Darby Invests in Polish Rapeseed Oil Producer 
Darby Overseas Investments, Ltd., the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, has announced that its Darby Converging Europe Mezzanine Fund (DCEMF) made an investment commitment of EUR 16.40 million in Zaklady Tluszczowe Bodaczow, the fifth largest producer of vegetable oils and edible fats in Poland. As a result, DCEMF has now invested EUR 102 million of its committed capital totaling currently EUR 248 million.
ZTB recently started serving the fast growing industrial segments, including the emerging bio-diesel industry. The proceeds of the loan will help finance a new high capacity production line for rapeseed oil, helping ZTB position itself as one of the key suppliers to the producers of rapeseed methyl esters (RME), the primary bio additive to diesel fuel.
Robert D. Graffam, Darby’s Senior Managing Director – Europe, commented: “ZTB is an excellent example of the opportunities that DCEMF is seeking as we accelerate the pace of investment: a medium-sized company requiring risk capital to finance expansion in a sector with excellent growth prospects. The company is very well placed to capitalize on the increasing market demand for rapeseed oil arising from the EU directive promoting the use of bio-fuels.”
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