Private investment house Ardian and financial institution Societe Generale have announced a strategic equity partnership to support and scale nature-based solutions (NBS) focused on ecosystem preservation and restoration.
As part of the agreement, Societe Generale will commit €100 million as an anchor investor in Ardian’s “Averrhoa NBS” fund. The bank will also serve as financial advisor through its affiliate, Societe Generale Investment Solutions, assisting with the fund’s structuring and commercial deployment.
Averrhoa NBS is an Article 9 impact fund under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). Managed by Ardian’s Infrastructure team in collaboration with aDryada Advisory, the strategy allocates capital directly to wetland, mangrove, and reforestation projects.
The primary ecological metrics and objectives of the fund include:
- Carbon sequestration: Targeting the capture and storage of 85 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over a 40-year period via natural sinks.
- Environmental mitigation: Implementing localized interventions designed to safeguard regional biodiversity, protect water resources, and improve soil and air quality.
- Socioeconomic impact: Structuring projects to support community stability and economic resilience in areas affected by forest loss and ecosystem degradation.
The partnership aims to establish nature-based solutions as a standardised, investable asset class for institutional investors and corporations seeking high-quality carbon removal options to satisfy corporate net-zero targets.
Mathias Burghardt, Executive President and CEO of Ardian France, commented, “Beyond targeting the sequestration of up to 85 million 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, added, “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.”
