• The competition will identify and support early-stage businesses focused on transforming power distribution, grid management, energy storage and clean energy generation in Africa.
• It is open to technologically advanced start-ups with a maximum age of five years and no more than 20 full-time employees.
• Winners will benefit from mentorship, access to industry insights, and grant funding to help accelerate growth.

LONDON, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Octopus Energy, a member of the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Africa Council and leader of the Africa Energy Workstream, today launches the Energy Entrepreneurship Competition to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative energy solutions across Africa.

With 685 million people globally living without access to electricity¹, there is a critical need in Africa for reliable and sustainable energy infrastructure. The Energy Entrepreneurship Competition aims to:

• Drive innovation and growth within the African renewable energy sector;
• Nurture the next generation of energy leaders committed to addressing the continent’s unique energy challenges;
• Create a vibrant ecosystem where collaboration and knowledge sharing drive the renewable energy sector forward.

It will do this by identifying and supporting early-stage businesses focused on transforming power distribution, grid management, energy storage and clean energy generation.

The competition is open to technologically advanced start-ups with a maximum age of five years and no more than 20 full-time employees. Winners will benefit from mentorship, access to industry insights, and grant funding to help accelerate growth. 

Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy, said: As an entrepreneur myself, I’ve seen how talented people in clean energy ventures are key to unlocking energy accessibility and driving sustainability across the world – so I’m excited to see the results of this competition

Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, said: “Accelerating access to affordable and clean energy across Africa is an integral part of the global green energy transition. Through this initiative we’re looking to empower entrepreneurs on-the-ground to drive forward clean energy solutions that will have a lasting impact on communities.”

Full competition details can be found on the SMI website. The closing date for submissions – which should be made online at https://octopus.typeform.com/SIMAC – is Monday 4 November 2024. Winners will be announced before the end of the year.

Notes to editors

About the Sustainable Markets Initiative
Founded by His Majesty King Charles III in 2020, as Prince of Wales, the Sustainable Markets Initiative has become the world’s ‘go-to’ private sector organisation on transition. Launched in 2021, the Terra Carta serves as the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s mandate with a focus on accelerating positive results for Nature, People and Planet through real economy action.  Read more: www.sustainable-markets.org 

About the Sustainable Markets Initiative Africa Council
The Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Africa Council (SMIAC) was launched in November 2023 following a roundtable meeting of leading African CEOs at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, during the state visit of His Majesty King Charles III to Kenya.

It was established in recognition of the current realities of the African continent’s 1.3 billion people, and the shared ambition of its 55 countries to establish a common position in combatting climate change, biodiversity loss and fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

At its heart, the objective of the Africa Council is to encourage collective and scalable action by business and finance in support of sustainability agendas across the African continent. Together, the members of the Africa Council develop, propose, and adopt innovative solutions and best practices that address some of the most pressing sustainability needs evidenced across the continent. It is led by Dr Hubert Danso, CEO, Africa Investor (Ai) Group, and Dr James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Group Holdings.

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About Octopus Energy Generation

As Octopus Energy Group’s green generation arm, Octopus Energy Generation is driving the renewable energy agenda and building green power for the future. It is reshaping the market by leading the transition to a cleaner, greener future through renewable projects connected more deeply to customers and businesses. As one of Europe’s largest specialist renewables investors, it manages 3.8 GW of green energy projects like wind and solar farms in over 15 countries, worth £7bn ($9bn). These generate enough green power for 2.3 million homes every year – the equivalent of taking over 1 million petrol cars off the road.

Octopus comes up with innovative tech-enabled products to change ingrained thinking about energy, positively influence the net zero economy and deliver cheaper energy for customers. This includes the ‘Fan Club’, a world-first tariff providing discounted energy to people living near wind turbines when it’s windy, which has seen 32,000+ requests for local wind turbines, and Winder (Tinder for Wind), Octopus’ tech platform to speed up new turbines development driven by community demand. For more information, check out our website https://www.octopusenergygeneration.com/

About Octopus Energy Group

Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting edge energy products to 7.9 million households globally. Its operations span 18 countries and the entire energy value chain. The group invests in, builds and flexibly manages renewable energy, operating a £7 billion portfolio of projects.

Octopus has licensed its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, to support over 54 million customer accounts worldwide through licensing deals with companies such as EDF, E.ON and Origin Energy. Kraken enables Octopus to drive the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative cleantech. Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide. For more information, check out our website: https://octopusenergy.group/

[1] Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 

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BEIJING, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The 2024 Global Energy Transition Conference was recently held in Beijing, where delegates around the world focused on the crucial issues of green energy transition and digital technology innovation amidst the sector’s transformative shift. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) recent “Advancing Clean Technology Manufacturing” report pointed out that global investments in clean energy technology manufacturing surged to $200 billion in 2023, contributing to approximately 4% of global GDP growth.

China, one of the world’s largest energy consumers and producers, is actively encouraging its energy companies to expand globally and participate in cooperative efforts for the global energy transition. LongShine, a prominent Chinese energy technology firm, now operates in over 10 countries, including Bangladesh, Nigeria, Tajikistan, Nepal, and Singapore, offering customized solutions through advanced technology and professional services.

LongShine has introduced the LS-EnergyPack, a highly integrated Meter2Cash solution. LS-EnergyPack adheres to the international utility business framework, while incorporating LongShine’s best practices from the domestic energy industry in China, which can provides a full set of information application support from device end to user end for overseas utility companies. LS-EnergyPack includes sub-modules for energy data collection, data management, prepaid management, and billing management applications. The four modules provide utility companies worldwide with end-to-end information application support from the device to the user level.

LongShine has established partnerships with key players like Ikeja Electric, Nigeria’s largest electric utility, and the Nepal Electricity Authority. Through these collaborations, LongShine has provided a suite of on-ground services that have aided these organizations in establishing secure and reliable electricity billing and collection systems. The services have not only reduced costs and boosted efficiency but also elevated service quality and customer satisfaction.

In the energy internet business, LongShine has exported its proven domestic digital technologies and cutting-edge mobile internet practices to international markets. Over the past decade, the company has expanded its offerings to include the Utility Bill Payment (UBP) platform, transportation, digital sports, smart parking, e-commerce, and ticketing in more than ten countries. The flagship product, UBP, seamlessly connects utility billing organizations, offering users convenient online payment services, including query, payment, autopay, and subscription functionalities.

In Bangladesh, the UBP system partners with bKash, the nation’s leading mobile financial service provider and e-wallet, supporting multiple sectors, including water, electricity, gas, and telecommunications and benefiting over 21 million users—more than 10% of the country’s population.

In Indonesia, LongShine collaborates with Mandiri, a state-owned bank, enhancing services for transportation, ticketing, and e-commerce applications, which helps merchants connect with end-users and accelerates the bank’s digital transformation.

Driven by advances in energy digitization and the energy internet, LongShine is capitalizing on its deep roots in the Chinese market to expand into emerging economies. The company’s international strategy and its fruitful partnerships provide key lessons for government and business clients worldwide, establishing new standards for Chinese energy firms entering global markets.

LongShine’s official website: https://en.longshine.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/longshine-leads-chinas-charge-into-global-energy-markets-302256872.html

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CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Multi-Color Corporation (MCC), today announced the commencement of an offering of $950.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2031 (the “Notes”) in a private offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Notes will be guaranteed, on a secured senior basis, by LABL Acquisition Corporation and each of the Company’s existing and subsequently acquired or organized direct or indirect wholly-owned U.S. restricted subsidiaries, with certain exceptions (the “Guarantors”). There can be no assurance that the proposed offering of Notes will be completed.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to (i) finance the redemption of all of its outstanding senior secured notes due 2026, (ii) repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under its senior secured asset-based loan facility and (iii) pay any related premiums, fees and expenses, including accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

The Notes and the guarantees will be offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions in compliance with Regulation S, each under the Securities Act.

The Notes and the guarantees have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or purchase nor the solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which, or to any person to whom such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s financing plans, including statements related to the Company’s offering of the Notes and the intended use of net proceeds of the offering. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks related to whether the Company will consummate the offering of the Notes on the expected terms, or at all, market and other general economic conditions and whether the Company and the Guarantors will be able to satisfy the conditions required to close any sale of the Notes. The Company’s forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 

About Multi-Color Corporation 

Multi-Color Corporation (MCC), established in 1916, is the global leader in prime label solutions, with approximately $3 billion in annual revenue supporting a number of the world’s most prominent brands across end-categories including food and beverages, home and personal care, wine and spirits, and other specialties. Based in Chicago, MCC serves national and international brand owners across its global footprint with a comprehensive range of the latest label technologies in pressure sensitive, cut and stack, roll-fed, in-mold, shrink sleeve and heat transfer applications. MCC employs approximately 12,000 associates across more than 90 facilities in over 30 countries.

Contact for Multi-Color Corporation:

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John Hund, Sr.
Vice President, Finance
[email protected]

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