Tradier, an online broker and provider of the “Brokerage in a Box” API for trading platforms, advisors, developers, and individual investors, has acquired Rho, an active trading mobile app with simplified onboarding and commission-free trading interface. As part of the acquisition, Rho’s technology and customers will be integrated into Tradier’s products. Existing and new clients will have access to a next-generation white-label mobile offering.

“We welcome Rho to the Tradier family. While API-based investing integrations are at a record high, there is a mounting demand for pre-built embeddable, commission-free mobile platforms for quick launch from clients,” said Dan Raju, CEO of Tradier. “The pandemic has accelerated retail trade volumes and adoption of mobile by active traders. New and existing companies are all looking to offer commission-free mobile platforms or embed investing into their services.”

“Tradier has served Rho as a Brokerage Partner for years. We are excited to continue on our mission to democratize commission-free mobile experiences as a part of the Tradier team,” said Andre Norman, founder, and CEO of Rho. “Together with Tradier, we look forward to continuing to change the way brokerage services are delivered and consumed by Traders.”

Ara Partners, a private equity firm specializing in industrial decarbonization investments, has closed Ara Fund II with approximately $1.1 billion in capital commitments. The fund was oversubscribed, exceeding its $650 million initial target and increasing its hard cap.  The fund received commitments from a set of returning and new institutional investors in North America, Europe and Asia, including public pensions, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.

Led by managing partners Troy Thacker and Charles Cherington, Fund II will continue Ara’s strategy of investing in the ongoing decarbonization of the industrial economy.

“We are extremely gratified by the very strong interest in Fund II and pleased to welcome several well-respected institutional investors to our limited partner base,” said Cherington.  “We particularly appreciate the support of our returning investors from Fund I and look forward to pursuing strong returns for all of our partners through an investment portfolio that is actively reducing GHG emissions, carbon and waste.”

“We’re pleased to see the investment community recognize Ara Partners’ distinctive approach to sourcing and investing in innovative companies at the forefront of a decarbonizing world,” said Thacker. “We believe that our differentiated focus on lowering carbon emissions in the industrial sector is an important piece of the global climate effort and look forward to continuing to execute investments across this growing sector.”

Current portfolio companies of Fund II are Polar Sapphire (high purity alumina serving Li-ion battery, LED, sapphire and semiconductor markets), Aloxe (European PET plastics recycling platform), Px Group (fully integrated UK industrial asset operator focused on renewables and decarbonization), Anesco (UK market leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects) and Divert (recycler of unsold retail food waste into renewable natural gas).

Lazard acted as placement agent, and Debevoise & Plimpton served as legal counsel in the formation of Fund II.