academy‘s Strategic Partnership Alliance, which explores new venture and investment opportunities on behalf of a group of the country’s largest health systems, identified Capital Rx as a mission-aligned disruptor with next-generation technology for its members, including Memorial Hermann.

To learn more about Capital Rx’s pharmacy benefit administration capabilities and JUDI, please visit: Capital Rx – JUDI^®

About Memorial Hermann Health System
Charting a better future. A future that’s built upon the HEALTH of our community. This is the driving force for Memorial Hermann, redefining health care for the individuals and many diverse populations we serve. Our 6,700 affiliated physicians and 32,000 employees practice the highest standards of safe, evidence-based, quality care to provide a personalized and outcome-oriented experience across our more than 260 care delivery sites. As one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in Southeast Texas, Memorial Hermann has an award-winning and nationally acclaimed Accountable Care Organization, 17* hospitals, and numerous specialty programs and services conveniently located throughout the Greater Houston area. Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is one of the nation’s busiest Level I trauma centers and serves as the primary teaching hospital for McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. For more than 115 years, our focus has been the best interest of our community, contributing nearly $500 million annually through school-based health centers and other community benefit programs. Now and for generations to come, the health of our community will be at the center of what we do – charting a better future for all. To learn more, visit: https://memorialhermann.org/

*Memorial Hermann Health System owns and operates 14 hospitals and has joint ventures with three other hospital facilities, including Memorial Hermann Surgical Hospital First Colony, Memorial Hermann Surgical Hospital Kingwood, and Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy.

About Capital Rx
Capital Rx is a healthcare technology company changing the way prescription drugs are priced and patients are cared for in America. As a Certified B Corp™, Capital Rx is executing its mission through an efficient Single-Ledger Model™ that increases visibility and reduces variability in drug prices. The company’s cloud-native enterprise pharmacy platform, JUDI^®, connects every aspect of the pharmacy ecosystem, servicing over 2.4 million members for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans. Together with its clients, Capital Rx is reimagining the administration of pharmacy benefits and rebuilding trust in healthcare. To learn more, visit capitalrx.com. 

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SOURCE Capital Rx