Investors buy over half of Climate Change Capital

LONDON (Reuters) - European and Japanese investors have bought slightly over half of London-based Climate Change Capital for 56 million pounds, the specialist investor and consulting firm said on Tuesday.

Climate Change Capital (CCC.L) invests in projects to cut carbon emissions in the developing world, to accrue carbon offsets under a U.N.-led scheme, and has also branched out into broader low-carbon investing, consulting and advisory work.

The extra funds may be used to drive more aggressive expansion, including acquisitions, a company spokesman said.

The new investors in CCC are: Alliance Trust PLC (ATST.L), a UK investment trust, the Universities Superannuation Scheme, a UK pension fund, SNS REAAL N.V. (SR.AS), the Dutch-based banking and insurance business and Japanese trading house, Mitsui & Co Ltd.

Alliance Trust and USS were already investors in CCC funds. U.S.-based hedge fund Och-Ziff has sold its stake in CCC as a part of Tuesday's deal, while RMF -- a sub-group of Man Group PLC (EMG.L) -- has reduced its stake, the spokesman added.