Here is today’s sustainable IT services news, research and analysis -- written for technology partners, green IT service providers, CIOs, chief sustainability officers (CSOs) and climate accounting professionals.
A. Sustainable Technology, Talent, Partnerships and Green IT Alliances
1. Executive Leadership - Smart Buildings: Siemens has promoted Susanne Seitz to CEO of the Buildings Business Unit, which is part of the company's Smart Infrastructure strategy. The Buildings Business Unit focuses on "reliable and cost-efficient building operations, decarbonization and energy efficiency." Seitz previously was head of sales and marketing at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. Seitz moves to the new post amid a Siemens plan to spin off its EV charging business, which includes various managed services and cloud services for EV charging networks.
2. Generative AI and Paid Content: Microsoft will pay publishers for content used in its new Copilot Daily, the cloud software company disclosed in a blog. Key paid partners include Reuters, Axel Springer, Hearst Magazines, USA TODAY Network and Financial Times, and the company plans to "add more sources over time," Microsoft said. Related: List of Generative AI lawsuits alleging copyright infringement.
B. Sustainability M&A, Climate Tech Investments, Funding and Green IT Business Launches
1. For Sale: Johnson Controls International has started the process to potentially sell its ADT Alarms business, Bloomberg Reported. The target price is roughly $2 billion, the report said. Potential suitors may include Advent, Bain, CVC and Triton, according to Bloomberg. The overall Johnson Controls strategy calls for the company to sell off certain assets, seek a new CEO, and pursue smart building and sustainable data center opportunities. Johnson Controls has also continued to make acquisitions -- which includes buying HVAC service provider Password Services Holdings in August 2024.
2. SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company): A SPAC III Acquisition, a blank check company based in Hong Kong targeting ESG and material technology businesses, plans to raise $55 million in an initial public offering (IPO), Renaissance Capital reported. The SPAC will attempt to acquire "one or more businesses with a total enterprise value of between $100 million and $600 million," the report said.
3. M&A - Smart Buildings: TPG Rise Climate and GIC are acquiring Techem Group for €6.7 billion (US$7.24 billion). Techem develops smart meters for residential homes, which help customers to monitor and manage their energy consumption. The sellers are Partners Group, CDPQ and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.
4. Complete M&A List: Here's our database of all M&A deals involving green IT and renewable energy buyers, sellers and investors.
C. Regional and Global Sustainability Policies and News
1. United States - ESG Reality Check: The impact of a political backlash against ESG issues in the United States is overstated and having little bearing on the country's burgeoning green economy, a JPMorgan executive said, according to Reuters.
2. China Investments: Chinese firms' overseas investments in clean energy technology projects have exceeded $100 billion since the start of 2023 as they aim to avoid tariffs in the U.S. and elsewhere, Reuters reported, based on Australian research group Climate Energy Finance (CEF) findings.
D. Sustainability and Green Technology Conference Calendar
- Sustainable Industry Live 2024Â (October 6, Manchester, United Kingdom)
- Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2024 (October 7-8, Hamburg, Germany)
- Sustainable Investment USA 2024 (October 7-8, New York, New York)
- Clean Energy Transition Asia (CETA) Exhibition and Summit 2024 (October 9-11, Malaysia)
- IGEM 2024: International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (October 9-11, Malaysia)
- Complete Calendar of Sustainability Conferences
E. Previous Updates & Future News
