Anew Ventures II, LLC v. Terra Global Investment

CourtSuperior Court of Delaware
DecidedNovember 14, 2025
DocketN25C-05-094 MAA CCLD
StatusPublished

This text of Anew Ventures II, LLC v. Terra Global Investment (Anew Ventures II, LLC v. Terra Global Investment) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Anew Ventures II, LLC v. Terra Global Investment, (Del. Ct. App. 2025).

Opinion

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

ANEW VENTURES II, LLC, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) C.A. No. N25C-05-094 MAA CCLD ) TERRA GLOBAL INVESTMENT ) MANAGEMENT, LLC and TERRA ) BELLA NBS CARBON POOL, LLC, ) ) Defendants. )

Submitted: August 28, 2025 Decided: November 14, 2025

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), or in the Alternative, Rule 12(b)(3): GRANTED.

Brian M. Rostocki, Esquire (Argued), and John Miraglia, Esquire, of REED SMITH LLP, Wilmington, DE, and John C. Scalzo, Esquire, Zachary B. Kaye, Esquire, and Casey J. Olbrantz, Esquire, of REED SMITH LLP, New York, NY. Attorneys for Plaintiff.

William E. Green, Jr., Esquire, and Timothy S. Spangler, III, Esquire, of HALLORAN FARKAS + KITTILA LLP, Wilmington, DE, and Philip J. Wang, Esquire (Argued), George Chikovani, Esquire, and Dannielle M. Campbell, Esquire, of PUTTERMAN | YU | WANG LLP. Attorneys for Defendants.

Adams, J. This action arises from a failed carbon credit investment venture, in which a

buyer alleges it was deprived of its contractual right to exit a “carbon credit pool”

developed and managed by two of the seller’s subsidiaries. The story spans global

carbon markets, major investments, shifting industry standards, and a sharply

deteriorating business relationship.

The issue pending before the Court is whether the forum selection clause in a

securities purchase agreement binds the non-signatory subsidiaries. The Court finds

that it does not. Rather, both the subsidiaries and the buyer are bound by the

arbitration clause in a separate acquisition and management agreement. This action

is therefore dismissed for arbitration.

BACKGROUND1

A. Carbon Credits for Capital

The dispute centers on the voluntary carbon market, where private and public

entities buy carbon credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions, often for

sustainability or regulatory purposes.2 A key type of credit is the Verified Emission

Reduction and/or Removal Unit (“VERR Unit”), representing a certified reduction

1 These facts are drawn from the complaint and the documents integral to it, and the record developed at the August 28, 2025 hearing. Docket Item [“D.I.”] 27. Citations to the hearing transcript are in the form “Tr. #.” Citations to the related hearing in the Court of Chancery are in the form “Ch. Tr. #.” Tr. of 7-11-2025 Oral Arg. and Rulings of the Court on Pl.’s Mot. for Emergency TRO, Anew Ventures II, LLC v. Terra Global Invest. Mgmt., LLC, C.A. No. 2025-0774- MAA [“Inj. Action”] (Del. Ch. July 11, 2025), ECF No. 76722713 (of which this Court takes judicial notice pursuant to D.R.E. 202(d)(1)(C)). 2 Compl. ¶ 13. 1 or removal of one metric ton of CO2, with certification standards enforced by third-

party organizations.3 VERR Units can originate from diverse projects: renewable

energy, forestry (notably, “REDD+” initiatives to reduce deforestation), industry,

agriculture, waste, or even technology-based activities like direct air capture.4

Consumers seek VERR Units through brokers, online platforms, or direct

purchases, with transactions recorded on public registries and “retirement” of units

publicly signifying emissions offset.5 Demand for these credits is shaped by project

quality, location, certification, and ability to meet evolving standards—especially for

forest-based projects, perceived integrity and adherence to evolving market

requirements are paramount.6

B. The Pool, the Pact, and the Parents

Anew Ventures II, LLC (“Anew”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anew

Climate, LLC, which grew from a merger of two climate industry leaders, boasting

extensive expertise in environmental commodities and carbon markets.7

3 Id. ¶ 14. 4 Id. ¶ 15. 5 Id. ¶ 16. 6 Id. ¶ 17. 7 Id. ¶ 18. Anew is a Delaware limited liability company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Id. ¶ 9. 2 Terra Global Capital, LLC (“Terra Parent”), is an Oakland-based company

with an international footprint in nature-based solution development, climate

finance, and land-use greenhouse gas quantification.8

Terra Parent provides advisory services and manages investments and carbon

transactions through its affiliate, Terra Global Investment Management, LLC (“Terra

Global”).9 In connection with a contemplated securities purchase agreement, Terra

Parent formed Terra Bella NBS Carbon Pool, LLC (with Terra Global, the “Terra

Subs,” collectively, the “Terra Group”) as a special purpose vehicle.10

In late 2021, the parties began contemplating a partnership or acquisition, with

Anew believing the Terra Group possessed a deep pipeline of advanced carbon

projects around the world—many allegedly close to generating VERR Units.11

During these discussions, the Terra Group presented Anew with extensive

information on dozens of potential projects, most in advanced stages and mainly

REDD+ operations across South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.12 The Terra

Group expressed that several were ready (with contracts already in place) to generate

VERR Units shortly after investment.13

8 Id. ¶¶ 10, 19. 9 Id. ¶¶ 10, 19. 10 Id. Terra Subs are California limited liability companies headquartered in Oakland, California. Id. ¶ 10. 11 Id. ¶¶ 20–21. 12 Id. ¶ 21. 13 Id. 3 Initially, Anew explored acquiring a controlling stake in the Terra Group, but

Terra Parent proposed instead that Anew (1) acquire a minority stake with an option

for majority ownership in the future and (2) become the “anchor tenant” in a newly

created VERR Unit investment pool that the Terra Subs would operate (the “Pool”).14

The Pool’s pitch: participants, led by Anew, would commit capital, which the

Terra Subs would use to secure and develop the pipeline of projects, generating

discounted VERR Units for all pool participants.15 The Terra Subs stressed that

Anew’s involvement would act as an endorsement that would attract further

investors, aiming for $100 million plus in overall capital. 16 Enticed by this model

and the opportunity for future control, Anew agreed.17

On June 10, 2022, Anew and Terra Parent entered a Securities Purchase

Agreement (the “SPA”), through which Anew invested $10 million in Terra Parent,

gained a minority equity stake, and was granted an option for future control (the

“Transaction”).18 Associated “Transaction Documents” were executed, including

the key Acquisition and Management Agreement (the “AMA”), which governed the

Pool.19 Under these arrangements, Anew made a nine-figure capital commitment to

14 Id. ¶ 23. 15 Id. ¶ 24. 16 Id. ¶ 25. 17 Id. ¶ 26. 18 Id. ¶ 27; MTD Ex. 1 [“SPA”]. 19 Compl. ¶¶ 28–29 (“Also on June 10, 2022, pursuant to the SPA, the parties entered the SPA’s several associated “Transaction Documents included an Equity Option Agreement, Master ERPA,

4 the Pool and paid more than two million dollars in startup and management fees.20

Both parties publicly celebrated the Transaction, with press releases touting

ambitions for significant climate impact and mutual respect for expertise.21

The SPA, governed by Delaware law, contains a forum selection clause (the

“Delaware Forum Provision”):

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Bluebook (online)
Anew Ventures II, LLC v. Terra Global Investment, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/anew-ventures-ii-llc-v-terra-global-investment-delsuperct-2025.