Societe Generale has committed €100m to Ardian’s nature-based solutions (NBS) strategy as part of a newly launched partnership between the two firms.
The partnership is aimed at supporting the development and scaling of projects focused on preserving and restoring natural ecosystems.
Societe Generale said it has committed the capital as an anchor investor in Ardian’s Averrhoa NBS fund and will also act as financial advisor to Ardian, supporting the structuring and deployment of the fund, through its affiliate Societe Generale Investment Solutions.
Societe Generale’s backing builds on the €100m in capital commitments the Averrhoa NBS strategy secured for its first close late last year.
The initial round was anchored by development finance institutions, with EIB Global adding €50m, France’s Proparco committing €20m and British International Investment providing €10m. French mutual insurer Mutuelle d’Ivry La Fraternelle and FDJ United, the French national lottery’s impact vehicle, which deployed €5m, also backed the first close.
Averrhoa NBS invests in projects to reforest and restore wetlands and mangroves and has a pipeline in Latin America, Africa and Asia, with a targeted impact of 85m tonnes of CO2 sequestered over 40 years with biodiversity and community benefits.
Mathias Burghardt, executive president and CEO of Ardian France, said: “Ardian is establishing itself as a key player in nature-based solutions by developing carbon capture projects that address climate challenges while restoring natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
“Beyond targeting the sequestration of up to 85m tons of carbon, these initiatives are designed to deliver lasting benefits to local communities and meet the growing demand for solutions supporting net-zero ambitions.”
Anne-Christine Champion, co-head of global banking and investor solutions at Societe Generale, said: “Nature-based solutions are an emerging investment area, where robust frameworks and long-term approaches are essential.
“This partnership reflects a shared conviction on how this market needs to develop, with a focus on large-scale, well-structured projects supported by strong underlying demand.”
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