AUCKLAND, New Zealand (May 10, 2018) — The NZ Super Fund has added another expansion capital investment to its portfolio, investing $65 million in cloud-based waste and recycling technology company Rubicon Global.
Founded in 2008 in Louisville, Rubicon Global’s mission is to “disrupt the waste and recycling industry and create less expensive, more sustainable solutions.” Rubicon’s cloud-based technology connects people and businesses with waste haulers and processors, reduces the waste stream going to landfills, increases recycling, and promotes development of more diverse forms of waste management in American communities.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Rubicon Global’s goal is to help businesses, governments and organizations confidently execute on their sustainability goals through their waste management operations.
Mark Fennell, the NZ Super Fund’s acting chief investment officer, said Rubicon provided an attractive opportunity for the fund to increase its exposure to expansion capital.
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Following the Rubicon investment, around 2 percent of the NZ Super Fund is invested in expansion capital investments. The fund has direct investments in fuel cell manufacturer Bloom Energy, dynamic glass manufacturer View Inc. and waste-to-energy company LanzaTech. In New Zealand the NZ Super Fund has supported a large number of small and medium-sized high growth companies via external managers Direct Capital, Pioneer Capital, Pencarrow, Waterman Capital and Movac.
Mr. Fennell said: “It’s pleasing to be able to leverage our timeframe, scale and diversification to support growth companies such as Rubicon that, while established from a technology point of view, are pre-IPO. As a long-term investor, the NZ Super Fund is able to invest in high growth companies with a view to realizing long-term potential. These expansion capital investments are an important part of our investment mix because they can help drive long-run returns.”
“This particular investment also aligns with the fund’s strategy to identify investments that have the potential to benefit from the global transition to a low-carbon economy. Rubicon, which aims to divert waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has strong sustainability credentials and complements our climate change investment risk strategy.”
Rubicon’s SVP Strategic Initiatives, Michael Allegretti said: “As a company with a deep commitment to sustainability, Rubicon is proud to be backed by the NZ Super Fund, one of the world’s best performing sovereign wealth funds and a global leader in responsible investment. We share their belief that environmental, social and governance factors are material to long-term financial returns and look forward to adding value to the fund.”
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