BlackRock joins other members of LS9's D round: CTTV Investments, the corporate venturing unit of oil major Chevron's Technology Ventures subsidiary, and venture capital firms Flagship Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

LS9, a US-based developer of plant-based fuels and chemicals, has raised $30m in its series D round led by the world’s biggest asset manager, BlackRock, as a new investor.

BlackRock Private Equity Partners manages $6.4bn primarily to invest in third-party funds, although it does also do some co-investing in deals. When asked whether LS9 was the start of more active venture investing, a managing director said: "Yes, will hope to be doing more in the future."

The other members of…