Frankfurt, May 12, 2026 – The LAGreen and the eco.business Funds, both managed by Finance in Motion, have received the prestigious Sustainable Debt Award in the category “Sustainability Bond of the Year – Corporate” for their joint financing of Brazilian cocoa processor Gencau. The award recognises the transaction as a pioneering achievement in sustainable agricultural finance and highlights Finance in Motion’s role as a leading force in developing innovative financing solutions across Latin America.
The award-winning issuance is widely regarded as a first-of-its-kind arrangement in Brazil’s cocoa sector. Structured through an Agribusiness Receivables Certificate (CRA by its Portuguese acronym) totalling BRL 80 million, the transaction unlocks dedicated capital for more sustainable cocoa supply chains. Proceeds will be fully allocated to purchasing cocoa from smallholder farmers enrolled in Gencau’s programme, helping to expand income opportunities and drive economic development in the Brazilian states of Pará and Rondônia.
The jury of the Environmental Finance Sustainable Debt Awards lauded the transaction as “great innovation and direct impact” in a sector which, until the deal, had lacked attention, despite its global reach. By linking the use of proceeds directly to deforestation-free production, the structure sets a powerful new benchmark for targeted capital deployment while advancing ESG innovation across agricultural value chains.
The investment was jointly provided by LAGreen and the eco.business Fund and structured by Itaú BBA in collaboration with Canal Securitizadora. For both funds, the transaction marks a major strategic milestone: it is the eco.business Fund’s first direct corporate financing in Brazil and LAGreen’s first investment in the Brazilian capital market through a local instrument.
The financing will enable Gencau to significantly expand its sourcing of sustainably grown cocoa, both from its own plantations and from smallholder farmers. More than 800 family farms are already benefiting from higher incomes, technical assistance and long-term off-take agreements. By 2030, that number is expected to grow to more than 2,000.
“This award is a strong endorsement of the impact innovative financial instruments can have in advancing sustainable development”, said Melanie Aimer, CCO at Finance in Motion. “This transaction not only strengthens the resilience of Brazil’s cocoa sector but also demonstrates how capital markets can be mobilised to support biodiversity and climate-resilient agriculture.”
For Gencau, the partnership marks an equally important step forward. “Together, we are setting a new standard for responsible cocoa production by combining farmer prosperity with environmental and social responsibility”, said Gencau CEO Adriano Pedroso.
The Sustainable Debt Award is presented annually by Environmental Finance, a leading publication covering sustainable investment, green finance and environmental markets.
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Sobre LAGreen
LAGreen es el primer fondo de bonos verdes dedicado a América Latina. A través de la inversión en bonos verdes y el apoyo a nuevos emisores mediante asistencia técnica, LAGreen tiene como objetivo potenciar los beneficios ambientales y sociales en la región y promover la transición hacia una economía verde.
Como fondo de inversión de impacto, gestionado por Finance in Motion Asset Management y asesorado por Santander Asset Management, LAGreen fue creado como una iniciativa del banco de desarrollo alemán KfW, con capital semilla aportado por la Unión Europea (UE) y el Ministerio Federal de Cooperación Económica y Desarrollo de Alemania (BMZ).
Para más información, visite https://lagreen.lu y síganos en LinkedIn.
Sobre Finance in Motion
Finance in Motion es un gestor global de activos de impacto enfocado exclusivamente en el desarrollo sostenible en mercados emergentes y economías en desarrollo. La compañia estructura, gestiona y asesora fondos de inversión de impacto que reúnen a inversionistas públicos y privados para abordar el cambio climático, fortalecer la conservación de la biodiversidad, fomentar el uso sostenible de los recursos naturales, mejorar los medios de vida y promover oportunidades económicas.
Para más información, visite: www.finance-in-motion.com y síganos en LinkedIn
Contacto de prensa LAGreen
Nusha Westhoff
Directora de Marketing y Comunicaciones
Teléfono: +49 69 271 035 742
Correo electrónico: info@lagreen.lu
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