Colesco Capital Raises $868M for Sustainable Lending Platform

Listen to this story:
|
- Transformative Capital: Colesco’s first close raises over €800M, backed by APG and Rabobank as cornerstone investors.
- Sustainability-Driven Returns: Over 50% of investments focus on sustainability, with fees tied to achieving environmental and social KPIs.
- Focused Strategy: Investments prioritize Sustainable Food, Energy Transition, and Inclusive Society for measurable societal impact.
Colesco’s First Close Secures Over €800M
Colesco Capital, a sustainability-led direct lender, has achieved a significant milestone, raising over €800 million in its first platform close. APG and Rabobank, both known for their sustainability-focused strategies, joined as cornerstone investors.
A Clear Mission:
Capital Meets Purpose Colesco’s strategy merges financial performance with sustainability impact, targeting mid-market European businesses contributing to a sustainable society. According to Danny Vroegop, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Colesco, “The first closing of our platform represents a significant milestone. It demonstrates our added value in the current European direct lending market and highlights how specialised managers that align with specific themes can be very relevant to the current needs of investors.”

Colesco aims to allocate over 50% of investments to companies already meeting sustainability criteria, while the remainder will go to businesses with clear pathways to achieving such standards.
Related Article: Finastra’s ESG Service will support banks in delivering a sustainable lending experience to corporate clients
Tying Success to Impact:
Half of the performance-related fees are directly tied to meeting the platform’s sustainability KPIs. Colesco integrates rigorous credit underwriting and uses the IRIS+ framework to measure impact outcomes effectively.
Thematic Focus:
Colesco’s investments are centered on three critical areas:
- Sustainable Food: Addressing global food security and innovation.
- Energy Transition: Supporting renewable and clean energy initiatives.
- Inclusive Society: Enhancing social equity through innovative solutions.
Strategic Alignment with Investors:
APG and Rabobank share Colesco’s vision for sustainable investing:
Menno van den Elsaker, Head of Alternative Credits at APG: “In Colesco, we have found a partner that shares our ambition. Colesco stood out as one of the few managers able to deliver on our requirements with respect to sustainable investments and to deliver attractive investment returns for our clients in a responsible manner.”
Stefaan Decraene, Chair of Rabobank’s Managing Board: “This investment aligns with Rabobank’s mission to grow a better world together. By working with partners like Colesco, we can accelerate the sustainable transitions needed to future-proof the food and energy systems across the globe.”

Looking Ahead
Robin van den Brandhof, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Colesco, highlighted the importance of this milestone: “We are proud to welcome APG and Rabobank as our cornerstone investors – two like-minded partners with sustainability at their heart. They are both strongly committed to supporting the mobilisation of institutional capital to aid the sustainable transition of businesses across Europe and have put their trust in Colesco to help them deliver on this.”
Conclusion:
Colesco’s platform showcases how sustainability-focused lending can drive both financial returns and meaningful societal impact. With strong backing from leading investors, the firm is set to play a pivotal role in advancing Europe’s sustainable transition.
Follow ESG News on LinkedIn