Today’s ESG Updates
- States Urge Court to Shield Children’s Data in Character.AI Bankruptcy: Forty attorneys general want any buyer to protect chat histories, as the company plans to license its technology to Disney for $20 million.
- TROOPS to Merge with EFFORCE, Eyes Carbon Credit Market Access: The Nasdaq-listed firm says the deal adds blockchain and license expertise, though no carbon products, markets or timelines are named yet.
- EY and Watershed Team Up to Simplify Sustainability Data and Disclosure: The alliance pairs Watershed’s AI platform with EY US advisory skills to help clients meet regulator, customer and investor expectations.
- ReNew Secures $100 Million from FMO for India Renewable Projects: The ten-year rupee facility is FMO’s largest single investment in India’s energy sector and its biggest Asian corporate deal aligned with the 2X Challenge.
Character.AI files for Chapter 11 as states push to protect children’s data
Forty state attorneys general have asked a Delaware bankruptcy judge to shield young users’ private information as Character.AI goes through Chapter 11. The AI companion firm filed on Monday and hopes the case will settle state probes and lawsuits, license its technology to Disney for $20 million and attract a buyer for its chatbot business.
State lawyers say talks on a settlement are under way over claims that bots posed as licensed medical staff and exposed minors to sexual and abusive content. They want any purchaser to protect chat histories and strengthen safety tools. New York’s Letitia James warned that children’s intimate conversations might go to the top bidder.
Company counsel said no buyer has offered user data or the chatbot business. Disney, which hired most staff in September, doesn’t want that kind of data, and the deal needs court approval.
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TROOPS and EFFORCE merge to build digital carbon trading infrastructure
TROOPS, a NASDAQ-listed fintech and insurance group, has agreed to merge with EFFORCE Group, a company founded by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The deal adds blockchain tools, regulatory expertise, and sustainability projects to TROOPS’ financial services business.
Both firms see an opening in environmental markets. They plan to study whether digital platforms can handle carbon credits, which fund verified emission cuts or removals, and green certificates, which record renewable power output. No products, jurisdictions, licenses or launch dates have been named yet.
TROOPS chief Damian Thurnheer called the deal a growth milestone, while EFFORCE chief Sergio Carloni highlighted new strategic options across several business lines.
Deal value and revenue forecasts remain undisclosed, and completion depends on standard approvals. Investors will watch whether these carbon market ideas become regulated services that bring in revenue.
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EY and Watershed form alliance to simplify emissions measurement and disclosure
Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) has allied with Watershed, an AI firm built for ESG data and disclosure. The goal is to help organizations measure their environmental impact and publish results with greater trust, speed, and openness.
The EY-Watershed Alliance pairs Watershed’s AI platform with EY US advisory, delivery, and program management skills, helping clients satisfy regulators, customers, and investors.
Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions rely on complex methods and extensive data. The joint teams will support clients end to end, from collecting verifiable data to disclosure, product carbon footprints, strategy, and advice.
Derek Przybylo, who leads the alliance at EY US, said it helps clients turn sustainability goals into concrete steps. Watershed CEO Christian Anderson expects the field to become more automated and action-focused, with insights that boost efficiency and resilience beyond compliance needs.
ReNew raises $100 million from FMO for India clean energy projects
ReNew, a Nasdaq-listed Indian decarbonisation firm, has secured a $100 million facility (about INR 955 crore) from FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank. The ten-year facility goes to ReNew Solar Power Private Limited via the Voluntary Retention Route.
It is FMO’s largest single investment in India’s energy sector and its biggest Asian corporate deal aligned with the 2X Challenge, which promotes women’s economic empowerment. The rupee-denominated capital will back group renewable projects that are still under construction. The tenor suits the lengthy lifespan of clean power assets and widens ReNew’s access to overseas capital alongside domestic sources.
CFO Kailash Vaswani said global institutions trust India’s clean energy opportunity. FMO energy head Marnix Monsfort said the deal shows dedication to large-scale support for the country’s energy transition.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Ravi Roshan
