Darby Private Equity, the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, has backed Brazil-based renewable energy investment company Vital Renewable Energy (VREC), which operates a sugar and ethanol facility, for US$15 million as part of a US$31 million refinancing. The transaction was structured through Darby Latin American Mezzanine Fund II. The financing will allow VREC to complete the next phase of industrial and agricultural expansion of the facility.