This past month, we hosted our 2026 Annual General Meeting. Our team shared updates about our firm, our funds, and reflected on the state of the impact investing industry. We were grateful to welcome our community of investors, board members and a few leaders from our portfolio. Thanks again to everyone who participated!
As part of our AGM, we featured a keynote address from Antony Bugg-Levine, a globally recognized pioneer in impact investing and co-founder of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). Antony has spent his career proving that capital can be a profound force for good. He joined us on the heels of his highly anticipated new book, Investing in America: Expanding Access to Finance to Solve Our Shared Challenges. To learn more about Antony's new book and his work, visit investinginamerica.us.
IE CEO Jessica Droste Yagan is joining our friends at SOCAP Global to promote this year's SOCAP26 gathering here in our hometown Chicago from October 12 to 14.
The event signup is now open with a limited number of discounted admission fee slots for early registrants. RSVP now.
Vacuumschmelze, the rare earth permanent magnet specialists based in Germany, signed an agreement to be acquired by US-based Energy Fuels, Inc. The cash-and-stock deal, which translates to $1.9 billion for our fund investment, Ara Partners, will enable Energy Fuels to plant a flag as the first western company with geographically diversified commercial capabilities across the rare earth value chain. "Rare earth magnets are essential to both decarbonization and national security, and VAC is a foundational supplier to that critical supply chain," says Troy Thacker, Managing Partner of Ara Partners. "The combination with Energy Fuels gives VAC a fully integrated platform and the resources to meet rapidly growing global demand."
ReUp Education, the college re-enrollment platform for stopped out learners, was named the Overall EdTech Solution of the Year by EdTech Breakthrough. "ReUp is redefining enrollment management as a holistic, outcomes-focused discipline, positioning institutions and learners alike for long-term success," said Steve Johansson, managing director, EdTech Breakthrough.