The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is investing a potential US$339 million in a renewable energy company in Japan.
According to a press release, the investment will allow Shizen Energy Inc. to accelerate its ongoing renewable power plant development activities, business enhancement initiatives in energy digitalization and human capital expansion in key markets. Shizen Energy will continue to develop a variety of renewable energy sources, including ground and roof-mounted solar power, agri-solar power, onshore and offshore wind power, small-scale hydroelectric power and biomass power.
“This transaction in Japan is an important milestone in the deployment of CDPQ’s long-term Asia-Pacific infrastructure strategy,” said Emmanuel Jaclot, executive vice-president and head of infrastructure at the Caisse, in the release. “Japan has a crucial role to play in the decarbonation of Asia and, as an investor with deep experience in renewable energy, we are delighted to be working with the Shizen team to deliver on their ambitious plan for the energy transition.”
The Caisse is also leading an investment round to accelerate the North American growth of a Montreal-based workflow management software company. The $20-million funding round, which also included participation from new and existing investors, will allow Unito, which integrates disparate SaaS applications, to solidify its growing market traction and expand its connectors across the entire suite of digital productivity solutions, according to a press release.
Unito received the majority of its funding from the Caisse’s Equity 253 fund, which was created to increase diversity and inclusion at growing companies. In the release, Wils Théagène, senior director at the Caisse and representative of the Equity 253 fund, noted Unito shares the fund’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Read: Caisse invests in venture capital fund for Black-led firms, PSP starts work on U.K. student housing
“We believe Unito is well positioned to accelerate its global growth by solidifying its considerable market presence and opening up new categories as companies seek simple and powerful workflow integrations,” he added.