Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers dedicated to sustainable investing, announces the final close of the Althelia Sustainable Ocean Fund. (“SOF”) The fund is dedicated to making pioneering impact investments into marine and coastal projects and enterprises delivering sustainable economic returns in fisheries, aquaculture, the circular economy and marine conservation. The fund’s final commitments are now more than $132 million. Mirova Natural Capital Limited, the London-based wholly owned subsidiary of Mirova, is the investment advisor to the SOF.

SOF is a pioneering impact investment fund that is investing to support a sustainable ocean economy globally. The fund invests in enterprises involved in three key areas of the blue economy – sustainable seafood, the circular economy and ocean conservation – and aims to improve their sustainability and efficiency. Value is created through improved productivity, reduced intermediation, increased quality and market access.

As a purpose-native and impact-driven asset manager, Mirova has identified early on the potential of investing in Nature-Based Solutions. For more than seven years Mirova teams have worked to create strategies to finance and bring to scale financially viable projects with a positive impact on natural capital and on communities.

SOF has already committed to seven investments in areas ranging from sustainable seafood production, to tackling marine waste and plastics pollution, through to the creation of new Marine Protected Areas. The SOF is actively seeking new investable opportunities that both bring measurable and quantifiable impact to ocean and coastal ecosystems as well as demonstrate sustainable business models with a commercial return for investors. The fund team is led by Simon Dent and David Barley.

The fund has also been responsible recently for forming new partnerships with Eunomia & KFW to catalyse a circular economy study in the Caribbean, where plastics recycling rates are currently amongst some of the lowest globally and the launch of a dedicated Blue Carbon facility designed to support the continued development of the ocean and coastal mangrove habitats as a key natural solution for climate change mitigation.

“The damage that we are doing to our oceans continues to threaten our existence both economically and environmentally, through overfishing, ocean acidification, and through ecosystem destruction driven by ocean bound waste and plastic pollution. The Althelia Sustainable Ocean Fund’s final close allows us, with the support of our investors, to address these issues through dedicated impact investments bringing much needed finance and supporting best practise in the sector. “ Simon Dent, Head of Blue Investments at Mirova Natural Capital.

SOF was also established in partnership with Conservation International and the Environmental Defence Fund 1 . This collaboration with leading environmental organisations ensures the funds direct investments into projects uphold the highest environmental standards and allow for collaboration with local stakeholders, including communities and governments. The fund also benefits from a partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and has executed a risk sharing guarantee through USAID’s Development Credit Authority (DCA) that provides loan guarantees directly to portfolio investments made by the SOF.

“As well reaching a final close we are also delighted to be developing a talented investment and technical team that can help draw the roadmap for blue investments for the next decade” said David Barley, Investment Director.

The SOF is part of Mirova’s natural capital platform. With over $400m under management and 14 investment professionals, Mirova is one of the leading impact investors in nature-based solutions, including sustainable oceans, land and forests management. Mirova have committed to invest into the ocean sector for the long term. Recent recruitment into the investment team includes Antoine Rougier who has been appointed as Technical Director, as well as Lisa Hubert and Trip O’Shea who have recently joined as Investment Officers to support the rollout of the strategy.

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1Environmental Defense Fund is a nonprofit, tax exempt charitable organization, identification number 11-6107128
The Althelia Sustainable Ocean Fund (“Fund”) is a Luxembourg SICAV-SIF authorised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (“CSSF”), closed to new subscription. Alter Domus Management Company S.A. is the Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) of the Fund and is duly authorised by the CSSF as an alternative investment fund manager pursuant to Chapter 2 of the AIFM Law and the AIFM Directive. Mirova Natural Capital Limited is an investment advisor to Alter Domus Management Company S.A. The fund is exposed to capital loss risk, deal flow risk, operational risk, liquidity risk, country risk, market risk, regulatory risk, currency risk, counterparty risk and project risk.

Mirova Natural Capital Limited
UK Private limited company
Company registration number: 7740692 – Authorized and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA")
Registered office: 18 St. Swithin's Lane, London, England, EC4N 8AD.
The services of Mirova Natural Capital Limited are only available to professional clients and eligible counterparties. They are not available to retail clients. Mirova Natural Capital Limited is wholly owned by Mirova.
www.althelia.com

Mirova
Portfolio management company - French Public Limited liability company
Regulated by AMF under n°GP 02-014
RCS Paris n°394 648 216
Registered Office: 59, Avenue Pierre Mendes France – 75013 – Paris
Mirova is an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers.
www.mirova.com

Natixis Investment Managers
Portfolio management company - French Public Limited liability company
RCS Paris n°453 952 681
Registered Office: 43, Avenue Pierre Mendes France – 75013 – Paris
Natixis Investment Managers is a subsidiary of Natixis.
www.im.natixis.com

This communication is for information only and is intended for investment service providers or other Professional Clients. The analyses and opinions referenced herein represent the subjective views of the author as referenced unless stated otherwise and are subject to change. There can be no assurance that developments will transpire as may be forecasted in this material.